TNR’s Tim Noah recommends this as the perfect late July Friday afternoon for political junkies to take a fresh look at the 2008 McCain Oppo Research file on Mitt Romney, which Buzzfeed published back in January. I did, and found these two rather relevant items about Romney’s lack of foreign policy experience:
In December 2006 Trip To China, Romney “Stumbled Over Relatively Straightforward Geopolitical Issues,” Did Not Know Value Of Chinese Currency. “The students asked Romney about his potential presidential run, his views on Iraq, and banking and trade issues. At times, Romney stumbled over relatively straightforward geopolitical issues: Romney had to ask the US Embassy staff accompanying him the value of the Chinese renminbi to the US dollar, despite the fact that this is one of the hottest economic issues betweenWashington and Beijing.” (Jehangir S. Pocha, “Romney Tries Political Hand In China,” The Boston Globe, 12/9/06)
The Associated Press Noted “Perilous Results” Of Romney’s “Checklist” Approach To Foreign Policy. “As Mitt Romney transitions from one-term governor to presidential candidate, he has been ticking through a presidential checklist, sometimes with perilous results. Where he lacked foreign policy experience, his staff arranged one-day visits to Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Check, check, check.” (Glen Johnson,“Romney Finds Peril As He Works Through Presidential Checklist,” The Associated Press , 3/25/07)
Sound familiar?
