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Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr
There's a standard paragraph towards the end of every stump speech Mitt Romney delivers. Though the candidate's spiel generally ignores international affairs, he wraps up by saying he talked to an unnamed British official who told him, "The one thing we all fear the most is a weak America."
There's certainly nothing wrong with the sentiment. The United States is the global superpower, so it stands to reason many of our allies do not hope for American decline. But this gets trickier when Romney starts attributing related sentiments to actual people.
As Mitt Romney prepares to travel to Europe and Israel to make his case to past and current world leaders this week, he leaves behind a public disagreement with one of America's strongest allies.
At a fundraiser Sunday night in San Francisco, Romney recounted his version of a conversation he had earlier in the day with Bob Carr, the Australian foreign minister. Romney claimed that Carr had told him in their private meeting that America was "in decline," but that the situation could be turned around if an appropriate budget deal is reached.
The problem, as the Australian foreign minister was quick to point out, is that Carr didn't say what Romney claims he said. In fact, according to a statement released by the Embassy of Australia, Carr was actually praising America's economic strengths. But Romney suggested to his donors that Carr is some kind of political ally, as if the Australian foreign minister supports the GOP budget plan and believes it will help end American decline.
It's worth noting that those seeking the U.S. presidency shouldn't run around talking about the United States being in "decline," especially with foreign officials. For that matter, Carr is a Labor Party official, and by U.S. standards, quite liberal. The notion that he's secretly on Romney's side is deeply silly.
But perhaps more importantly, as Romney prepares to go abroad, it'd be nice if he avoided international incidents. Indeed, to borrow a suggestion from March, if the inexperienced candidate who's struggled badly with the basics of international affairs is going to meet with foreign officials, perhaps he should release transcripts of the meetings to the public, so voters can know what kind of other mistakes he's making on the global stage.
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And where IS the media on this issue? Other than (some) on MSNBC touting this what we see today is 'Obama ATTACKS Romney' 'Romney and his Obama didn't build it' garbage. The media spends more time with their meme that Obama is 'running a negative campaign' than with everytime Romney opens his mouth he LIES. Hmmmmmm.
Yet the right claims Obama apoligizes too much to other countries. Mitt naturally will not apologize for his lies and misquotes.
Has Romney told the truth about anything yet?
Maybe. But we haven't found it yet.
Absolutely. When you give every possible answer on every possible question, at least SOME of your answers are going to just happen to be true.
Romney and lies go together like ketchup and fries.
John Kerry: "Did somebody say ketchup?!"
I look forward to his remarks on the Austro-Hungarian Empire, when he visits Yugoslavia.
"A fine car, that Yugo, although it can't compare to Dad's Rambler!"
In all fairness, Romney would stay on message, if he had one.
Yes, but Mittens is going overseas to 'burnish' his foreign policy credentials.
By attending the Olympics and kissing the Israeli Prime Minister's @ss. And by attending fundraisers in London and Israel.
Excuse me, why is it that the corporately owned media report this trip as 'burnishing' his foreign policy credentials?
Because the MSM is infested with corporate whores and moral cowards.
I fear what he will tell Israel's Prime Minister, since Adelson is buying our government to dictate policy, to include Foreign Policy. Will he tell Israel to attack Iran and we will follow right behind, or will he tell Israel we will make the first strike for them. We will never know what he actually tells them and that is what is really frightening. Romney would not know the truth if it bit him in the A$$. Is this what they teach in the Mormon religion that lying is acceptable, does the Mormon Religion not consider lying against God's law?
As for Adeleson - go build Casinos in Israel, Palestine and Iran and than buy their Governments and sit around chanting "Can't We All Just Get Along" and stay the fudge out of our Government.
And Adelson has already bought the Israel media.
Next he'll be telling us about secret meeting with kings and queens.
Don't forget the jacks and tens and jokers he also met with.
Just another lie in the pathological liar's stable of lies.How could anyone trust this man to lead this nation.A flip flopper,a liar,a man that hide's his money in foreign account's to avoid paying taxes to his own country.Then want's to cut program's for the poor and elderly to make up for the money that he skip's out of paying.
Wow, Willard. Not even president yet, and already causing international incidents. Safe to say a Willard presidency would probably lead to global war.
Yeah, a global war within his first 6 months in office...shudder to think about it...Romney is a lousy liar and knows nothing about foreign affairs except what their tax rates are for all his money!!!!
Is there anyone who doubted Romney would mess up during his "world tour"? I just didn't think it would be this early on. How long now before the GOP machine gets to work smearing Carr.
politics, american style, has never been noted for being the domain of the sincere, but i honestly believe that romney is the most thoroughly dishonest nominee of a major party since richard nixon.
Romney makes Nixon look like Honest Abe.
His campaign has admitted behind doors of what they are doing but laugh and say it doesnt matter. It is taken as fact anyway. If america votes this creep in, they deserve what they get.
look at what u got when u libs voted obm in,,do it again,,no more gov.checks..go live in spain, u libs are blind
Sadly, Bobby and Mittsy have a lot in common. Think off-shore accounts.
After selling off numerous state owned assets to a certain investment bank as Premier (Governor) he went on to a "consulting" role at said investment bank. He left a huge black hole in the state budget.
Many of us had a strong sense of WASF when he was called into Federal Govt.
Given a choice between Bobby or our current budgie smuggling opposition leader as PM...
Yup WASF! But at least one is telling you the truth about what his policies will be. Bobby has a history of shady deals behind him.
And to think of what the Republicans and media did to the Dixie Chicks when they dared to criticize George Bush abroad. Now we have a Republican candidate for President who trashes our country overseas and lies about a conversation with a foreign official. Romney is already dangerous.
Thanks Mitt for your daily demonstration that the way to understand Mormons is to remove the second "m."
Willard M. Romney will never reveal his secrets regarding his days at Bain, his record as Mass. Gov., his tax returns, or his position as a Bishop in the Mormon Church..... Romney is not just a member of the Mormon Church he is a Bishop....Does any one seriously believe that a Catholic Bishop could get away with not answering questions about his position in the hierarchy of the Church as it relates to seeking the highest elected office in the country?
Let me guess, Franks, Gohmert, Rooney, Westmoreland and Bachmann won't be getting any censure because they are going to be Willard's point people for foreign affairs.
Well, the pathological idiot strike again, 1) Former Pres. Medvedev (Russia) calling him and his country "geopolitical foes"... 2) Prime Minister Cameron, telling him that the toast he gave to Pres. Obama, was "undignified as a World leader and showing favorite in America politics.' 3) Now this chronic pathological liar, claim it's third victim... Before Nov. 6 get here this fool and his neurotic advisors (17 which comes from the Bush/Cheney era on foreign affairs) we're lose all our gains of respect that this administration have repaired, thanks to Pres., VPres., SOS, and our UN Sec. and others..
And the political media (all) political media is repeating the same act of 2000... By misleading, prop-up, cover-up, or looking the other way... Their fail attend of journalism and reporting are taking this nation back down that black hole..
"Australians in no way can vote in Americans elections and are powerless to affect that election " Rupert Murdoch
Could have said that.
Hmmm... Several other sources indicate that the British official who stated that they feared an America in decline was Tony Blair
I believe the quote came from a San Francisco fundraiser this weekend, "He said former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, told him that what the world fears mostis a weak America. 'American strength is the best ally peace has ever known,' said Romney." Since that fundraiser only allowed certain reporters in, that means Steve Benen is actually quoting Josh Richman, a reporter, who was paraphrasing something Romney was alreadyparaphrasing. Hearsay reporting
I'm surprised that the administration is not investigating the leaks from the White House. I can understand why they would want to promote certain things but the security of the country should come first. It can't be that hard to figure out who is leaking information to the media.
Practical Joke:
Hey Mitt, Look up... I think it's sputnik!!!
REALLY?? Those Russians!!!!
bin laden and gaddafi would still be alive and kickin if willard was in charge.
This is not surprising. As America comes to know Mitt, it is clear that he is habitual fibber.