Ann Romney: Rosen’s Comment an ‘Early Birthday Present’

Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen’s derogatory comments about Ann Romney, wife of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, represent a blessing in disguise, the potential first lady says.

“It was my early birthday present for someone to be critical of me as a mother,” Romney said at a fundraising event in Palm Beach, Fla. Sunday, The Hill reports. “That was a really defining moment, and I loved it.” She turns 63 Monday.

Though the event was private, multiple reporters heard the comment from a public sidewalk outside the house where the shindig was held, according to The Hill.

Rosen, as part of the GOP-Democratic conflict over women’s issues, told CNN last week that Romney, who raised five boys, had “never worked a day in her life.”

President Barack Obama quickly distanced himself from the remarks, and Rosen, after initially defending her statement, was ultimately forced to apologize. But the brouhaha would seem to give Republicans some political leverage in this fall’s elections.

At the Palm Beach event, Mitt Romney for the first time specified the spending cuts he would seek as president, The Hill reports. They would include budgets for the Department of Education and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He also favors striking the tax deduction for mortgage interest payments on second homes.