ON TUESDAY NIGHT, after the first reports that an American consular official had been killed by Libyan protesters, inflamed by an anti-Muslim video on YouTube, Mitt Romney issued a fateful statement: “It’s disgraceful that the Obama administration’s first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.”
A chorus of critics, including some conservatives, has since condemned the Republican presidential nominee for launching a political attack in the midst of a crisis. And Romney’s timing was, indeed, terrible. But his statement was offensive on many other levels.
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In American politics we seldom label individuals or Party's as liberal or conservative when it comes to foreign policy. More than this whenever their have been deaths or attacks upon America the noise of politics generally comes to a halt. Few credible politicians or citizens use the opportunities for political or ideological attacks. Yet, despite this history of caring about our fallen first we still hear those who wish to assault our ears and our eyes with this political nonsense. Mitt got the facts wrong, that's not political it is purely facts. Yet his defenders, if you wish to call them that, merely deny the facts, deny reality, close their eyes and say what. "The current President is a bad guy." That is their argument, seemingly their only argument. Mitt needs no enemies for his supporters never support him they merely make negative comments about his opponent. With comments such as these and supporters who behave in such a fashion Mitt has little hope.
Romney supporters "deny the facts", really? What about this fact:............
The Obama campaign hit Mitt Romney for using the “tragic death of one of our diplomatic officers in Libya” to “launch a political attack.” On a July 2008 appearance on CNN, then-Senator used the death of U.S. troops in Afghanistan as talking point to ding John McCain and President Bush for their support of the Iraq War.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/barack-obama-used-troop-deaths-to-ding-bush-mccai
By your own reasoning then ("Few credible politicians or citizens use the opportunities for political or ideological attacks") Obama isn't credible. I agree.
"jjag" Thanks for proving my point. Your defense of Mitt is, "Obama did it."
And Obama fiddles while Libya burns. During 9/11, wasn't Bush criticised before the smoke had cleared by our very own John Kerry?
Can you be more specific? Evidently not.
What did Kerry say and how is it relevant. Connect the dots for us. I would say that 911 was an entirely different situation.
Interesting that Mitt seems to be echoing Sarah Palin. I would submit that's not where he wants to be at this point in the campaign. Her Facebook entry is so stupid and blatant in its partisanship that she really seems happy that these developments occurred. She really seems overjoyed that this opportunity has come around. Very distasteful.
Mr. Romney has a warped sense of american values.
Rmney may have singlehandedly sunk his campaign with this one. It will get worse.
Let's continue to bash Romney, afterall he is the leader fo the free world, right.
Liberals have mastered on thing very well, DIVERSION. Like to hear more about our president's foreign policy, was he paying attention to the protests that were being planned for days.................
Romney told the truth and the Globe can't stand the truth about Obama. If Bush was President when an embassy was attacked, the Globe's comments would be scathing. Moreover, on an anniversary of 9/11/01, all embassies should have been better prepared and protected. This is just another failure of leadership and taking responsibility by our ill prepared President. Obama can't meet with the Israeli Prime Minister, but he can find time to go on 60 Minutes the night after he didn't protect of embassies to criticize his opponent. The empty suit in the White House is in well over his head. Carter comes to mind.
The embassy is an extension of the US and Obama is the President. It is his administration. I did not hear him deny the release, if anything he said the same thing.
he Obama campaign hit Mitt Romney for using the “tragic death of one of our diplomatic officers in Libya” to “launch a political attack.” On a July 2008 appearance on CNN, then-Senator used the death of U.S. troops in Afghanistan as talking point to ding John McCain and President Bush for their support of the Iraq War.
Rumors are rampant that this film was produced by Netanyahu's Mossad to sucker the US into a war against Iran. Has anyone else heard this?
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Since the real creator ofa this film has yet to reveal himself, I think it is. Wise torefrain from spreading rumors.
Are you kidding me trying to say that Romney is the problem here. Obama didn't bother to take the daily Presidential briefing for the entire week leading up to the attack. I guess he was too busym campaigning, hanging with Hollywood,golfing etc. to be bothered with protecting U.S. interests. Typical editorial for the Obama stenographers.
So a debacle occurs mere days after Obama's radio address claim that ""our country is stronger, safer and more respected in the world" and the Globe choses to ignore the obvious plank in Obama's eye while elevating an arguable speck in Romney's? Wow, talk about trying to create a "narrative" that, somehow, the BIGGEST issue of Islamist's murdering and rampaging through our embassies is Romney's reaction! Nothing about how these events put the lie to every claim Obama has made about improving America's "image" around the world! Nice try but the feckless foriegn policy of this administration is little different than the lack of economic improvement under Obama. Obama is more interested in golf than he is in leading in any manner and notwithstanding the Globe and other liberal media pundits coordinating this "narrative" in perfect unison, any sentient person can see the REAL issue here, Obama's continuing failure to lead.
Did you see pictures of the counter-protesters? Can you imagine a counter protest during the Bush II years?
Interesting ...your last statement....."But his statement was offensive on many other levels" is applicable to Obama, in my opinion, in other incidents. Please list some occasions that involve Obama in erroronus actions or do you avoid such comments to all Democtats since the GLOBE tends to favor positively most Democrats in politics.
How predictable. The Globe uses the tragic events in Libya and Cairo as an opportunity to bash Mitt Romney once again and to give the Obama White House another free pass on its mishandling of foreign and military policy. I urge readers to look at today's editorial in a competitor of the Globe: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443884104577647830171289116.html?mod=ITP_opinion_2&_nocache=1347551625149&user=welcome&mg=id-wsj
Opportunity to bash Mitt Romney? Ozark, take off the blinders and step away from the Murdoch rag for just a moment.
Romney will win because the economy is in shambles. Even MSNBC and CNN can't spin that fact.
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Totally agree with this editorial. Mitt's a loose cannon and seems to lack any diplomatic ability. It's likely that his business background, where as an investor you get to dictate terms to those taking your money, instilled in him a belief that you can behave in a boorish manner on the world stage. As you put it, we don't need to relive the Bush era of being the schoolyard bully. And before I get berated by Romney supporters as being a liberal, I'm an independent who's fiscally conservative and socially liberal. I've got no dog in this fight but it's easy to see that Mitt's lacks the makeup to lead this country. He's a buffoon!
Obama apologized to Islamic terrorist murderers for American free speech! He ought to be impeached! And whoever wrote this garbage should be fired!
Overture, cut the lights/
This is it, the night of nights/
No more rehearsing or nursing a part/
We know every part by heart!
Overture, night of nights/
This is it, we'll hit the heights/
And oh what heights we'll hit/
On with the show this is it!
It appears that Eric F has gotten his spin brigade into full gear to staunch the damage from his candidate trying to take political advantage of dead American diplomats and having it blow up in his face. Good luck with that!
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So once again the defense of Mr. Romney is, "That Obama guy is at fault." Mitt gets lambasted by "conservatives" and the response of his defenders here in the comment section is, "It's the Globe's fault." The Globe or Obama are responsible for Peggy Noonan's comments, George Will's comments, Joe Scarboros comments and the comments by other conservatives all saying Mitt was wrong. Time and again the only defense I ever see for Mitt is, "somebody else did it" or somebody else did back in 2001 or 1656, always the defense is never, Mitt did the right thing. Why? Apparently these folks know that Mitt didn't do the right thing.
Not the first time I've wondered: do Globe editorial writers read the Globe? On page A8 of the paper edition there's a Timeline in which report of American death in Libya came out at 7:43 pm, followed by Romney releasing his statement at 10:09 pm. One doesn't lose one's right to outrage at terrorist attacks just by being a candidate. We should ALL be releasing statements....
I think the message in question was from the embassy in Egypt and unrelated to the death in Libya.
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"Barbara" Kudo's to you at least you have the courage to mount a reasonable defense. I think politically Mitt goofed, but at least you make a point which is better than most.
Once again, Mitt romney reveals is ignorance of what goes on in the wide, wide world. Last time he sounded off was when he identified Russia as our principle adversary and threat. The man is still fighting the cold war.
So Mitt Romney didn't think we should be apologizing to those that are burning at that time our consulates.....then they murder our ambassador & others. What is wrong with that....should he have said...you have that right to destroy our property because you feel insulted...good thing they didn't paint a picture of Mohammed in a jar of urine and called it art and put it in a museum or with elephant dung. How about Pres. Obama didn't know if Egypt was an ally or non-ally and then runs off to a FUND RAISER the night our consulates are burning and our people are murdered. I think that should be an issue. Like the black minister said...Pres. Obama sold out for money.