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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMitt Romney's character and judgment 'gaffe'
by Armando
Writing about Mitt Romney's astounding performance the morning we discovered that the United States ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens, and 3 of his staff had been killed in a heinous attack, Dave Weigel of Slate argued:
Mitt Romney did not gaffe about the protest at the U.S. Embassy in Egypt or the killing of diplomats at the Benghazi Consulate. The whole concept of the gaffe has been Silly-Putty-ed into meaninglessness by campaign 2012, yes, but thats not what I mean. What Mitt Romney said about the attacks, fact-challenged as it was, synced up neatly with what hes been saying about foreign policy for years.
Weigel is right to say that the "Apology Tour" theme is consistent with what Romney has said since, well, he released his book No Apology (I never understood why someone would be so proud to have never apologized). But I submit that the episode was, nonetheless, a gaffe. Not the typical type of gaffe we are accustomed to, where a public figure accidentally tells us what they really think. Instead this was a character and judgment gaffe, where Mitt Romney accidentally demonstrated to us that his judgment and character disqualify him for the presidency.
To be sure, the substance of Romney's statements is nonsensical gibberish. But that is the modus operandi of an entire political party, the modern Republican Party. The impulses Romney succumbed to on that morning rendered naked any pretense that he is a man of judgment and character. Romney inadvertently revealed his true self and it was not pretty. And it was not someone who should be president.
Republicans are eager to hearken to the 1980 election as a model for how this election may turn out. Kos effectively demolished this silly meme. But it is worth remembering how Ronald Reagan performed on the tragic day that the attempt to rescue the hostages in Iran ended in failure. Reagan issued a somber statement expressing condolences and calling for national unity. He did not criticize the Carter Administration at all on that day. In fact, it was not until 6 days later that Reagan resumed his criticisms of President Carter's foreign policy. To be sure, it is possible that Reagan and his campaign were privately gleeful about the tragedy, but they possessed the political judgment to understand that engaging in crass politicking on that day would be unwise, indeed, dishonorable. This is not to argue that Reagan possessed the judgment and character to be a good president, but rather, that at a bare minimum, a person aspiring to be president of the United States needs to exhibit the judgment and character to refrain from the behavior Mitt Romney engaged in the morning the nation was informed of Ambassador Stevens' death.
Instead, Mitt Romney demonstrated an utter lack of character and judgment. It is not often that events provide us with authentically revealing moments of the people who run for the highest offices. Politics is a scripted affair for the most part, with actions, statements, political ads and attack lines carefully prepared. One would not have expected this event to provide such a true glimpse; after all Mitt Romney had a whole night to consider how he would behave that morning.
But after a night of thought, Mitt Romney chose to demand the attention of the cameras after the secretary of state had delivered her moving remarks at Foggy Bottom. Romney also chose to insist on being heard immediately preceding the president's remarks to the nation.
And what did he choose to say with this moment? After a night's reflection, Mitt Romney chose to relaunch his baseless, tasteless political attacks. It was astonishing.
Mitt Romney gaffed. He inadvertently demonstrated that he does not possess the judgment and character to be president of the United States.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/16/1131687/-Mitt-Romney-s-character-and-judgment-gaffe
Mitt's smirking disaster
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021326694
Note:
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)I wrote Unfit to Command in my diary. Little did I know that events would come about that would illustrate my point so succinctly. It is to my regret that this has happened. I wish we lived in a world where my ideas that violence would happen and Mitt would make it worse were preposterous. But, the fact is we live in a violent world and we need peaceful solutions not more fiery rhetoric and more wars. here is a link to my earlier diary entry
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/09/1129541/-Unfit-to-Command
ProSense
(116,464 posts)it's a reminder that Mitt has shown himself to be unfit many times.
BumRushDaShow
(128,467 posts)I.e., EPIC FAIL.
Perhaps what should be shown IS what Raygun did the first year in office where he showed that he "likes to fire people" like Rmoney.
Blanks
(4,835 posts)Reagan recognized that trying to make an American disaster into a campaign boosting event would not work.
Reagan understood that you need to at least be perceived as 'America first'; particularly when it comes to Americans losing their lives. The fact that Reagan demonstrated later that he is a dick; is immaterial.
Even 30 years ago candidates for president knew what would backfire in the PR war and the fact that Romney doesn't know all these years later is indicative that: Romney can't do anything right.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)from the OP: "the substance of Romney's statements is nonsensical gibberish."
Romney didn't have the sense to know that his craveness would backfire and his statement was idiotic.
Mitt Romney goes off the deep end with new defense of his embassy attack
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021342118