Posted on 07/27/2012 6:29:38 AM PDT by tsowellfan
If Barack Obama were dreaming up the ideal start to Mitt Romney's first overseas visit as the presumptive Republican nominee, the president might wonder whether his rival could offend the US's historic transatlantic ally.
That would obviously be rejected as impossibly ambitious, so the president might then ask himself whether Romney would fail to remember the name of one of his hosts in London.
Surely a successful businessman would never make such a basic error. So the president would wonder whether Romney would breach convention by saying in public that he met the head of MI6, Britain's overseas intelligence agency.
To the undoubted joy of the White House, Romney stumbled on all those fronts in London on Thursday, the first day of his visit to three of the US's closest allies - Britain, Israel and Poland.
Downing Street, which had gone to great lengths to give Romney the red carpet treatment without breaching strict protocol rules, was astonished when he questioned whether London was capable of running a successful Olympics. In an interview with NBC after his arrival in London, Romney said it was "disconcerting" that the Olympics organizers had encountered difficulties over security. One Whitehall source described Romney's remarks as a "total shocker" that had rendered officials "speechless"...
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Several article commentators criticized the newspaper for this article.
Look at this one using Romney’s actual quote which frankly isn’t that bad:
“Here’s the actual quote:
“It’s hard to know just how well it will turn out. There are a few things that were disconcerting: the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials, that obviously is not something which is encouraging.”
Considering that this paper has castigated the UK government for these exact same things, it’s hardly anything to get one’s knickers in a twist over when a former Olympic organizer also makes the same point.
Of course, since he’s the presumptive Republican candidate for US president, I suppose the Graun will easily overlook their own hypocrisy.”
If he’d said that, I’d be reasonably certain he was a FReeper...
However, he can’t be any worse than Obama, and in any case, he is an Anglo-American (AKA an ‘American’) I believe his paternal ancestors were from Preston, a city very close to my own heart. I hope he comes by one day to visit the city of his forefathers, perhaps even the street where Butch Cassidy’s parents used to live before they emmigrated to the states...
Yes, 1500 to be exact. And if you listened to the interview, he was talking about the challenges of an Olympic from experience. That is how ross framed the question, and Romney answered truthfully from experience.
Sorry Guardian, “stumbling” is a most welcome change to the bold and brazen “forward” march of the other guy we’re hoping to be rid of soon.
Now he’s being called a racist here in the US!
I sure do wish Romney had asked Newt to go to Europe instead.
The security staff is probably unionized and as a result won’t work and/or do anything that is not in the contract...............
If he is elected, the liberals will go ballistic.
After all, Obama is their messiah and the will not tolerate anybody messing with the messiah.......
(1) He acknowledged, when asked about them, that London's obvious Olympic difficulties existed.
(2) He called the leader of the Labour Party "Mr. Leader" - which is how Americans refer respectfully to leading politicians ("Madame Speaker", etc.).
(3) When asked which UK government officials he met with he mentioned some of them.
The Gruniad is really, really reaching here.
Britain, Israel and Poland?
Are they going to vote in our elections? This is a total
waste of time and money. Everyone knows the only other
country that matters in our election is Mexico. He should
be there hustling the Mexican wetback vote.
What a joke, it’s not like we are overrun with British,
Jewish or Polish wetbacks.
I just finished reading The Real Romney; the book was very fair in tone, not a hit piece at all, but disturbingly revealing of Romney’s shortcomings. Quite a few examples were given of his painful social awkwardness. He has a talent for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time because he is so uncomfortable being around people.
I’m still stunned that HE is what the country has been given as an alternative to Obama. What a nightmare.
Thanks for this REALITY check:
” - - - - Here’s the actual quote:
“It’s hard to know just how well it will turn out. There are a few things that were disconcerting: the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials, that obviously is not something which is encouraging.” - - - - “
The Brits spent 7 YEARS planning the Olympics on their soggy sod, and in the final weeks their own Parliment publically rips the planners for poor security planning.
Looks like Romney called ‘em as he saw ‘em! Good job Mitt!
The fact that NBC and the Brits got upset means that Mitt hit the nail on the head!
Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah!
Big whoop!
It’s just the Guardian doing its job.
I mean, it’s not like Mitt tried to speak or make a toast in the presence of the Queen, during the last few bars of ‘God Save the Queen’, is it?
Romney ran a highly successful Olympics. He knows what he is talking about.
There was one point during the Salt Lake games where there was a traffic jam heading up to the Downhill events. Romney ran out to the main intersection and began to direct traffic like a cop.
I’m no fan of Willard, but he does know how to make an organization work.
Has the UK truly not gotten the message that we really don’t give a blip what they think?
Meanwhile, Obama unceremoniously shipped back the Churchill bust.... and not a peep.
Get over it, Brits... we’re not all so impressed with you.
I was wondering about the actual quote... so that's IT? THAT caused the Brits' erstwhile stiff upper lip to tremble? The man was echoing what the Brits themselves had said. Jeeeeezze..
I think that was sarcasm.
Couldn't truthfully say that during the primaries. The ENEMEDIA was full force on his side then.
Did Mitt change sides? Did the ENEMAMEDIA?
Even if we win, we lose!
Not to mention...
The statement Romney made about returning Churchill’s bust to the Oval Office was totally indefensible. How dare Romney embarrass our Child King by reversing that decision. Why, the British should just refuse to return it!
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