After an Ambassador is Killed, Romney Sinks to New Low

It all started when the US Embassy in Cairo issued a statement condemning “the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims.” They were responding to the backlash from Muslims over a US film that offended the Prophet Muhammad. Hours later, there was an attack on the consulate in Benghazi, Libya. A “consulate employee” was killed. We learn later that Chris Stevens, the Ambassador to Libya, was also killed in this attack.

Without knowing the whole story and the nationality of the consulate employee, Romney issued this statement:

“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. 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.”

OK. First, shooting from the hip when it comes to an international crisis is never a good idea. Second, when something tragic happens, you see it as an opportunity to slam your opponent in a campaign? Seriously? People died. You could have offered your sympathy and prayers. It wasn’t the time to sucker punch your political opponent.

A lot of people criticized Romney for this response – even members of his own party. He was asked if he regretted what he said.

But it’s also important for me, just as it was for the White House last night, by the way, to say that the statements were inappropriate, and in my – in my view, a – a disgraceful statement on the part of our administration to apologize for American values.

Man, he’s hanging on to his mistake like it had a handle on it. And using “disgraceful?” The only thing disgraceful here is how Romney handled the incident and reactions to how he handled the incident.

It’s OK to admit you were wrong. Actually, people might respect you more for it. Instead, you slam the administration again by calling their statement “disgraceful.”

Obama’s reaction?

“Governor Romney seems to have a tendency to shoot first and aim later. And as president, one of the things I’ve learned is you can’t do that. That, you know, it’s important for you to make sure that the statements that you make are backed up by the facts. And that you’ve thought through the ramifications before you make ’em…And my tendency is to cut those folks a little bit of slack when they’re in that circumstance rather than try to question their judgment from the comfort of a campaign office.”

Thank you. That was presidential. What Romney did was reckless and thoughtless – words you don’t want used to describe a President.

Message to Mitt: Act now, think later is exactly what we don’t need. You proved to the world you don’t have what it takes to lead this country. After this debacle, the thought of you being POTUS scares the living crap out of me. Honestly, I hope you don’t just lose in November. I hope you lose big.