Henry Francis played by Christopher Stanley(left), and Betty Francis (January Jones) have some important phone calls on this week's episode.
(Courtesy AMC.com)
Is AMC's
Mad Men an arbiter of witty banter and clever late-1960s references?
Or, is the popular drama taking political jabs that feel very 2012?
Just ask Tagg Romney, GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's eldest son.
MINOR SPOILER ALERT: Some details from Sunday's show follow.
Tagg Romney isn't so amused about this Sunday's episode of the show because of a comment made by character Henry Francis, aka the guy for whom Betty Draper Francis (January Jones) dumped her philandering hubby, Don (Jon Hamm).
Francis is a politico in the late 1960s, who works for then-New York Mayor John Lindsay. He said this in a phone conversation in the episode:
"Well, tell Jim his honor’s not going to Michigan. Because Romney’s a clown and I don’t want him standing next to him."
This, of course, was referring to former Michigan Governor George Romney, Mitt's father.
This three-second dialogue has set off a political debate in our time, mostly due to the reaction from Mitt's son, Tagg, who has been vocal about his distaste for the comment.
Tagg is taking his ire to Twitter:
"Seriously, lib media mocking my dead grandpa? @aburnspolitico: “Well, tell [him] not going to Michigan. Because Romney’s a clown”
"Dad is fair game. Grandpa isn't."
"George Romney was as good a man I've ever known. Inspirational leader, worked for civil rights, promoted freedom. We need more like him."
Meanwhile, Senior Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod used a
Mad Men reference to describe how Romney is "out of touch."
Alexrod told
CBS Morning News this today:
“I think he must watch ‘Mad Men’ and think it’s the evening news. He’s just in a time warp,” Axelrod said of Mitt Romney.
What do you think -- were the
Mad Men writers simply throwing in a clever date reference to add ambiance, or were they taking a pointed swipe at Mitt Romney?
Should popular TV shows delve into the mad world of politics?
