Should Mitt Romney Denounce Ted Nugent?

As Rebekah Metzler reports, Democrats are attacking Mitt Romney over remarks made by musician and gun enthusiast Ted Nugent, who has endorsed Romney, during a radio interview at a recent National Rifle Association event. Nugent called President Obama and members of his administration "criminals" and promised that if Obama is re-elected, "I will either be dead or in jail." He also told listeners at the guns rights rally, "If you can't go home and get everybody in your lives to clean house in this vile, evil, America-hating administration, I'm don't even know what you are made of."

[Ted Nugent: More Guns, Less Violent Crime as the Bad Guys Run or Die.]

Democratic National Committee Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz called on Mitt Romney and the Republican party to denounce Nugent's statements. The committee also released a video connecting Romney to Nugent. Romney spokesperson Andrea Saul distanced him from the remarks. "Divisive language is offensive no matter what side of the political aisle it comes from. Mitt Romney believes everyone needs to be civil."

Metzler puts the Democratic response in the context of last week's Hilary Rosen-Ann Romney "Mommy Wars" controversy.

The move to tie Nugent closely with the Romney campaign despite the fact that they have no formal connection is in retaliation for Republicans last week repeatedly referring to a Democratic strategist as an Obama campaign adviser after she made headline-grabbing comments about Ann Romney.

[See a collection of political cartoons on the 2012 campaign.]

New York Magazine's Daily Intel blog reports that the Secret Service is also looking into Nugent's statements.

What do you think? Should Mitt Romney denounce Ted Nugent? Take the poll and comment below.

Previously: Will the Hilary Rosen-Ann Romney Uproar Matter for the Election?

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