This group of former Mitt Romney foreign policy advisers is consulting for virtually all current GOP

[Agschmid]

Foreign policy is likely to play a role in 2016 presidential campaign, however many of the 17 Republican hopefuls lack extensive foreign policy experience. At the same time, they’re almost unanimously hawkish, blaming the Democrats for being weak on the world’s stage.

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It turns out that almost all of the GOP hopefuls are consulting with the John Hay Initiative, a group of advisers who were part of Mitt Romney's losing campaign in 2012, to chart their foreign policy positions. By providing briefs, providing research and even writing speeches for the GOP candidates, the John Hay Initiative is advising the candidates on war, diplomacy and America's role in the world.

Bloomberg View writer Josh Rogin says the initiative was formed after the 2012 election. “At the end of the 2012 campaign, a group of foreign policy advisers to Mitt Romney realized that in another 2.5 years the GOP was going to do it again,” and that they would need help. Forming the initiative allowed them to “keep the intellectual rigor they had established, and posture for jobs in the next administration.” Ultimately, the group can help the GOP preserve its stance as the the daddy party, the pro-military party,” Rogin says.

The group, which began with 70-80 members two years ago is now made up of over now over 200 people with at least 20 working groups. This has enabled them to reach out many of the candidates. Rand Paul and Donald Trump have not tapped the John Hay Initiative, but almost all the other candidates have, said Rogin.

Read more, or listen to the interview on PRI.

[NBachers]

1. Let's hear it for intellectual rigor, posturing for jobs, and preserving it's stance.

I'm still gloating over Mitt Romney getting ready to step out and deliver his victory speech, and then finding out: "Oh, we're sorry, you didn't get elected President after all. Thanks for all that money, though."