Mark it. It's over. I can firmly announce that Barack Obama will win the November election and continue his presidency through 2016.
The past 2-3 weeks have been very good ones for the Obama team and not so good for the Romney camp. The Democratic National Convention resulted in a bigger bounce for Obama than the Republican National Convention did for Romney. In his speech at the DNC, former president Bill Clinton dismantled many of the Romney team's talking points, including many lies which were spewed forth from Romney running mate Paul Ryan's lips. Ending a three-month streak of being outraised by Romney, Obama came away with more donation money in the month of August than his opponent. Recent polls have increased Obama's lead over Romney nationally to between 4 and 10 points (6 seems to be about average), the largest such leads Obama has had over the Republican candidate in some time. In recent days, Romney has had to flip back and forth with regard to his thoughts and feelings on Obamacare. While he's told voters that his first order of business as president would be to repeal the twin brother of his own healthcare plan, he came forward on Sunday and stated that there were parts of the bill which he liked, before angering conservatives and going back on those statements. Paul Ryan's had to try and explain his voting for military spending cuts meanwhile criticizing the Obama Administration for proposing such cuts. Like I said, as cavemen would refer to the current state of the two campaigns, they'd say, "Obama good. Romney no good."
If the Romney team thought things were bad through September 10th (and believe me - they were), they haven't seen anything yet. As of last night - on the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks - Romney dug himself into so deep a hole with his comments, even Jesus is looking down and saying, "Sorry. Not even I can get him out of that."
It all started when word got out about an American-made film, which showcases the Prophet Muhammad as a "child of uncertain parentage, a buffoon, a womanizer, a homosexual, a child molester and a greedy, bloodthirsty thug.”
In response to this film, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo said the following, “The United States Embassy in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims — as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions."
This message was sent prior to the attacks. It's reminiscent of the Bush Administration's response to controversial cartoons which depicted Mohammad in a poor light in 2006.
Sean McCormack, Bush's State Department Spokesman said of this situation: “Anti-Muslim images are as unacceptable as anti-Semitic images, as anti-Christian images, or any other religious belief.”
However, before the news-media let it be known that such tragic events did take place, Mitt Romney - after swearing he'd refrain from such comments on the anniversary of 9/11, criticized the president with such an outrageous low blow, even many Republicans and conservative commentators have criticized the GOP candidate.
Romney said: “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.”
That's right - on the 11th anniversary of 9/11, Mitt Romney claimed that President Obama and his administration sympathized with the attackers in this tragedy, all based on a message which was sent by the U.S. Embassy in Libya prior to the attacks actually occurring.
In response to the attacks, the president released a statement this morning which said: “I strongly condemn the outrageous attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi, which took the lives of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. The United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, we must all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of these public servants.”
What's resulted from all this is that Mitt Romney has received more criticism from politicians and members of the media than stoners say "dude". This hasn't just come from self-described liberals either. Even House Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Senator Marco Rubio, when releasing statements about the tragedy, refrained from going after the president.
Former Homeland Security Director, Tom Ridge, said when questioned about Romney's attack on Obama: "No, I don't think the president sympathizes with those who attacked us. I don't think any American does. I'm not going to question the strength of his words."
MSNBC's Chuck Todd called Romney's statements both "irresponsible" and "a bad mistake".
ABC's Jack Tapper commented by saying that Romney's criticism "does not stand up to simple chronology."
CNN's Peter Hamby tweeted, "Clinton issued statement condemning violence at 10pm EST Tues night. Yet Romney camp still went ahead w/ claim O "sympathizes" w/ attackers".
MSNBC's Joe Scarborough tweeted, "I've been inundated with emails and calls from elected GOP leaders who think Romney's response was a mistake. Not today."
The Washington Post editorial board headlined this story as, "Mr. Romney rhetoric on embassy attacks discredits his campaign".
NBC's David Gregory tweeted, "Romney appears to have launched a political attack even before facts of embassy violence were known. Then uses day to issue vague FP vision".
Salon.com's Rebecca Traister tweeted, "That statement by Romney was one of the ugliest, most diplomatically incompetent moves I've ever witnessed."
Salon.com itself tweeted, "Romney's Libya lie: Mitt's attack on Obama is disgraceful and completely dishonest".
CNN's Paul Begala tweeted, "Watching Pres. Obama's stmt on #CNN. Now THAT is how the American President should conduct himself. Romney looked petty & political & small."
Daily Kos's Markos Moulitsas tweeted, "I mean, just LOOK at that Romney smirk, convinced he's scored political points off the Libya disaster."
The Guardian's Glenn Greenwald tweeted, "It is not illegitimate to criticize the president even when 'Americans are killed'! What makes Romney's statement gross is its falseness."
TPM's Benjy Sarlin tweeted, "There's a difference between acting presidential and pretending you're president."
Sources
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/09/12/833301/romney-obama-sympathize-attackers-libya-egypt/
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/09/12/834861/following-murder-of-american-diplomats-romney-stands-by-misleading-attack-on-obama/
The past 2-3 weeks have been very good ones for the Obama team and not so good for the Romney camp. The Democratic National Convention resulted in a bigger bounce for Obama than the Republican National Convention did for Romney. In his speech at the DNC, former president Bill Clinton dismantled many of the Romney team's talking points, including many lies which were spewed forth from Romney running mate Paul Ryan's lips. Ending a three-month streak of being outraised by Romney, Obama came away with more donation money in the month of August than his opponent. Recent polls have increased Obama's lead over Romney nationally to between 4 and 10 points (6 seems to be about average), the largest such leads Obama has had over the Republican candidate in some time. In recent days, Romney has had to flip back and forth with regard to his thoughts and feelings on Obamacare. While he's told voters that his first order of business as president would be to repeal the twin brother of his own healthcare plan, he came forward on Sunday and stated that there were parts of the bill which he liked, before angering conservatives and going back on those statements. Paul Ryan's had to try and explain his voting for military spending cuts meanwhile criticizing the Obama Administration for proposing such cuts. Like I said, as cavemen would refer to the current state of the two campaigns, they'd say, "Obama good. Romney no good."
If the Romney team thought things were bad through September 10th (and believe me - they were), they haven't seen anything yet. As of last night - on the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks - Romney dug himself into so deep a hole with his comments, even Jesus is looking down and saying, "Sorry. Not even I can get him out of that."
It all started when word got out about an American-made film, which showcases the Prophet Muhammad as a "child of uncertain parentage, a buffoon, a womanizer, a homosexual, a child molester and a greedy, bloodthirsty thug.”
In response to this film, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo said the following, “The United States Embassy in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims — as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions."
This message was sent prior to the attacks. It's reminiscent of the Bush Administration's response to controversial cartoons which depicted Mohammad in a poor light in 2006.
Sean McCormack, Bush's State Department Spokesman said of this situation: “Anti-Muslim images are as unacceptable as anti-Semitic images, as anti-Christian images, or any other religious belief.”
However, before the news-media let it be known that such tragic events did take place, Mitt Romney - after swearing he'd refrain from such comments on the anniversary of 9/11, criticized the president with such an outrageous low blow, even many Republicans and conservative commentators have criticized the GOP candidate.
Romney said: “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.”
That's right - on the 11th anniversary of 9/11, Mitt Romney claimed that President Obama and his administration sympathized with the attackers in this tragedy, all based on a message which was sent by the U.S. Embassy in Libya prior to the attacks actually occurring.
In response to the attacks, the president released a statement this morning which said: “I strongly condemn the outrageous attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi, which took the lives of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. The United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, we must all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of these public servants.”
What's resulted from all this is that Mitt Romney has received more criticism from politicians and members of the media than stoners say "dude". This hasn't just come from self-described liberals either. Even House Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Senator Marco Rubio, when releasing statements about the tragedy, refrained from going after the president.
Former Homeland Security Director, Tom Ridge, said when questioned about Romney's attack on Obama: "No, I don't think the president sympathizes with those who attacked us. I don't think any American does. I'm not going to question the strength of his words."
MSNBC's Chuck Todd called Romney's statements both "irresponsible" and "a bad mistake".
ABC's Jack Tapper commented by saying that Romney's criticism "does not stand up to simple chronology."
CNN's Peter Hamby tweeted, "Clinton issued statement condemning violence at 10pm EST Tues night. Yet Romney camp still went ahead w/ claim O "sympathizes" w/ attackers".
MSNBC's Joe Scarborough tweeted, "I've been inundated with emails and calls from elected GOP leaders who think Romney's response was a mistake. Not today."
The Washington Post editorial board headlined this story as, "Mr. Romney rhetoric on embassy attacks discredits his campaign".
NBC's David Gregory tweeted, "Romney appears to have launched a political attack even before facts of embassy violence were known. Then uses day to issue vague FP vision".
Salon.com's Rebecca Traister tweeted, "That statement by Romney was one of the ugliest, most diplomatically incompetent moves I've ever witnessed."
Salon.com itself tweeted, "Romney's Libya lie: Mitt's attack on Obama is disgraceful and completely dishonest".
CNN's Paul Begala tweeted, "Watching Pres. Obama's stmt on #CNN. Now THAT is how the American President should conduct himself. Romney looked petty & political & small."
Daily Kos's Markos Moulitsas tweeted, "I mean, just LOOK at that Romney smirk, convinced he's scored political points off the Libya disaster."
The Guardian's Glenn Greenwald tweeted, "It is not illegitimate to criticize the president even when 'Americans are killed'! What makes Romney's statement gross is its falseness."
TPM's Benjy Sarlin tweeted, "There's a difference between acting presidential and pretending you're president."
Foreign Policy magazine's Blake Hounshell tweeted, "The Romney campaign's politicization of the embassy attacks is even worse than I expected."
TPM's Josh Marshall tweeted, "Romney should know that shameful political attacks should at least not include demonstrable lies."
Reuter's Anthony De Rosa tweeted, "This statement makes Romney seem small, not presidential."
The MediaGuardian's Jeff Jarvis tweeted, "F**king Romney politicizes this horrid crime."
Time magazine's Mark Halperin tweeted, "Unless Mitt has gamed crisis out in some manner completely invisible to Gang of 500,doubling down=most craven+ill-advised move of '12."
National Journal's Ron Fournier tweeted, "A ham-handed and inaccurate response from Romney. There is a reason why politix stops at water's edge."
Salon.com's Joan Walsh tweeted, "The desperate Romney campaign sees one last political chance in capitalizing on the killing of an American ambassador. Shameful."
MSNBC's Alana Russo tweeted, "Romney couldn't wait 12 hours before politicizing the murder of a US diplomat?"
BuzzFeed's Ben Smith tweeted, "If you think the eye-rolling at Romney is just coming from the MSM, call up some Republican foreign policy hands."
CNN's Donna Brazile tweeted, "Mr. Romney Campaign Attacks President Obama Over Mythical Apology to Embassy Attackers. This is reckless and shameful."
The Nation's Jeremy Scahill tweeted, "Romney sounds very presidential in his response to the attacks. If by 'presidential,' we mean idiotic."
Slate magazine's Dave Weigel tweeted, "President Romney will make darn sure that no embassy ever issues a calming statement when protesters are about to attack."
The Wall Street Journal's Peggy Noonan tweeted, "I don't think Mr. Romney has been doing himself any favors in the last hours."
The Atlantic Monthly's James Fallows tweeted, "Just now Obama and H Clinton spoke for US and its values; Romney, for party and its attack strategy. Big mistake on merits and on politics."
ThinkProgress' Judd Legum tweeted, "Condi Rice releases statement on Libya. Notably doesn't provide any cover for Romney."
Daily Kos's David Waldman tweeted, "This undoes any work anyone thought Ann Romney or anyone else ever did to 'humanize' Mitt Romney."
Yeah - like I said, in response to Romney's stupid remarks and digging himself a hole the size of Jupiter, Jesus is even looking down, shaking his head and saying, "Sorry. Not even I can help you out here."
Sources
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/09/12/833301/romney-obama-sympathize-attackers-libya-egypt/
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/09/12/834861/following-murder-of-american-diplomats-romney-stands-by-misleading-attack-on-obama/
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/09/12/836791/romney-camp-blames-obama-libya/
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/09/12/837841/tom-ridge-obama-libya/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/12/mitt-romney-obama-libya_n_1877406.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/12/mitt-romney-libya-egypt-media-reactions_n_1877266.html
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