FRENCH Romney's First Foreign STUMBLE?

[Segami]

OUI, OUI MONSIEUR ROMNEY!

Foreign Affairs is a bitch!






"..It’s treacherous for a US presidential candidate to travel overseas — lots of opportunities for mis-chosen words and getting drawn into other countries’ domestic politics. With Mitt Romney about to leave on his big trip abroad he may already have had his first big foreign stumble. At a GOP fundraiser in San Francisco last night, Romney said that Australia’s foreign minister had warned him that foreign leaders see the US in decline and — at least in Romney’s telling — was hoping for Romney-like policies to make things right.



That at least was the version of the comments that appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald. A similar version, but without the full quotes, appeared in the AP. Quoting Romney: ”And this idea of America in decline, it was interesting [Carr] said that, he led the talk of America being in decline. See that’s not talk we hear about here as much as they’re hearing there. And if they’re thinking about investing in America, entrepreneurs putting their future in America, if they think America’s in decline they’re not gonna do it.”



Whether or not the SMH got it right is one question. The Hill notes that the pool reports did not have Romney clearly characterizing the comments as a warning. And now, Australia’s Foreign Minister’s office has come forward to shoot down Romney’s characterization of the discussion, calling Romney’s interpretation “not correct.”



You cannot take a shoot down like this at face value in any case. Whatever Carr said, he almost certainly didn’t expect Romney to turn around and use it as ammo in a political speech. Allies don’t want to get publicly embroiled in a US election — especially on the wrong side of an incumbent who they believe is more likely than not to get reelected. So he’d be under a lot of pressure to walk away from Romney’s comments, even if Romney was accurately characterizing them. On the other hand, maybe Mitt just made it up or gave it — probably the most likely option — a negative spin the retelling. One way or another, it will be interesting to see how Romney navigates this sort of stuff when he’s overseas.






http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/07/mitts_first_foreign_stumble.php?ref=fpblg


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[CTyankee]

1. I predicted this kind of screwup just the other day on DU. How smart am I?

But really, folks, he screws up everything. I just knew it wouldn't take long for him to get into a massive FUBAR with some foreign government. And this is before he even leaves the country!

Oh, we have a wealth of goodies coming to us once he really gets going on this trip.

I can't wait...please pass that popcorn, will ya?

[nc4bo]

5. Like potty Palin, soooooooo not ready for international primetime.

They know it. We know it. More often than not, those living overseas know a helluva lot about our goings-on than we do.

What a joke.

[warrior1]

2. what the fuck happen to his hair?

[nc4bo]

3. Only limited to what, 2 oz. of goo in a can on airlines?

Or he opened his mouth and scared himself sick!

[11 Bravo]

4. Somebody slipped him a Mountain Dew. He went nuts and wore his magic undies on his head.

[nichomachus]

7. They had strapped him to the top of the car n/t

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. He didn't recognize himself in the mirror and attacked himself with scissors

He's had so many different personas lately, like the Three Faces of Eve. Looks like he just stopped short of giving himself a Mohawk.

[malaise]

6. Here's the report from the Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/carr-caught-in-us-political-crossfire-20120723-22k5b.html
<snip>
But despite headlines today such as ''Mitt Romney Gets Grim Warning From Australian Leader'', a spokesman for Senator Carr says Australia's Foreign Minister was talking up the US economy, not talking it down.

That is, any fears that Australia's foreign minister has been overseas criticising a key alliance parnter, would be misplaced.

''That interpretation is not correct,'' the spokesman told The National Times.

Indeed, Senator Carr has used a similar phrase about the US budget before - on people such as former World Bank chief Robert Zoellick - to indicate his belief in the US economy's strengths and potential.

The comments did not get as much attention at the time. Then again, Mr Zoellick was not running for president.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/carr-caught-in-us-political-crossfire-20120723-22k5b.html#ixzz21U8paYqK

[Segami]

9. Thanks for the links!