The reaction in the US to Mitt Romney’s gaffes in London has been widespread and damning.
Perhaps, the most emblematic media condemnation of Romney is a Newsweek cover story which asks if Romney is a wimp:
ROMNEY: THE WIMP FACTOR – IS HE JUST TOO INSECURE TO BE PRESIDENT – by Michael Tomasky
It should be the easiest thing in the world for a presidential nominee: a trip to England. The mother country, the shared tongue, our firmest ally. And it should have been easiest of all last week, happening as it did on the eve of the Olympics. Just praise everything you see. Limn London as one of the world’s great cities, invoke the spirit of the British people that lives on from the glorious days of the blitz. Praise the bangers and mash and the pasties if you have to. Nothing to it.
And yet, Mitt Romney managed to alienate just about every living Briton. He didn’t merely criticize the organizers or bureaucrats—he questioned the people of Britain themselves: “Do [the people] come together and celebrate the Olympic moment?” He wasn’t sure. The Sun even went so far as to dub him “Mitt the Twit.”
It was an astonishing faux pas—one of many packed into his brief visit. And it makes one wonder: if elected, Romney is going to have to work hand-in-glove with Prime Minister David Cameron and other world leaders on the ongoing global financial crisis and other issues. What unintended offenses are going to tumble out of his mouth then, when he’s representing our nation on the world stage?
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10 Comments
Prior to Mitt’s trip, I thought he was unbelievably dull yet also meticulously organised. I still believe he’s dull, but meticulous? Hardly. He has made himself into an international laughingstock and this may seal his defeat. Gallup presently say that Romney and Obama are tied: however this was prior to his ill-judged trip. I suspect some distance has just opened up between the two.
Forget Britain; his visit to Israel was full of praise for, “Americans’ second home”. His ‘green light’ for Israel to attack Iran shows where his presidential beliefs lie.
they’ve yet to get to the dog story – it’ll finally finish him
I suspect he’s deliberately setting out to offend the Europeans, much as George W Bush deliberately acted even dumber than came naturally. The Democrats will boast that Obama is civilised and smart. The Republicans will say that Obama is a weird intellectual who is out of touch with ordinary Americans, and that while Obama puts the rest of the world first, Romney puts America first.
David, that only works to a point: Americans do generally have a friendly view of the British, so Romney insulting the UK probably hasn’t helped him much.
The article makes some good points, but it’s worth pointing out that its author Michael Tomasky is a well-known Democrat and very much a liberal; former Guardian America editor too, I think.
Clearly Newsweek saw enough in it to make it the cover story, but even so, it’s hardly an objective analysis.
Still, I laughed and cheered all weekend about #romneyshambles. I hate the guy and everything he stands for, so if Tomasky’s article lessens his chances even an iota, it’s a good thing.
A great President…..
…………of the Grecian 2000 corporation. 🙁
Mark my words, a slight majority of Americans won’t give two hoots if he’s offended Britain or not. Romney will be President-elect by November.
The polls put Romney neck and neck with Obama. If he wins the good thing will be that Hilary has a final chance in 2016
A lot will happen to affect the race between now and then. However, I’m sure these events are a minus for Romney. Being aggressive about unfriendly foreigners from Iran to France goes down well and Americans don’t like any suggestion of foreign meddling in their politics (much though they meddle in other people’s), but gratuitously offending a generally popular ally is not a good move. He could gain some support from appearing rough-hewn and honest, which fits his appearance though not his record, but HE BACKTRACKED! That makes him look weak.
I’d consider any confident prediction of the election result rash, to put it mildly.