Willard M. Romney has said almost nothing during most of this presidential campaign about foreign policy or the world. Then he made his coming out speech at the VFW convention filled with Cold War relics. And then he jetted across the Atlantic to stick his foot firmly in his mouth.
"It's the economy, stupid" was the mantra of the Clinton war-room campaign twenty years ago. And the US economy indeed remains the arena about which most Americans are most concerned. Still, it is startling that a few simplistic messages suffice for an American presidential candidate's international vision. Or is it truly surprising?
What we know about Governor Romney's thinking on foreign policy is that there is very little of it. A phone call away are several dozen "advisers" on defense and foreign policy. There is no evidence that he consults with any of them save to help prepare an occasional speech as he did at the South Carolina military university, The Citadel, this spring or Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in July.
The simple themes on foreign and defense policies follow well-worn Republican and right wing tactics -- paint the Democratic Party and its candidate as weak on defense, manipulated by enemies, and ignorant of imminent dangers. Forget the facts, just recite the message.
As a party, Republicans do not know what they want in American global policy and national security. Broadly, there are four positions on the Republican spectrum -- Ron Paul isolationists, fundamentalist Armageddon and impending rapture types, old fashioned realpolitikers (think McCain or Scowcroft), and unreconstructed ideologues (think John Bolton). No wonder Colin Powell, as recently as May, exhibited disdain for the Romney foreign policy "team," and Republicans' grasp of the world as it has become.
The debacle of Romney's European "arrival" will only be compounded by his ignorance of the Middle East and Central Europe. As a wealthy kid, he studied a bit in France and apparently learned a few phrases. About people or cultures, however, he seems to know nothing. Like most of the super rich, he's likely a drop-in tourist, not a learner. Off-shoring is his way of studying the world -- to Mitt that means opening up new tax-shelters abroad in concert with ensuring that cheap workers elsewhere displace American jobs.
What we do know about Mitt's world is that it is small, dangerous and "Anglo-Saxon." According to Mitt, Russia is our chief nemesis, we should never apologize lest we be seen as weak, we should spend money on armaments rather than use diplomacy and negotiation to abate threats, and we can be sure to urge prolonged conflict in Afghanistan and confrontation with Iran and North Korea. A Romney in the White House would sit fretfully in the Situation Room ... wondering from whence dangers would arise rather than deciding to act against them.
Mitt should stay home -- well, in one of his many homes -- count his investment income, and talk about what a great businessman he once was and how that qualifies him to be commander-in-chief. His world bears no resemblance to the one that he would confront were he in the Oval Office.
Daniel N. Nelson is CEO of Global Concepts & Communications, Alexandria, Virginia.
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So far, Romney seems to be projecting only one answer: "Because it would look good on my resume".
He can't mention his time as Governor of MA either. Ever heard him speak of it? The only time he's actually governed, and he can't talk about it. And you can't learn too much about it either, because he destroyed all the evidence upon leaving office.
Republicans want a President that they can manipulate, not a real President that cares about America - witness the witless drones they put up as candidates last election. Palin - really?
The Republicans are never happy unless they have a bumbling president or wanna be with war for an agenda.
That would be Bush and Romney. The two most bumbling clowns yet. With the exception of Palin and Bachmann.
No President has had to handle so many crisis since Roosevelt and now it looks like Obama is going to go down in history as one of the greatest Presidents we've ever had.
The difference is enormous, but an ignorant person who sees nothing and knows nothing, well suit yourself.
But he is so generous with his political gaffs, every day is Christmas with Romney.
Mitt do not stop talking. You are the man. Keep on talking more of your nonsense.
"I'm white" has to be the most embarrassing platform on which to run for president ever. Yet, the Republicans are offering that to us today. There is not one charge against them alleging new or original thought. Romney has not one plan or program or project that is novel, different, or forward thinking.
In this diverse and multi-cultural nation, this lack of all things except whiteness is just ridiculous. No matter what your group, you must put something with it. Surely there must be a white candidate somewhere of substance. That would be speculation, as none showed up during the primary process. There was even an imaginary white man in the form of one woman and one person of -- -- I can't complete that thought, it makes my head hurt.
Anyhoo, let us get this hot summer over and move on to re-electing the President so this madness may end.
We have had presidents who used the oval office to redeem their father's shortcomings.
It has not worked out well for the nation.
Let's allow Mitt to make amends with his father's failings on the therapist's couch, not in the WH.
Carter cannot wait to vacate his post as worst president in recent history....