Rep. Ackerman Calls Romney Trip “Amateurish and Spastic Blundering”

David Streeter — August 1, 2012 – 11:43 am | Election 2012 | Israel | Mitt Romney Comments (0) Add a comment

Representative Gary Ackerman (D-NY) offered harsh criticism of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s overseas trip, labeling it “ amateurish and spastic blundering.” Ackerman said:

Governor’s Romney’s gaffe-filled adventure abroad, where he managed to both insult the United Kingdom and create minor press revolt in Poland because of his arrogant refusal to expose himself by answering any questions, would be unworthy of comment had he not demonstrated such extreme and dangerous ignorance and naïveté regarding the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, an issue of great concern to me and so many of my constituents.

While he may have been seeking merely to pander to those whom he perceives to be useful to his political ambitions, he more substantially and unquestionably harmed the interests of the United States in being able to successfully influence the peace process, however moribund it may be at this time. Palestinians are well aware of the special relationship between America and Israel but they have always recognized that even though we are not impartial, that we were at least not hostile toward them as a people, or opposed to their legitimate aspirations for a state of their own.

Governor Romney, with his daft remarks about Palestinian culture, his refusal to see President Abbas and ‘half-pregnant’ remarks about an Israeli strike on Iran demonstrated the same kind brash yet clumsy foreign policy that so characterized the Bush Administration. Surrounded as he is by former Bush Administration officials, perhaps this kind of blustery bumbling should come as no surprise.

But until Governor Romney can speak without insulting our allies, hampering our diplomacy and confusing the international community regarding our national intentions, he should just keep quiet about foreign affairs. The presidency is no place for such amateurish and spastic blundering.

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