Romney Apologizes For âShamefulâ Libya Comments
RepublicanÂ PresidentialÂ nominee Mitt Romney made a sweeping apology today for his universally maligned statement that President Obama "sympathized" with attacksÂ on U.S. diplomatic outposts in the Middle East. In an inverview this morning with KTLA morning news in Los Angeles, CA, Romney says that his campaign made a "huge strategic error" in trying to extract political advantage from a national tragedy, and apologized profusely for his role in the fiasco. Last TuesdayÂ protestersÂ breached the U.S. embassy in Cairo and a U.S. consulate inÂ Benghazi, Libya, ostensibly to express outrage over an American film critical of Islam. In the run up to these events America's Cairo embassy issued a bland press release acknowledgingÂ the outrage the video had caused, and asserting thatÂ respectÂ for religion is a core American value. Later that evening, the protests inÂ BenghaziÂ turned deadly and fourÂ diplomatsÂ were killed,Â including J. ChristopherÂ Stevens the U.S. Ambassador to Libya. G.I. Mitt As those attacks unfolded Romney issued his own statement which blasted Obama for the tepid press release "responding" to the protests. But the press release to whichÂ RomneyÂ refered had been issued by the U.S.'s Cairo embassy, not President Obama. And it was issued just before theÂ demonstrationsÂ in Cairo were due to begin, and long before the deadly attacks in Benghazi.Â These facts Romney did not make clear. As surprising as it was to see a national political figure make such manifestly incorrect claims, many political observers were more shocked by Romney's strident tone against a President in a time of national crisis. In the shrillest passage, Romney essentially accused Obama of rooting against America: "The administration was wrong to stand by a statement sympathizing with those who had breached our embassy in Egypt, instead of condemning their actions. " Yes, Apologies In KTLA's this studio morning, Romney could not have been more eager to walk back hisÂ controversialÂ comments: "The fact of the matter is that I spoke before I knew all the facts. I should have waited a few days and collected all the information before I made a statement. Clearly there were some factual errors in what I said, and I am sorry." He then explained that his problems with his behavior go further: "But worse than that - worse than just beingÂ hasty- I attempted toÂ politicizeÂ a national tragedy for my own political gain. And I was wrong to do so. It was shameful of me to do so." "I got some bad advice. An advisorÂ of mine who is no longer with the campaign suggested that we hit Obama hard. Our attacks in the economy weren't working. We needed to open up another line of attack. Strategically it made sense. I should have had the wisdom to say no. But I didn't." "Now this has been a tough campign, and there have been a lot of tough things said on both sides. But my statement crossed a line. And I am sorry." Romney then explained thatÂ despiteÂ his flaws he still feels he is the best candidate to lead the country because of his expertise on the economy. Later, he closed with a personal plea forÂ forgiveness: "I may not be perfect, but I am man enough to admit when I am wrong. If President Obama and the American people can forgive me, I promise I will never put partisan politics ahead of country again. " "Like seriously guys - this time I mean it. Like for real."