Romney’s friend: Campaign asked me to counter prank story

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The Romney campaign allegedly asked that a friend and former classmate of the presidential candidate offer “supporting remarks” in the wake of a Washington Post article about his past.

The article, published on Thursday, described how Romney and his friends pinned down a fellow classmate, John Lauber, and cut his hair with scissors. Romney had complained that it was “wrong” for the boy, who was often teased and accused of being gay, to have such long hair.

Stu White told ABC News that Romney’s older brother asked him and several other classmates to counter the story. White said he was uncertain whether he would offer his support..

Another former classmate of Romney, who wished to remain anonymous, told ABC News that Romney’s behavior in high school reminded him of “Lord of the Flies.”

“It makes these fellows [who have owned up to it] very remorseful,” the unnamed classmate said. “For [Romney] not to remember it? It doesn’t ring true. How could the fellow with the scissors forget it?”

Responding to the story, Romney said at the time he had “no idea what that individual’s sexual orientation might be.”

“I don’t recall the incident myself but I’ve seen the reports and not going argue with that,” he told Fox News host Neil Cavuto. “There’s no question that I did some stupid things in high school and, obviously, if I hurt anyone by virtue of that I would be very sorry for it and apologize for it.”

According to the Washington Post, Romney also used to shout “atta girl!” at a classmate who was a closeted homosexual. Romney said he had no recollection of the event.