Romney Adviser Calls Foreign Policy A ‘Distraction’

[DonViejo]

Source: ThinkProgress

An adviser to Mitt Romney referred to foreign policy as a “distraction” in this year’s presidential election. While President Obama’s campaign continues to focus on the administration’s foreign policy successes and the lack of national security experience from the Romney ticket, Romney aide Robert O’Brien accused the Obama campaign of “going from one shiny object to the next:”

The Romney campaign, however, doesn’t think national security is a winning issue for Obama.
Romney foreign policy advisor Robert O’Brien called the Obama campaign’s tactic a transparent ploy to distract from the sagging economy, including a recent jobs report that was “a disaster for them.”

“It doesn’t surprise me that they’re raising foreign policy because it’s another distraction from the Administration’s terrible economic record,” O’Brien told BuzzFeed. “They’re going from one shiny object to the next.”

Romney has received widespread criticism — even from leading Republicans — for ignoring U.S. troops and the war in Afghanistan in his speech to the Republican National Convention.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/09/11/827951/romney-adviser-calls-foreign-policy-discussion-a-distraction/

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Yeah Mr President! Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea...none of 'em are important

[truthisfreedom]

1. Calling foreign policy a shiny object is the best they can do?

Even though our economy relies on foreign policy?

Are they actually drowning in their own feces?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. follow it through. Let's say they really mean it.

They managed to insult the UK, France, Israel, Russia, China, Iraq, and probably a few others even before their convention.

Now, they insult the rest of the world, telling them that the US is far more important than anything going on elsewhere. That means that they won't care (except for invading Iran, perhaps Syria, and perhaps bombing the shit out of the USSR, just for fun) what happens. The entire Pacific rim relies on US diplomacy and control of the seas for protection. As of November, that's gone. The entire Atlantic Pond relies on the US, too. As of November, it will be, "Look out for yourselves."

I don't know if they think Americans are stupid, or if Rmoney simply hired truly incompetent staff? Perhaps both.

[oldsarge54]

12. Ever Consider

Ever Consider that Republicans were born of the "Know Nothing" Party, American Firster that just wanted to close the wall around the nation. The Republicans seceded in that when the official policy isolationism after WWI. Also consider the Republican rank and file. One poster blamed the entire world financial meltdown on a young Chicago organizer pushing for minority loans. Yes, the Republicans do think the great unwashed are stupid. They don't expect the Archie Bunkers to notice little inconsistencies from their leaders.

[Angry Dragon]

2. But Willard thinks the evil Russians are the most important

[CrispyQ]

3. This doesn't surprise me, coming from the party that believes they create their own reality.

I think R/R think foreign policy is just telling other countries what to do. We're the USA after all.

[tomm2thumbs]

4. good day for it, eh Romney?

Mitt's pick for 2nd in line is Dangerously Un-Prepared to take over the job of President - which should scare the heck out of any American who is really considering the ticket of Romney/Ryan as a serious candidate and running mate for the leader of the free world.

seriously, Paul Ryan?

[RevStPatrick]

6. Of course it's a distraction!

It's a distraction from the fact that Mittens is getting his ass kicked...

[Lucy Goosey]

7. Hasn't he essentially said the same about his tax returns?

And the Republican war on women?

Whatever, Willard. Just because you find it "distracting" to talk about anything other than how horrible the "Obama economy" and Obamacare are, doesn't mean the public doesn't want to hear you address other issues. That's why you keep being asked about things like reproductive rights and foreign policy. Makes sense, right?

[Proud Public Servant]

8. And Obama's answer should be simple and brutal:

I don't think of maintaining our historic alliances as a "distraction." I don't think of combatting the extremeist violence that threatens our interests and the lives of our citizens as a "distraction." I don't think of the lives of the tens of thousands of American troops fighting overseas to defend our freedom as a "distraction." Governor Romney, apparently, does, and the choice between us could not be clearer.

[JHB]

11. Says the man with a foreign policy written by neocon chickenhawks...

...the people whose brilliance (and I use the term so loosely it makes "slack" look like a tuned piano) dismissed Al Queda as a threat, launched an invasion of Iraq as a pure ideological joyride, threw out the "Powell doctrine" of overwhelming force and clear goals (so it was a half-assed ideological joyride at the top), and dragged it on for a decade because they couldn't admit they were wrong.

Among other things. And now they are thumping war drums about Iran.

It's an important thing, Mittens.

[liberal N proud]

13. Let's add that to the list of things that Romney doesn't think are important.

Women
Troops
People that make less than $1 million a day
Babies after they are born

I know I have forgotten something.

[ananda]

14. Foreign policy, foreign schmolicy.

What's the big deal?

Mitt's a businessman, and that's what America needs to lead us
out of our economic mess, a success businessman who can
rape, loot, plunder, and pillage bank accounts and treasuries
with the best of em.

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. Since foreign policy is clearly a 'distraction' or 'shiny object' in Article II of the Constitution

Oh, no, wait, it isn't:

Section. 2.

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.


Section. 3.

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information on the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_United_States_of_America#Article_II

There's a far better case that the Presidency should only be about foreign policy, from a constitutional point of view.

[sakabatou]

16. So he cares about nothing but himself. Yep, nothing new.

[randome]

17. "...a disaster for them.” Not 'us'. 'Them'.

Did this dickweed take elocution lessons from Ann Romney?

[BadgerKid]

18. No surprise, Williard only cares about money. n/t

[Diclotican]

19. DonViejo

DonViejo

Rather scary I must say - specially living in a country, who for the last 60 year, have lived in the belief that if attacked by anyone, (specially the old USSR) the US would be there to help us.

Now even foreign affairs is of the table for this person, who want to be a president.. Why should americans, and the rest of the world know little about how the potential republican president will look at the foreign affairs - as it is important for so many smaller country's out there to do know about it all...

Alliances and friendship goes both ways - the the last republican President damaged the US presidency in the world almost to the break point.. 60 year of alliance and friendship was almost down the tubes, because of ignorance and arrogance from the republicans.. And it was kind of coming to a showdown, when the germen foreign minister Dr Fisher kind of exploded with Rumsefeld et all in the same room... And Fisher basically told him, and the rest of the americans, that they was lying their asses off making the case for war against Iraq... He might not have von any points form Rumsfeld and the american Republicans - but at least he got some points for stating the obevius...

Diclotican

[Nikia]

20. I see Romney's ideas on foreign policy as dangerous

People should vote for Obama on this point alone.
Romney wants to increase the defense budget and seems to want to go to war, maybe even with Russia. Even if none of his other right wing plans happen, his foreign policy alone will bring our complete downfall.
Romney evidently want people to know about his plans.

[Lucy Goosey]

21. Meanwhile, Mitt actually gave speech ABOUT FOREIGN POLICY today

http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/09/fox-news-cuts-romney-speech-early-135198.html?hp=l5

The highly anticipated speech was Romney's chance to settle the score, prove that he was very concerned about our armed servicemen, and go on the attack on matters related to foreign policy.

They aren't even trying to keep their stories straight, are they?

[smirkymonkey]

22. Oh dear, I really fear for the future of the planet if he should end up stealing this election.

Because I think that is the only way he can win. If he does, we're all screwed.

[Kablooie]

23. Focussing on an opponent's inadequacy in an essential function of the job is a shiny object?

It certainly shines objectivity on Romney.