GAMECHANGER! So Says a 2008 Romney Campaign Advisor

[berni_mccoy]

On Edit: Note: I think the *former* Romney advisor's meaning was that it was a game-changer that was bad for Romney, not good.

Are Romney's comments on Libya a 2012 game changer?

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/12/are-romneys-comments-on-libya-a-2012-game-changer/?hpt=po_c2

(CNN) – Mitt Romney's decision to comment on the diplomatic attacks in the Middle East is revealing a split among Republicans who differ over the GOP nominee's remarks on the violence.

"Too quick to politicize over faulty reporting initially. Too quick to politicize (the) death of foreign service officers. Makes him appear not ready," is how one top adviser to John McCain's 2008 campaign put it to CNN.

But other Republican strategists felt emboldened by Romney's swift and severe condemnation of how the administration's handling of the crisis.

"This could be a game changer," GOP strategist and CNN contributor Alex Castellanos said. "Romney has to go at this and make it clear that he is doing it not for political gain but because weak, apologetic leadership is dangerous for the country."

Castellanos was an adviser to Romney during the 2008 presidential campaign, but does not work for the candidate in 2012.

In other words, unless Romney explains himself, he's toast.

[gateley]

1. How can he explain? If he's asked the right questions, there's no way to undo what he's done.

Again. His response to why he didn't mention or troops was painfully uncomfortable to watch and did nothing to exonerate him. I think this might be he same type of situation.

Key: If he's asked the right questions.

[tularetom]

2. Game changer my ass

The only people this will impress are people who were going to vote for romney anyway. Mostly the fools who plan to vote for him because they hate Obama.

Nobody beside the Obama haters will be swayed by romney's little sniping and people with half a brain are going to be repulsed by it.

Alex Castellanos is suffering from a craniorectal inversion.

[RockaFowler]

10. And people are still reporting this as fact

Like what Rmoney said was accurate.

He's a pig. A real piece of work. I got into an argument this morning at work about this. When I sent him actual links he finally backed off. Unfortunately, people on Facebook are still repeating Rmoney's lies as facts. This man is so dangerous for our country

[Jim__]

3. "Romney has to go at this and make it clear that he is doing it not for political gain ..."

But he did do it for political gain; and that's obvious.

[jberryhill]

4. "Lie harder, Mitt!"

[BlueStreak]

9. Exactly. All he can do now is dig the hole deeper.

His best option now is what he should have done yesterday.

Shut the hell up.

Isn't there some yacht or something that needs to go out for a spin?

[TwilightGardener]

5. Oh, it's a game changer. I'm pretty convinced of that.

Mitt had his "decent guy" mask ripped off for good today.

[WI_DEM]

11. who thought he was a 'decent guy'?

[TwilightGardener]

13. Assuming undecided voters think both candidates are sane and/or decent

and are trying to figure out who to vote for, policy-wise.

[Andy823]

6. One problem

Every time Romney has to "explain" himself, he usually makes things worse! The man is not qualified to even be running for the WH. Republicans had the worst bunch of clowns I have ever seen this year trying to get the nomination, and the "worst" of the lot actually won!

All the excuses will not cover up the fact this man is a joke, and he has gone so far to the right trying to kiss up to the extremely crazy wing of the republican party that he can't come back to the center. The republican party is a total mess and if they survive without splitting up, it will be a miracle. They created the teabaggers and now they have to find a way to get rid of them or end up being a has been political party. If they divide into two factions, it will be even worse for them. The monster they created has come back to eat them alive, and they have no idea how to survive. I love it!

[pinto]

7. Spin it Alex. Spin it.

Romney's comments were made for political gain. His smirking delivery was chilling at this time, not just inappropriate but seriously chilling.

And, imo, Romney, as well as his running mate, are dangerous for the country.

[BattyDem]

8. Who apologized??

"Romney has to go at this and make it clear that he is doing it not for political gain but because weak, apologetic leadership is dangerous for the country."


It's too late for him to explain! The fact is, he criticized a statement that was put out by the US Embassy in an attempt to calm people down and perhaps, save their own lives. There were NO apologetic words in that statement, so there was absolutely NO reason for Romney to say otherwise. There was certainly no reason to call the response "disgraceful" or suggest that the POTUS had sympathized with the attackers!

Romney's statement had no basis in reality, so "political gain" was the only reason to release it!

[magical thyme]

12. It is a gamechanger

His plane's engines sputtered out during the conventions and he's been losing altitude fast.

He just foolishly attempted to re-start his engines while pulling the nose up.

Now it's spiraling nose down in a death spin.

His chances of restarting the engine just dropped to nil. All but 3 surrogates and defenders in the media are parachuting off this flight. He's going to crash and burn.

[JaneQPublic]

14. Castellanos has a long history of crappy campaign ads

He was responsible for the Jesse Helms ad against Harmey Gantt (You needed that job. But they had to give it to a minority).

He was responsible for the wolves ad in GWBush's 2004 campaign.

More here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Castellanos

[magical thyme]

15. the comments are priceless.

a few from the 1st page:djmp
Thank you Mr. Romney for clarifying that you do NOT send mixed messages. The message you sent is clear: "I am obviously and unequivocally not capable of being President."

September 12, 2012 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |
KuMiCu
Mitt Romney got the capital of Libya wrong in his opportunistic statement this morning criticizing the President about his handling of the attacks against the US embassy in Cairo and the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Romney referred in his statement to the "embassies" and particularly to "our embassy at Benghazi, Libya." He made the mistake three times, so it wasn't just a slip of the lip.

Any first year international relations student knows that our diplomatic offices in the capital are "embassies," and our offices in cities that are not the capital are "consulates."

This means that Romney either had no idea what the capital of Libya was when he said it was Benghazi (it's Tripoli, obviously), or he had no idea what the difference was between "embassies" and "consulates," which is so basic Diplomacy 101 that it's frightening that Mitt Romney wants to be commander in chief in four months and had no idea about the difference.

September 12, 2012 03:16 pm at 3:16 pm |
FactCheck
Clint's empty chair is starting to look like a viable candidate to the Republicans right about now.

September 12, 2012 03:19 pm at 3:19 pm |
Randy, San Francisco
Yes, it is a game changer. Shows Romney is not fit to be president, He placed political opportunism over country.

September 12, 2012 03:19 pm at 3:19 pm |
Meeps
Financial crisis, brought to you by the congress! The President can only do so much to hold the dangerous Congress at bay, if we put Romney in there, he'll do exactly what the Republican portion of the Congress wants. Meanwhile, Pres. Obama will actually side with Republicans when they propose legislation that is good. Romney has no compromise ability.

September 12, 2012 03:20 pm at 3:20 pm |
gthom
Not a game changer... The game was all but over when the gavel came down the last night of the Democratic convention. Romney is going to lose & the GOP hacks know it. The question is how big will the margin be!

September 12, 2012 03:21 pm at 3:21 pm |
John
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have no business running this Country and only a fool would vote them.

September 12, 2012 03:23 pm at 3:23 pm |
Jae
Romney is clearly an idiot who speaks before he thinks and he wants to be President??? What a joke!

September 12, 2012 03:24 pm at 3:24 pm |
PTNY
Game changer...yes.

Divine intervention...

I thank GOD for Romney's Leadership in bringing down the entire Republican Party!

September 12, 2012 03:25 pm at 3:25 pm |
McShannon
Mitt Romney and the GOP have displayed such naive and immature ramblings attempting to get a handhold for attention that they have slipped into the TWILIGHT zone.

September 12, 2012 03:35 pm at 3:35 pm |
Critical Thinker
Mitt's secret foreign policy method...Fire! Aim! Ready!

September 12, 2012 03:36 pm at 3:36 pm |
Lynda/Minnesota
For once I agree with McCain's advisers. Mitt Romney is not ready (to become President).

September 12, 2012 03:36 pm at 3:36 pm |

[redqueen]

18. "Mitt's secret foreign policy method...Fire! Aim! Ready!"

Precisely.

[spanone]

16. yes!!! in our favor.

[berni_mccoy]

19. Exactly what I meant and what the former Romney advisor meant.

I think many responding aren't seeing that.

[Aerows]

17. "Game-Changer"

Translation: "I thought I looked like a GOD when I told those lies, now, I just look like an asshole liar. But I still am awesome, and I'll cry to my mommy and the sunday school teacher if you aren't nice to me."