Romney Overseas: Top Five Embarrassing Moments

By Daniel Gaynor | 8.7.12

Mitt Romney can hide his tax returns, but he can’t hide his lack of experience on the world stage. He recently wrapped up an eight-day swing through Britain, Israel and Poland. While the trip was designed to brandish his credentials as a world-class leader, the result was a string of unforced errors that made Governor Romney look more like an amateur playing president than a serious international leader. Let’s take a look at Mitt’s top blunders.

1.) “Mitt the Twit” insults London over the Olympics.

When Mitt Romney suggested London wasn’t ready for the Olympics, British Prime Minister David Cameron slapped back: “We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere,” referring to Mitt Romney’s organization of the Olympics in Salt Lake City. For this little snafu, Britain’s best-selling newspaper nicknamed Governor Romney “Mitt the Twit.”

2.) I met with the Secret Intelligence Services!

Mitt Romney was so proud that he met with MI6 – Britain’s Intelligence Agency – that he just couldn’t help talking about it during a press conference. There’s just one problem. You’re not supposed to do that. Shockingly, meetings with the secret intelligence service is supposed to stay…secret. Thinking back to the Bush Administration’s outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame, one could argue this is actually a Republican tradition, especially since Romney’s got a fundraiser who was involved in the leak.

3.) Romney’s got words for Israel, but Obama’s got $70 million.

Mitt Romney is fond of accusing President Obama of undermining Israel. So he must have felt the egg on his face when, just before his trip to Jerusalem, President Obama signed a bill providing $70 million of military aid for Israel’s “Iron Dome” missile defense shield. That’s $70 million on top of the $205 million the U.S. authorized last year. But hey, for a guy who’s net worth hovers around $250 million, perhaps Governor Romney just doesn’t understand how much $70 million is really worth. Maybe he could write a $70 million check to Israel.

4.) Romney: Obama abandons Poland. Polish Defense Minister: “Full Confidence” in U.S.-Polish Alliance.

In a fiery foreign policy speech last week, Mitt Romney slammed President Obama for “abandoning” Poland. The next day, Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak met U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, expressing his “full confidence” in the U.S.-Polish relations. The meeting also underscored U.S.-Polish cooperation on missile defense, and highlighted a U.S. Aviation Detachment that will soon open in Poland. As the first ever permanent presence of U.S. forces in Poland, it will feature rotations of F-16s fighter jets, C-130 cargo planes, and U.S. pilots. Sounds a lot more like alliance than abandonment.

5.) Obama’s not “Anglo” like us.

On the eve of Mitt Romney’s trip to Britain, a campaign advisor told the London Telegraph that President Obama doesn’t fully appreciate “Anglo-Saxon Heritage.” The thinly veiled racism caused a stir in the UK, and Team Romney backed away from the comment post-haste, insisting it does not represent the Governor’s views. It also belied Romney’s commitment to not “venture into another country to question American foreign policy,” showing a reckless willingness to trash the President abroad. That’s dangerous for U.S. security.