NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > People and Politics > Romney tells the truth in Britain and is slammed for it - British get their knickers in a twist over very little

People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Romney tells the truth in Britain and is slammed for it - British get their knickers in a twist over very little

Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2012 at 08:21 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

71 Comments

RSS

Archives

U.S. Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney meets with David Cameron at 10 Downing Street in London

A political gaffe these days is when a politician tells the truth.

Mitt Romney has shipped lots of criticism about his various comments in London while there for the Olympics. Democrats have tried to portray him as Sarah Palinesque in his inability to articulate and get basic facts wrong, but when you examine what he said was it all that bad?

Firstly his comments on British preparations for the Olympics were spot on. He was asked about Britain’s preparations for the Olympics and instead of waffling about how great they were, he pointed up some concerns.

"There are a few things that were disconcerting," Romney said. "The stories about the private security firm not having enough people, the supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials – that obviously is not something which is encouraging."

What could be wrong with that? A politician tells the truth and he was, of course, immediately slammed for it.

David Cameron huffed and puffed on Thursday.

"We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world,"

Also true but Romney was correct that there was a major security faux pas.
The other issue the British jumped on was his calling the leader of the opposition Ed Miliband 'Mr Leader.'

Again a very minor point. That is what he would have been called in America and Miliband’s title is leader of the opposition. British journalists sneered that Romney had forgotten his name but there is no compelling evidence of that.

His actual statement was "Like you, Mr Leader, I look forward to our conversations this morning," Romney said.

What is the big deal?

Next he was accused of publicizing the fact that he met the MI6 leader.

Britain loves their spooks, and the media, now in full hue and cry demanded that Romney should have kept the information secret.

Whatever for? If Romney met the head of the CIA and the Secret Service no one would think anything of it. Again score one for Romney and not the hysterical British.

This is what Romney said: "I appreciated the insights and perspectives of the leaders of the government here and the opposition here as well as the head of MI6"

Hardly the stuff of espionage thrillers.

Finally, advisors to Romney not Romney himself referred to “common Anglo Saxon heritage.” Romney got tagged with their language which many saw as a not too subtle racist slap at Obama. The unnamed advisors back pedalled but it was hardly Romney’s fault they spoke so stupidly.

Again, much ado about nothing.

Score yet another knickers in a twist moment for the Brits and a clear indication that Obama still has the hearts and undying devotion of overseas journalists.

E-mail

71 comments

Next Previous Page 3 of 5 pages

lokionline | Jul 30, 2012, 10:12 AM EDT

What we are seeing in Mr. Willard M. Romney's stiff and awkward demeanor is a direct result of his cultural background and upbringing.

Mitt belongs in the black and white world of 'Pleasentville' he is outside of his cultural time-frame here in the 21st century.

Report abuse

bignevermo | Jul 30, 2012, 07:59 AM EDT

Romney would NOT have called anyone MR. Leader in America!! It just aint so...he forgot the guys name...unless the persons name was "Leader" we dont use that term for a leader of a party...WRONG!

Report abuse

IrelandNorth | Jul 30, 2012, 05:42 AM EDT

Anglo-Irish author and playwright George Bernard Shaw once described Britain and the US as two countries seperated by a common language. Trouble is, much gets lost in translation. One speaks English, the other American. Such linguistic difficulties are further exacerbated by characteristic Anglo-Saxon emotional anal-retentiveness, and stereotypical US brashness and forthrightness. All Americans should appreciate that neither the English in particular nor the British generally, (and alas the Irish too), can handle the truth. We're an emotionally repressed peoples - much of which is a byproduct of colonialism!

Report abuse

Sparklet | Jul 30, 2012, 03:38 AM EDT

I wasn't around during the war, but I think the UK comes out of it with far more credit than the US. Obviously, the US's help was invaluable and appreciated - without it, as Scrivner says, the UK - and probably Ireland - would have fallen to Germany. But who was it who took on the evil of Hitler? The US would have left Europe to it, it it weren't for the attack on Pearl Harbour. Small countries like Ireland and Switzerland, I could understand being neutral - but America wasn't quite so quick to take on the big boys then, was it. The UK took on a much bigger nation. The US takes on Iraq, Grenada... My best friend is American, I've been to America and loved it, but this constant harping on about how Europe would be German if it wasn't for America is sickening. Give some credit to the Europeans who fought off Hitler for two years without your help. Such self-righteous, self praise, is what contributes to making you unpopular with the rest of the world. Including Ireland.

Report abuse

allentown | Jul 30, 2012, 12:13 AM EDT

What can I say to all you Romney bashers except they'll keeps the lights on for you in Greenland after the November election.

Report abuse

Scrivner | Jul 29, 2012, 11:10 PM EDT

My dear America bashers, please remember that there has always been an isolationist undertone in U.S. society. From George Washington to Ron Paul there has been an aversion to getting involved with intrigues and plots of bigoted, mean spirited people across the Atlantic. If America had stayed neutral 70 years ago, Brits would be greeting each other with a Gut Tag, Mein Heir and Aussies would be saying Ohio, instead of G'day. Many historians say that if the USA had not withdrawn from active involvement after the Great War (you know, the one to end all wars)the dragon's teeth of Nazism would not have taken root. So keep pushing, then don't bother to call when earthquake, flood or tyrant threaten your Hobbit hole. Dial up China, they're anxious to take on the mantel.

Report abuse

hancock | Jul 29, 2012, 10:53 PM EDT

Worry about your English queen, let us worry about America.

Report abuse

seanomelb | Jul 29, 2012, 09:55 PM EDT

No the GOP basher from the south, get it right

Report abuse

hancock | Jul 29, 2012, 08:55 PM EDT

You should talk, the American basher of the southern hemisphere.

Report abuse

seanomelb | Jul 29, 2012, 06:25 PM EDT

Romney put his foot in it again,he spends most of his time defending his faux pait's. God help us if this Dumbo becomes president of the USA. I see Hancock is back with his little pearls of crap

Report abuse

Sparklet | Jul 29, 2012, 06:14 PM EDT

Aw, come on Hancock. You don't mean that. Ireland is probably the best loved country on the planet. :) That counts for something.

Report abuse

Sparklet | Jul 29, 2012, 05:00 PM EDT

Garbo55 - America might also be the most generous nation in the world, but how many of the nations you help will turn round and stab you in the back afterwards? Do you think Libya will be pro-West any more than it was in the past? Will Syria if the rebels take control. In a word - unlikely. America is hated. Personally I think western nations have done a lot in the past to make that hatred understandable, if not justifiable. My whole point is that a lot of the racists on here are quick to condemn a nation for its actions of the past, but don't recognise that in today's world, the USA is seen in the same light - the Great Satan?

Report abuse

TheOldPerfessor | Jul 29, 2012, 04:50 PM EDT

Hi Mitt. Welcome to the rest of the world. Reporters here are not afraid to criticize you for feat of being called the Biased Press. You might have to borrow that secret device from Bush so that people in the spin room can tell you waht to say.

Report abuse

SherryKay | Jul 29, 2012, 04:21 PM EDT

So,right on schedule Nitwit Mitt Weird Willard Mittens Romney is Flipping and Flopping like a fish out of water,all the place. Come on Mittens make up your bloody mind,if you even have one,here will you? Good Lord Weird Willard flips flops worse then even former Democrat Presidential Candidate Sen.John Kerry. So,Willard are you for the Olympics or against them here in 2012,you blooming idiot? Mitt is the laughing stock of the world and only a fool like him would be dumb enough to vote for Romney in 2012.

Report abuse

garbo55 | Jul 29, 2012, 04:15 PM EDT

America is the most hated country in the world...Until there is a natural or other type of man made disaster and it is the U.S. that is called on to solve the problem at our own exspence.

Report abuse

Next Previous Page 3 of 5 pages