Romney Becoming A Pariah Over Libya Attack Screw-Up

[grunion]

Looks like the sharper politicians among the GOP are handling themselves far more astutely over the sad news of the morning than their aspiring leader is.

“We mourn for the families of our countrymen in Benghazi, and condemn this horrific attack” - John Boehner

“These attacks will not deter America from continuing to promote peace, democracy, individual and religious freedom and an unwavering respect for human life throughout the region and the world.” - Eric Cantor

“Among the things we can all agree on in Washington is that attacks on the U.S. and its representatives will be met with resolve, and that America’s presence and defense of our national interests across the globe will not be deterred by the acts of violent extremists.” - Mitch McConnell

“We cannot give in to the temptation to believe that our support for the democratic aspirations of people in Libya, Egypt, and elsewhere in the broader Middle East is naive or mistaken.” - joint statement by McCain, Lieberman and Graham
​

No attacks on Obama to be found, until:

“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.” - Mitt Romney
​

Looks like his own team is now making him look absurd. It won't be easy to backtrack from these comments (as he doubled-down on them this AM) but he is going to have to, and quickly.

 

[Biscuit]

Its the god damn liberal media's fault for reporting what he says.

 

[remirol]

Desperation spin from Romney:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/12/romney-camp-tries-to-manage-fallout-from-libya-response/

 

[mhaze]

Desperation spin from Romney:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/12/romney-camp-tries-to-manage-fallout-from-libya-response/

Looks good to me.

And it's not "desperation spin".

 

[Tricky]

Unbefreakinleivable. Not only is is response a lie, but when Americans are killed by a terrorist attack, Mitt's first thought is, "How can I turn this to my political advantage?" That is about as slimy as it gets.

 

[332nd]

So what did the White House say that "sympathized with those who waged the attacks"?

ETA: Ok, I see that Romney jumped the gun & didn't realize the statement by... someone... was before the attacks. Wow...

 

[A'isha]

Looks good to me.

And it's not "desperation spin".

http://www.buzzfeed.com/bensmith/foreign-policy-hands-voice-disbelief-at-romney-cai

"Bungle… utter disaster…not ready for prime time… not presidential… Lehman moment.” And that's just the Republicans.

 

[DavidJames]

Unbefreakinleivable. Not only is is response a lie, but when Americans are killed by a terrorist attack, Mitt's first thought is, "How can I turn this to my political advantage?" That is about as slimy as it gets.

His response is contemptible. As low an opinion as I have of his integrity, he still managed to push it lower.

 

[TheSapient]

So what did the White House say that "sympathized with those who waged the attacks"?

Nothing. Just another flat out lie by Romney. His whole attack has been shameful.

 

[Biscuit]

Desperation spin from Romney:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/12/romney-camp-tries-to-manage-fallout-from-libya-response/

“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.” - Mitt Romney

A sample response, as proposed by the Romney campaign officials in Boston:

"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."

WHAT!? How is the quote from Romney an example of "Standing up for american values and interests?"

 

[BenBurch]

Wow, I thought that Romney had a lot more on the ball than this.

 

[zeggman]

So what did the White House say that "sympathized with those who waged the attacks"?

I'd like to know that too.

"The Administration was wrong to stand by a statement sympathizing with those who had breached our embassy in Egypt instead of condemning their actions."

What was the statement sympathizing with those who had breached our embassy in Egypt? What did the Administration say that "stood by" that statement?

 

[Denver]

But overall, I don't think his statements here will be on the radar of most voters.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I thought this would be a thread about how Romney messed up the Libya attack. To which I would have angrily defended him and said "But he got our ambassador!!!".

 

[RenaissanceBiker]

Looks good to me.

You thought Gingrich's Moon Base idea was good.

 

[remirol]

I'd like to know that too.

"The Administration was wrong to stand by a statement sympathizing with those who had breached our embassy in Egypt instead of condemning their actions."

What was the statement sympathizing with those who had breached our embassy in Egypt? What did the Administration say that "stood by" that statement?

from here...

"Asked what Romney was referring to, his campaign Tuesday pointed to a statement from the US Embassy in Cairo issued a statement “condemn(ing) the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims” — referring to the anti-Muslim movie allegedly inflaming the demonstrators, rioters, and attackers — but that statement was issued before the attacks on the diplomatic missions."

[ETA: Crappy grammar as worded in the article.]

 

[DavidJames]

But overall, I don't think his statements here will be on the radar of most voters.

They should be. I think it's important to understand Romney believes blasting a sitting president with lies in the hours about an attack on a U.S. embassy is more important then showing unity with the current administration. They then need to know about his pathetic attempts to rewrite the chronology.

It's nothing short of contemptible and the American people should know about it.

 

[mhaze]

You thought Gingrich's Moon Base idea was good.

It most certainly was...not that I had the impression you understood it, and not that I would disagree that many concepts of "moon bases" are either practical or profitable.

 

[Tricky]

I thought that Mitt had gone about as low as a politician can go, but it turns out I was wrong. Sarah Palin used the opportunity to make a penis joke.

Republicans, are you proud of your party?

 

[Denver]

They should be. I think it's important to understand Romney believes blasting a sitting president with lies in the hours about an attack on a U.S. embassy is more important then showing unity with the current administration. They then need to know about his pathetic attempts to rewrite the chronology.

It's nothing short of contemptible and the American people should know about it.

It should be. But I expect if one were to poll the voters in November for what was on their mind when making their choice, most by then would not be giving much thought to what Romney said here.