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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums(Actual) Romney surrogate Talking Point memo on Lybia
CNN's coverage of this leaked memo is their own, but I do not know that a Romney campaign document disseminated to surrogates has any applicable copyright protection. CNN didn't author the memo, yet they post it in full as news. So there shouldn't be any issue with posting the memo itself in full here.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/12/romney-camp-tries-to-manage-fallout-from-libya-response/
MESSAGE POINTS: Attacks On America's Diplomatic Missions In Libya And Egypt
Surrogate Message Points: Attacks On Americas Diplomatic Missions In Libya And Egypt
Top-Line Message:
We join all Americans in grieving for the four American patriots who lost their lives in yesterdays attacks and send our condolences to their loved ones.
- This is a time for America to be firm and resolute and to make clear beyond any doubt that America will not tolerate attacks on our own.
- The violence against the American diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt underscores that the world remains a dangerous place and that American leadership is sorely needed.
Over the last several years, we have stood witness to an Arab Spring that presents both opportunity for a more peaceful and prosperous region, but also great peril if the forces of extremism and violence are allowed to control the course of events.
We must strive to ensure that the Arab Spring is not followed by an Arab Winter.
American leadership is necessary to ensure that events in the region do not spin out of control.
We have seen a foreign policy of weakness and decline in American influence and respect. Yesterday, we saw the consequences of this perceived weakness.
America cannot send mixed signals to either our allies or our enemies.
We must not be afraid to use our influence to support those who share our values and interests and to stand firm against those who threaten them. America cannot shrink from its responsibility to lead.
Questions & Answers:
Dont you think it was appropriate for the embassy to condemn the controversial movie in question? Are you standing up for movies like this?
Governor Romney rejects the reported message of the movie. There is no room for religious hatred or intolerance.
But we will not apologize for our constitutional right to freedom of speech.
Storming U.S. missions and committing acts of violence is never acceptable, no matter the reason. Any response that does not immediately and decisively make that clear conveys weakness.
If pressed: Governor Romney repudiated this individual in 2010 when he attempted to mobilize a Quran-burning movement. He is firmly against any expression of religious hatred or intolerance.
Reports indicate the embassy in Cairo released its initial statement before the invasion of the embassy commenced. Doesnt this show they were trying to tamp down the protest and prevent what ultimately happened, not sympathize with the protesters?
The Administration was wrong to stand by a statement sympathizing with those who had breached our embassy in Egypt instead of condemning their actions.
Distancing themselves from the statement and saying it wasn't cleared by Washington reflects the mixed signals they are sending to the world.
American leadership needs to be decisive and resolute when our interests are threatened or attacked. For the last four years, this has been lacking.
We have seen a foreign policy of weakness, indecision, and a decline in American influence and respect and yesterday we saw the consequences.
If pressed: The Obama campaign is now attacking Governor Romney for being critical of the same statement the Administration itself disavowed. This is hypocritical.
Did Governor Romney jump the gun last night in releasing his statement?
No. It is never too soon to stand up for American values and interests.
Surrogate Message Points: Attacks On Americas Diplomatic Missions In Libya And Egypt
Top-Line Message:
We join all Americans in grieving for the four American patriots who lost their lives in yesterdays attacks and send our condolences to their loved ones.
- This is a time for America to be firm and resolute and to make clear beyond any doubt that America will not tolerate attacks on our own.
- The violence against the American diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt underscores that the world remains a dangerous place and that American leadership is sorely needed.
Over the last several years, we have stood witness to an Arab Spring that presents both opportunity for a more peaceful and prosperous region, but also great peril if the forces of extremism and violence are allowed to control the course of events.
We must strive to ensure that the Arab Spring is not followed by an Arab Winter.
American leadership is necessary to ensure that events in the region do not spin out of control.
We have seen a foreign policy of weakness and decline in American influence and respect. Yesterday, we saw the consequences of this perceived weakness.
America cannot send mixed signals to either our allies or our enemies.
We must not be afraid to use our influence to support those who share our values and interests and to stand firm against those who threaten them. America cannot shrink from its responsibility to lead.
Questions & Answers:
Dont you think it was appropriate for the embassy to condemn the controversial movie in question? Are you standing up for movies like this?
Governor Romney rejects the reported message of the movie. There is no room for religious hatred or intolerance.
But we will not apologize for our constitutional right to freedom of speech.
Storming U.S. missions and committing acts of violence is never acceptable, no matter the reason. Any response that does not immediately and decisively make that clear conveys weakness.
If pressed: Governor Romney repudiated this individual in 2010 when he attempted to mobilize a Quran-burning movement. He is firmly against any expression of religious hatred or intolerance.
Reports indicate the embassy in Cairo released its initial statement before the invasion of the embassy commenced. Doesnt this show they were trying to tamp down the protest and prevent what ultimately happened, not sympathize with the protesters?
The Administration was wrong to stand by a statement sympathizing with those who had breached our embassy in Egypt instead of condemning their actions.
Distancing themselves from the statement and saying it wasn't cleared by Washington reflects the mixed signals they are sending to the world.
American leadership needs to be decisive and resolute when our interests are threatened or attacked. For the last four years, this has been lacking.
We have seen a foreign policy of weakness, indecision, and a decline in American influence and respect and yesterday we saw the consequences.
If pressed: The Obama campaign is now attacking Governor Romney for being critical of the same statement the Administration itself disavowed. This is hypocritical.
Did Governor Romney jump the gun last night in releasing his statement?
No. It is never too soon to stand up for American values and interests.
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(Actual) Romney surrogate Talking Point memo on Lybia (Original Post)
cthulu2016
Sep 2012
OP
CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)1. K&R.
Is "Arab Winter" a Fox News / Tea Party talking point? I've seen it mentioned on DU a couple of times today.
malokvale77
(4,879 posts)2. Are they claiming hate speech to be an American value?
jillan
(39,451 posts)3. We should all print this out and check off the talking points whenever a goper is on the news.
Assholes.
cthulu2016
(10,960 posts)6. But don't make it a drinking game!
You wouldn't survive.
malaise
(269,336 posts)4. FUck Rmoney
Fuck Romney's surrogate
Fuck the neo-cons
Fuck the ReTHUGs
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
Am I pissed? - you betcha!
JHB
(37,166 posts)5. To give some historical perspective of "decisive and resolute"...
American leadership needs to be decisive and resolute when our interests are threatened or attacked. For the last four years, this has been lacking.
This is the neocon chickenhawks talking. They said the same thing about Clinton, but their idea of "decisive and resolute" when asked what action did they suggest was usually some variant of "bomb Saddam", despite Saddam not being linked to any of the incidents they were talking about (Al Queda bombings).