Did Romney Help Himself on His Trip to Britain, Israel, and Poland? >
Even Republicans Think Mitt Romney Fell Short
Romney will do anything to be elected president, even if it makes for lousy foreign policy
August 1, 2012
About Brad Bannon:
Brad Bannon is president of Bannon Communications Research, a political polling and consulting firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups, and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns.
Mitt Romney will say and do anything to win the presidency—even if it means that he insults our closest ally.
Romney's comments on the Palestinians might make him popular in Israel, but he's running for president of the United States.
The root of all evil in the Middle East is the conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors. In order to bring peace to the region, both sides will have to compromise. Romney's unconditional support will only encourage Israel to take a hard line on the settlements and other disputes.
[See a collection of political cartoons on Mitt Romney.]
Insulting the British and the Palestinians may be good domestic politics but it is lousy foreign policy. The Brits are our closest ally and the United States will have to earn the trust of the Arabs to be an honest broker in the Middle Eastern peace process.
But Romney doesn't care about our national security; he only cares about winning the election. Romney has demonstrated time after time that he will say and do anything to win an election. He cares more about power than policy.
[See a collection of political cartoons on the turmoil in the Middle East.]
Americans don't worry much about foreign policy, but they will use Romney's trip abroad to take the measure of the man. Even Republicans think he fell short.
The only way to bring peace to the Middle East and to take the air out of Iran's and Hezbollah's balloon is to get the Israelis and Palestinians to the table to compromise. That won't happen if Romney makes politics and Israel's interests a bigger priority than U.S. national security.
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- Other Arguments
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#1319
No — Romney's trip didn't qualm fears of his foreign abilities, it exacerbated them
PENNY LEE, President of Venn Strategies
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#2309
No — Even without the gaffes, Mitt Romney's trip abroad was ill-conceived
BRANDON ROTTINGHAUS, Associate Professor at the University of Houston
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#31910
No — Mitt Romney's trip shows that he still has a lot of work to do on his communication skills
JAMIE CHANDLER, Political Scientist at Hunter College
