I think Romney is simply opposed to being diplomatic

[gollygee]

Maybe he isn't sticking his foot in his mouth. Maybe he thinks that's the right way to be. He seems to take anything anyone says that is diplomatic as "an apology" and "sympathy." I think he just thinks you should be rude, and what we think are gaffes are intentional.

I was talking to a few Republicans at my daughter's school and they said they think Obama should have said, basically, "We believe in the freedom of speech, and that's all there is to it." Anything else, they believe, was inappropriate. So they are actually opposed to diplomacy. I think that's where Romney is, and it's pretty scary. It is scary to think we could have a president who believes diplomacy is weakness. That's like an entry point to a dozen unnecessary wars.

[el_bryanto]

1. A few caveats

He was governor of Mass. He can talk to people he disagrees with, and even work with them. He passed Romneycare after all.

His response to this crisis seems terrible though (probably because it is terrible). I suspect it is for one of two reasons. Either he sees Muslims/Arabs as inhuman people with whom diplomacy is useless (i.e. they only understand force) or he understands that his base sees things that way.

Alternatively his main goal is to pound on Obama and he hasn't really thought through the diplomatic angle.

Bryant

[rfranklin]

2. He has to attack the President because of the base...

He is smart but they are dumb.

[el_bryanto]

4. Most probable answer - but it is possible he doesn't see Muslims/Arabs as humans

or - he doesn't see diplomacy as having an value working with them.

[Enrique]

3. that is the attitude of the RW talk radio blowhards

the fatasses safe in their radio studios talking tough, he's pandering to them.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. He is a puppet

being forced to function under someone else's direction. Sortof like the Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren".

[ladjf]

6. Being diplomatic = being weak in Republican parlance. nt

[cynatnite]

7. He's got chickenhawks blowing in his ear and it turns him on.n/t