Romney’s wrong-headed assertions about Iran (WP)

[Inuca]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/romneys-wrong-headed-assertions-about-iran/2012/03/07/gIQAcKCvxR_print.html

I have little interest in inserting myself, as a former nominee of my party, into this presidential campaign season. But as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which has a vital role in issues of national security, I feel compelled to respond to the ways that, in pursuit of the Republican nomination, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has put himself front and center in debates that have serious consequences.

In 2010, Romney inserted himself into Senate consideration of the New START Treaty and sharpened his newly minted conservative credentials on this page by authoring a series of blisteringly inaccurate assertions about the treaty. In so doing, he separated himself from former Republican secretaries of state James Baker, Henry Kissinger, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice; discarded the wisdom of former Republican defense secretaries such as Robert Gates; and pitted himself against former president George H.W. Bush. Fortunately, a third of Senate Republicans disagreed with him and voted to make America safer. Americans will ultimately decide whether 71 senators and so many Republican foreign policy hands were right — or whether Candidate Romney knew something they didn’t.

Today Romney’s goal remains winning the acquiescence of his party’s base — but his target is different: Iran. It is deja vu. While wise Republicans stress the perils of loose war talk and the value of engagement to isolate Iran, Romney seeks to create political division with an attack on the Obama administration’s Iran policy that is as inaccurate as it is aggressive.

I join this debate because the nuclear issue with Iran is deadly serious business. It should invite sobriety and thoughtfulness, not sloganeering and sound bites. The stakes are far too high for it to become just another applause line on the stump. Idle talk of war only helps Iran by spooking the tight oil market and increasing the price of the Iranian crude that pays for its nuclear program.

Blistering and strongly supporting Obama.

Came across it because it was tweeted by Obama's Truth Team:

TruthTeam2012‏@
Sen. Kerry calls out Romney for “creating false differences with President Obama to score political points” on Iran

[monmouth]

1. The poll at CNN asked if he reader agreed or disagreed with McCain..

25% Agreed, 74% Disagreed. Romney on the wrong side again and this is CNN (Fox Lite)..

[karynnj]

2. Impressive piece

I like that he includes Romney's earlier foreign policy blunder on the START treaty. I would bet that it was little noticed at the time because it was too early and because it was a pretty esoteric foreign policy issue.

However, it added to the nonsense Romney is spewing now on Iran together create a pretty solid case that Romney does not have the foreign policy instincts or knowledge needed to be president at this point in time. This can be a very compelling argument when it is understood - especially by a war weary nation.

[MBS]

3. Fantastic piece

And perfect proof of the absurdity of the "Romney is Kerry" meme. these guys are as different as they come. Kerry wins hands-down in his thoughtful approach and principled career.

[politicasista]

4. +1

IMO, the Senator needs to keep saying that loud over and over again.

[karynnj]

5. Not to mention, as people they have little in common

I have yet to hear a single story of Romney taking a political hit out of loyalty to anyone OR Romney putting aside a personal grievance aside to work for the greater good. Not to mention, I have not followed Romney seriously and have seen him lie about his positions - something I have yet to see Kerry do even once. I guess I could add that Kerry is unlikely to ever have contemplated putting a dog on the top of a car for 12 hours - there is something unbelievably cruel there.

[Mass]

6. Seems Kerry is a selling point though.

I read the transcript of this piece on Morning Joe, wondering what they had to say. It turned out that nobody except Joe referred to Kerry. Apparently, the comparison was not that exciting, except for Scarborough (could it improve his ratings?). Sometimes, I think the comparison is done by reporters who need to sell their copy about Romney. Romney is so bland that they need to spice it up by ginning up some controversy.

http://mojoe.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/09/10623223-romney-a-john-kerry-good-for-a-corporate-boardroom
Romney: A 'John Kerry' good for a corporate boardroom?