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Updated 2:43 p.m. - SAN DIEGO, CA -- Mitt Romney assailed President Obama's comments to outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev about increased "flexibility" after the election this fall.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP
President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev chat following the conclusion of their bilateral meeting March 26 at the Nuclear Security Summit Seoul, South Korea.
At a medical device company in San Diego, Romney called the president's comments -- captured Monday on an open microphone -- "an alarming and troubling development" as part of a longer wind-up about the importance of missile defense and standing by our allies.
“This weekend, the president happened to be somewhere where the microphone was left open. You may have heard that. It can be revealing, in this case, it was. He was speaking with Mr. Medvedev, of Russia. And he said, ‘This is my last election, I can be more flexible after the election is over,'" Romney started.
"Now when the president of the United States is speaking with the leader of Russia saying he can be more flexible after the election, that is an alarming and troubling development," Romney said. "There's no time for our president to be pulling his punches with the American people and not telling us what he's intending to do with regards to our missile defense system; with regards to our military might and with regards to our commitment to Israel; and with regards to our absolute conviction that Iran must have a nuclear weapon."
Obama's comments were captured at the very beginning of the photo opportunity after the the bilateral meeting between the president and Medvedev, when the two leaders were leaned over and speaking to each other.
RELATED: Obama's hot mic moment
"This is my last election," Obama was heard saying, "After my election I have more flexibility."
Medvedev responded that he would "transmit this information to Vladimir," meaning Vladimir Putin, the president-elect of Russia.
A Russian journalist's recording indicates the two leaders were talking about missile defense, a touchy area in U.S.-Russian relations.
Before Romney's remarks had concluded, President Obama's campaign pushed back at the former Massachusetts governor's criticism.
“Once again Governor Romney is undermining his credibility by distorting the President’s words," Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt said in a statement. "Governor Romney has been all over the map on the key foreign policy challenges facing our nation today, offering a lot of chest thumping and empty rhetoric with no concrete plans to enhance our security or strengthen our alliances."
Romney delivered his attack of the president during a speech that began with a critique of the President's health care law. Standing before a sign reading "Repeal and Replace Obamacare," Romney said there were "a lot of reasons not to like Obamacare," and outlined a number of his issues with the law, but stopped short of his usual direct call for the bill's repeal.
In his more than twenty minutes of remarks, Romney also never mentioned the Supreme Court case beginning today that could decide the law's fate well before the November election.
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I have come up with the following observations. Back in the 1940s, only the USA had atomic weapons but never used them against USSR. In the 1960s the US had a qualitative/quantitative lead in nuclear weapons over the USSR, and again never used them, although the USA would have dome far more damage to USSR then vice versa.
I conclude that the US is not a murderous country as they had ample opportunities in the past.
So the whole point of this missile defence is very confusing. It will only annoy the crap out of the Russians. They know, the US and NATO also know that Iran is not a threat, if and when the time comes it will be attacked. North Korea cannot attack Europe, it does not have the technology, perhaps threaten Japan and maybe west coast USA.
So what is the point of the missile defence ? There must be hidden agendas, such as weakening Russia, making it compliant to the US is some ways.
But I think this is dangerous, and no good can come of it
Medvedev basically told Romney to go back to the sandbox and play nicely with the other children. Just too funny.
Fake, phony, fraud, racist, liar...is the fix already in place for the muslim's second term?...it appears the men behind the curtain aren't telling us something...the people in this country better prepare for a very violent time in the near future.
The "fix" (general election in a democracy) is in for the "Muslim" (acknowledged Christian).
The mother ship has arrived, you should report for boarding immediately.
howdy-doody only speaks with a hand up his back.
He says he can be more flexible? SO WHAT! Maybe he can be, just as anyone who comes in after him can be more flexible as well. To me, this is no big deal, but it is certainly something that Obama haters can grab on to, and dress up to make it into a big snow ball when it's nothing more than a pebble.
Obama lovers should be concerned as well. Every American should be concerned. That kind of behavior is not befitting a president. He's behaving like a game show host. I love the comforting touch to the arm. I'm not laughing and I'm not buying the story that this is no big deal. You are all ostriches.......pull your heads out, open your eyes and restore honor to the office.
Gee... now that's a surprise coming from Want-to-be President Mitt!!!
Acknowledged Christian? Really?
Calling the President a Muslim? I thought you guys weren't suppose to bear false witness against thy neighbor? Isn't lying a sin?
When the next flight to planet x scheduled?
Thank (anyone's) God that Mitt isn't in office. He would first isolate the country, bring a grinding halt to the improving economy based on his budget, increase the debt again, based on his budget, destroy allied relationships and create many more enemies of the US due to his absolute inexperience and void in foreign affairs.
Just struck me... Ther response from Mitt (and his remarks about the Syria and Libya stuff) is very, very CEO-like behavior.
The whole "I'll make the decision" thing and that's how it will be. Unfortunately, do-overs in foreign policy, foreign affairs don't exist. In the boardroom, sure in the real world of global politics that tactic makes him an extremely dangerous man.
Hi, my name is Mitt "Condemn what others say all the time" Romney.
Or perhaps, Hi my name is Mitt "I disagree with everything my Opponant does" Romney
Hi, my name is Mitt "After the election I can be more FLEXIBLE with my time in my busy election schedule" Romney.
My favorite is that last one above. Taken OUT of context if you do not know in which direction the word FLEXIBLE is used, you can pretty much take it out of context.
Mitt Romney, I noticed that you only showed what the PRESIDENT said, but not what the Soviet Leader said. So we only see one PART of the conversation. In which case, the statement of flexibility can not be taken OUT OF CONTEXT, because there is no basis to the other side of the conversation to understand the context of the presidents statement.
I mean seriiously Mitt? We're not that @!$%#ing stupid. And after seeing your own stupid calander, I don't see any FLEXIBILITY on your part to even visit any of the foreign dignitaries who have ASKED to see you. So to hell with you and your out of context bull@!$%#. Your such a wig. Sitting around and pretty much useless like every other politician.
So, what else is new ?? what ever president Obama does or say, they criticize... And them, what have they done for you ???? NOTHING !
President Obama has achieved way more in his term than any other president before him and certainely way more than Bush ever did in 8 years.. Sorry, guys, but I look at achievements and intellect when I vote.
Republicans are mentally, intellectually, ethically and humanely bankrupt.. All need to go ! They are a bunch of nasty liars, cheaters and polluters. OUT !
Well if you look at achievement and intellect then obvious you wil not vote to re-elect obama. Granted he sounds nice with a teleprompter but his greatest achievement is taking us from a nation-in-debt to a nation greatly-in-debt. His foreign policy has made the world even more unstable.
If you are the intellect yo claim to be start checking other sources than MSNBC. Look at the reports in foreign papers and see how obama is viewed.
Look at the reports from the IMF and World Bank that give portents to our future. The picture you posted seems to be that of a sincere caring person. Unfortunately I beleive your naivete is about to propel you into a very cruel taste of reality.
Best Wishes
To try and sell the President as intellect-free is like trying to sell birth control to Octo Mom.
He done a great deal to repair the foreign relations damage that the previous administration deliberately prosecuted for no reason whatsoever. Of course there are countries that are going to dislike any sitting president based on current geopolitical issues. However, he get very favorable ratings in a lot oc ountries.
Which foreign paper are we talking about here, Al Jazeera?
Nope Al Jazeera likes him. Der Speigel and Lemonde like him too but they also think he is a big joke. Or as Le Monde put it "possibly the last American President.
Spin however you want but it is tru our Allies do not trust as much since Poland was thrown under the bus.
So what obama is saying, and what the left is trying to defend is. "To be re-elected I must serve the People's wishes. After I am re-elected I will do anything I please and no one can stop me."
Sounds like a dictator to me!
navyvet, source please?
I haven't seen anything of the sort attributed to him, except for you of course.
BTW, the check and balances built into the Constitution and the three branches of government does not allow for a dictatorship, but you may have known. that... (I'm just guessing)
Apparently obama doesn't know that and Reid has abdicated his responsibility to the American people. Goo ahead, stick with your mentality. Of course Dear Leader stays awake at night tirelessly worrying about the people.
At least I know where the liberals ran to to escape the embarrassment of Spike Lee and the Illinois Congressman.
While your at it could yo please tell the Georgia Congressman that the island of Guam will not flip over and sink we we build a larger base there. Lastly, tell Shirley Jackson-Lee that the U.S. did not win the Vietnam war and there are not two Vietnams.
"I will campaign in all 57 states" obama
BTW Le Monde is the major left-leaning French Paper and Der Speigal is the socialist German newspaper.
Navy, you still did not produce a source nor rational for your comment. Also there may not be 57 states but the US has some affiliated and non-affiliated territories that do vote in our elections, like Guam and Puerto Rico.
navyvet, no source, huh... I expected as much. So best known German and French papers like him and call him the last American President, but think he's a joke? Sorry, I can't parse that statement.
Really, do you really want to have a contest and keep score on the lame brain things that come out of the Republican politician's mouths v. some of the Democrats, really? Talk about aone-sided event.
Palin, Romney, Newt, Bachmann, Ryan, Sessions, Boehner, Cantor, Paul, Perry, Cain, etc... A real line-up of intellectual giants...
Rotflamao!!!!
@Geowil and Chip,
You two crack me up! What's your next response? "My dad can beat up your dad!" Tell you what. You two go hug your obama dolls. You know the truth you just chose to deny it.
Oy... How many times can you laugh your AO?
I mean, that thing must be huge!