Romney on the attack on the US consulate in Libya

Calboner

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On Tuesday, September 11, 2012, violent mobs, reacting to an anti-Islam film produced by the Quran-burning American preacher Terry Jones, besieged the US embassy in Cairo and the US consulate in Benghazi. Within hours, Mitt Romney issued this statement:
I’m outraged by the attacks on American diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt and by the death of an American consulate worker in Benghazi. It’s disgraceful that the Obama Administration’s first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.
That Obama administration--always apologizing for America to its enemies! And now it's at it again? Or is Mitt Romney just telling a barefaced lie? Well, let's see.

First, the response to which Romney was referring came not from the Obama administration but from the US embassy in Cairo. It read:
The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.​
Second, and more importantly, the statement was issued BEFORE the attacks on either of the American sites in North Africa. It was a response to Terry Jones's film, NOT to the attacks.

Whether or not you think that the responsible parties in the US embassy in Egypt did wisely in issuing this statement--according to Politico44, an administration official subsequently said, "The statement by Embassy Cairo was not cleared by Washington and does not reflect the views of the United States government"--the fact is that the supposed statement by the Obama administration in response to the attacks was NOT made by the Obama administration and was made BEFORE the attacks.

Mitt Romney was not only using a terrible attack on Americans and American institutions and property as an occasion for gaining political advantage, but was with utter shamelessness misrepresenting a statement NOT made by the Obama administration and made BEFORE the attacks as a statement BY the Obama administration in RESPONSE to the attacks.

Today, on September 12, Mitt Romney called a press conference. Did he take the opportunity to correct his misrepresentation of the facts? If you think he would do such a thing, you don't know Republicans. Here's Mitt:
I also believe the administration was wrong to stand by a statement sympathizing with those who had breached our embassy in Egypt, instead of condemning their actions.
Once again, blatant and unmitigated falsehood. And what about the White House's subsequent disavowal of the statement by the embassy? Saith Mitt:
The White House distanced itself last night from the statement, saying it wasn't cleared by Washington. That reflects the mixed signals they're sending to the world.​
But there has been no "mixed signal" on the condemnation of the Terry Jones film--which was the only event on which the embassy was commenting. On Tuesday evening, Secretary of State Clinton issued this statement:
Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet. The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. But let me be clear: There is never any justification for violent acts of this kind.
But here is the Mitt Romney version of events, as presented at his press conference today:
I think it's a terrible course for America to stand in apology for our values. That instead, when our grounds are being attacked and being breached, that the first response of the United States must be outrage at the breach of the sovereignty of our nation. An apology for America's values is never the right course.
That there never was ANY apology or anything even remotely approaching an apology, and that the statement that he cites as "akin to apology" was made BEFORE the attacks, will not stop Mitt from his bogus posturing.

What disheartens me is the thought that Mitt can count on tens of millions of voters to applaud his fact-free lies and misrepresentations as he pretends to be a statesman.

The best summary that I have yet found of the whole business as it stands at the moment is this one at TPM.

Edited to add: My title is a bit off. To be entirely accurate, it should read: "Romney on the attacks on the US consulate in Libya and the US embassy in Cairo." But you get the idea.
 
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Calboner

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An instructive comment made before Romney gave the press conference in which he doubled down on his lies:

The Lost Soul Of Mitt Romney - Forbes
Governor Romney should understand this better than most as the founder of Romney’s own LDS religion, Joseph Smith, was murdered by a violent mob whose own religious beliefs had been offended by Smith. Ironically, that mob violently stormed the jail in which Smith was being detained and killed the man in cold blood.

I’m sure the irony of our Ambassador’s death at the hands of such a mob is completely lost on Governor Romney who has now cashed in the decency I have always ascribed to the man in exchange for his willingness to do anything—and say anything—if it helps him capture the prize he so intensely seeks. No doubt, the Romney campaign tells itself that trading their souls is the price they must pay for the greater good. No doubt, they convince themselves of some wisdom they find in speaking first and thinking later if that is what must be done to save the American people from themselves.

Yet, I think all Americans know how that storyline ends.​
 

HUNGHUGE11X7

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Yeah so much for a political embargo on 9/11. What was DISGUSTING was the way he attacked the White House and his President before knowing the facts.
It shows what an abysmal campaign the ROMNEY ticket has been,
I am starting to seriously think that he is punking the GOP. He has no hopes of actually winning just wants the ego boost of running for the office and also has some sour grapes with what happened to his father.

HH
 

vince

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Nothing one can say about that really. Except that he shows his true colors once again. It's been obvious for over a year that the man has no scruples whatsoever.
 

sillystring

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Here's the CNN quote from the President:

"We will not waver in our commitment to see that justice is done for this terrible act," said President Barack Obama. "And make no mistake, justice will be done."

"Since our founding, the United States has been a nation that respects all faiths. We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others," he said. "But there is absolutely no justification for this type of senseless violence -- none."

Definitely different than the embassy quote from beofore the attack. Early reports are indicating this was a planned attack by AQ using the uproar over the video as a cover.

Aside from here I haven't seen Mr. Romney's response, just the President's and the State Departments. Pretty foolish to call out the response by the President and his staff before all the facts are in. I think the President could have been more forceful in the last line of the above quote, or at least worded it differently...but I see no apology.

Mr. Romney should have directed his aggression against the zealot who inflamed the situation purposefully to enrage Muslims.
 

Stretch

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What disheartens me is the thought that Mitt can count on tens of millions of voters to applaud his fact-free lies and misrepresentations as he pretends to be a statesman.

That is definitely the most distressing aspect Cal. Anybody can get up on a soapbox and bloviate, but without the masses buying into the bullshit, it means nothing.
 

HUNGHUGE11X7

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Mr. Romney should have directed his aggression against the zealot who inflamed the situation purposefully to enrage Muslims.


Yeah, that ignorant bastard in Florida, who has the audacity to call himself a man of God. I will not mention his name cause he is not worth the salt in the spit that would be requred to utter hs name



HH
 

sillystring

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Yeah, that ignorant bastard in Florida, who has the audacity to call himself a man of God. I will not mention his name causehe is not worth the salt the spit that would be requred to utter hs name



HH

Westboro, in general all the overly zealous groups who know that their freedom of speech will be used as an excuse to murder innocents.

The Muslim's involved in these attacks need to be reigned in by their moderate leaders as well. They play right into the hands of the other Abrahamic faiths and make the entire community look violent and cruel.
 

vince

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Westboro, in general all the overly zealous groups who know that their freedom of speech will be used as an excuse to murder innocents.

The Muslim's involved in these attacks need to be reigned in by their moderate leaders as well. They play right into the hands of the other Abrahamic faiths and make the entire community look violent and cruel.
You are correct about that. Although I would say they play directly into the hands of the extremists in the other faiths and that it goes both ways. Al Qaeda could not be happier when films like that are made or Korans are burned. Those acts and films backup the claims they make against the US.

CNN just had a piece on the attack in Bengazi and the guests were saying that it may have been an attack of opportunity on a lower level of security compound, in the midst of protests over this film. It wasn't a highly planned operation of the type Al Qaeda mounts.
 
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D

deleted15807

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If anyone has been paying attention Mittens has got himself into a bit of a bind trying to explain his criticism of Obama before he knew all the facts. It's going to be a long 55 days. Mitt obviously is beginning to feel like John McCain in September 2008. The more he talks the more his numbers sink.

“It almost feels like Sarah Palin is his foreign policy adviser,” Matthew Dowd, who was a top strategist for president George W. Bush, said in an interview. “It’s just a huge mistake on the Romney campaign’s part — huge mistake.”

Romney repeats sharp criticism of Obama after Benghazi, Cairo attacks

The Latest GOP Lie: "Obama Sympathizes with Muslim Rioters"

Mitt Romney has mess to clean up after falsely accusing Obama on Libya
 
D

deleted15807

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:frown1:Opps it appears this thread is a dupe of 'Romney on the attack on the US consulate in Libya'
 

AtomicMouse1950

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Mitt Romney jumped the gun. He couldn't wait to get the jump in ahead of President Obama on this tragic issue. And he acts like a "cowboy", who is irresponsible in his remarks, and he is not ready for prime time as a the President of the Free world, that our world looks to. Romney looked before he leaped. This is a serious matter. It could have been much worse, had Romney made statements like this, IF he was President. His remarks could have put our country in jeopardy. Romney is clearly a risk this country cannot afford, as President. He shoots from the hip. We can't have a President like that.
 

AtomicMouse1950

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I believe you have a true grasp of the situation.
Romney is not just some candidate who is going after a fellow republican running for office. This is a loose cannon in the guise of a businessman from Utah, who is supposed to understand his own religious roots, but in this case ignoring them, to try and "one up" the President of the U.S., in order to garner some kind of "capital gain".
This is a serous breach, not just in international diplomacy, but this could have made the situation in the middle East even worse. And who knows it might have? Time will tell. For anyone on the Right to excuse Romney for what he said, in this matter, is just as much a loose cannon as Romney is. In which case, as far as I'm concerned, had ruined any credibility with me, on discussing the issues. The Right Wing is desperate for a win. A big win if possible. The RIGHT WING is so out of touch with it's own people... they will do anything, say anything, their base wants to listen to.
Make no mistake, the Left side of the isle, needs Not To Let UP. This is not the time to relax, but to continue to make the point that the Right Wing, and their candidates are bad, for our economy, bad for our foreign policy, bad for everyone concerned. The Neo-Con-artists are desperate. That much is clear. The Right screwed up the economy to begin with, Obama inherited all of it. He's had to deal with an obstructionist Repugnate-Con-artist Congress Hell bent on making sure that Obama is a one term President. Doing nothing but ignoring their oath to the Constitution, but embracing the oath of Grover Norquist. Which is treasonable in and of itself.




On Tuesday, September 11, 2012, violent mobs, reacting to an anti-Islam film produced by the Quran-burning American preacher Terry Jones, besieged the US embassy in Cairo and the US consulate in Benghazi. Within hours, Mitt Romney issued this statement:
I’m outraged by the attacks on American diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt and by the death of an American consulate worker in Benghazi. It’s disgraceful that the Obama Administration’s first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.
That Obama administration--always apologizing for America to its enemies! And now it's at it again? Or is Mitt Romney just telling a barefaced lie? Well, let's see.

First, the response to which Romney was referring came not from the Obama administration but from the US embassy in Cairo. It read:
The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.​
Second, and more importantly, the statement was issued BEFORE the attacks on either of the American sites in North Africa. It was a response to Terry Jones's film, NOT to the attacks.

Whether or not you think that the responsible parties in the US embassy in Egypt did wisely in issuing this statement--according to Politico44, an administration official subsequently said, "The statement by Embassy Cairo was not cleared by Washington and does not reflect the views of the United States government"--the fact is that the supposed statement by the Obama administration in response to the attacks was NOT made by the Obama administration and was made BEFORE the attacks.

Mitt Romney was not only using a terrible attack on Americans and American institutions and property as an occasion for gaining political advantage, but was with utter shamelessness misrepresenting a statement NOT made by the Obama administration and made BEFORE the attacks as a statement BY the Obama administration in RESPONSE to the attacks.

Today, on September 12, Mitt Romney called a press conference. Did he take the opportunity to correct his misrepresentation of the facts? If you think he would do such a thing, you don't know Republicans. Here's Mitt:
I also believe the administration was wrong to stand by a statement sympathizing with those who had breached our embassy in Egypt, instead of condemning their actions.
Once again, blatant and unmitigated falsehood. And what about the White House's subsequent disavowal of the statement by the embassy? Saith Mitt:
The White House distanced itself last night from the statement, saying it wasn't cleared by Washington. That reflects the mixed signals they're sending to the world.​
But there has been no "mixed signal" on the condemnation of the Terry Jones film--which was the only event on which the embassy was commenting. On Tuesday evening, Secretary of State Clinton issued this statement:
Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet. The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. But let me be clear: There is never any justification for violent acts of this kind.
But here is the Mitt Romney version of events, as presented at his press conference today:
I think it's a terrible course for America to stand in apology for our values. That instead, when our grounds are being attacked and being breached, that the first response of the United States must be outrage at the breach of the sovereignty of our nation. An apology for America's values is never the right course.
That there never was ANY apology or anything even remotely approaching an apology, and that the statement that he cites as "akin to apology" was made BEFORE the attacks, will not stop Mitt from his bogus posturing.

What disheartens me is the thought that Mitt can count on tens of millions of voters to applaud his fact-free lies and misrepresentations as he pretends to be a statesman.

The best summary that I have yet found of the whole business as it stands at the moment is this one at TPM.

Edited to add: My title is a bit off. To be entirely accurate, it should read: "Romney on the attacks on the US consulate in Libya and the US embassy in Cairo." But you get the idea.
An instructive comment made before Romney gave the press conference in which he doubled down on his lies:

The Lost Soul Of Mitt Romney - Forbes
Governor Romney should understand this better than most as the founder of Romney’s own LDS religion, Joseph Smith, was murdered by a violent mob whose own religious beliefs had been offended by Smith. Ironically, that mob violently stormed the jail in which Smith was being detained and killed the man in cold blood.

I’m sure the irony of our Ambassador’s death at the hands of such a mob is completely lost on Governor Romney who has now cashed in the decency I have always ascribed to the man in exchange for his willingness to do anything—and say anything—if it helps him capture the prize he so intensely seeks. No doubt, the Romney campaign tells itself that trading their souls is the price they must pay for the greater good. No doubt, they convince themselves of some wisdom they find in speaking first and thinking later if that is what must be done to save the American people from themselves.

Yet, I think all Americans know how that storyline ends.
 
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vince

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I merged the two threads.

And please take off with the "President of the Free World" line. The Leader of the free world is annoying enough as a phrase, without making him out to be president of us as well. :rolleyes:
 

AtomicMouse1950

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I merged the two threads.

And please take off with the "President of the Free World" line. The Leader of the free world is annoying enough as a phrase, without making him out to be president of us as well. :rolleyes:

Except President Obama, IS "Our President"... Just as G.W. Bush was "Our President". etc. So Paaa-leeze! :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
 

Phil Ayesho

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Romney, and the two politically naive imbeciles who actually backed him up, are such complete idiots.

Hating Obama and wanting to defeat him are one thing... but even conservatives feel there is something treasonous in attacking a sitting president when the the US is under attack.
And the craven political posturing only makes this worse. Why the FUCK can't Romney stand WITH the US... even when its under direct threat?
Has this asshole never even Heard the term " LOYAL opposition"?


I seem to remember a LOT of liberals backing Bush's play in the years after 9/11... not because they agreed with his approach, but because he was the man in command when the shit came down and needed the support of his citizens.

In the cold light of day... it has become clear that this was part of a coordinated seris of attacks on US consulates orchestrated by Al-Quaeda... Why? Because the US has been decimating their ranks for years... ( we are still at war with these fucks )

In the cold light of day it has become clear that the Libyan people are dismayed at the attack on the Benghazi consulate, given that the US acted to prevent Quadhafi from leveling the city. That it was Libyan citizens that came to the aid of the consulate staff and rushed the ambassador to the hospital.

And that Nothing the consulates put out even remotely suggested an apology for American values... that it simply tried to make clear that a video planted to foment islamic rage was NOT a reflection of the US government's attitude toward islam.

Obama came off as cool and in command.

Romney came off as an internationally naive opportunist focused on attacking HIS President, rather than the enemies who attacked us.
He went off half cocked, and came out looking like a foreign policy moron.

But then, Romney is the guy looking to the architects of the Iraq War... the "New American Century" neocon nincompoops that steered this nation into two of the longest, costliest and least effective wars in our history.

And did you SEE the video of his defense of his "statement"... those fucking creepy SMILES he kept showing between his eager attacks on his own country?
He was GLEEFUL that we had been attacked, because he saw it as his chortcut to the white house.

Romney's attack on his own country and diplomatic corp, rather than the folks who committed the violence, coupled with his absolutely IGNORING in his convention speech the Still ongoing GOP instigated war overseas...
not to mention his fumbling, insulting and nationally embarrassing european tour in which he proved to be the ugliest of americans...
..... this just all combines to PROVE that this "businessman" has NO business being in the Oval Office.

As a multinational corporation with headquarters in the Caymans, He's simply NOT American enough.

And this backwards mormon magic underwear wearing rube is simply not Sophisticated enough to deal with the complexity of America's geo-political interests.

This country is not a "business" that needs to be downsized or put into bankruptcy... ( Romney's sole expertise other than tax evasion )
This is the most powerful NATION on earth. With Global reach, responsibilities and reputation.

And, seriously... Private Profit has nothing to do with it.


Vote against the plutocracy.

ESPECIALLY the stupid, clumsy, naive and disloyal plutocracy.