Isn't It a Shame Mitt Romney Simply Cannot Get His Facts Straight on National Television? [172]
ROMNEY SAID OBAMA APOLOGIZED FOR AMERICA - NEVER HAPPENED!
IN ALL THREE DEBATES Governor Romney tried to spread the long standing conservative myth that one of the first things President Obama did was go on an apology tour of foreign capitals trying to make up for eight-years of President Bush destroying relationships with most of our allies. Of course the tour happened, but the apologies never did - not one!
As usual, the politicians (I don't use just conservatives here you notice) took snippets of words to back up their lie. For example, Romney offered the following Obama phrase as one proof of his claim, Obama said,
"there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive."
He is correct, Obama said that. But, then Obama said,
"anti-Americanism that is at once casual but can also be insidious. Instead of recognizing the good that America so often does in the world, there have been times where Europeans choose to blame America for much of what's bad."
Does't sound as much like an apology now, does it. He follows this up with the punch line,
"America cannot confront the challenges of this century alone, but that Europe cannot confront them without America. So I've come to Europe this week to renew our partnership, one in which America listens and learns from our friends and allies, but where our friends and allies bear their share of the burden. Together, we must forge common solutions to our common problems."
That, folks, is what Mitt Romney considers an Obama apology.
OR HOW ABOUT THIS "APOLOGY"?
ROMNEY POINTS TO THIS OUT OF CONTEXT QUOTE AS WELL. Here Obama is talking to the Turkish President and says, in part, the part Romney likes to bring out,
"The United States is still working through some of our own darker periods in our history," Obama said. "Our country still struggles with the legacies of slavery and segregation, the past treatment of Native Americans."
That, of course, is where Romney leaves it. Romney didn't give the rest of the story where President Obama then talked about "the [Turkish] massacre of Armenians during World War I, and how both Turks and Armenians should work toward a "new day."
Each and every example that Governor Romney, Paul Ryan, or any other conservative has presented on the campaign trail follows a similar course; the initial statement sounds horrible, but the truth is just the opposite of what they tell you it is.
[Source: CNN Fact Check]
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Comments
Excellent hub and right on!
Even if the POTUS had apologized for America, what's wrong with that?
God forbid the U.S. ever show a shred of humility in acknowledging our past misdeeds, instead of our usual breathtaking hubris.
Conservatives prefer the pretense of American infallibility over honest national self-assessment. And it's such American arrogance that the rest of the world finds so hard to swallow.
So, yeah, I'm all for the Pres. apologizing for that---someone's gotta do it, and who better than the President?
- Author
Thanks for the comment Charles. I agree from an individual perspective, it shows a strength of character to admit your mistakes. Unfortunately, I believe, on the national stage, not couched the way Obama did it, can lead to negative unintended diplomatic consequences.
It is good, I think, to show a little national humility, but it seems to me one has to be very circumspect in how its done.
Romney also needs a grammar school geography lesson . . .
"Syria is Iran's route to the sea." -Mitt Romney
Duh!
Great hub—voted up!
Obama as Commander-in-Chief, Romney as Dithering Bully:
Mr Esoteric
With all the issues that have been raised in the debates, you chose this one to show what?
Do you want four more of the last four Obama years?
Obama has FAILED as president, and he is in my opinion now worse than Jimmy Carter as a president
Obama has no public record to run on in this election.
He has spent this year doing nothing but campaigning, fund raising, and playing golf.
- Author
Thanks for the comment, Wizard.
And, thanks for your to, ID, but I absolutly want four more years of Obama and I definitely don't want 8 more years of conservative governement which has never worked very well, leading us into one economic disaster after another decade after decade and strangling individual libirty by making each American abide by one set of Christian moral principals.
You know as well as I do, Obama will go down as one of the most SUCCESSFUL presidents, ID, because not only did he prevent a depression and work us back to a recovery, he did it in the face of determined opposition by the opposing Party to stop him from doing it!
Hi My Esoteric,
Well, I suppose it is no worse than Obama getting HIS facts wrong and accusses Romney of calling Russia the “biggest geopolitical threat facing America.” When he actually called Russia a “foe” and not a “threat.” He said “the greatest threat that the world faces is a nuclear Iran.”
You can go to factcheck.org to check it out....and there are four or five other facts that Obama did not get RIGHT on National Television.
As far as the "apology tour"... Obama DID criticize America....and althought he did NOT use the word "apology" he did imply it.
April 3, 2009: Strasbourg, France
“In America, there’s a failure to appreciate Europe’s leading role in the world. Instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with you to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive.”
April 6, 2009: Ankara, Turkey to the Turkish Parliament
“Another issue that confronts all democracies as they move to the future is how we deal with the past. The United States is still working through some of our own darker periods in our history.”
April 17, 2009, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, at the Summit of the Americas
“While the United States has done much to promote peace and prosperity in the hemisphere, we have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms.”
May 21, 2009: National Archives in Washington D.C.
“Unfortunately, faced with an uncertain threat, our government made a series of hasty decisions. … I also believe that all too often our government made decisions based on fear rather than foresight; that all too often our government trimmed facts and evidence to fit ideological predispositions. Instead of strategically applying our power and our principles, too often we set those principles aside as luxuries that we could no longer afford. And during this season of fear, too many of us — Democrats and Republicans, politicians, journalists, and citizens — fell silent. In other words, we went off course.”
I know it is only portions of a speech, but they are nothing more than making excuses for America's behavior or an apology....and Romney said it is just what HE calls and "an apology" tour....it was an opinion of Romneys.
Obama flat out lied, and was obnoxious about it....he was very, very un-presidential, smirking and shaking his head, all the while Romney was quietly taking notes, and smiling. He did not lower himself down to Obama's level of debate. He kept it clean.
Anyway, that is the way I clearly saw it. Of course I am a 'tad' biased...lol.
Hope all is going well with you,
chris
My Esoteric, Thank you for showing the full picture:) I wish I could just leave your links on forums, but it is not aloud,lol....but I do beg them to come read your work :)
I meant allowed,lol I have been making these mistakes a lot lately,lol....sorry
- Author
I appreciate you Tammy.
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Thanks for your comment Chris.
"Foe" is probably worse than "Threat" in my book. Also, your first two examples are the ones I used except I provided the complete context in which they were used which changes their meaning entirely.
I don't know what the context is where Obama made the May 21 statement, but it certainly is true. In any case, I would need to know the full story before I can pass any judgement.
You are spot on in this piece. I keep saying Romney equals Bully and he's nothing more than that. He would't know the truth if it smacked him in the face and even then, he probably would not admit it. We are in for a tough time if he wins this election, especially on the area of foreign relations where leaders don't like to be bullied. Voted up!
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Thank you LRC.
My Esoteric,
Why can't a nation show the same strength of character as an individual?
Why can't a nation practice the same ethics that's expected of individuals?
Unless we get away from the false paradigm that nations have to behave differently than individuals, we will always be stuck in the same international relations mire---war and mistrust and more war, ad infinitum--- and forever wondering why.
This is a perfect example of the necessity to examine the facts from ALL on the ticket since no party/politician is immune from using soundbites to one's advantage. The blame and shame goes to both candidates and their handlers.
This is an informative and challenging hub. I think some people make the mistake of assuming the Governor Mitt Romney inadvertently reverses his positions depending on the audience. I happen to think that this is part of his overall strategy having made the calculation that the public will not be clever enough to track his previous positions.
- Author
Primarily, Charles, because I take a pragmatic and not a theoretical view of international relations. History is replete with examples of those nations showing weakness in diplomacy, ultimately being conquered. It is also full of examples of nations ruling by pure arrogance being overthrown from within.
Consequently, that balance must be found between arrogance and humility keeps the world appraised of your strength and willingness to use it, but with the understanding you are not inclined to simply throw your weight around simply because you are heavy and actually have their interests in mind; not necessarily at the forefront, but being considered.
Thank you for your thoughts Cat and Jahnkadu.
My bringing up these questions wasn't meant to suggest I disagreed with the point of your post, which is unrelated to my hypothetical ponderings. lol
Have a good one. :-)
- Author
No problem Charles, I understood that. What you bring up, and my response, is the main thesis in several of my hub writings - Pragmatism vs Principle, which, in my world view is the difference between the middle of the political spectrum and the ends, respectively.
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