This is a person that is running to be a commander-in-chief failing just about the simplistic leadership test. Who in their right mind and intelligence running for the Presidency of the United States would use a tragedy such as this for political gain instead of being a voice of reason? Only an impulsive politician who has no foreign policy experience except hiding his money in foreign counties to avoid paying taxes would chose this path in the quest to be a President and that is poor judgement that will disqualify anyone from being a commander-in-chief.
After the aftermath that took four Americans life including the US Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, over a film that ridicules Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, President Obama made a statement condemning the outrageous attack in Benghazi while praising the four Americans as hero’s who have ”exemplified America’s commitment to freedom, justice, and partnership with nations and people around the globe.” The President ordered an increased security to ensure that there is no similar fallout in other parts of the world and to protect American diplomatic personnel around world.
However, Mitt Romney rushed out to attack President Obama and his Administration with his statement saying the Administration is “sympathizing” with the attackers and apologizing “for American values.” which by the way was greeted with harsh criticism from every corner of the media including some Republican pundits except of course who else but Rush Limbaugh.
But this is what really took place and how bad Mitt Romney got all this wrong:
The actual chronology goes something like this: As anti-American protests inspired by a crude Terry Jones video began gathering steam, the U.S. embassy in Cairo – and not the Obama White House — put out a statement condemning “the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims — as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions.”
The obvious intent was to cool the passions of the protesters. As Marc Ambinder explained, it was “exactly what Americans inside the embassy who are scared for their lives now and worry about revenge later need to have released in their name.”
Not that the rebuke was enough, Mitt Romney doubled up and sent a message points on how to politicize the situation in Libya courtesy of CNN provided by a GOP source:
MESSAGE POINTS: Attacks On America’s Diplomatic Missions In Libya And Egypt
Surrogate Message Points: Attacks On America’s Diplomatic Missions In Libya And Egypt
Top-Line Message:
– We join all Americans in grieving for the four American patriots who lost their lives in yesterday’s attacks and send our condolences to their loved ones.
- This is a time for America to be firm and resolute – and to make clear beyond any doubt that America will not tolerate attacks on our own.
- The violence against the American diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt underscores that the world remains a dangerous place and that American leadership is sorely needed.
– Over the last several years, we have stood witness to an Arab Spring that presents both opportunity for a more peaceful and prosperous region, but also great peril if the forces of extremism and violence are allowed to control the course of events.
We must strive to ensure that the Arab Spring is not followed by an Arab Winter.
– American leadership is necessary to ensure that events in the region do not spin out of control.
– We have seen a foreign policy of weakness and decline in American influence and respect. Yesterday, we saw the consequences of this perceived weakness.
– America cannot send mixed signals to either our allies or our enemies.
– We must not be afraid to use our influence to support those who share our values and interests – and to stand firm against those who threaten them. America cannot shrink from its responsibility to lead.
Questions & Answers:
Don’t you think it was appropriate for the embassy to condemn the controversial movie in question? Are you standing up for movies like this?
– Governor Romney rejects the reported message of the movie. There is no room for religious hatred or intolerance.
– But we will not apologize for our constitutional right to freedom of speech.
– Storming U.S. missions and committing acts of violence is never acceptable, no matter the reason. Any response that does not immediately and decisively make that clear conveys weakness.
– If pressed: Governor Romney repudiated this individual in 2010 when he attempted to mobilize a Quran-burning movement. He is firmly against any expression of religious hatred or intolerance.
Reports indicate the embassy in Cairo released its initial statement before the invasion of the embassy commenced. Doesn’t this show they were trying to tamp down the protest and prevent what ultimately happened, not sympathize with the protesters?
– The Administration was wrong to stand by a statement sympathizing with those who had breached our embassy in Egypt instead of condemning their actions.
– Distancing themselves from the statement and saying it wasn’t ‘cleared by Washington’ reflects the mixed signals they are sending to the world.
– American leadership needs to be decisive and resolute when our interests are threatened or attacked. For the last four years, this has been lacking.
– We have seen a foreign policy of weakness, indecision, and a decline in American influence and respect – and yesterday we saw the consequences.
– If pressed: The Obama campaign is now attacking Governor Romney for being critical of the same statement the Administration itself disavowed. This is hypocritical.
Did Governor Romney “jump the gun” last night in releasing his statement?
– No. It is never too soon to stand up for American values and interests.
Steve Kornacki at salon.com concludes:
The foolishness of Romney’s reaction is glaring. Pretending that the statement from the U.S. embassy in Cairo was anything other than a completely understandable and reasonable attempt by its occupants to save their own lives borders on disgraceful. Romney’s implication that the statement was issued at the height of the attacks is also false; it was actually released earlier in the day, a preventive measure aimed at keeping the protests from turning violent.
But this hasn’t stopped other Republicans – including RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and Sarah Palin – from echoing the Romney line. Again, it probably shouldn’t be surprising. This is the kind of nonsense you’ll get when one party spends four years convincing itself that a president is something he isn’t.
Is this the man America want to see as President?
