While Republicans might want to switch the focus of Campaign 2012 back to domestic and economic issues, foreign policy seems likely to dominate on Tuesday as President Obama addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Mitt Romney's campaign jabbed at the President repeatedly on Monday over foreign policy matters, labeling the President's policies in "disarray," while the White House gave the back of the hand to some GOP criticism, labeling it "desperate and offensive."
As for the President's speech, here was the preview from White House Press Secretary Jay Carney:
"I would expect the President to address the recent unrest in the Muslim world and the broader context of the democratic transitions in the Arab world. As he has in recent days, the President will make it clear that we reject the views in the video that has caused offense in the Muslim world, while also underscoring that violence is never acceptable -- a message that has been echoed by the leaders he has personally reached out to in places like Egypt, Libya and Yemen. He will also send a clear message that the United States will never retreat from the world. The United States will bring justice to those who harm Americans and the United States will stand strongly for our democratic values abroad."
Carney also faced questions on Monday about a phrase used by the President in an interview with 60 Minutes, which Republicans jumped on.
MR. CARNEY: I appreciate the question, Ann, because that assertion is both desperate and offensive. The President was referring to the transformations in the region, to this process that has -- only began less than two years ago, as we saw in Tunisia, and continues to this day with remarkable transformations occurring in countries around the region. And obviously in these countries there are huge challenges, huge obstacles to the kinds of change that the people in these countries are demanding, to the kinds of governments that are democratic in nature and responsive to the interests of average citizens in these countries.
That was the context of the President's comments. And again, I think I would say what I said to Dan, which is that there is a certain rather desperate attempt to grasp at words and phrases here to find political advantage, and in this case that's profoundly offensive.
As for the Romney campaign, they were on the attack on foreign policy much of Monday, both in public and in various news releases and statements by the campaign and Romney surrogates.
"On the eve of his United Nations address, President Obama's foreign policy is in disarray. Just last night, the President downgraded our relationship with Israel and compared the assassination of a U.S. Ambassador to 'bumps in the road.' As anti-American protests rage in the Middle East and Iran moves closer toward nuclear weapons capability, President Obama seems more focused on winning a second term than rebuilding America's strength and position in the world. As president, Mitt Romney will repair our relationships abroad and create a safer, more secure nation for all Americans" (spokesman Ryan Williams).
One of the surrogates chipping in for Romney on Monday was former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani.
"Relations between the U.S. and Israel under Barack Obama have been strained for some time. But if the President gets re-elected, every indicator shows they will grow significantly worse. On 60 Minutes last night, Barack Obama downgraded Israel from our closest ally in the Middle East to 'one of our closest allies.' The change is significant. And it heralds more changes to come if President Obama is elected to a second term. The fact that in the same interview the President dismissed Israel's concerns about Iran's nuclear weapons as mere 'noise' is just one more demonstration of the President's lack of concern for the grave threat that Israel is facing. Too much is at stake to allow U.S.-Israel relations to deteriorate further. Even more concerning is the President's reference to the violent, unstable situation in the Middle East – including the death of a U.S. ambassador – as merely 'bumps in the road.' America needs a president who will stand by Israel in its moment of peril, who understands the gravity of the situation at hand, and who will leverage the United States' influence to help move the region toward peace."
While Republicans might want to switch the focus of Campaign 2012 back to domestic and economic issues, foreign policy seems likely to dominate on Tuesday as President Obama addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Mitt Romney's campaign jabbed at the President repeatedly on Monday over foreign policy ...
