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Dylan Martinez / Reuters, file
Simon Nash, his wife Maria and their daughter Sarah pose inside their home in Preston, northern England, on September 24.
LONDON - A distant relative of Mitt Romney in England found himself cheering for the GOP candidate on election night – despite disagreeing with him politically.
Simon Nash, known as the “Deepdale Duck” in his role as mascot for Lancashire-based professional soccer team Preston North End, discovered that his 32-year-old wife Maria is Romney’s fourth cousin twice removed as he researched their family history.
While she and their 13-year-old daughter Sarah were largely uninterested in the U.S. election, Nash stayed up until Barack Obama was declared the winner by NBC News.
As he listened to the coverage, he found himself rooting for Romney.
“In the end I wanted him to win … for the novelty value, so I could go around boasting my missus (wife) is cousin to the president,” he said.
“I only discovered I was supporting Romney in the middle of the night. I think when it was starting to look like Obama was going to win it, I wanted our man to win then, but it was too late,” he added.
Nash admitted he didn’t think much of Romney’s policies.
“I think he’s sort of a dinosaur … a bit prehistoric,” he said, referring to Romney’s tax-cutting pitch to the electorate.
GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney gives his concession speech Tuesday after President Barack Obama was declared the winner of the 2012 presidential race.
“He has no feeling for the normal man in the street. I think he’s that far removed from if you like the average Joe. I think it would have been horrendous (if Romney had won),” Nash added.
PhotoBlog: Mitt Romney's English roots surprise long-lost cousins
His wife Maria, who told NBC News Tuesday she was feeling unwell, was still sleeping early Wednesday.
Simon Nash told NBC News he had woken her at 6 a.m. local time with the news of the result.
“Oh right, OK,” Nash said his wife told him before she went back to sleep. “That’s how excited she was – or wasn’t.”
Watch the drama of election night quickly unfold in a three minutes montage of sights and sounds.
On Tuesday, Maria Nash said she had been “quite surprised to be honest” to discover they were related to Romney.
She stressed she was “not sure” about the election race, but said of Romney “I don’t think he’d make a great president” while Obama “seems all right.”
Mexican cousins mourn defeat
However, Romney’s Mexican cousins mourned his election defeat as a lost opportunity to pull the U.S. economy out of the doldrums. They had high hopes their clan's most famous son would win the keys to the White House, create jobs and boost trade.
"I'm just feeling very, very sad," Virginia Romney -- born on the same day as Romney in 1947, and is married to his Mexican second cousin Kent -- told Reuters.
In his public life, Mitt Romney has said and written little about his ancestors' history in Mexico. It's a little-known fact that there's a whole branch of Mitt Romney's family living south of the border, including his second cousin Leighton Romney, and about 40 other relatives descended from religious pioneers who first traveled to Mexico 125 years ago. NBC's Mike Taibbi reports.
"Just to let him slip away from being president of the United States is a real tragedy for the U.S. because he could have given the country so much," the 65-year-old added. "He has been such a success in everything he has done."
Full election coverage from NBC Politics
The family's Mexican roots go back to Mitt Romney's great-grandfather Miles P. Romney, who crossed south of the border in the 1880s, like other early Mormon settlers in Mexico fleeing U.S. marshals who were seeking to arrest him for practicing polygamy.
Leighton Romney, another of Romney's second cousins in Chihuahua, told Reuters the Republican's hopes had been buried because his party had failed to connect with voters on issues like immigration and foreign policy.
"As poorly as the economy is doing and as bad a record as Obama has, in some way the Republicans weren't able to take advantage of it," the 53-year-old businessman added. "Mitt ran a good campaign. And he did a lot for his party."
Reuters contributed to this report.
More election coverage from NBCNews.com:
- Obama wins re-election; Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin prove pivotal
- Democrats retain control of Senate with series of hard-fought wins
- Rape remarks sink two Republican Senate hopefuls
- In costliest-ever Senate race, Warren beats Brown for Mass. seat
- Maine's Harley-riding King vowed to 'shake up' D.C.
- Republicans easily maintain control of House
- Colorado, Washington approve recreational marijuana use
- Pence in as governor of Indiana; Hassan wins in N.H.
- Majority of voters see American on wrong track
Leave a Comment:
I'm incredibly relieved that Romney/Ryan were declined their corporate takeover of the presidency!!! The American public majority made their decision, now if the elected obstructionists would decide to actually do their jobs maybe something more could be accomplished.
Don't we teach our children to play nicely with each other... or are children expected to act more civilly than our politicians (admit it, the teaparty republicans have acted like spoiled children throwing a massive temper tantrum for the last 4 years)? If the obstructionists can't learn to compromise in order to govern in the best interest of their constituents and fellow countrymen and women, then we all need to make sure they are run out on a rail in the following elections.
Huge congrats to Obama/Biden!!!
Agree and suggest that there be a Constitutional amendment to change the name of the House of Representatives to the House of Obstructionists and Self Interest
Let's not wait until the obstructionists are up for re-election, for they've damaged our country so much already. They should all be given a chance in this new regime, and be suspended if they don't work for the benefit of the people. They have no right to collect a salary and privileges if they're not going to be part of the solution.
Many of them didn't even READ the Affordable Care Act (it was too "long"), so many American's interests may not have been represented. The time and money it cost all of us for them to NOT do their jobs should be reimbursed.
And the group that signed the pledge against the President? I'd be pissed if any of them were representing me, and wonder just how their constituents feel. They're supposed to be smart, but are emotional kindergartners.
The Republican Party have an opportunity to dump the far right of their party and return to being a Conservative Party, but I doubt if they have the capability to do so ,at this time. In their past they were the party of the people but not at this present time.They have sunk to the depths of considering it acceptable for members of their party to sign pledges to obey Norquist instead of working for their employers,We the citizens. They should be punished or at the least censored by the Republican Party.
It would be nice if the Republicans could get rid of the religious element wouldn't it? But then again, I don't think a party that promoted individualism, strength, and belief in oneself would be much more palatable to many people either.
There's a considerable portion of people here that WANT to think of themselves as victims (ironically, many upper middle class white people fall into this category lol), want a collectivist society, and would be offended by anything that departs from that line.
Romney ran as tepid a campaign as I've ever seen - definitely nothing of the Bush/Santorum variety - and most Democrats painted even him as an extremist. So, I mean, yeah I wish the Republicans could dislodge themselves from the religious stuff too, but again, that's not why most Democrats hate them.
Travis...no one thinks of themselves as "victims"...that is a myth dreamed up by the extreme right...there are literally millions of us who work everyday and earn less than $50K annually...and a lot of us are college educated. For any candidate to meet with his supporters and verballize that "47 percent" are "victims" and "are not accountable for themselves" is just wrong on all fronts. And then, when it is revealed he can't back pedal fast enough to deny what was obvious to everyone...that unless you were a member of the upper 1% of the wealthy in this country...he was writting you off. Well, the 99% loudly and very clearly wrote Mitt Romney off as a potential president.
The conservative media needs to stop manipulating and lying to their viewers. I read an article today on Slate that infuriated me. Essentially it said congratulations republicans you just elected a moderate republican-yes Barack Obama is far from a socialist or communist, in policy he has run as a more Eisenhuar republican. They talked about some things that he leaned left on and others more right, and then the added at the end "oh and the republican heritage foundation wrote the ACA."
Essentially "we lied, but you can calm down now."
The repugs are going to go all out to make President Obama's life as miserable as possible. They do not care what is does to America.
Jan: Eisenhuar?
Both sides have done that! You can't blame one and not the other. Neither is free of the mess. Republicans and Democrats need to start being more in the middle. There are good things about Republicans and good things about Democrats. If we would just combine them it would be so much better.
both Travis and Irene were right. Yes, the upper middle class do think they are victims. And no, most of the so-called 47% don't think they're victims. It's the far right who impose their feelings upon the others. The tea partiers certainly had expressed their resentment of being "exploited" and thus they're the victims of "socialism". they have that same mentality of the 1% rich who don't think they should pay tax, eventhough they demand all the benefits of the social systems the government provide, like the military, national parks, holidays, etc. Simply put, these overly self-centered and selfish so-called conservative CHRISTIANS simply want to take and take, but don't want to contribute. so much a christian spirit. I really don't recall Jesus promoted this kind of behavior in the gospels.
I'm so happy to see Mitt/Ryan gone for good at least until 2016, its such a beatiful week and happy Veterans day to all of Obama supporters and the haters too we don't hold gruges!
This is not news. This guy isn't even a blood relative of Romney - his wife is - and he's getting all the spotlight just because he finds himself rooting for a candidate whom he still disagrees with politically, who is from a completely different country, (how does that even make sense?) and whom he 'just' found out was related to his wife. That's like me bragging about how my good friend's second cousin is Lorraine Bracco (which is the case) and getting my own news story for it.
And I wish that if he was going to 'pose' for a picture that would be attached to this story, he would have had the decency to follow his wife and daughter's manners and sit up straight and tuck in his shirt all the way!
Decency ??? He's in his home. Not yours. Sounds like u're jealous
IngVer, this "relative" of romney is such an image of the couch potato. and his mentality rather reflects those of the deep south. It's very clear the most of the "extremely conservative" far right nuts don't really agree with or even like the "severely conservative" romney, since they damn well know that romney's severity in "conservativitism" is not extreme enough. yet they still rah rah rah supported him simply because he's a member of their dying party. they simply have no principles at all. they don't even quite know why they don't like president obama other than the fact that he's half black and he's not republican. all their lame excuses that he's destroying the country because of his so-called "socialistic" ideas (which were mostly former republican ideas to begin with) were just false accusations and they damn well know it. if the country is so terrible under obama's direction, how the hell are they still alive and doing well? how the help could the right wing afforded to waste almost 1 billion $'s in a few months in such a "terrible" economy?
You Romney (the stone man) supporters are still crazy even after the election, all the man said was the guy is not a relative of Romney and you go all off track and start talking about the economy that Republican cause, stop blaming the President for the mess Bush created i'm tired of your crap you are horrible people and please leave our president alone, he won and it is what it is and that a done deal, you can't change it and Rom Dog is gone! The more you hate him the more we love him!
IngVer: Agree with 100% of your comments, from the idiocy of this article (talk about 20 degrees of separation!) and the lazy sods "regular bloke" pose of fat arse, stomach bulge and posing in soccer shorts. But, I know that type of git; my husband is a Brit and THIS type of nob is what we'd call Trailer Trash in the U.S.
He supported Romney for "bragging rights" (at the pub): Glad your "relative" lost, you nimrod.
U sound like someone who has issues against overweight people. Name calling, really ??? Isn't that a bit juvenile and immature-ish.
rkb5555, she is probably upset that their dollar now has to pay to take care of people who don't care enough to take care of themselves.
There used to be a time when you had to earn things. If you wanted something, you had to participate and earn it. Now, not so much. big ole GOV is loosening it's blouse to bring out it's tit.
DP you are a creep i guess you must one of 47% that can't face that you are and trying to hang with the big boys, when have the rich EVER earn anything honest they are thieves and heartless creature that only cares about themselves and i have no remorse for any of them and i'm glad Romney loss and hope the next Repbulican loses too see you in 2016!
Obama only won by 1% of the peoples vote. Obama won with the electoral vote, which anyone could have told you would go his way whether he won the peoples vote or not.
Winning by a 1% margin of the peoples vote means half of the United States is going to fight him at every turn this next 4 years.
He built a house of cards this last 4 years, and just like in Europe they built that house of cards and that house has to come down.
The socialist liberal Democrats will have a lot to answer for and to half of the people of the U.S. when our Economy goes the way of Europe.
They can try to run, try to hide, but we are headed the same way as Europe. The house of cards has to come down.
1% is a hell of a lot better than o%. On the other hand, what difference does the % point make?? He is still one more! and you as an American should suck it up and be what you prepose to be, an American!! Do what it takes to get the country up and running again! Later you can do your fight for what ever side of the fence you are sitting on. get off your arse and make things happen for the good of your country, then when things are up and running get back on your band wagon and say who is best. until then ,every GOOD American should be behind any government to give as much support as they can. Are you going to tell your children, yes I had the chance to get this country back on track but I prefered to take down the President of the day!!! All parties want to get the econemy back on track get over your disapointment and start thinking of your fellow Americans and what you can do to help.Or maybe you can't do anything until your cheque comes in the post!!
Suck it up and put on your big boy pants, huh ?
Hills,
You are suffering from a medical condition called Fecalis Mentalis.
Fortunately, it is covered as a pre-existing condition under Obamacare.
Who cares! What % got to do with winning the election fool, he won and that that go home and let it go and start living your life, Rom Dog loss!
Without the help of the supreme court, the citizens of the US dodged the republican bullet that would led to dictatorship and the beginning destruction of the constitution. The last republican president was able to destroy the US involvement in international laws unless it favored the US and he was also able to reduce and eliminate parts of the BIll of Rights. With amount of money that corporations and the 1% donated to the election we can increase taxes on corporation and the 1%ers by several billion dollars. It they have 2+ billion dollars to throw away on an election they surely have enough to pay for all the health care for every citizens making less than $250,000. If the corporations and 1% ers are forced to pay for the health care of the 99% you will see them come up with cost saving ways to make health care less expensive. Corporations and the 1% are paying less that 15% taxes on earnings while the 99% pay 33%. Mitt Romney will never be a true tax paying citizens of the US as long as laws permit the wealthy to keep their money in offshore banks and in Swiss banks. You would think that this would come under a RICO law and these corporate officers and 1%ers would be put in jail, but I am sure that our wealthy politicians have passed laws that protect these transactions with the blessing of the supreme court. Good luck Obama don't believe in partisanship to much, when the republicans have their head in their aZZ they can't hear a thing and don't want to hear a thing. No one I know is strong enough to pull the republican's heads out of their AZZEs
Gary./I agree with you and have nothing to add to your comment .Well done!
Hills,
You are suffering from a medical condition called Fecalis Mentalis.
Fortunately, it is covered as a pre-existing condition under Obamacare.
LMAO Suck it Romney you evil greedy bastard
LOL!
The republican obstructionists have less than 2 years before their inaction and opposition translate into their political destruction.
We cannot sacrifice the American recovery for their partisan efforts wrapped in heavy-handed rhetoric, especially the support of ill-timed pledges to partisan ideologues.
If they aren't soon "interested" in 100% of their constituency and the restructuring of the American economic engine, then they should be publicly exposed, stripped of responsibilities, and promptly expelled and replaced.
We don't have time for their pseudo-patriotic "malarkey" posing as protecting America from more imaginary threats and issues.
We have real problems that need real solutions in real time...starting today.
Awww, Mitt's related to Daisy! Onslow's lookin' good today!
@Steven100 - the popular vote count is still ongoing, and Obama now has over a 2% lead over Romney. Granted it's not a landslide, but think about this...I know quite a few people who did "write-in's" or didn't vote at all, who leaned toward Obama. I can imagine that across the country, there are a lot more like them, and had they actually voted, the percentage difference would be even greater.
Regardless, once Florida goes Obama, he'll have 332 electoral votes over Romney's 203. That's enough to say he's got a mandate to get things done, and to push back hard when the obstructionists fight him...
Funny, the popular vs electoral vote wasn't an issue with Republicans back in 2000. At least in this election, Obama has both...
It was an issue then, and an issue now. Anyway, this electoral college thing is, so devious. We think we have a democracy, but it is the strangest democracy on earth.
... and for the guy who said, O would have more than a 1% margin, if write-ins, and those who did not vote were counted... really? Those who did not vote stated that they did not support either candidate.Those who wrote-in supported someone who was not on the ballot. How does that count as a vote for Obama?
Romney's Mexican cousins' statement that he should have won, because he's been a success at everything he's done, struck me. I don't think anyone disputes his record of success - what bothers me (and many others) is HOW he got there. I'm a firm believer in "doing well by doing good", and shipping American jobs to China for the sake of profit doesn't exactly fit that business model.
He did lose his run for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in the early 90s.
Insider trading will let most people become "successful."
That's why they try to make it illegal.
well said, rkaralius..
I have to agree that the repubs are still going to hold things up. Someone a while ago said we don't need a new president we need a new congress and everyone should take this to heart and start voting out all the old dinosaurs who don't care about the people. Just a while back John baener stated right on tv that he wasn't going to compromise his repub ethics. Is that helping the american people I don't think so. I think he is the first who should be kicked out right along with his buddy mitch. If he isn't going to compromise when it helps the people who hired him and would rather just stick with his repub ethics 'meaning this is how repubs do things" than he shouldn't be there. they need new blood and we should make it so they can't serve to long just like the presidency give them 12 years then they have to go. always keep fresh blood and new ways of thinking. we the people should make this so and things would get done if they want to be elected.
Romney is nothing but a Flip Flopper
Now is the time to rally for the mid-term elections in two years. All who want progress and cooperation between Congress and the President...come out and help elect moderates. Tell the rich fat cats (the Koch brothers and their ilk) that they can spend all their money on political ads and buying candidates...but it is the voters that count...volunteer to help the moderate candidates in your state to defeat the corrupting influence of money... there is evil walking the halls of government in this country...it is those who use money to buy influence and power...the common man/woman can and will defeat them...with our votes.
We better all pray to God for our country now!!!!!!
Simon Nash ? What a Wanker , who cares what he thinks
I didn't know Mit Rom was Mexican?!?! :)
((Rather he has Mexican roots))
Hopefully congress and their wealthy owners will decide it's time to get the country moving again. I honestly believe that the big money boys and their minions in the House of Representatives did their best to make the country stagnate for four years. I hope they can't hold out much longer.
I'm not American, but from a non-American's point of view, I'd say the Republicans have no one to blame but themselves for this loss. They are so out of touch with reality. Romney reminds me of Bush, only smarter and sleazier.
Here are four simple things that could turn our economy around fast.
1. Force all public owned corporations to pay our minimum wages wherever they go. This would show a little regard for workers and bring back many jobs. When the CEO of Disney made 600 million in salary he had children working in Haiti for 12 cents an hour. This is cold blooded evil and it should be stopped.
2. All guaranteed loans should be made directly for a small interest. This would cut house notes by half or more and leave trillions in the hands of our people instead of thieving banks. Small business would be greatly stimulated. Why should anyone pay a bank 600k for a 200k house when the taxpayers back the loan? This is insane unless you are a big banker.
3. Our big banks with trillions in assets have been getting billions in 0% loans. They are driving up the price of essentials by manipulating the commodities market. In short, they are robbing us with our own money. Everyone in power knows this; But nothing is done to stop it. We need real change fast, before we are in depression and chaos. Government needs to act for the people they are elected to serve and quit helping the big rich destroy our country.
4. The capital gains tax where most giant money is made is only 15%. It should be doubled now!
When government pretends there is little they can do to change things, they lie. The have the power to do much for the nation; But, they lack the will. Too many of both parties are owned. Force from the people may be our only real hope.
Frank - I agree with you! The people have let the government dictate to us too long. They are not doing what they need to do because it is in their best interests.
Family went fleeing to Mexico because they were breaking the law and returned as refugees with government assistance. But big R disagrees with government assistance.
the romneys in mexico they segregate to the mormon colonys only whites.
Mitt who,,I thought that turd was flushed
Glad to see this a hole go