After being widely criticized this morning for his ugly and dishonest criticism of the Obama administration overnight, Mitt Romney appeared before the cameras this morning, delivering a statement and fielding some questions from reporters.
At a certain level, this should have been relatively easy. All Romney had to was come out, denounce the violence, honor the fallen, and extend his condolences to the families of the victims. In other words, Romney could have used this opportunity to undo some of the damage from his self-inflicted wound, and appear presidential.
Alas, Romney once again chose a different path.
Mark Halperin, a barometer of the political establishment's attitudes, called this the "most craven" and "ill-advised move" of the 2012 campaign.
It's just remarkable to see Romney unravel like this. Within hours of learning that a respected U.S. ambassador had been killed by a violent mob overseas, the Republican's first instinct was to launch a partisan campaign attack against the president. It came after a dishonest smear of the president last night -- on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, when Romney said he'd refrain from such attacks.
The nine-minute clip is well worth your time. Just two minutes in, Romney condemned messages from officials under attack in the U.S. embassy in Cairo, falsely accusing them "apologizing for our values."
Romney noted that the White House distanced itself from the same messages, which only made this morning's statement that much more misguided -- Romney was, simultaneously, saying the White House is wrong, the White House is right, and the White House is sending "mixed signals."
Romney must realize he was wrong overnight, but apparently feels as if backing down isn't a credible option -- so he's digging deeper, politicizing a tragedy, repeating falsehoods, and desperately trying to smear the president during an unfolding crisis.
It's a familiar pattern: Romney says something classless and untrue; he gets called out for his mendacity; then he repeats the falsehood under the cynical assumption that voters are easily fooled and there will be no consequences. This time, however, the GOP candidate is trying the strategy while trying to exploit deadly violence against Americans abroad.
Questions about whether Romney is fit for the nation's highest office will only get louder in light of this debacle.
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I'm beginning to think Romney secretly wants to lose in November.
The RNC was a funeral at the morgue in a cemetery, so he was not revived. he is not prepared to be the president and his application for the position has been denied and rejected, his resume is in the garbage can, and we'll keep the current candidate, he's more seasoned, more mature and more stable. you Mr Romney are double minded, and it is written "A double-minded man is unstable in ALL his ways" You Mr Romney are double-minded
Does Romney have any sane advisers or does he just dismiss them and go his own way because he believes he's always smarter than they are?
The thought that he is so stupid and lacking in common sense frightens me, but the thought that he has advisers that are the same and from Dubya's reign, scares me to death.
Mitt Romney goes his own way, as soon as the far right tells him what way that is. He is the most toxic candidate ever produced by both the GOP and the Democratic parties combined. HE picks a young mirror image of himself, sort of a Pinky and the Brain; etch-A-Sketch and Etch A Sketch Jr. A Mini-Me. Application for the office of President of the Untied States of America is rejected, denied and filed in the circular file beside the desk on the floor.
What is with all the lip smacking? Does he have candy in his mouth?
Interestingly, excessive lip-smacking is one of the signs that someone is lying. Really.
I noticed that too. That and his valiant efforts to appear sincere. He's such a bad actor...
He would make a terrible president.
LOLOL this guy is such a putz. He's a generic puppet who makes a statement and then his campaign checks the GOP polls and changes his statement to match the polls. PLEASE, DO NOT LET this putz be elected!!!
Let us hope that Ritt Momney and his minions are done. We need 12 more years of dems in the WH. Not 4 more years of shameless, disgraceful, greedy, contemptuous phoniness.
It's an honor to read your statement
Even Rushbo couln't tolerate Romney's remarks.
Rush usually supports the idiot of his choice, but not this time.
Please give Romney all the rope/air time he wants..
Got a bit distracted - what's with all his LIP-SMACKING at the beginning of his speech??
As far as his "off the cuff" answers - somebody get some duct tape before this guy buries himself wth all the adolescent reactionism.
This once more proves that Romney does not have emotions or a conscience since if he did he would have checked himself. I think he honestly does not know what he is saying that is wrong. This may be a great trait for a business leader but a bad trait for a government leader, unless you are the leader of a tolitarian state.
I am trying to figure out when bigotry became a core "American Principle"...
Free speech is an American Principle, and that means these idiots have the right to make anti-Islam videos. It doesn't mean they should be free from criticism for their hate-filled incitements. Why can conservatives never understand the difference?
I fear Romney has confused running a company with running a country. In a company you can get away with being an idiot and still have the power to fire other people. When leading a country you can be still be an idiot but you WILL be fired by the people.
hey let's just reject his application for the position, so he won't be an idiot in office. he can be an idiot back in boston
Romney Throws the Bombs and Blames the Target.
This moron needs to be locked up for his own protection. We don't think that praying for arms and retribution is going to be looked on favorably by his Mormon God. The thought of a possiblity of him becoming President Romney begins to make a mor attractive basis for assassination.
Watch it- you don't want to get a visit from the Secret Service. I know people are angry, I am too, but you should probably be careful what you say nonetheless.
Rev. Jack- Please consider a retraction to the assassination comment, and quickly. I'd hate to see you find trouble over a hasty joke.
No. Not cool. Not cool at ALL.
Brother preacher, I understand what you are feeling, but his candidacy renders a bullet unnecessary.
You are a sorry excuse for a citizen of this country for this comment.
I believe the word we are all looking for is "douchebag."
100% unfit to serve (even at McDonald's, fer gawd's sake)!
He insults the British, makes enemies with Russia, then clumsily inserts himself into an on-going crisis, all while calling foreign policy a distraction.
If he decides to put foreign policy on the front burner, we could be in some real trouble.
and this is just the warm-up LMAO...think he's trying to outdo his NEOCON predecessor- Goerge W Bush (he who must not be mentioned) for having Gaffe books written on the ridiculous statements he's made.
The question though I have is how much WORSE can this one do? George IGNORED WARNINGS (some say was behind it) about 9/11, got the US into 2 simultaneous wars, destroyed the US and almost the world economy through mismanagement of Wall Street, kissed the backsides of Bin Laden's Saudi coountrymen (check out the pic of the gold sword they gave him), divided the country into haves and have nots - all probably while falling off that famous alcoholic wagon is my guess since nbody SOBER would have been so dumb.
I highly agree. we'd be toast his first year with his mouth, and coming from someone who hid behind missionary work to dodge the draft back in 1966 (wikipedia, search Mitt Romney) The Mormon church, ex Mormons who have accepted the Christ of the bible as Savior, say have a program to help their youth escape military service. So Mitt When to France, at the age of 19, one year after starting college live there for thirty months. What nerve!
Romney chose to use his religion as an excuse to get him out of military service. Don't lump all Mormon's together. I know quite a few that honorably serve in our military, and most still did their Mormon missionary year (only 1 yr is asked/required).
Romney is desperate. That much is obvious. This says a lot about Romney. Presidential? No, not in the least. I swear, sometimes I wonder if they're trying to lose this election. But they're not. They're really are this mean spirited and obtuse. As for his fan club? pretty pathetic. They see an opportunity to jump all over this President, completely disregarding any decency for the people who have died, and their families.
This just pushed me further away from Romney. I didn't like him for all his business dealings with Bain and his tax shelters overseas. But this. This is obscene.
My thoughts exactly. I wish I could give this 10 thumbs up...
Still not ready for prime time
Mitt the Twit strikes again!
I wonder what Mitten's tweet would have said had he been in that embassy under attack?
"help me first!"
two thumbs up. he's be crying and wetting his skivvies.
How can someone even hold a thought to want to score political points within hours of some of the brightest and bravest diplomates senseless death.
His statements are such a stretch and to hear his political plans when we are mourning our losses and trying to get facts is just sickening.
He just may have ended his political career forever!
Romney simply is intent on killing himself. For him suicide is painless!!!
We have had a situation where someone had the bright idea that ended the lives of several non combatant Americans on foreign soil. it is a time of great sadness for a team that has been working their hearts out to build bridges that will help defuse tensions between America and other people that can help protect Americans abroad. One person or group has decided to use hate and intolerance to spark outrage that cost our emissaries their lives. the Author or authors of this video bear great responsibility for the lives of those Americans killed as a result. The people who did the actual killing must be brought to justice. But to go in guns blazing will make us just like those that killed the Americans at our embassy. It is a time for forethought and taking a firm stance, a stance that offers hope to quell tensions that save lives now and in the future. This is what is paramount the preservation of life of every American On the face of the planet. Retaliation brings retaliation. Tit For Tat.
The old way of doing things in a world that has changed remarkably form 50 or 60 years ago, Our policy has to change with the time. The wrong words can further fan the flames of anger against us. Rushed judgement is foolish judgement. The president eulogized and honored the work and memory of those who gave their lives in furthering the brokering peace, which was undone by an individuals or individuals who thought inciting rage in the midst of a work that would be in Americas best interest was a good idea. I say to them, your thoughtfulness and hatred and the stupidity with which you put that piece of garbage together has put "American Blood" on your hands. What were you thinking? do you even have remorse that you lit a fuse to this situation. I am certain that you did not expect Americans to die as a result of your lack of sound judgement, but sometimes what seems like a good idea, should just remain an idea. I hope you will take this hard and horrible lesson to heart and remove your heart form such weak and immature doings.
I hope others will look and remember that the lives they put at stake with careless, mindless and childish endeavors, and veer from this course. Human life wasted because of ignorance and a lack of solid understanding. You do realize you have potentially put our troops on the field at great risk. Did you think about what might happen to them before you released that trash? Did you for one moment stop to ask yourself, "What effect this might have and what are the consequences, and how far could this go? What if they successfully track you down, would your family be at risk? Who would they kill because you allowed your hatred to spill over like that?
It is so sad. The Romney campaign bears some responsibility, with all the hateful undercurrents he and the GOP hoped to ignite in the electorate that, in my opinion may have played a role in this video being created and launched, it cannot be undone. It's time to Stop all the racial code and run an honorable race, and stay out of things that you know nothing about. Reciting tired old lines and catch phrases show you have not developed your own current world reality solutions. You draft the dodge in 1966, and now you puff up your chest and indicate that you are going to recklessly put American lives in front of enemy guns to be shot to death just to get a vote? No diplomatic course that can bring the perpetrators to justice and bolster our standing in that part of the world; but then I gues you can't walk nd chew bubble gum at the same time. Your level of lowness in this matter is the lowest of the low.
Mr. president you remarks are carefully crafted and weighed and you have honored those who died as a result of this stupid video. I am proud of you and thankful that you kept a clear, level and sober head and you support of of the families who lost their loved ones on foreign soils. I am thankful that you were above not using this a s political football for your own advancement, unlike your opponent with his ingeniousness words and lack of feeling for those who were lost and tried to take advantage of this tragedy for political aspirations. your words will come back to haunt you. Americans have lost their lives Mr. Romney. American Blood was spilled, Mr Romney, and all you can think about is getting elected to bolster your campaign? The greatest shame come down upon you for your rash and foolish rush into the fray shows not that you are decisive, but of your ignorant of where the world is today.
The forties and fifties are gone and the old ways don't work anymore. Our President used drones to keep American troops lives safe and out of the line of fire, but you would put them at risk and start another costly war. Go back to Boston with your ancient ignorance and do America a huge favor. You application for the Job of President has been denied. Job already filed with a superior candidate when it come to national security and everything else. You sir are no president and you are less than a want to be
"then he repeats the falsehood under the cynical assumption that voters are easily fooled"...
They were once - by the clown in there now.
That's what happens when you let education go to your head instead of seeing it as a tool to do good.
Romney ignorantly referred to the attacks in Libya as being against our embassy when it was in fact against our consulate. I guess he is so new to foreign policy that he doesn't even know there is a BIG difference!
I don't think his "outrage" regarding defending "American principals" (of free speech) passes the smell test. In this case Romney strongly supports the right to free speech -- when the target is Islam! I am sure if the target of derision had been Christianity or more specifically Mormonism he wouldn't be so protective of our "way of life."