Romney's 10-Gaffe Stumble Around Israel - All in Just 24 Hours

Is he up to the Pres Job? Nope.

Here is a rundown of Mitt' Romney's schedule of gaffs this week while visiting Israel. All within 24 hours:

1. The capital of Israel should be Jerusalem.

It's unclear if Romney meant the Jewish-occupied part or the Arab occupied part, or the whole thing, or what.

2. Romney said he would "never" disagree publicly with Israel.

Presumably, if Israel is caught attacking a US navel vessel and killing crew members (as has happened) or Israel is caught sending spies against the US (as has happened) a Pres-Rom would deal with all this privately . . . 

3. Keeping Iran from arming itself with nuclear weapons would be the "top" US foreign policy objective for Romney.

But Romney has already said that Russia is the US' greatest adversary. Many (most?) foreign policy experts disagree with either or both of these simplistic and contradictory foreign policy positions.

4. Romney as President, will "stand by" Israel, should Israel use weapons against Iran.

In other words, Romney would go to war against Iran, at the beck and call of Israel.

5. With no clear explanation for either decision, Romney first closed a fund raiser to the local media, got criticized for this in the media and then had to open it to the Israeli media.   

6. Romney backed away from his foreign policy advisor, David Senor, who remarked that Romney  “would respect” unilateral Israeli strike on Iran

7. Romney first agreed to meet but then at the last minute cancelled his meeting with Labor Party head, Shelly Yechimovich. The cancellation was announced by the Prime Minister's office, not by Romney's staff.


8. Romney first invited and then cancelled dozens of invitations to his Jerusalem Foundation speech. Many cancellations were made only after dozens of people had lined up to attend.


9. Romney at first invited only two media outlets to the Jerusalem Foundation speech, but after a media uproar, the decision was reversed and all media were told they would be admitted.

10. In a speech at a King David Hotel fund raiser, Romney says the economic disparity between Israel and Israeli-occupied Palestinian areas is the result of differences between the two "cultures."
This comment played to many,  as either a racist insult to Palestinians and Arabs generally or as an odd re-kindling of the anti-Semitic stereotype of Jews as share dealing business people.

All in just 24 hours.


(Meanwhile, July 31, 2012, Romney's staff is trying to outdo their boss with their own gaffes. - Romney Aide to Reporters: "Kiss My Ass.")

Sources:  On Israel visit, Romney talks the talk, but stumbles the walk 

Romney outrages Palestinians with comments at Jerusalem event 

Romney Campaign Muddles Iran Stance

NYT - Romney Trip Raises Sparks at a 2nd Stop