I’m a real big fan of Ann Romney.  You’ll recognize her as the pretty blonde wife of Milt, who hopes to become the next President of the United States, but I think she stands pretty tall on her own. She has survived multiple sclerosis and breast cancer while raising five sons and today she and her husband have 18 grandchildren to boot.

Now the thing about Ann, age 63, is that back long ago – when most girls her age were playing with dolls and learning proper manners in Bloomfield, Mich., she was playing baseball and football with the rough-and-tumble boys in the neighborhood. Not only that, she would actually catch snakes out behind her folks’ house and – even today – freely admits she was “the ringleader” in many a caper.

When she had MS she tried every trick in the book to rid herself of the dread disease, including alternative medicine, but what probably did the trick was her horses. An accomplished equestrian, she was quite an expert rider but she better explained, "I was driven to get out of bed and get on a horse. My desire to ride was, and is, so strong that I kept getting healthier and healthier."

The reason I bring this up is because yesterday, as I read my edition of USA Today, there was a great story she wrote on the newspaper’s editorial pages. Let me share the first three paragraphs:

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It's hard to imagine now, but before the birth of my first child, I had never held a baby. Not once, not in my entire life. No baby at home to tend, no niece or nephew to babysit. So you can imagine, the day my first boy was born I felt woefully unprepared.“My mother took pity on me and stayed for two weeks, but that wasn't nearly enough time. As she was preparing to leave, I cried like I was the baby. I told her that I wasn't ready, that I had no idea what to do. In her smile I saw the truth. Ready or not, my son couldn't wait, and somehow, I would make it through.“Of course, she was right. Some might say it was the mothering gene kicking in, the same one that every mom throughout history has possessed. Maybe. But I don't think so. I was a good mom because my own mom was the best.

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I think that is pretty cool, especially with Mother’s Day coming Sunday, and the rest of the article was fun to read with what we know she’s been through -- raising the boys, being a governor’s wife and putting up with all the political sleaze. That’s right, sleaze, because Ann Romney’s warm story, appearing on Page 11A, got upstaged yesterday by another story with her picture on Page 4A.USA Today often runs “Ad Watch” about what we see on TV and a conservative PAC (political action committee) plans to run ads on the major networks Sunday highlighting the “mommy war” issue. You’ll remember that earlier this year some liberal types attacked Mrs. Romney over the fact she never worked; she was busy raising kids at home.

Well, some real charmers with the group “Restore Our Future” figured Mother’s Day would be just the time to lash back at CNN commentator Hilary Rosen and talk show host Bill Maher for their disparaging remarks about Mrs. Romney. For the record, President Obama refuted Rosen’s jab and Rosen babbled out an apology so now nobody should really care.

But in the vile and contemptuous way that some idiots think elections are determined, “Restore Our Future” will try to ruin our Mother’s Day luncheon the same way that they so successfully took the shine off Ann Romney’s story about mothers in Thursday’s editions of USA Today. Here’s the script they’ll try to force on you this Sunday:

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MALE NARRATOR: Ann Romney raised five boys. She successfully battled breast cancer and multiple sclerosis. But what does White House insider Hilary Rosen say about Ann Romney?“

HILARY ROSEN ON VIDEO CLIP: Guess what? His wife has actually never worked a day in her life.“

NARRATOR: And Bill Maher, who gave a million dollars supporting Obama, attacks …“BILL MAHER ON VIDEO CLIP: Ann Romney has never gotten her (expletive) out of the house.“

ANNOUNCER: Happy Mother's Day from Barack Obama’s team. Restore Our Future is responsible for the content of this message.

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Now – be honest – don’t you think Mitt Romney’s chances would have been presented in a far better light by his wife’s column than by the politically-motivated Restore Our Future crowd? This is why I find politics can become so embarrassing and sleazy when – if truth be told – the caustic ad never should have happened at all.Ann Romney should still keep her eye out for snakes and, if necessary, beat ‘em up.

royexum@aol.com