Mitt Romney's comments on Olympics rally proud Brits

"It is a British sport," Labour lawmaker David Winnick told The Associated Press on Friday. "We always complain."

He should know.

One of the iconic images of London's troubles was Winnick's cutting exchange with the head of the G4S security group earlier this month after the company failed to provide enough Olympics workers, forcing the British military to step in.

"It's a humiliating shambles for the country, isn't it?" Winnick demanded of Nick Buckles after the CEO offered a groveling mea culpa on live TV, repeating the charge until Buckles could not deny that it was.

But even Winnick winced when he heard what Romney had to say.

"These are internal matters that would be well dealt with under our own democratic system," he said. "There is a feeling, and I'm sure it applies in the United States, that ... families can quarrel bitterly in private, but should anyone from the outside have a go, the family is united. In other words: 'Mind your own business.'"

Associated Press writer Jenna Fryer contributed to this report.

Follow Paul Haven on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/paulhaven