E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSAsked on a rope line if he would have "gone after" Osama bin Laden, if he would have "given the order," presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney responded, "Of course, of course. Even Jimmy Carter would have given that order."
The former President Carter, of course, did undertake a risky hostage rescue attempt in Iran in 1980 that failed -- and cost Carter dearly politically. It sealed an image of a weak president. That coupled with a weak economy, ultimately led to Ronald Reagan's landslide victory.
If the bin Laden raid had failed in similar fashion, Republicans would have surely portrayed President Obama in the same way.
Romney and the GOP have tried to paint Obama as a Jimmy Carter caricature, anyway, weak and inept. Reports have indicated, however, that the call to undertake the raid was not with 100 percent certainty. Intelligence, White House officials said, was thought to be about 50-50 that bin Laden was in the compound.
"At the end of the day, the president assessed that it was a circumstantial case, and it was probably a 50-50 chance that Osama bin Laden was there," said Tom Donilon, National Security Adviser, last year following the raid.
Vice President Joe Biden has said he advised Obama against going through with the raid.
The Obama campaign has questioned whether Romney would have given the order. In a video released Friday, a graphic asks, "Which path would Mitt Romney have taken?” the ad asks. It highlights this Romney quote: “It’s not worth moving heaven and earth spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one person.”
Obama campaign adviser Robert Gibbs defended the video on Meet the Press on Sunday, saying, "I don’t think it’s clear that he would" have ordered the raid.
Ed Gillespie, an adviser to the Romney campaign and former Bush adviser, though, said: “This is one of the reasons President Obama has become one of the most divisive presidents in American history. He took something that was a unifying event … and he’s managed to turn it into a divisive, partisan, political attack. … I think most Americans will see it as a sign of a desperate campaign.”
The Obama campaign posted a video called, "Forward," that highlights his record in the past three years, including again touting the killing of bin Laden. The video will be played ahead of the president's first "official" campaign events -- in Virginia and Ohio.
Leave a Comment:
If everyone on this post cannot SEE how the Republican party is determined to strip this President of every single, positive thing he has ever done, and emphasize the negatives of his administration - even the ones that have resulted fronm the "Do Nothing" Republican dominated Congress - well, I have a strip of prime land to sell you in the Everglades - please call me. OMG - STOP THE MADNESS!!!
Obama/Biden - 2012
Do nothing congress is right, your demonrats haven't submitted a budget in 3 years. All of the woe in this country is the fault of the do nothing congress which has been led by the demonrats
Rick - neither did republicans during the entire Bush administration because remember deficeits didn't matter - now they are swqacking just like saying no for the past 3 years now they want a yes. Are you a part of the bizarro nation?
BIZARRO NATION
Check your calendars this time there will not be any swift boating, any lies will be exposed and challenged, Hell thanks to the Bizarro nation people are not fearing what could happen - it already did. I hope Republicans keep using history because it uncovers many other dirty deeds perpetrated on the American people for greed and power. Republicans might want to check their women too because I do think today's modern women are not going for that "Leave it to Beaver" character of June as a role model (Okie-Dok). The world has changed and the Bizarro Nation will be defeated and this case Superman is the entire nation of Americans. Beware of Truth. Choose your words wisely. Somebody's watching you.
WTFHAPPENED
Why are we still dwelling on Bin Laden? Who cares who was in office when he was killed? Bin Laden is dead and that is the best use of the phrase 'good-riddance'. Obama wants to take credit for this but does not want to be held accountable for anything else that goes on in Washington.
I'm sure we will hear about this over and over and over... because it is the ONE THING Obama did right. Maybe Romney's comments will help Obama move FORWARD. After all, isn't that Obama's new slogan? Move on, move on.
By the way, Chinese Communist Mao's slogan was "Forward."
Jody is another republican who thinks just because bush went away, his mess and his debt went away with him. Really Jody? Just how long do you think it takes to clean up 10 years worth of disaster hmmm? Even the republicans admit that the economy is bad; they just get collective amnesia that it all happened under their watch. And we will never forget 9/11 as much as repubs want to since it happened under bush and republicans' watch!
Forrest Gump - " Stupid is what Stupid Does" what's your point
Romney - using we are not stupid go figure
Poor rick: you call democrats demonrats? really? and you are wrong: the house of representatives holds the purse strings, not the democrats and not the senate. And the democrats have submitted budget after budget, which the house of representatives, boehner, has failed to pass. Why? because they don't bring it to the floor for a vote. Even republicans in the senate are tired of the house of representatives blocking everything; and many senate republicans are more than ready to start to work with harry reid and the democrats to get something done. You see, even though the teabaggers are blocking everything in the house of representatives and boehner can't get anything through the house that isn't bipartisan, the senate is turning on them and are more than ready to work with those darn old demonrats to finally get something done. It would seem that the House under boehner's lack of leadership is even angering senate republicans. Very telling. Senate Republicans are sick of the republican house who is giving senate republicans a bad name! Gee, go figure. There may actually be some republicans in the congress worth the paycheck they are getting. Meanwhile, boehner only brings republican bills and budgets to a vote and the republican senate filibusters anything the democrats bring to the floor of the senate for debate. So rick, it would seem that it is indeed republicans who are mucking everything up. And boehner is paying bush and the republicans bills, and aren't passing any bills or budgets submitted by President Obama and the democrats. Funny how facts come back and hit you where it hurts. Truth matters.
Mitt the weathervane - will say anything to get elected, maybe two different things or three but, hey, whose counting.
Politicize the termination of Osama bin Laden? Absolutely! We endured eight years of brash, bombastuous, braggadocios, pompous, irresponsible talk by an incompetent Republican administration. When our soft-spoken, capable, credible Democratic administration succeeds after the Bushy neo-cons failed; will we rub their sorry seditious noses in it? Damn right! They deserve much worse, but that is the only proper response.
Sounds like a Houston to Tennessee transplant
You really are a clueless cuss
now now rick. truth matters. Obama - Biden 2012!
A better example is that even Obama approved of it,...after campaigning against the gathering of intelligence that led to this great kill by our military. Obama's only positive result in 3-1/2 years was the result of others work, and he took all the credit. It's no wonder the military hates him so bad.
To fubrak"""
Huh...?
poor fubarak; typical response from a republican - truth hurts. Osama is dead, GM is alive. Our country isn't in a depression even though the republicans tried their very best to put our country into one. Again, truth matters, and the truth hurts repubs right where it hurts. you have no idea how we are laughing at you repubs.
Even Carter would have given that order...
But George Bush failed to take out bin ladenwhen he had the chance. And Rmoney himself said it was foolish to spend so much money to find binladen.
Republicans fail to lead.
Again.
And again.
harbinger again and again and again. Shall we list the ways? I don't think we would have enough room to list every republican failure. Ten very long years and a near depression says it all.
President Jimmy Carter is a better man now..and forever, than Mitt Romney will ever be! One might agree or disagree with his politics, but President Carter is one of the most thoughtful, compassionate men on the planet who, to this day, continues to care deeply and contribute to our society in hopes of making a better world for all. I cannot see Romney getting his hands remotely dirty building a home for the less fortunate the way President Carter has. For Romney to somehow refer to President Carter as weak is in itself very telling about the lack of character in Romney. Shame on you, Romney, for showing your callousness and your lack of courage!
Yes Carter would have given the order Willard, and you are on record as saying that you would not have.
Forward as in moving forward right over the cliff to a horrible demise. The clown-in-chief and the demonrat controlled senate must be removed so that the republicans can reinstate prosperity for all.
AnybodyButObama 2012
BIZARRO NATION
Check your
calendars this time there will not be any swift boating, any lies will be
exposed and challenged, Hell thanks to the Bizarro nation people are not
fearing what could happen - it already did. I hope Republicans keep using
history because it uncovers many other dirty deeds perpetrated on the American
people for greed and power. Republicans might want to check their women too
because I do think today's modern women are not going for that "Leave it
to Beaver" character of June as a role model (Okie-Dok). The world has
changed and the Bizarro Nation will be defeated and this case Superman is the
entire nation of Americans. Beware of Truth. Choose your words wisely.
Somebody's watching you.
WTFHAPPENED
Poor misguided blinded by hate rick. No wonder republicans brought this country to her knees. arrogance, unpatriotic hatred.
Romney epitomizes elitism by thinking it's his turn to be president. He has the money. His friends are rich and need his help. It's all left for him to ascertain for all his successful wealth. Problem is nobody cares.
Romney’ Bizarro Nation
Romney and his extreme-Republican base have publicly stated
the president hasn’t done enough on record to run against Republican policies.
These political advertisements are pretty accurate portrayals of what’s been
going on since taking over the mess left by Republican policies. The economy and
jobs were sunk by them and because president Obama can’t in 3 years fix what
they created with 8 years of Bush & Republican policies they suggest he has
failed the American people. That seems to me akin to the comic book of Superman
having to fight the Bizarro character. The half of Americans still believing
trickle economics is working has bought into the blatant lies of the Republican
Bizarro nation. With all the ugliness of Republican policies still being peeled
away these Bizarro’s try telling people the President lied because he didn’t
fix their mess fast enough after he made promises. Now they want another chance
to totally destroy whatever American virtues or dreams of hope is left. I would
not be surprised if we found out if corporations made a pact with Republicans
(vice versa) not to hire or grow their business on promises that Republicans
can re-take the Presidency by refusing to help the President in any way (Policy
of “NO”) and they would side with whatever the corporation wanted to repeal or new
policies for monetary support in campaigning for 2012. It partially worked in
2010. Republican launched new laws against women rights, voting rights,
immigration and gays and lesbian rights never did get around to producing those
JOBS, JOBS, and JOBS they promised. America we have found the anchor that’s
holding back America. It’s the REPUBLICAN BIZARRO NATION and they are
everywhere. We need eyes and ears to call them out on whatever bizarre tactic
they use. We will take back our Country Back. That is the new title for these
extreme right-wing conservative Republicans - BIZARRO NATION,
WTFHAPPENED
Rick - You sound like an obama staffer. Why does the welfare crowd always compare obama to bush??? We agree they both suck. What we need to remember is - The Highest Deficit in History - The Highest Unemployment in History - The Most People on Welfare in History - The Health Care Fiasco & Gas Prices. Also keep in mind those that support obama - rev wright, jesse jackson, al sharpton, louis farraCON and all the current welfare recipients - along with you of course Rick. Without a doubt obama is the most destructive man in America.
obama and biden continue to suck 2012
To Deport"""
Silly....
Amunaka - Very common for someone from the northeast that is VERY removed from the real day to day strife of America sides with welfare type democrats. I was thinking I was very accurate in my description. So much so that it cannot be disputed.
To..Deport"""
Talk about removed ...funny
Deport is another republican who thinks just because bush went away that their spending and their deficits and their bills went away with them. Not much on the intelligence side republicans prove to the world over and over. But I guess 4 trillion dollars as a price tag for tax cuts for the rich doesn't matter. The tax cuts for the rich that bush and the repubs put in place cost the middle class 4 trillion, and is corporate welfare for the rich. And the repubs don't worry one minute about our homeless and poor vets and their families. Oh no, they are drags on the economy, as are seniors, but hey, so long as we keep the rich on government welfare, well that's all good. bush and the repubs were negligent. President Obama and us got stuck with their mess and their bills that we stilll have to pay for, and they say this President is spending the money. Really, when Congress is in gridlock and has been since the 2010 elections. once again proving republicans can't do the math, let alone tell the truth. That explains the disaster the republicans brought down on our heads. And these repubs out here think that bush's bills and deficits and reckless spending went away with him. Repubs truly live in fairyland. No wonder they took our country into the toilet.
Romney = Fugazy
Gutless. That's what Mitt Romney is. Gutless. He'll say or do anything to win an election, but he doesn't have the balls to be Commander in Chief.
There are a lot of gutless Democrats, too, but they're all in congress. None in the White House.
Yeah Tony - It's Clueless that's in the White House
Why was it necessary for Romney to take a gratuitous swipe at a former president? Not only was it rude, it didn't make sense.
It's highly hypocritical for Obama to use Bin Laden's death as an achievement on his part. Especially as he opposed the interrogation techniques used to gather the intelligence to find Osama, and he promised to close Gitmo where much of said intel was collected. He also has unadulterated disdain for our military, who were the ones who actually did all the work. Bin Laden was killed IN SPITE of Obama, not BECAUSE of him.
To Jody."""
Lies...
Hey Jody,
Speaking of "disdain for our military", refresh my memory please....how many of our troops did your party have murdered in your wars of choice based on lies?
Now now mitt....you are just jealous because bin laden had more than one wife and you don't.....yet. Other than that, your comment is not worthy of a presidential candidate and apparently you are not either.
LOL.... beautifully done Governor Romney! Way to slap back at the most DIVISIVE man that has ever held the office of President. Just a few more months of this man and his far left adminsitration and he'll be sent packing back to the streets of Chicago!
How is he divisive? Oh! It must've been when he signed into law that you can carry a gun onto state parks. Plus I forgot that "divisive President" is the new Gringos Only Party catch phrase. He pals around with domestic terrorists didn't work, he's wasn't born in this country didn't work... you guys keep chopping but no chips are flying.
It sounds like you are one of those idiots that elected the coke head that bankrupted our country, not once, but twice.
Your opinion no longer counts.
Divisive? Far left? Only if you're so far to the political right that you've fallen off the edge of sanity. You've been watching too much of that republican propaganda machine called Fox News. The same network that went to court saying they had a 1st Ammendment right to lie to their audience.
Why was it necessary to gratuitously insult a former American president? Especially one who had the courage to order a hostage rescue mission that failed because of operational miscues, none of which was the fault of the president?
Moreover, if Mr. Romney had any grasp of history whatsoever, he would be cautious about raising the Iranian hostage situation at this point. We now know that President Reagan succeeded in negotiating the release of the American hostages by 1) negotiating with terrorists and 2) trading arms for hostages. President Carter refused to negotiate with terrorists and paid the price in 1980. President Carter was an honorable man. What can we say of his successor? And what can we say of Mr. Romney?
Not only that but they sabotaged the rescue mission to be able to blame it on Carter. The military is evil.
Nice try Mitt. An aggressive pan handler has more personality than you.
Interesting that Romney made no comment in relation to George W. Bush who went into TWO wars with the goal of killing Ben Laden.
Hey romney-
President Carter was a NUCLEAR SUBMARINE COMMANDER, the second most powerful person on earth, while you were a snot nosed idiot trying to light off a cannon that henry ford gave your daddy. To be more succinct, you were a draft evader like bush and cheney and are not worthy of the position.
Wow, Mr. Magicpants is an even bigger POS than I was giving him credit for.
Thank you President Obama for doing what the troop-murdering rethugs couldn't do....killing OBL!
Good thing they didn't ask Romney if Reagan would have given the order...
You know the Reagan...254 Marines murdered and not one shot returned!
You know the Reagan...he coined the phrase "Cut and Run"!
Pretty short memory these GOP'ers have!
Remember Reagan helped bin Laden during the 80s.
Carter would have given the order to kill bin Laden.
But W didn't. I guess that says more about the cancervatives than liberals.
Romney is a bag of wind and whistle !!! This man has no idea of anything at all. He is now under the impression he actually saved the car industry from going bankcrupt - what planet is the GOP actually on ???? Seems to me that the GOP is trying to muddy the waters of anything the Dems have achieved without having any clue at all on what they would actually do? Mind you that could be due to the fact that they are only running on hot air !!!
Romney is pandering to the morons. We all know the great numbers of them that exist today due to bad diet and inbreeding. Just look at florida, georgia, texas, arizona and wisconcin.