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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Amazing, just amazing. There are not enough words to describe the stupidity of Mittens and his unbelievable comments. And people want this clown to be president? God in heaven -PEOPLE, WAKE THE HELL UP! Mittens and his lap dog Ryan will ruin this country. They sure as hell can't do domestic policy...and this is evidence that their foreign policy experience is not worth a pigs fart. Mittens, go back to Bain and do what you do best-golf, have cocktails and throw the martini glasses at the poor people. Letthe real professionals run the country. You are a pathetic bag of crap!
While I don't agree with the last statement I never call anyone that, but he is toxic as a politician. I hope they continue to open their mouths like this, each word is a shovel full of dirt for his own burial. Let him bury himself and kill Ryan's viability as a candidate next election, a great two fer one deal if ever Iheard one.
"...then he repeats the falsehood under the cynical assumption that voters are easily fooled" It worked once with the clown in the WH now.
Psst! The Bush years are over. We've moved on.
Keep talking, Mitt. Obama has no better re-election tool than you.
Agreed... Willard is a tool!
Vulture/Voucher 2012
Proving Two Rights DO Make a Wrong!
;-)
Mitt Romney is a DOUCHE....plain and simple!
Delete
Romney shows us that as an American, he cannot grasp that right now Pres. Obama is also actually his president, too. Romney is incapable of turning off automatic when it comes to having a hate-on for this president. He can't even do it in the face of this tragedy - he simply can't function as an American citizen to stand united with our President and the country. Disgraceful!
Is this this kind of person the nation wants or needs as its leader? As a veteran, I know integrity is a mandatory characteristic for respected leadership. Romney not honoring the 9/11 agreement with the Obama campaign, exploitatively leveraging a terrible event without remorse, and then using false information he knows is false is indicative of someone who lacks integrity and empathy. HE'S NOT SOMEONE WHO COMMANDS OR EARNS RESPECT!
Mr Romney doesn't seem to understand this was the act of a few radicals, not the Lydian government, just as those same radicals didn't understand that the "film" in question was not produced by the U.S. government, but rather a radical mad man in Florida.
Romney should heed the words of a much wiser, but fellow Repubilican, Abraham Lincoln. "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt". These are words to live by.
Romney's response reminds me of his reaction to the Rush Limbaugh's attack on Sandra Fluke. As an American, why would you NOT condemn a bigoted and hate filled movie. What the protesters did in Libya and Egypt was disgusting and should be condemned also, but Romney reverting to "well, I wouldn't have said it that way" just shows that he doesn't understand the politics of the world or have any empathy or compassion.
I find it disturbing that he also invokes the First Amendment, as if that gives you the right to say whatever you want without any condemnation. Funny how he didn't feel that way about the ads against him.
"I find it disturbing that he also invokes the First Amendment, as if that gives you the right to say whatever you want without any condemnation."
For years I have encountered zealots who act as if it does exactly that. And of course, those on the right are totally convinced that they have the right to say what they want with no negative consequences.
Not only is Romney a classless phoney, devoid of consideration for anyone other than himself and his wants, but this also demonstrates his total lack of any knowledge of what it takes to be President. His statements are those of a cowardly, brain dead, selfish and self centered want-a-be who must rely on having his "opinions and statements" spoon fed to him from the same sort of radical minds as that of the Pastor Terry Jones who's inflammatory racist statements fanned the flames that ended in the deaths of 4 loyal patriotic Americans.
I have said it a hundred times since Mitt Romney first started running for office this last year, he is a life sized Ken Doll with no soul and can only answer the pre-recorded messages available from his pull cord. Very Plastic and nothing under the surface as far as a soul or compassion or any other thing that makes us human. He is dangerous for our country, we will be at war with everyone even ourselves. Quite frankly, the arrogance is what has those folks pissed at us to begin with. He has 17 of President GW's advisors come on folks smell the roses, he is bush re wrapped. Even Prieves said he only needs to have working digits to sign the bills the Republicants place across the desk. Something to worry about indeed.
Let every anti-Mormon video made by the Evangelicals run on every channel 24/7 for the next 7 weeks - then see if Romney has any condemnation of intolerant films.
The man who would be Opportunist in Chief...
This fumbling man is absolutely unqualified to step in as Commander -in-Chief. He is disingenuous, ill-advided, ill-prepared, possesses astonishing hubris, and clearly, will say anything (truth be damned) to baffle and confuse an issue in the quest to attain his goal. Obama has never been anything clear in conviction, capable and decisive in these matters. The notion of this man having the launch code is frightening.
Obama was just taking credit a few days ago for his bombing of Libya so I don't think its out of place for a competing candidate to criticize. The worst part is both of their foreign policies are horrible. We shouldn't be giving any of these countries anything thing while we're 16 trillion in the whole and we shouldn't be bombing sovereign nations. Never mind when its supporting Al Qeada. I think Romney's terrible but you are all blind if you don't see the President is too.
Romney badly erred in that he mistook the US Embassy's statement for the President's and then lied about what the President said. That's something that should certainly not be overlooked in a presidential candidate.
Foreign nations do not cease their behavior and their need does not end on the basis of your country's abilities. And your country either can meet those needs (super power) or it can get off the national stage (regional power). If you want the US to be a super power then you must exercise the responsibilities implicit with the US being a super power. If you don't want the US to be a super power then we can go ahead and pretty much eliminate our military budget (with the exception of the coast guard and a small reserve naval and marine force) and foreign policy budget, close all of our overseas bases, and stop all future military projects.
Americans do not get to have the worlds largest military, the worlds largest war and peace infrastructure, and it does not get to lead the world in it's endeavors- both those of peace and war- unless the US is willing to exercise responsibility. If you don't want the responsibility that's fine, but then you give up the privileges that position has brought you over your lifetime. You want your products shipped here from overseas so you can buy an iphone for cheap? That requires the shipping industry which requires the navy and coast guard to defend it both here and abroad. You want to be able to travel to China for a vacation and then return the US without fear that even if China is in the middle of unrest YOU won't be touched? That requires the US have a well established and superior diplomatic corps to maintain both peace and authority. You want to be able to take your cruise to the Caribbean without fear of being hijacked by pirates? That's your navy and coast guard (again). You want to be able to keep your home protected after a tornado has destroyed your town? That's your national guard and air national guard.
I swear to god Americans are the least grateful people on the planet when it comes to the services their government provides for their lifestyle. There are literally people in this country who if you are captured will give up their lives to bring you home in one piece. And those people rely on the American diplomatic and military infrastructure to keep them safe, to facilitate their operations, and to maintain a platform by which the rescue of your sorry ass can be made possible. But yes let's just whine about a debt that has a minimal impact on our nation as it is because it's the hot topic at AynRand.com
You should see all the hate and ignorance on the Romney Condemns/Lashes out at the President, thread. stunning.
obviously, like many other republican chicken hawks, willard spent too much time watching the duke. in 'she wore a yellow ribbon' he played a calvary officer (no, he didn't serve in real life either) whose favorite line was, "never apologize--its a sign of weakness."
Romney confused an embassy (Cairo, Egypt) with a consulate (Benghazi, Libya). Is he so new to foreign policy he doesn't know the difference?
Romney is strongly supporting the right to free speech -- when the target is Islam! I am sure if the target was Christianity or more specifically Mormonism he wouldn't be so protective of our "way of life."
Apologizing Part of Romney's Religion?
The strangeness of Romney's frequent reference to his 'Apologizing for America' belief but he has taken to this topic, oddly accusing the President of apologizing to the world, here discover accidently, whole chapters of Apologies within his faith. We did not know Romney hewed so closely to his faith, but with such a strange history, and his affinity to almost nothing.
There are many weird expressions of his fixation on Apologies, as if he was planning to use them as his leadership strategy.
Search for "Mormon Apologists"
Mormon Apologists and Lying to get Mormon Converts
http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon376.htm
Mormon Apologists - Defending the Faith
http://www.mormonapologists.com/
Apologetics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apologetics#Mormonism
The words "apologetics" and "apology" do not have the same meaning. In Christian usage, the term "apologetics" refers to the act of defending the faith (e.g., presenting evidence that the Bible is literal truth). If you are a Christian apologist, you are not apologizing for anyting. You're offering a vigorous defense of your belief.
It's the same smarmy grin as Newt's. The guy's a fool and I think he knows it. He's just finding out that we know too.
SAW the smirk!! He's so totally dismissive and THINKS he has the chops to be "Presidential".........Moo ha ha is all I can say!
Oh and the REHEARSED "3 Prong Foreign Policy" made me howl with its buzzwords........except he tripped all over his tsk, tsking tongue on the 3rd point. What a tool.........my 5 year old niece calls it "printing" meaning "pretending"......he's printing to be the CIC!
Disgusting bunch .... the Romney Campaign Team.
I smell Eric Ferhnstrom all over this attack approach! And, it stinks!
The same was said about Ronald Reagan, and yet he engineered the fall of the Soviet Union, and he made us stronger as a nation. Reagan never apologized for the country like Obama has on many occasions. Romney tells it like it is.
I too tell it like it is....You are an idiot.
Reagan engineered the fall of the Soviet Union? Really, do tell ... just how did he do that?
Made the US stronger? By engaging in ridiculous "wars" like Grenada which make the good ol' US of A look like an incompetent bully? Or was it through spending like a drunken sailor and increasing the US debt by around 180%?
There is much the USA should apologize for. If you teaparty fools could grow up and find some adult maturity and insight, you'd see that stomping around the globe, making damn fools of yourselves and then demanding that everyone else THANK you for screwing up their country and their lives isn't the way to achieve peace or security.
When did Reagan engineer the fall of the Soviet Union and how did he do this? How did it make us stronger for another nation to collapse? How has and when has Obama apologized for our country? What did Romney "tell like it is?"
Reagan never apologized for the country? Just where were you when he issued an official apology to Japanese-Americans and their descendants for having them confined during WWII (an 'honor' never extended to German-Americans or Italian-Americans).
Look it up, Sartana, and learn how very wrong you are. Being able to apologize is simply knowing that you're not right all the time. That's no weakness.
True weakness is being so terrified of what other people think that you allow that fear to mold your behavior and shape the way you look at and react to the world.
An apology is simply you acknowledging you were wrong, that you've matured past that point, and that you're now willing to correct for that mistake and work to not make that mistake again in the future.
Refusing to apologize because you're afraid it's a sign of weakness....is a sign of weakness.
Romney continues to demonstrate why no one should vote for him.