Dmitry Medvedev: Mitt Romney's Comment 'Smells Of Hollywood'

SEOUL, March 27 (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday a comment by U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, branding Russia the "number one geopolitical foe", smacked of Hollywood.

Romney was speaking on CNN in response to a conversation in Seoul on missile defence between Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama.

"Regarding ideological clichés, every time this or that side uses phrases like 'enemy number one', this always alarms me, this smells of Hollywood and certain times (of the past)," Medvedev said at the end of a nuclear security summit in the South Korean capital.

"I would recommend all U.S. presidential candidates ... to do two things. First, when phrasing their position one needs to use one's head, one's good reason, which would not do harm to a presidential candidate.

"Also, (one needs to) look at his watch: we are in 2012 and not the mid-1970s."

Obama voiced doubt on Tuesday on the prospects for progress with Moscow on missile defense until after the November U.S. election as he staunchly defended remarks caught on camera the day before with Medvedev.

Obama was overheard assuring Medvedev, who will hand over the presidency to newly elected Vladimir Putin in May, that he would have "more flexibility" to deal with arms-control issues after the Nov. 6 presidential ballot, drawing sharp criticism back home from his Republican foes. (Reporting by Alexei Anishchuk; Writing by Nick Macfie; Editing by Ed Lane)

Comments

[Richie D Lirious]

01:14 PM on 04/10/2012

Republiclown's, El RushBoZo, LameSow, Dubya's favorite blowhole;
The best they got is Mitt Romney??? They come off so delirious,
When they try to be serious, They can't even take a strait pee;
Nit Wit Mitt does Gordon Gekko, Greed glorified and zombiefied;
Swill their coolade of greed with pride, Go with their clown car for a ride ???

[Real12]

07:24 PM on 03/28/2012

Really Romney? We can't even have a civil discussion with our "enemies"?

[Aj Meleisea]

07:11 PM on 03/28/2012

"I would recommend all U.S. presidential candidates ... to do two things. First, when phrasing their position one needs to use one's head, one's good reason, which would not do harm to a presidential candidate."

Using Reagan's head and reason does not count.

[Aaron Cogan]

05:54 PM on 03/28/2012

Mittens just got p0wned by the President of Russia! And no one's ever said Medvedev was the brightest Russia's got to offer.

[streetmagik]

02:07 PM on 03/28/2012

I agree it was a stupid comment by Romney - but Russia would seem more like a friend if they weren't backing Asaad in Syria to the hilt.

[KarasudaJay]

05:22 PM on 03/28/2012

They're backing Assad...and Obama. LOL.

[PublicCitizen21044]

05:32 PM on 03/28/2012

As much arms dealing that America does all around the world how in thew heavens can we start picking on Russia when they did not pick on us when Egypt was using our tear gas, tanks etc. to threaten its people? This type of political theactrics is so damaging to the GOP and the Countries relations with other Nations.

[mage]

12:19 PM on 03/28/2012

Mr.Medvedev:We are sorry, but some of the GOP candidates are not smart!! Frankly, they are not smart at all..
Obama 2012, for 2012 policies.

[kinogod]

12:08 PM on 03/28/2012

The far more telling comment tht isn't being parsed or picked about is the Russian president's when he said in response to obama's controversial comment: " I will transmit this to Vladimir. ". Yes puppet, you transmit.

[PublicCitizen21044]

05:37 PM on 03/28/2012

What do you mean? He must pass the messsage onto the new and incoming Leader for he will not be long in that position and it will his replacement who will be negotiating with the US in the near future.

[kinogod]

06:16 PM on 03/28/2012

He reveals himself as the minion willing to go for the long con gimme to Vladimir to ensure his current role as vlad's b'yotch. "I will transmit.". I dunno. I'm off the reservation.

[Aaron Cogan]

05:51 PM on 03/28/2012

While I agree that Medvedev is Putin's puppet, Putin is the President-elect. (Not that I think he won fair and square.) So the comment is not all that telling.

[linmarco]

12:02 PM on 03/28/2012

Translation: It's best that I be reelected before going into any negotiation of any kind with you or anyone else. Public interpretation: Obama is caving as usual. He should have let that Russian know the U.S. would kick Russia's butt if it tried anything it shouldn't. Lyndon Johnson once made a statement to the effect that if he were to walk on water the headline the next day would be "President Can't Swim." People elected to public office, especially presidents and their counterparts, should be prepared to take less than their share of the credit and more than their share of the blame. So it goes.

[PublicCitizen21044]

05:43 PM on 03/28/2012

Why quote those from the past when this is a new Century and EVERYTHING has changed due to technology and the rapid pace of communications. No one has the luxury of going back into the past to dig up old tired and worn out analogies to use to make a decision right now for it would appear as if one were mentally and emotionally handicapped and stagnant in their approach to the current flow of the times. Welcome to the future as described in Alvin Toffler's book "Future Shock" and "PowerShift". Rapidly changing technology used to keep pace with the rapidly changing World. But for you maybe a special exception and stop the world so you and those who think like you can get off this ball and maybe join Newt on his trip to his newly imagined colony on the moon where he is the leader.

[Real12]

07:22 PM on 03/28/2012

Kick Russia's butt? You want to "win" a nuclear war? Good luck with that.

[linmarco]

08:17 PM on 03/28/2012

Reread the post. I was being sarcastic.

[ethiopia1a]

11:00 AM on 03/28/2012

Medvedev is to Putin what Smithers is to Montgomery Burns.

[PAIndy]

10:35 AM on 03/28/2012

Good quote from Medvedev, "Also, (one needs to) look at his watch: we are in 2012 and not the mid-1970s." However, using one's head and thinking/speaking reasonably may very well lose the election for a candidate. The candidate that does this risks alienating himself from the majority of the electorate. Let's get some slogans out there that we can all get fired up about!

[Liban CZ]

09:01 AM on 03/28/2012

Where are you Oleg?
Positive comments on RUSSIA!
Not much name calling, here.
World is changing.

[DeeFromTheD]

08:36 AM on 03/28/2012

Willard "etch a sketch" Romney is way over his head.

[janmB]

03:32 AM on 03/28/2012

These GOP candidates have attacked Russia, Obama, the democrats, college, women, seniors benefits.....instead of just proving they can be nasty and a bunch of cut-throats .haven't they any good ideas for improving the country ? .

[Anne Mccormick]

02:14 AM on 03/28/2012

if Romney, by any stretch of the imagination, wins the election in November how long do you think it will be before Putin smacks him down?

[Michaela19801]

10:17 AM on 03/28/2012

Give it a day or so.

[KarasudaJay]

05:23 PM on 03/28/2012

I would rather Putin try to smack down a POTUS than have the current situation of a POTUS seeking Putin's approval.

[ussuri]

12:30 AM on 03/28/2012

if Russians make more sense than our candidates ,we`re in trouble.

[obe4]

10:18 AM on 03/28/2012

We're in trouble !

[Enrique Iglesias]

11:10 AM on 03/28/2012

I see that the Liberal Progressive Trolls are out in force today; now, they are defending their brother in arms Dmitry & Putin... Here we have an interesting visual of our Dear Leader telling their Dear Leader that he's not to do anything until he (Our Dear Leader) gets reelected... and on the other side you have Demitry and Putin changing titles every so many years as to who is President of Russia... Perhaps this is the path for America to become a Solcialist State where all work for the Dear Leader, we will get our Food, Energy, Employment and meger pay for the State; but, we'll all be "Equal & Have Health Insurance!"