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Subscribe to RSSThe Obama White House took a subtle swipe at Mitt Romney on Monday after the Republican Presidential candidate made some controversial comments during a fundraiser in Israel. Romney told a group of supporters, Israel’s GDP is higher than the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority because “culture makes all the difference.” (See earlier First Read post for more context.)
A senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the comments “racist," according to the AP. The Romney campaign pushed back, saying Romney's comments were mischaracterized. One Romney aide also noted that overall, he "got public and strong support while he was [in Israel]."
During the White House daily briefing, Deputy Press Secretary, Josh Earnest was peppered with questions about the incident.
“One of the challenges of being an actor on the international stage, particularly when you’re traveling to such a sensitive part of the world, is that your comments are very closely scrutinized for meaning, for nuance, for motivation," Earnest said, adding, "and it is clear that there are some people who have taken a look at those comments and are scratching their heads a little bit.”
When pressed, Earnest stopped short of elaborating on the larger implications of Romney’s comments.
“I would leave it to Gov. Romney to explain them, to the extent that there’s some measure of confusion," he said.
This latest incident comes after Romney touched off a firestorm in the U.K. last week when he questioned London’s preparedness for the Olympic Games. In an interview with NBC’s Brian Williams, Romney said, “It’s hard to know just how well it will turn out,” and he called questions about the level of security staffing “disconcerting.” Romney quickly walked back those comments, later telling reporters, “I expect the games to be highly successful.”
In that instance, the White House also seemed armed with a response. Although he did not directly address Romney’s comments about the Olympics, Press Secretary Jay carney attempted to draw a sharp distinction while briefing reporters.
"In keeping with our special relationship, the president also made it clear that he has the utmost confidence in our close friend and ally, the United Kingdom, as they finalize preparations to host the London Olympics,” Carney said then.
Romney is hoping his trip abroad will help him solidify his credentials as a leader who is capable of performing on the world stage. He wraps up his foreign tour in Poland, where he is today.
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I'll be shocked if that idiot doesn't set off an International incident before he's finished with his tour.
I can just read the headlines now:
"Mitten's mouth manages to set off WWIII".....
Obama/Biden 2012
Maybe they should be scratching their heads wondering where the heck Obama is.
This guy is the MIA president. Somebody check the golf course, or maybe the store where Moochelle buys $7,000 shirts (but Romney's wife is out of touch).
I think everyone with a half a brain is scratching their heads wondering what the heck Obama is doing. He is the worst failure we have ever seen in the white house.
If he had any respect for the office of president he would just resign.
Obama's war on America must be stopped!
Nobody does it quite like Willard, GT.....
Willard is dangerous, and he doesn't even realize it....OUT OF TOUCH, Mitt the Unfit Twit!!
....I'm sure Willards campaign advisers are 'scratching their collective heads' also!
This guy is the MIA president. Somebody check the golf course, or maybe the store where Moochelle buys $7,000 shirts (but Romney's wife is out of touch).
Redsux - I don't know where O is right now, but I sure as hell know he's not overseas making an ass out of himself, and the country...
Obama/Biden 2012
Does the KING of mischaracterization get to cry FOUL! when he is 'mischaracterized'?
Irony is lost on this one,...along with tact, nuance and class.
Psst,...one more mess President Obama will have to clean up. Republican's leave giant steaming piles of elephant poop wherever they go or speak.
Willard is dangerous, and he doesn't even realize it....
Chilled,
I don't think anybody takes the Mittiot seriously anyway....They see him as a Buffoon....
Clara,
They sure are good at poop spreading.....
Obama/Biden 2012
That's one classy campaign Obama is running....
Felon, Racist...
I suppose the charge of being a Pedophile is the next logical one on the Obama smear agenda.
That's one classy campaign Obama is running....
Felon, Racist...
Brock - What are you referring too????
Brockton you said:
What do you know, when did you know it and how did you find out ? Do you have information from Romney's time in MA or leading the Olympics ? Do you have a secret copies of the computers he thought he destroyed ?
you people have nothing but insults.
your president has no accomplishments, no policy, no political vision.
he's not delivered on any liberal promise, NO public option, Gitmo still open (last bombing was a former gitmo inmate), Afghanistan still a war.. wall street banks are bigger more profitable and in control of more wealth all thanks to obama. you elected the wrong liberal - should of voted Hillary
joshua
Rawmoney just proved to the world what we already knew, he is a moron.
Obama/Biden 2012
We are ALL scratching our heads at Romney every time he speaks.
Brockton - as usual your posts are ridiculous and have no meaning. No wonder you support Romney - two of a kind!
Obama/Biden 2012
So let me get this straight... Romney saying the Israelis were more successful because "culture makes all the difference"
Well folks, that's pretty much TRUE.
And Racist? Are Palestinians a "Race" now? Since there is no Palestine country, and hasn't been for like a thousand years, how are they a race? Are Galileans a race? How about Sumerians? Are they a race? Corinthians? Samaritans? are they all races too?
Lols at "racist".
Moving right along, his next supposed "gaffe" was
This latest incident comes after Romney touched off a firestorm in the U.K. last week when he questioned London's preparedness for the Olympic Games. In an interview with NBC's Brian Williams, Romney said, "It's hard to know just how well it will turn out," and he called questions about the level of security staffing "disconcerting."
Well folks, that is also TRUE.
Among other things:
The first ever Olympic Soccer at Wembley, and all the credit card machines crashed. Food and drinks were suddenyl cash only . And it had to be British cash, too, a burden for some international guests. ATMs at the event were likewise out of service.
The cell phone networks were so overburdened by specatators during the bicycle races that the broadcasters were unable to recieve GPS data from the race, meaning they couldn't broadcast speeds and distances precisely.
A police officer inspecting Wembley stadium lost a set of keys to the stadium. The stadium was empty at the time. The keys were never recovered, necessitating delays while locks were changed, at considerable expense.
Seats were so empty at some events, the British armed forces are being dressed in plainclothes and used to fill seats. Many are blaming poor scheduling for this, although such a thing is of course subjective.
The security contractor for the even was able to deliver just under half of the personnel he contracted for. The difference was made up again using British armed forces members.
So if all you have to bash Romney on is him making a couple of true statements while overseas, well.
Good Luck with that.
Intelligent people with critical thinking skills can easily see thru that.
Buy a clue, Romney was wrong. If Romney has gone in and in one of those private quiet room and gave his critique that would have been one thing, but to go on national television without a lick of sense and insult your host country is how he got his new deserved nickname Mitt the Twit.
Being that Romney couldn't produce jobs while governor just how is he going to save us? Romney got 1.3 billion dollars of the taxpayers money to save the Olympics. Do you really believe he could have done it all by himself like he would have you believe?
Romney's policies are the very same as bush's policies except Romney wants bigger tax cuts for the rich. So tell me how does going back to the bush policies do anything except put us back into a recession where the bush policies put us the first time?
If the bush years were so great bush should be everywhere with Romney touting how great it was and why the republicans want to go back to the very same policies.
VOTE FOR SANITY...VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT 2012
Well of COURSE they're scratching their heads! He used words with more then 3-4 letters in them. And a lot of them had more then one syllable.
@GT-202-whatever: WHAT did he say? Did you listen to what he said, or what NBC told you he said?
Thank God for NBC News. See, most of us actually listen to the person speaking himself; that way we can understand what they're saying. Good thing Democrats have NBC News to tell them what to think a person said.
And, isn't it funny that every single gaff (um, they aren't really gaffs) made by Romney gets three days airplay, while Obama inserts his foot in his mouth up to his knee and it only gets 30 seconds?
What would you Dems DO without NBC News?
NBC's motto:
“ I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant”
The "culture" term is part of the Mormon/Teavangelical mythology about Israel. Ask Huntsman, he might be honest and explain it. It's very much the same as the US being chosen, special, etc. per other comments made by Romney. It's a religious notion not based on facts, and like the mark of Cain, can have racism elements to it -- Certainly similar to "the sun revolving around the Earth" geocentric arrogance of the Flat Earth Society.
To Democrats, telling the truth is an unforgivable gaffe, Why, if you tell the Palestinians that maybe they should change their culture of running around blowing each other up and killing or kidnapping innocent people, they might have a better chance of attracting business investment,if you did that, no telling where it would end, Mr. Romney might end up telling Congress, hey we are one of the richest countries in the world, We don't have a revenue problem, We have a spending problem, and You and your evil, bloated spawn,(GAO,EPA,DOE,etc), are causing it! same with You unions,Guys, You are killing the golden goose,stop trying to stangle the very thing that gives you your prosperity! and You unelected, unaccountable czars, lay off with your ignorant regulations will ya! in fact, just get out! and take your job killing, anti- capitalism ideology with you,and dont forget your solar panels and windmills! Yup, for some people, truth could be a terrible thing.
I suppose those hopes are now dashed. He comes across like he is an authority on everything, yet the only thing he really knows anything about is how to park his money off-shore.
Boy, good thing Romney made this trip. Otherwise folks might wonder whether he was up to the subtleties of foreign policy!
Israel's GDP is higher because they have kept the Palestinians from all the economic benefits that follow nationhood status. Investments, trade agreements and capitalizing their future needs have all been inhibited by Israel.
I recognize absolutely Israel's right to exist and wish Hamas would do the same. But Abbas is right to be angry, especially since Gov. Romney refused to meet with him. And Abbas leads the very authority that HAS recognized Israel--what kind of diplomacy is Romney modeling? Neo-con, of course.
Let's get real here liberals. Whatever Mitt says will be critized by you all while supporting the great things (????) your obama has accomplished.
Hey Lib - Its the foreign newspapers, especially British, that are ripping Mitten's comments, so you get real. If you think this idiot belongs in the international arena, I got a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.......
Obama/Biden 2012
Once the people in the West Bank and on the Gaza strip get rid of the terrorists attacking Israel, then they will have the opportunity to become a functioning nation or nations. Until then, they do not deserve to be recognized as a nation.
Unfortunately Israel isn't letting the Palestinians do their thing. Instead Israelis settle on Palestinian land and control as much as they can. How would you like it if someone did that to you? And some wonder why the Arabs hate us so much for our support of Israel. While we should support Israel we shouldn't allow her to run amok either. Unfortunately we are so afraid to oppose anything and everything Israel does that she does as she pleases whether right or wrong.
libsux: HaHa....you do realize that the "liberal" news you refer to is actually conservative papers and run by Rupuart Murdock. Nice that conservatives don't even know who runs fox and the wall street journal, along with the conservative side in Britain. Low information Americans.
Mitt-Witt....Haahahahaha!.....this secretive "walking funny clown" is not going anywhere near the White House....Period!!Even the rethugs are scratching their heads...Obama/Biden 2012
Too bad they aren't the same people "scratching their heads" over Obama's pre-conditions for Israeli/Palestinian peace talks.
Or the ones shaking their heads over Obama's ignoring warnings, in January of 2010,that food shortages in the Middle East and North Africa would have dire consequences.
Or the ones slapping their foreheads over Obama's assurances to Medvedev that he would be more "flexible" after the election.
Of course, NBC chooses not to focus on any of ther. Noooo. Let's just focus on the Whote House response to something reported to have been said, that you've already been told was mischaracterized.
It goes really well with skewed poll results, at least in terms of credibility.
You sure have a one sided way of looking at things.
NJBJ pretty scratches her head of anything that requires one iota of intelligent thought. This is why she just sits at home doing nothing all day. She cannot be trusted with anything but the most menial of tasks.
Romney had a lot to prove with this trip abroad. Should he be taken serious if elected President, or will he prove to be not ready for prime-time? No matter the subject, he doesn't even close to being qualified and you Republicans know it.
Her head is not the only thing Snookie-Joe scratches...
The difference, no jo, is President Obama has made numerous trips overseas by now, and barely a tenth of the gaffes old Dubya made on his overseas trips, but Mitt Romney was an unknown in how he would handle Diplomacy 101. And now we know, he can't.
LOL, you libs will criticize everything Romney does, even when he is right. I bet Romney knows there were no "Polish death camps" in Poland. I further bet that he knows that there is no "Austrian language". Also I don't recall First Read pointing out that Romney got a STANDING OVATION in Israel.
The Palestinians could have their own country and the issue could be settled if only Hamas would agree to "recognize Israel's right to exist". Fatah has agreed but Hamas refuses. Maybe it's because they depend to much on Iranian support and UN handouts instead of their own work ethics.
Obama struck his foot in his mouth shortly after being sworn in and now won't even visit Israel. Obama is very worried about the Jewish vote which is one reason he just sent them $70 million dollars for defensive missiles.
Amy, it was not Romney who attempted to embarass the British by referring to the Falklands as the "Malvinas"- but, instead, embarrassed himself by calling them "the Maldives". Wrong ocean, wrong islands.
Maybe it was a misprint in his "Learn to speak Austrian" text.
Dear sfcret,what the F are you talking about?Obama has overwhelming support from the American Jewish community ,something like 75% to 25% from Mitt.They realize (unlike you that Mitt only cares about the wealthy,and is a bafoon on the world stage.
Amy B: Mitt Romney was attempting to get by with a pass/fail, show up and you pass type course in foreign relations. Instead he has, so far, failed miserably.
Wouldn't be surprised if Mitt mentions how great the T-72 tanks were in leading to the liberation of Poland. (fyi, those were the tanks the USSR used initially to SUPPRESS the Solidarity movement.)
steve - sfcret just posts whatever she comes up with - never anything to back it up! She's a lot like no joe in that respect - shallow, mindless individuals with no thoughts or intelligence.
Obama/Biden 2012
Seeking, "sarge" is still trying to figure out the whole "suoer-majority" thingie...
You're giving Romney a lot more credit than he deserves Amy. Romney is one of the few people that can stand neck and neck with sp and mb, and make dubya look like Einstein. That is a damn near impossible task for anyone to accomplish, but those three no wits sure do make it look easy. Thank the stars that none of them will ever inhabit the White House.
I see Mickey is still trying to get his head out of his ass. Still nothing to say because the big bad republicans are picking on poor Obama.
SeekingSanity - Instead of making stupid remarks why don't you prove what I said in the post at 6.6 is wrong. Oh, that's right you can't because you are to stupid.
BTW, earlier today you said you had to go to a meeting or something, I do hope you got your food stamps and unemployment check squared away.
LOL! Careful with them claws, Feisty!!
Don't be mad at us, it not our fault that Mitt is a twit.
I think at one time Mitt was actually a decent guy. But that was before he sold his soul to run for president and the honest guy that said that blind trust were an age old ruse to pretend you weren't guiding the blind trust to the Romney of today who thinks the American people are so stupid he used the lie about how he has no control over the blind trust.
Nothing is ever Mitt fault. When is he going to get his big boy pants and grow up. Everything is unfair except when he is telling blatant lies about our president.
He says he can't even release his tax returns because it is the democrats fault because they would pick on him. Wah...wah....
The real reason Romney won't release his tax returns is because even republicans wouldn't vote for him if they could see what is in them.
Prove me wrong Romney....release your tax returns.
Tony, you have obviously never seen The Dark Night Rises. If you did, you should know that Bane hates rich people.
You're right, I haven't. And I really didn't know that's what it was. I thought it was a device placed by the Koch's over Mitt's face to keep him from flapping his gums.
Relax, no one takes his babble seriously!
Mitt the Twit is a flip floppin' idiot.
And Obama isn't a flip flopping idiot? How many times has Obama flipped flopped but then you left wing nuts think it is evolving.
There is video of Romney on both sides of every issue. Explain how that is evolving and not flip-flopping. If you evolve on a couple of ussues that is believeable but to change your mind on everything you have ever said is flip-flopping.
First Romney was Morman and didn't believe in abortion, then Romney wanted to be governor and made a promise to the women to protect their right to choose due to a friend dying.
Then he decided now running for President that not only do women don't have the right to choose, he signed a pledge to make many forms of contraception illegal and miscarriage a crime. Brought to you by the party of freedom no less.
VOTE FOR SANITY....VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT 2012
Before Willard Mitt-Wit Romney left on his trip I posted the following below. Now, it looks like he has accomplished all of the following.
Good luck Willard on your over seas trip. Perhaps you can scout out some new locations for Bain to move some more American jobs and companies too. Then you can build a new home that you can add to your list of home states or countries.
Also, good luck to the fancy dancing horse of yours. Most of all Willard don't piss anyone off by insulting their food, people or customs. Plus tone down that Nervous Nelly laugh of yours, it scares children.
The nervous Nelly laugh runs in the family. That is the one thing that really jumped out at me the night the sons all appeared on one of the talk shows. That and the dress alike picture of the family - Stepford Wives anyone?
plz don't let him leave the US again lol
If that wasn't so deadly serious it would be funny.
or,
let him leave the US and nevver come back!
maybe he can go visit his money...
Romney the clown! The GOP Circus continues!!
Is Missouri,. even close to the swing-set <eft---or-igh--+-->?
&--> How is that, Claire Conner McCaskill (born July 24, 1953)? You know the Senior United States Senator< from Missouri and a member of the Democratic Party. doing in the polls?
"just curious"
p.s. good to see ya kcmo, looking 4ward to your retort, on the vine <^>
with all do respect, 4ward-- “ ...........................................................QQ“"'\
vote no BHO .....................................................................................(-)-~
Romney, in his behavior over seas, has done us a favor.
he's revealed his world view. Which is, it seems, that what he thinks and believes is the TRUTH and thus worth of being spoken and other people's feelings or worldviews are secondary.
CEO's in the kind of business Romney was in do not need diplomatic skills or empathy or the ability to think of things from other people's point of view.
Those are important qualities in a President in leading and caring about the American people as well as dealing with other nations
and Romney lacks it completely. This is obvious
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
Willard is so STUPID he is a major embarrassment to the Republican't party. He cannot be trusted to say anything without the teleprompter . Cannot wait for the debates when Rmoney actually shoots himself in the foot with his idiotic speaking abilities and the inability to debate. HE'S AN IDIOT of Palin proportions....