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Subscribe to RSSAfter offending Britons with comments about the Olympics, Mitt Romney continues to face criticism over remarks he made about Israelis and Palestinians. Meanwhile, he wraps up his trip abroad with a visit to Poland. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
Updated 7:17 a.m. ET: WARSAW, Poland -- Capping a weeklong foreign trip, Mitt Romney on Tuesday praised the people of Poland for marching toward "economic liberty and smaller government" rather than "heeding the false promise of a government-dominated economy."
In a speech Tuesday in Poland's capital, Warsaw, the Republican presidential candidate also lauded Poland for its higher living standards and strong military.
The presumptive Republican nominee’s thee-country trip had been intended to project the image of a leader ready to stand on the world's stage but has been sidelined somewhat over alleged missteps in Britain and Israel.
Romney's comments in Poland fit into his campaign's themes of smaller government, reduced federal spending and fewer regulations on business. He says Poland is thriving because it sought to "stimulate innovation, attract investment, expand trade and live within its means."
Romney compliments Olympic preparation after tizzy in British press
Romney said Poland's success was a reminder that "free enterprise can propel an economy and transform a society."
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney had another diplomatic misstep – this time in Israel. The Romney campaign pushed back, disputing the reporting of Romney's comments. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
Earlier Tuesday, Romney met with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. The two men discussed the longstanding ties between the two nations as well as the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan.
Poland has also been a significant contributor to military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"On behalf of our countrymen, I express deep appreciation for your willingness to fight with us, to stand with us, and to be our friends in times of crisis and military conflict," Romney said.
"Poland has excellent ties with the United States, regardless of which American party is in power," Sikorski said. "We remember Ronald Reagan's warm feelings for Poland's Solidarity and also the fact that we joined (NATO) during Bill Clinton's term."
The two-day trip to Poland is aimed at Polish-American and Catholic voters in the United States and highlighted Romney's stance toward Russia. He has labeled Russia as America's "No. 1 geopolitical foe," a characterization that's not unwelcome in a country that still fears Russia. Poles generally have been skeptical of President Barack Obama's "reset" with Russia, and Romney has cited Polish concerns in his criticism of Obama.
As a former Soviet Bloc nation that has been subjugated by bigger European powers throughout history, Poland remains particularly worried about Russian policy.
Full international coverage on NBCNews.com
Romney received words of encouragement on his visit to Poland on Monday from Lech Walesa, a former union leader and ex-Polish president, who said: "I wish you to be successful because this success is needed for the United States of course, but for Europe and the rest of the world too. Governor Romney, get your success. Be successful."
But Solidarity, the union led by Walesa in the 1980s that helped topple communism in Poland, distanced itself from Romney, who it said "supported attacks on trade unions and employees' rights."
Romney angers Palestinians
Earlier, Romney was forced to fight off controversy after he called Jerusalem the Israeli capital and said later that differences in culture powered Israel's economic success compared with the Palestinians.
Both comments angered Palestinian leaders, just days after Romney annoyed Britons during a stop in London by questioning their readiness to host the Olympic Games.
Candidate Mitt Romney, who was slammed by the British media for comments he made about London's preparedness for the Olympics, now says that "after being here a couple days … I'm absolutely convinced that the people here are ready for the Games."
The United States is the dominant broker in efforts -- paralyzed since 2008 -- to set up a Palestinian state through negotiations with Israel, and Palestinian leaders do not want to antagonize key players, including Romney.
More on London 2012: Hosting the Olympic Games
However, Romney's comments on Sunday about Jerusalem prompted a strong response.
The Palestinians want to establish a capital in east Jerusalem, captured and annexed by Israel in 1967. Most of the world, including the United States, does not recognize the annexation. Every U.S. administration since Lyndon Johnson has decided to keep the American embassy in Tel Aviv.
McCain: Israeli-Palestinian differences have 'nothing to do with cultures'
But on Sunday, Romney said flat out that Jerusalem is Israel's capital and strongly suggested he would move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem if he were president, supporting two key Israeli demands.
The fate of Jerusalem is one of the main sticking points in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will not give up any part of the city, taking a harder line than two of his predecessors who were ready to discuss partition.
Previous U.S. presidential candidates, including then-Sen. Obama in June 2008, have referred to Jerusalem as Israel's capital ahead of elections, only to row back when taking power and suggest the issue should be resolved by negotiations.
Romney: US has duty to protect Israel
Seeking American Jewish and fundamentalist Christian votes, Romney has criticized Obama on Israel, alleging last year that the president had "thrown Israel under a bus" in pushing hard for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
In 2008, Obama won 78 percent of the Jewish vote, a lead into which Romney's campaign would love to make inroads.
GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney sparked a political firestorm during an interview with NBC's Brian Williams, in which he questioned whether London was ready for the Olympics. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
Romney points to 'culture' gap
Romney pointed to the big difference in wealth between Israel and the Palestinians and suggested Israel's culture was the reason for the gap.
More coverage of the Middle East and North Africa on NBCNews.com
"If you could learn anything from the economic history of the world, it's this: culture makes all the difference," he told a fundraising event in Jerusalem.
The chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat said that Romney's comments amounted to "a racist statement that shows a lack of knowledge."
He added, "Everyone knows that the Palestinians cannot reach their full potential given the Israeli restrictions imposed on them."
Mitt Romney visits Western Wall, one of holiest sites in Judaism
A senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rdeineh, said Romney's statements were unhelpful, stood in the way of a peace settlement and "contradict the previous positions held by the American administration."
In Jerusalem Sunday, Mitt Romney said the U.S. should "employ any and all measures to dissuade the Iranian regime from its nuclear course." NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a chief Romney foreign policy surrogate, appeared to differ with Romney even as he tried to defend him.
"I am sure that Gov. Romney was not talking about difference in cultures, or difference in anybody superior or inferior," McCain said Monday in Tampa, Fla. "What I'm sure Gov. Romney was talking was that the Israeli economy has grown and prospered in a dramatic fashion. And unfortunately, the Palestinians have not had that same economic development."
White House: Some 'scratching their heads' over Romney comments
McCain continued: "And that goes to the leadership of the Palestinians. ... And we also know that the Palestinian people have not been blessed with the kind of government that has lower regulations, less taxes, entrepreneurship, which have caused the Israeli economy to be one of the world's most successful. It has nothing to do with cultures. It has nothing to do with superiority or inferiority."
NBC News staff, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More world stories from NBC News:
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News on NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
Leave a Comment:
What missteps? In Britian, it's not like the olympics are any big success. Look at all the empty seats. It's not like he sent back the Churchill bust, or anything. And as for pissing off the terrorists with his comments in Israel, it's good to hear some support for our only ally in the region, as opposed to the nutless wonder-apologizer-in-chief we are now stuck with.
Funny, no mention of Walesa's support for Romney in this silly article, either. You know Walesa, the guy who actually deserved the Nobel Peace Prize. Unlike Obama, who got it as a gift, just like his being elected president.
The missteps is Mittens mouth opening! Traveling around the world trying to project himself as a leader when in fact he is just annoying the countries he is visiting and making an a** of himself with his ignorant wordage. He should of took a crash course in modern history before being allowed to speak in these countries.
OL,
You can choose to ignore the missteps and the reason for them if you want... it's your decision. But Romney has a severe personality/position/ego flaw where he always seems to fail at being able to understand how people will receive his constant and flawed "judgments". He cannot relate to people. He's in his own world.
Maybe he gets a pass with the British not taking real criticism well, but what's with the "culture" comment about why the difference in neighboring economies? He pissed off both sides of the border.
Let's see what happens when he dismisses issues here based on "culture".
In Britian, it's not like the olympics are any big success. Look at all the empty seats. It's not like he sent back the Churchill bust, or anything.
Have you heard the word DIPLOMACY? You probably enjoy telling your friends how dirty their home looks when they invite you over.
It is not his place to be that party Popper. His words, as a foreign visitor, should be words of encouragement. Stop the attitude that it is OK to be rude, and that an apology is absolutely out of question. That only shows that we are bullies.
Good old Mittens can not avoid his missteps ( open mouth & insert foot ) Than President Ford could avoid stumbling or falling down on camera. Ford was also a dangerous golfer ( fore ).
A Romney Presidency would be diasterious. I never thought there would be anyone less qualified than Baby Bush... but true to GOP form, they managed to come up with an empty suit straight from central casting. The only problem is that he is so over his head and so unqualified it's just scary.
We all know Chaney actually called the shots in the Bush Presidency. Who would call the shots for Romney? He simply doesn't have the skill-set to be President.
Where are your tax Returns Romney? What are you hiding?
i guess they forgot to mention the controversy with the press and his staff in Poland it is on the world news this morning....so they apologize yet again lol!
Romney is just a nominee for the Republican candidacy, he isn't their choice yet. He should keep his mouth shut and stop trying to be what he is not. Let the real President say what should and should not be.
I'm not a big Mitt Romney fan, but I don't blame him for telling it like it is.
Tough if the Brits are sensitive about their holes in - of all things - security. And as for the Palestinians, tough if they are so thin-skinned.
These were not gaffes, they were statements from a candidate telling the truth.
The Republican party hasn't fielded a serious candidate for president since Nixon. They have all been empty suits, predominately because they were not too bright.
The same person always runs the country when the Republicans are in charge, Big Business.
Sadly it's just gotten to the point where they run it when Democrats are in charge too. In some ways it's worse with the Democrats because they know what's going on. The Republican presidents are so entitled and dumb they just think it's the way things should be.
Romney's problem is that he's entitled. He really truly believes much like the Fundies that he's deserves what he has and the rest of us are just not worthy. His comment about Israel and Palestine speaks to that. He's addressing the wealth and opportunity disparity in the US when he says that. He doesn't get that for an accident of birth he would have been Palestinian or poor.
I love Lech Walesa's comment. Trying not to endorse him because of course he's a Union destroyer but also trying not to antagonize the possible next president of the United States.
Romney could learn a thing or two about diplomacy from him.
The bumbling idiot and gaffe King will do it again.
roger white-3731376
We need to understand the difference between truth and conjecture. Judgment is not truth until correlated with facts. CEO's must make quick judgments with few facts and then hope that they were "roughly right"... a very different and dangerous process to use on the world stage.
Being judgmental and proclaiming your views as just "telling the truth" nets you few friends.
Romney needs to be recalled. Foriegn relations fieldtrip grade is an F........
He's like a giant Whack-a-Mole in a shiny suit - popping up all over the verbal gaff landscape. He should visit Russia and China next -- that would be a hoot.
Romney is a completely pathetic moron of a candidate and Republicans know it. I'm not certain that hate for Obama alone can swing the election to Weird Willard.
Its been hysterical these last few months Mittens already thinks he's the President.
What, no Polock jokes Willard? I know you must have a bag of them you want to lay out for them. Like, how many Polocks does it take to screw in the light bulbs in my mansion? Non, because all the help is Mexican and Guatemalan. ha, ha, ha, ha,ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,ha, ha, ha, ha,!
"Romney stays on message" - too bad the message that the world and the American electorate is receiving is that M.T. Suit is a condescending twit. What a waste of his donors' money this clown has become.
I wonder if Weird Willard participated in the mass conversion of Jewish holocaust victims' souls to Mormonism along with the rest of his church. Good god, to think this intellectually stunted superstitious jackass Mitt is just a few million misinformed voters away from the white house....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-brown/mormon-dead-baptism-explanation_b_1279739.html
Despite providing a lot of military help in Afghanistan and Iraq, Poles are the only EU nation requiring visas to visit US. It is a total shame on the past and current Administration.
Sorry Mitt the Twit. The World is coming on board with what the majority of Americans already know. However, keep on going down this path, it will assist in re-electing President Obama.
P.S. I see that Isreal and the UK rejected your true agenda. You cannot export American jobs to either of those countries. Perhaps you should visit those countries where you have stached your millions.
So I guess the message is "Kiss my a%%"? Seems to be the expression his staffers are using with the press. No wonder they such issues with the 4th estate.
Up to now Romney - as the big dog in the Republican party - has proven that he does not wag the tail the tail wails him.
LMarcT: I hear you. Nonetheless, Romney said that the security lapses were disconcerting: FACT. Furthermore, culture does drive a nation's economy: FACT. On the latter, a CEO with Romney's experience would know that very well.I do not see conjecture.
Silly Post # 1 says
Here's what the article does say
But poster # 1 is not the first right winger who blames the press for their inability to read.
Balls to the Wall: Are you a racist cretan?
Romney only supports Israel because he religiously believes the Jews need to control the place in order for the resurrection of Christ and Armageddon. He's pro-Israel for all the wrong reasons, because let's be honest, Jews represent less than1% of the vote in the US, it's not exactly like its a critical base, also considering Jews vote overwhelmingly democratic.
Also, more and more Americans, including myself (which I am Jewish) are becoming less and less supportive of Israel. The nation is not a "Superior" culture as Romney proclaims, but rather, the Israeli government, controlled by their right-wing, has been blatantly violating the human rights of the Palestinians and has been leeching US aid and weapons for far too long.
NBC has done its best to portray the foreign visits as missteps and a disaster. Their political bias really shows when they try to make something of Mitts Jerusalem statement and then note that Obama has backtracked on his candidate position on the same topic. At least Mitt calls it as he sees it. Obama just tells you what he thinks will get the most votes from his slackers and misguided liberal friends.
Anybody but Obama in 2012.
Mitt was scaring the USA. Now he's scaring (and alerting) the world as to who he really is. Maybe he will pick Palin...give her a second chance. She was robbed I tell yazz...robbed.
Hey, Mitt, please talk about your plan to release your tax returns.
We the Voters want to see it. But we have made up our mind already anyway.
Obama/Biden 2012.
How come whenever I think of a Romney Presidency the Hindenburg comes to mind.
Hey, maybe Weird Willard can hire Fred Willard as a PR spokesperson
...he's got the voice, the looks, the name recognition
plus, I hear he needs a job...
If his original statements were true then his apologies and attempts to roll-back what he said were lies. So that makes him an idiot and a liar.
Dear Obama Lies,
Uhm, you do know that the story about the bust of Churchill being sent back to England is a bald-faced blatant lie correct?
While it was replaced with a bust of President Abraham Lincoln (who you seem to despise as much as Obama, since you revere Churchill more) it was moved to the White House residence quarters. Maybe you should pick a new name like "I lie about Obama".
Ol,
how about the fact that he lied about Palestine? Lies are still considered missteps right? Or are they good things now?
Either way Palestine's economy is in the crapper because of all of the sanctions Israel has placed on it, much like what is happening in Iran, just smaller scale.
It has nothing to do with cultural differences. For a businessman Romney blasts a pretty large hole of doubt in his credibility by stating what he did.
Obama Lies "What missteps? In Britian, it's not like the olympics are any big success. Look at all the empty seats. It's not like he sent back the Churchill bust, or anything. And as for pissing off the terrorists with his comments in Israel, it's good to hear some support for our only ally in the region, as opposed to the nutless wonder-apologizer-in-chief we are now stuck with."
Agreed. The comment about the threatened strike by officials checking visitors to prevent terrorists from getting in was one that should have concerned everyone - Of course, the government 'caved in' to the irresponsible union demands for 'payoffs'.
And why is it such a 'misstep' for Romney to refer to Jerusalem as the spiritual 'Capital' of Israel when Obama did exactly the same thing in 2008?
Honestly, this is just the Liberal media trying to 'spin' news to help Obama - their Liberal 'hero'.
It does not seem to have much effect on the actual voting public though, since Rasmussen (easily the most accurate pollster for the 2004 and 2008 Presidential elections) has Romney ahead by 3%, when they were tied only 2 weeks ago.
This jerk will say anything for Votes! (isn't he afraid of angering the Russian Americans?)
The only way for Romney not to say something rude is NOT TO SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.
Obviously he doesn’t think they make much money. He already has said that he doesn’t care about poor. In his income bracket that would be anyone making less than 200k.
Romney can't think on his feet. Every single time he goes off script he sticks his foot in his mouth. And why is that -- because he's as phony as they come. He's not a right wing tea bager -- he's a RINO. He runs away from his biggest accomplishments --- Romney-Care and Bain. Come debate time President Obama is going to eat him up and spit him our.
Wow..Charlie...and our current President gets hoof in mouth every time there is not a teleprompter in front of him. Remember 57 states. Gaffes are a part of the job. They are going to happen. And oh, Israel was not a gaffe. Strong support is exactly what is needed from him.
Again, I ask this question....When MSNBC ran the story about his support for Israel, why did they put the word "Respect" in quotes? What were they implying by that? MSM again slants things by the GOP to make them worse. Everyone took that to imply that Romney would get involved militarily, but that was never said, or even implied....until the quotes for "Respect".
If you take all the positions on all issues, should;t everyone vote for you?
Romney sucks cheese.........
George asks
the quotes are used is because it is the a quotation of the carefully selected word of his senior advisor Dan Senor.
He did not say "support", "detest", "agree", "disagree", "hate" or any other word. He specifically said "respect". The word was carefully chosen for its meaning, and to paraphrase with some other word would be an egregious distortion of what Mr. Senor meant.
I see no implication of military involvement by the word "respect". It was carefully used NOT to imply a military response by Romney. You seem to be a bit defensive about this issue.
Accurately reporting what is said is called is called journalism.
Wow..Charlie...and our current President gets hoof in mouth every time there is not a teleprompter in front of him.
George -- that unending teleprompter babble you cons talk about is funny. You give me a single example of an Obama gaff -- 57 states -- said more than 4 years ago. Romney screws up almost every day --- the trees are the right height, I like to fire people, corporations are people, -- the list goes on and on. this clown managed to even makes the Brits angry -- even Bush couldn't do that!!
"I like to fire people.." yeah, sounds bad when taken out of context. He further said when they don't do the job they were hired to do. "Corporations are people..." according to the highest court in the country, yes.
Obama gaffs: 57 states...yes, said almost 4 yrs ago when he was a candidate - you idiots still elected him. "Spread the wealth around..." and you still believe he doesn't have socialist tendencies? "If you have a business, you didn't build that!" I don't think the govt took out the 2nd mortgage or loan to finance the venture...and, oh by the way, turns out the concerns about security at the Olympics was warranted - had unauthorized people marching in the opening ceremony, lost set of keys to one of the major venues...God forbid something bad happens but if it does, what would you say about Romney's concerns then?
I"m personally not comfortable with anyone calling Russia a "foe". Doesn't anyone remember the Nuclear Bomb age? I did not think I would live to be an adult because of those Nuclear Bombs.
I'm with you on this. Especially since it's so not true.
This was a Reagan fantasy that the Republicans run with every time they are in office so they can funnel massive amounts of money to their defense contractor buddies.
If you want to point to foes, point to China. They are the ones destroying our country.
It's all about money with the Republicans. There is no lie too big, there is a no scam unworthy. And they want to trim restrictions even further on Big Business.
What a joke..
a rich person, a middle class person and a poor person sit down at a table. On the table is a plate of 20 cookies.
the rich person immediately grabs 19 of them then leans over to the middle class person and whispers, "I'd watch out for that poor guy if I were you. He's trying to get half your cookie."
So seriously, what was Lech Walesa thinking? Romney 's current "policies" (meaning his sucking up to the Far Right at home) go against everything he once believed in, he must either be getting senile or was it the translation that was the problem?
And almost funny how these politicians slavishly fawn over the Jewish vote. They make up a grand total of 1.8% of the US population and that percentage is falling. This groveling is an indicator of their inordinate financial power and also results from the fact that they vote in very high numbers (up to 90% of eligible voters) something of which other minority groups need to take serious heed.
"The nuclear bomb age?" Who says that? How old were you when you learned about it in school? Do you mean the Cold War? I hope so, because there are still plenty of nukes out there.
Sorry, mj - more like the poor person grabs 15 of the cookies, the middle-class guy grabs 4, the rich guy gets one; then the poor and middle-class people demand that the rich guy pays for the cookies!
Romney is a nutcase member of a religious cult, and not smart enough to avoid damaging comments. This is the best that the GOP has to offer? He might as well select Palin or Bachmann as a running mate -- that would top up his knowledge bank. He's nothing short of dangerous. And it's funny how the right supports someone who is a member of a religious cult that supports polygamy. Must be in the bible somewhere.
Yes, it's in the Bible. A lot.
Genesis 4:19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
Judah 8:30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives
1 Kings 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
1 Samuel 27:3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife.
1 Chronicles 4:5 And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
2 Chronicles 13:21 But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.
My young translator in Iraq offered to make me his first wife. They still get three over there, if they can afford it.
The koran authorizes four.
A teleprompter would not help. A different set of life experiences? Maybe. A little understanding? A lot. Empathy? Not in him. Maybe a brain transplant.
His non-judgmental personality is so unenduring.
His ability to draw quick and insultingly accurate conclusions based on bad data is amazing.
His ability to put himself in other's shoes is a fantastic lie.
Not my choice.
Gee, I would never have guessed you were a liberal from your logo up there. What exactly did Romney say about the Olympics that was so wrong? That they screwed up the protection? Gee, I read, in NBC "News" of all places, that the Brits had to bring in 10K troops to provide security..sounds like a screw up to me. But what do you think? or do you think? or just babble on?
Look at this post.. all you liberals shouting in an echo chamber. I know, Obama never makes any misstatements.. he is always on point.
Obama did not go on the world stage and piss off every country he visited. He knows how to speak with words of encouragement instead of being so judgmental and "all knowing".
And by the way, I'm much less liberal than just anti-GOP. I used to be Republican. My whole family was Republican. This is not Republican. Ever since they adopted greed and exclusion as their goals, they lost me.
Don't be so judgmental. LOL
Ex-Republican here, too, Marc. The party is so unattractive I can't see how it survives. And yet there seems to be no end to extremism. Sometimes I feel bad for Mitt. He seemed reasonable when he was in Massachusetts and his health care bill there has been an incredible success, but his party will not let him run on that success. The decent republicans are being forced out. I wish both parties were less extreme, but the republican party is now swayed fully by the extreme. The extremists on the left still get ignored most of the time by the Democratic Party. I hope the Republican party collapses to the middle before the Democrats need to become even more extreme as a response. The majority of the country in the middle will have no place left to go.
DCook140..... Romney's mistake is lack of diplomacy and tact.
Criticizing about matters of security that he has no internal knowledge of how the British are dealing with is a big no no. I believe he thinks he is an expert in Olympic matters having presided over the winter olympics 12 years ago, but that was a different time, different security fears than present.
It is not hard to say " Like any host nation, I am sure the U.K. are doing all it can to have a successful olympic event that we will all remember for a long time "
The Britt threw a fit because they were embarrassed in public by the truth. The truth hurts so they had to get mad and hit back. Very mature of them. I thought they had a little thicker skin but apparently they bruise like a ripe peach, at just a touch. They might have everyone walking on eggshells now, wimps.
No, just the country he is sworn to serve.
No, he did not go on the world stage and piss off every country he visited; rather, he apologized to every country he visited for America being a superpower! He's weak, ignorant, and hopefully gone in a few months!
Mitt Romney...note to self "keep your G.D. mouth shut!" You are not just embarrassing yourself...
It really is embarrassing. I wonder if the state dept. is considering issuing apologies for Mitt to dampen his broad swath of destruction?
Both of you have no idea what your talking about. Romney did better than Obama, he didn't apologize for being from the US.
He's leaving the apologizing to Pres Obama...afterall, he is so good and experienced at it!!!!
The only way he can do that is by not speaking. Mitt, you're reminding me of Sarah and that's no compliment.
Poor Willard. You're just a political mess. Flipping. Flopping. Stumbling. And, of course, you're a RINO. So the tea pots and true right wingers really can't stand you.
I wil say that he applauded Israel's health care system. Which includes the individual mandate. (Of sorts.) At least you got something right.
And when he went to Poland, he raved on and on about the fact that Poland is now the land of Democracy, because of Solidarity. does he not know that solidarity was/is the union? so IOW, he is praising Poland's unions for the democracy that Poland has today. so now he comes home, and starts again denigrating unions, universal health care, and everything else he saw.
What a joke. The Palestinians are pissed off about Romney's support of Israel. The Palestinians are always pissed off about something. They hate America. I like it that they're pissed off. I'm sure they're pissed at Obama, and all the past presidents too.
Palestinians are upset - Wow what a news flash.
George-749102
If the government claims your property under eminent domain, puts you out on the street, you will not be pissed ?
The Palestinians are being squeezed out of their lands for generations now, that is not even by eminent domain, of course, they will be pissed for that is what they grew up with.
The Palistinians won't even meet at the table with Obama because they don't respect him and view him as weak.
Good luck!
Election is about the economy and Obama blew it. Anyone but Obama and his one idea - Government can spend money wiser than you can. - right.
Romney 2012 for a return to American values not Marxist values.
Well the choice between the known screw-up Obama and the very successful Romney seems pretty easy to me.
Romney 2012
You lay out the right argument, George. Do we want continued job growth as we have seen over the last two years and near return of the stock market or do we want to go back to Bush economics? The Romney plan is the Bush plan. That is the choice we face in November.
George... Marxist Values ? Please support it with facts.
I have asked the same question to people who say the current President is a Muslim ? A socialist ? Not eligible to be president for he is not American Citizen?
You will be surprised, majority do not even understand how you acquire US Citizenship. Social Security is a form of socialism, you are contributing to a fund now that others are currently benefitting, will there be enough workers contributing to it when it is your time to retire ?
Bobby, what was Obama's big sucess story before getting elected? What job experience did he have? Any business experience? Political? What?? Golf.
Bobby - you are clueless. The reason why Romney hasn't had a job since 2007 is because he has been so successful that he would never have to work again. Nor his kids (who are all successful and don't live off their father's wealth).
No one who supports Obama can tell me what he has been successful at prior to getting people to vote for him. He had no business experience, no military experience, no executive experience such as mayor or governor, admits in his book that as a community organizer he never saved a single job from being lost, has no legislative accomplishments in either Illinois state senate or US Senate. So what is it that he accomplished prior to getting uninformed people like you to vote for him?
i love the way you characterize his 'missteps.' just roll the dial back to 2008 when our dear leader said the same thing. jerusalem is the capital of israel. to deny it is absurd.
Agree. Obama is signing documents giving Israel 70 million dollars and at the same time his state department will not say that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Obama cannot run on his record, his supporters can't defend his miserable record so they call Romney names. Good old Chicago corrupt politics.
How old are you bobby? Stop wasting time on your parents computer.
There is a difference in culture. While both the Israelis and Palestinians are religious, in general Moslems constantly use the phrase "God willing", which culturally leads to a supposition that all is fore ordained by God, what individuals do does not matter. This does affect how individuals lead their lives, what they will strive for. The other basic cultural difference to the Moslem religion, in a way like Fascism or Communism, is that the religion (or in the case of Fascism or Communism the State) ia all important. Individuals are unimportant. This leads to justification of the worst possible acts (terrorism) in furtherence of the Faith or State. It does not matter how many innocent individuals are killed, as long as the Faith or the State persevere.
What is truly frightening is that Christians do the same thing as Muslims. God's plan, God's will, God willing...what you point out is truly frightening because there are just so many Christians in the US, it will be difficult to defend ourselves from all of them.
You can see how absurd your comment is, right?
No, he won't, because John Di is a GOOD CHRISTIAN, not one of those "moslems". And good ole Johnnie di will be out in front at the tea bag get-together screaming about the "godless" obama! Instead of these repubs putting in place all these restrictions for people to vote, why not have a test of current, fact-based knowledge of what's going on in this country before you can vote- oh, I know why, because 99.9% of the tea baggers wouldn't be allowed to vote!! John di ,go crawl back into your hole in Alabama, or the rock you spend summers under in Mississippi- please.
There are equally unsavory consequences--if not worse--to cultures that endorse excessive individualism so as to promote sheer greed and opportunism as positive human qualities at the expense of the public good and The State. Anything is OK for the all-mighty-dollar and putting one's self ahead in the rat race. The only thing that 'trickles down' in cultures such as these is the piss of the rich upon the poor who are told to open their mouths and quench their thirst as only a few drops will be falling in the brief fiscal rain season to come.
Those who propose to take charge of the affairs of government should not fail to remember... first, to keep the good of the people so clearly in view that regardless of their own interests they will make their every action conform to that; second, to care for the welfare of the whole body politic and not in serving the interests of some one party to betray the rest. For the administration of the government, like the office of a trustee must be conducted for the benefit of those entrusted to one's care, not of those to whom it is entrusted. Now, those who care for the interests of a part of the citizens and neglect another part, introduce into the civil service a dangerous element — dissension and party strife. The result is that some are found to be loyal supporters of the democratic, others of the conservative party, and few of the nation as a whole.
Cicero, De Officiis. Book I, 25:85-86.
The liberal media is a joke......how can you talk about missteps when you have the biggest misstep of all in the White House. The only thing the liberal media is trying to find any crum they can run with to avoid talking about the worst president this country has ever had.
"The liberal media is a joke."
He did manage to have very successful Olympics in SLC - and who cares about the Brits? We have lots of problems here and Obama just makes it worse. At least when Romney says something he means it, unlike Obama who can't explain to a family of a border agent why they lost their son.
Well,Obama can't talk unless a teleprompter is for him to see to talk.He and Biden are the worst foot in the mouth.If Obama was in England, his script writers would have to hand him cue cards to even talk.Romney was in charge of a past Olympic,so he would know what he was talking about.
Hey Linda --- Romney screws up even with a teleprompter.
Maybe you don't remember the debate 4 years ago??? There was no teleprompter then and Obama wiped the floor with the GOP. The teleprompter is there to read speeches that are well written and corrct. In that way he doesn't say stupid things like ROMNEY! Obama rocks when he's on his own. Romney should be quaking in his boots about the debates.
4 years ago Obama promised "Change" "tranparency in Washington" "Troops out of Afghanistan by his second year" "lower unemployment" - so he talks the talk but he can't walk the walk.
i am surprised that romney didnt declare solidarity with the orthodox religious jews who want to avoid the military draft at all costs.
To complete the trifecta of this foreign policy disaster trip, I'm expecting Romney to open with a Polack joke.
Mitt Romney = Sarah Palin in a suit and tie.
Three for three... Romney has managed (or a high member of his team) to screw up in EACH of the three countries on his world tour... and lets be honest... this was not supposed to be difficult... as Britain and Poland are not that tough of a political/diplomatic clime for a visiting American presidential candidate. What I find so amusing is the slightly annoyed/ slightly befuddled expression Romney gets on his face when he tries to explain that he misspoke, and that "us people" are just not getting what he is trying to say. Romney does not relate to regular people... he has no clue how to go about it... and frankly is becoming a joke... but hey what do I know... he was only my Governor ... and we did get gay marriage and universal health care passed during his tenure... so maybe there is hope if he becomes POTUS....
Good ol' Willard, We can alway's trust him to open his mouth and put
his foot in it. Come on Mitt, We want to hear your Polish jokes like an
excellent review of their socialized medical care program or their new
minimized military program, Isn't it funny how Mitt supports the liberal
agenda of each Nation he visits, Institutes these same programs and
yet,,,,,,He can convince Republicans he is THE MAN to get rid of them.
GO MITT!!!! Your the best thing that has happened for the Democratic
Party in years
"Kiss my ass. This is a Holy site for the Polish people. Show some respect."
Wow...
Yeah, while that was obviously REALLY stupid, Obama's "Polish death camp" wasn't very bright either.
Stays on message? He meets with the Polish labor unions while his party wants to destroy the unions in our country. When in Israel did he talk about his church's uncalled for "baptisms" of holocaust victims?
He surely is not so stupid as to bring up his pretend religion. He is incredibly stupid, but not that much. The political waffling is something that is part and parcel of the Willard package, so just because he is FOR unions in one place or at one point in time, and the next minute or photo op he is AGAINST unions, well, that's Romneycare for you.
Hypocrisy at its best
What missteps? Romney was right on in both instances. So much for unbiased press...
You guys can go on and on about which one of the 'Big 2' candidates is the worst. They're both terrible.
Johnson/Gray 2012
He is not ready for the presidency. Mistake after mistake.
Watch the empty suit camp declare the field trip a rousing success, only because after stepping in it and putting it in his mouth in the first two countries, he finally figured out that leaders don't insult their hosts after making his last stop.
Well he didn't lie and he didn't apologize for the US.
There is nothing wrong with apologizing when an obvious mistake was made (Iraq).