Ann Romney tweets about her work experience to refute Hilary Rosen’s claims

Twitter fights are no longer just for the likes of Snooki or Rihanna. A war of tweets is becoming a common tactic in politics.

The presidential candidates have gotten in what I’ll call low-level, indirect Twitter wars. For example, during President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address in early 2012, former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum tweeted his campaign’s personal stance to any issue Obama discussed.

And yesterday, aka the first day of the general election, Obama and Mitt Romney lobbed strikes against one another, but it was hardly a direct back and forth. Romney tweeted that Obama was conducting a “war on women”:

How about the facts: Women account for 92.3% of jobs lost under @BarackObama. [Infographic] mi.tt/HZafYD #ObamaLegacy

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) April 11, 2012

But then Obama tweeted about Romney and his offshore accounts:

Mitt Romney has millions stored in offshore tax havens like the Cayman Islands. RT if you agree he should close them: OFA.BO/7popSt

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 11, 2012

If you want to see what a direct, hit-for-hit Twitter fight looks like, check out the partisan brawl that ensued on Tuesday between Communication Directors Josh Amato for WA GOP and Benton Strong for WA Democrats. Apparently being a Communication Director for a state party now requires a hefty bit of snippiness encapsulated in 140 characters or less.

Then Ann Romney decided, well at least the Romney campaign decided, that she too should get in on the Twitter fight action.

Yesterday, liberal political commentator Hilary Rosen criticized Romney for saying he woud listen to his wife about the struggles of women and the economy, saying, “Guess what, his wife has actually never worked a day in her life.”

In response, Ann Romney sent out her first tweet, ever:

I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work.

— Ann Romney (@AnnDRomney) April 12, 2012

Hilary Rosen then launched into an assault of tweets defending her comments and responding to Ann’s foray on Twitter:

When I said @AC360 Ann Romney never worked I meant she never had to care for her kids AND earn a paycheck like MOST American women! #Truth

— Hilary Rosen (@hilaryr) April 12, 2012

I’ve nothing against @AnnRomney. I just don’t want Mitt using her as an expert on women struggling $ to support their family. She isn’t. — Hilary Rosen (@hilaryr) April 12, 2012

oh and @AnnDRomney welcome to Twitter.You will find it a very exhilarating and often unforgiving place! — Hilary Rosen (@hilaryr) April 12, 2012

Ann did not directly respond to Rosen when she posted her second tweet hours later — promoting her return to the traditional media on Fox News to address Rosen’s comments:

I’ll be with @marthamaccallum this morning at 10:40 discussing Hilary Rosen’s comments. All moms are entitled to choose their path. — Ann Romney (@AnnDRomney) April 12, 2012

The LA Times called this a Twitter spat. Spat may be too generous considering it was only one tweet from Ann. But other media outlets and pundits did add fuel to the fire.

All top D’s condemned Hilary Rosen’s attack on @AnnDRomney. Have any top R’s condemned Rush’s *repeated* attacks on Michelle Obama??

— Bob Fertik (@BobFertik) April 12, 2012

Beltway lie, like “Frankly.” Hilary Rosen does NOT admire Ann Romney. RT @hilaryr @AnnDRomney Please know, I admire you.

— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) April 12, 2012

Today, Mitt Romney has fired back:

Romney Surrogate Says Hilary Rosen Was Delivering Obama’s Message Against Stay-At-Home Mothers 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/romney… via @TPM

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) April 12, 2012

And just a few moments ago, Rosen released an apology. This may not have been a banner affair for Rosen, but Ann Romney accrued over 20,000 followers on Twitter in what may be record time for someone who has only tweeted twice.