Ask Mitt Anything, but Don't Get Too Close

It's been such a big week for Mitt Romney that we can't wrap everything up in the regular Mitt Watch - especially the following incident. A New York Times reporter wrote that Mitt Romney's security got a little too heavy on him in New Hampshire.

Mark Leibovich was driving behind the Romney Caravan. An aide stopped him, said he ran Liebovich's plates and told the reporter to - these are the reporter's words - "veer off."

That sounds a whole lot like "buzz off," or "eff off," or what have you. Team Romney is saying they didn't run the plates on him, which contradicts what the reporter said. They're also saying that they didn't pull Liebovich over.

But it's on the record. Here's Leibovich's original description of Team Romney's "operations guys":

He travels with an entourage that includes two or three “operations” guys who serve as advance men and a security detail. (Between stops in New Hampshire, this reporter found himself trailing the former governor’s S.U.V. on a back road, only to be led to the shoulder and instructed to “veer off” by a man wearing an earpiece who emerged from Mr. Romney’s car. “We ran your license plate,” he told the reporter, and explained that no one was permitted to follow Mr. Romney’s vehicle.)

No one was permitted to follow Mr. Romney's vehicle? What if you're some poor schlub stuck in traffic? What if you're lost? What if you'd like to pass this huge motorcade that's driving too slowly? All we know is that if you think you are driving anywhere near the Romney Caravan, drive away.

Seriously - it turns out that the Romney aide who had a brush with the reporter has taken the law into his own hands before. Jay Garrity has impersonated a trooper in the past, and he kept flashing lights in his car without a permit. Look, if he wants to be an officer so much, then he should just go to the academy!

Image of the "Ask Mitt Anything" series from the Mitt Romney website. He's accessible, all right. As long as you don't mind the security detail.