Jonathan Capeheart: Romney fights for Chen Guangcheng but not Richard Grenell [View all]

[Bolo Boffin]

When there’s a situation as fluid as what’s going down in Beijing between the Obama administration and the Chinese government over blind attorney Chen Guangcheng, it’s best for those not directly involved to sit back and watch. This is especially so of those running to unseat the sitting president. But Mitt Romney just couldn’t hold his tongue.

“We’ve heard some disturbing things from across the world that suggest that, potentially, if the reports are true, some very troubling developments there,” Mr. Romney said, according to a report in the New York Times. “If these reports are true, this is a dark day for freedom and it’s a day of shame for the Obama administration.” Missing from that statement is what exactly what Romney would do and how he planned to deal with the fallout from said action.

Seeming to fight for Chen was a messy move for Romney. But what it lacked in long-term thinking it made up for in short-term benefit. For it shifted the day’s conversation away from Romney’s unwillingness to fight for Richard Grenell.

For my part, I doubt Romney even knew who Guangcheng was until four days ago. I can't find anything to show otherwise.