Romney On Iran's Elections: Obama's Apology Tour Isn't Working (VIDEO)

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said on Sunday that the Obama administration's approach to Iran was "entirely wrong-headed" and made the case that the contested results of that country's elections proved that the president's policy of apologizing for America was "not working."

In an appearance on ABC's "This Week," the failed Republican Presidential candidate and potential 2012 contender called Iran's election results a "fraud," and the results "inaccurate."

Romney began, however, by arguing that Barack Obama's remark that there was a "robust debate" in Iran had proven to be badly off the mark, as witnessed by "brutal repression" of election day protesters. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's widely contested victory, he added, was another indication that Obama's approach to the Middle East and world at large wasn't working.

"It's very clear that the president's policy of going around the world and apologizing for America is not working," said Romney. "North Korea is not just saber rattling. They've taken the saber out of the sheath. Iran is moving head alone towards nuclearization. Russia is on the same course they were on. And all the apologies he provided to the Europeans have not led any of the European nations to provide any additional support for us in Afghanistan. Look, just sweet talk and criticizing America is not go doing enhance freedom in the world."

Reminded by host George Stephanopoulos that losses by Hezbollah in Lebanon just a week earlier were widely attributed as a success for Obama -- as was the mere fact that Iranians were protesting Ahmadinejad's proclaimed victory -- Romney was left a bit more tongue-tied.

"You know, I can't tell you what led to the people running into the streets in Iran," he said. "I hope, in fact, that they're very anxious to see new leadership in that country. But I can tell you the results are what I'm interested in: Is Iran still pursuing nuclear weaponry. And there's no question about at."

That said, the former governor's remarks - another in a line of continuous, harsh rebukes of the White House - seem likely to be the Republican line going forward. Prominent neo-conservative Richard Perle also made the case, Sunday morning, that Ahmadinejad's power grab was the U.S. president's fault.

"Normally, when you unclench your fist it benefits the hardliners," he said, "because Obama appeared to be saying we can do business with you even with your present policies."

Comments

[MikeRdg]

09:26 AM on 06/29/2009

OMG, I will never do this again--- It is Romney torture --- I clicked on the upper link which said Mitt Romney -- expecting ONE article ---- it is a whole page of Romney-- its torture!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mittens is everywhere, Romney Torture!!!!!

[sippewissett]

02:31 PM on 06/28/2009

Once RNC sound bytes have been issued, like "Obama's apology tour isn't working," it's really hard for those who spout them to refute facts. Like every other GOPer with presidential aspirations, Romney is trying to make instant change the only criterion for evaluating Obama. (Ironic since the plan to introduce democracy into Iraq took more than the 30-day plan that the Bush administration choreographed.)

Give it up, Romney, and get a serious platform of your own ideas. Electoral change is a SLOW process, particularly in the Middle East which is trying not to change from practices 1000 years old. Hoorah to the brave men and women who want a different kind of Iran, but the idea that what's happening over there can ALL be laid at the feet of Obama speaking in Cairo is ludicrous -- in either direction. It is also disrespectful to the people of Iran or any other country for that matter to believe that whatever a U.S. president says or wants supercedes the internal will of a people.

Romney skirts questions that don't suit his "Obama didn't change the Middle East" agenda and circles around to nuclear arms instead. At that point, though, he doesn't tell us what he'd do: bomb them? That would be a standard GOP response from hardliners who want to be president. Unfortunately, we're just getting over the last one.

[tomasedison]

02:27 PM on 06/28/2009

Does Romney think he's a war hero ?

Maybe he thinks his son are....Mitt's a real tuff talker.

[huffpostuser77]

12:01 AM on 06/18/2009

Romney should be ripped to shreds for his comments in the press. He spoke too soon, and now he's scrambling. I'm not attributing Obama to the protests, but Romney tried to tie the election results and Obama together. Now that they're fighting back and want change, what is he saying? OH, well, the same thing that Obama is.. the nuclear issue isn't going away. Looks like Obama is one step ahead of this bozo.

[don Gabacho]

05:29 PM on 06/17/2009

Last October the Secretary of State of Georgia was notified, with full evidence, of Mexican Government functionaries registering voters in the U.S. for U.S. elections: the "Hispanic" vote in part delivered by Bill Richardson.

At least two weeks ago the U.S. Department of Justice also.

The very sovereignty of U.S. elections has been breeched by the Mexican government and thus the very sovereignty of the U.S..

The U.S. Constitution does not empower the federal government to involve itself in the election of itself much less any foreign power; and now Americans are in the ridiculous position of having to expect their own federal government investigate itself.

So? Let's all pay strict attention to Iran's elections.

Let our government intone to the rest of the world how both Iran should respect
elections and not expect the U.S. Government to involve itself in Iran's elections.

After all, Iran is a sovereign nation.

While our government pretends the U.S. is.

[tonedef]

05:35 PM on 06/15/2009

That's right, Mitt, sweet talk and criticizing America is not enough. America also has to fix what it has broken. Then we can expect the kind of cooperation from the rest of the world we've been hoping for.

[Smaiyna]

02:32 PM on 06/15/2009

This type of nonsensical statement is why Mitten Romney will never be elected the President of the United States of America. What a bone head Statement.

[GranE]

11:01 AM on 06/15/2009

The real fraud in this event is Romney himself. He has no direct knowledge that Iran's election was a fraud, whether it is or is not. He is just trying to remain relevant in a circle that didn't want him. None of the clowns speaking up now in the Repub party will ever be elected President. The party has to erase the extreme right wing before anyone can be serious about their fielding a viable candidate, and they seem unwilling to do that. Real simple Mr. Romney (with the dyed black hair).

[mjtaylor22]

11:01 AM on 06/15/2009

repugnants are anti american, they just want power in their hands so they can run amoke again and rob us blind, with their corruption.
iran just had a hectic controversial election, where change is very possible in iran, the peopel ar einthe streets,how is that proof of anything but how our new message has penetrated those citizens in iran who want potential peace over all this war talk.
i think that this is proof that the people there want to do things differently than in the most recent years.

[Shayrae]

10:57 AM on 06/15/2009

Mitt. please get a grip. You are a loser who spent $50 million on a flawed campaign. Keep talking , Mr. Expert on Foreign Policy. According to what my friends in Massachusetts tell me, you are a politician who will say whatever you feel like people want to hear. America told you early in the GOP primaries, we don't want any more of your rich boy negativity. Do you guys ever have any ideas as to how you can become relevant again? Oops, the sun rose in the east this morning.
Mitt and his crowd: ''It's Obama's fault!''
Grow up, GOP. This is childish whining.

[MNTom]

10:44 AM on 06/15/2009

The GOP are stupid. Obama reached out the Muslim People and this is a direct result of it. This is the approach we should have been taking all along.

[Shellly]

10:41 AM on 06/15/2009

They hate Obama more than they love America..

[espresso4me]

10:52 AM on 06/15/2009

but *their* America is festering in Hate

[ThanksMatt]

10:39 AM on 06/15/2009

Ha, ha, ha! And today everything is even different in Iran! Khameinei had to give in to examine the election! Certainly not because of you, Mr. Ken-doll Romney.
And, by the way Sir, If you want to put your new GOP-emblem on your stationary, you can download the picture of the wooly mammoth here:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1904136,00.html

[barackobama4prez]

10:31 AM on 06/15/2009

Mittens will never be the GOP nominee. he's wasting his time and killing his cred by attacking this Prez. but walking lock-step with Dubya.

[Genep34]

10:16 AM on 06/15/2009

Mitt is a loser and a liar. Perfect match for the GOP.