Police: Politics led to wife slap

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HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- A Florida man is accused of slapping his wife during an argument about the U.S. presidential candidates, police said.

Peter Schwartz, 74, of Hollywood, told Broward County Judge John Hurley Wednesday he and his wife had argued about Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney while they were out for dinner, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Thursday.

"She said, 'You're like my mother, you like Romney. That means I don't like you,'" Schwartz said. "I said, 'I didn't say I don't like Romney.'"

Hurley said he wants the issue to "settle down" before the spouses are reunited. He ordered Schwartz to stay at least 500 feet away from his wife at all times and communicate with her only via phone.

The judge told Schwartz about an adage advising religion and politics not enter the conversation in polite company.

"Sir, look where we've come in this," Hurley said. "Now, we have spouses coming at each other over this."