With the Benghazi incident becoming the symbol of the Republicans last gasps for relevancy, I've been wondering just how did Mitt Romney first respond to the attacks against the US Embassy in Libya?
Did he call it an "act of terror" as the President did?
Did Mitt promise that perpetrators would be brought to justice?
No. Candidate Romney's first response was to attack the President of the United States instead, in a time of National crisis, no less ...
Romney criticizes Obama response to Libya, Egypt attacks
by Steve Holland, Reuters -- Sep 12, 2012
[...]
Romney [...] was quick to pounce on Obama over developments in Libya and Egypt. Romney has long sought to make the case that the Obama administration has apologized for American actions abroad and says he would never "apologize for America."
"I'm outraged by the attacks on American diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt and by the death of an American consulate worker in Benghazi," Romney said in a statement.
"It's disgraceful that the Obama administration's first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks," he said.
[...]
Talk about being tone deaf. If only the GOP Candidate had bothered to listen to the President's official Rose Garden response in the sober light of day. Instead building his own foreign policy fault-lines, based on initial statements by staffers in the heat of an unfolding emergency.
If Mitt Romney had actually bothered to listen to the President's official Rose Garden response, instead of inserting himself into the events of the day, this is what he would have heard.
Not a hint of 'an Apology' in the entire statement, Mitt.
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
ON THE DEATHS OF U.S. EMBASSY STAFF IN LIBYA
Rose Garden -- Sep 12, 2012
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The United States condemns in the strongest terms this outrageous and shocking attack.
[...]
Since our founding, the United States has been a nation that respects all faiths. We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. But there is absolutely no justification to this type of senseless violence. None. The world must stand together to unequivocally reject these brutal acts.
[...]
Of course, yesterday was already a painful day for our nation as we marked the solemn memory of the 9/11 attacks. We mourned with the families who were lost on that day. I visited the graves of troops who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan at the hallowed grounds of Arlington Cemetery, and had the opportunity to say thank you and visit some of our wounded warriors at Walter Reed. And then last night, we learned the news of this attack in Benghazi.
As Americans, let us never, ever forget that our freedom is only sustained because there are people who are willing to fight for it, to stand up for it, and in some cases, lay down their lives for it. Our country is only as strong as the character of our people and the service of those both civilian and military who represent us around the globe.
No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation, alter that character, or eclipse the light of the values that we stand for. Today we mourn four more Americans who represent the very best of the United States of America. We will not waver in our commitment to see that justice is done for this terrible act. And make no mistake, justice will be done.
But we also know that the lives these Americans led stand in stark contrast to those of their attackers. These four Americans stood up for freedom and human dignity. They should give every American great pride in the country that they served, and the hope that our flag represents to people around the globe who also yearn to live in freedom and with dignity.
[...]
President Obama's remarks on the deaths of U.S. Embassy staff in Libya
by Transcripts Editors for Transcripts and Documents -- Sep 12, 2012 at 08:50 AM PDT
President Obama Speaks on the Attack on Benghazi -- Sep 12, 2012
White house videos
link to video
President Obama delivers a statement from the Rose Garden about the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya. September 12, 2012.
If Mitt Romney had bothered to listen to the President's official Rose Garden response, before issuing his own hasty next-day Press Release
equivocation, perhaps Mitt would not have fallen for the GOP's "soft on terror" hype.
Tell it to bin Laden, Mitt ... just how "soft" this Administration is on Terror.
Romney vs Obama Mistake "Act of Terror" Libya - Town Hall [Debate 3]
link to video
Perhaps if Mitt actually had bother to listen to the President's disdain and outrage for this "terrible act" in Benghazi ... and these "acts of terror" against all Americans, instead of jumping front of the cameras himself inserting himself into global events -- perhaps then Mitt would have not foolish fallen for the latest Right-wing hype, making the Fox News rounds.
Of course, Mitt Romney is quite simply a political Opportunist -- Not a consensus-building, far-sighted Leader.
SO, why should the GOP Candidate bother himself with "official statements" from the Administration now in power, when he's got a Right-wing Spin-machine to keep sketching out his political talking points for him.
And there's not 'an Apology' in the entire Right-wing Machine. Only a long history of W-nesia, instead.
They've got that don't-mention-it 'Fact' down tight. Almost in lock-step.