Mitt Romney
Taking a “shot” at LMFAO rapper
On a flight from Vancouver to L.A. in 2010, Sky Blue of LMFAO was escorted off the plane by Canadian Police after leaning his seat back prior to take-off. Romney “loudly requested” the MC straighten his seat-back, and according to Romney’s spokesperson, Sky Blue became “physically violent.” No charges were pressed, and Sky Blu was later quoted as saying the ordeal was “just an unfortunate situation.”
Check out these facts about the 2012 presidential candidates. (Amy Leder/ Photo Illustration CU Independent)
Young Mitt involved in fatal car crash
While serving as a Mormon missionary in France in the late ‘60s, Romney was involved in a car crash when a Catholic priest barreled head-on into Romney’s lane. Romney’s passengers included the French mission president and his wife, who died in the hospital.
Disorderly boating
In 1981, Romney was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge for boating in a national park. Before launching his vessel, a park ranger had warned Romney of a $50 fine because of an obstructed view of the boat’s license. When Mitt decided to pay the fine and continue boating, he was handcuffed and booked. The charges were dropped after the presidential hopeful threatened to sue the state of Massachusetts for unlawful arrest.
Presidential relations
Romney is related to six U.S. presidents: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin Pierce, Herbert Hoover, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush. All these relatives are very distant cousins, Franklin Pierce being the closest relation as a 6th cousin four times removed.
A surprising major
Mitt Romney graduated in 1971 from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s degree in English. However, he went on to get a dual business and law degree from Harvard, a program he started the same year he graduated from BYU.
Barack Obama
Rejected by a pin-up calendar committee
While studying at Harvard Law School, the POTUS applied to be featured in a pin-up magazine at the school. He was denied by the all-female committee.
The Obama’s first kiss goes down in history
There is a plaque in Hyde Park, Chicago, marking the spot where President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama shared their first kiss in 1989. The plaque and the boulder it rests on took two and a half years to be designed and finally erected.
Grammy-award winner
Obama won a Grammy for best spoken word album in 2006 for the self-narrated, autobiographical audiobook, “Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance.” The book received praise from many authors, including Toni Morrison.
Better than “Fido”
While living in Indonesia in his early years, Obama had a pet ape named “Tata.” Obama lived with his mother and step-father in Indonesia for five years.
King of the hoops
In high school, Obama picked up the nickname “O’Bomber” for his basketball skills. He is such a fan of the sport, he said in 2008 that he would tear out the White House’s bowling alley to be replaced by a basketball court. The bowling alley is still in place today.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Sarah Elsea at Sarah.elsea@colorado.edu.
