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http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/romneys-remarks-cause-stir-in-london/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Romney’s Remarks on Olympics Cause Stir in London

Stephen Crowley/The New York TimesMitt Romney met with the British prime minister, David Cameron, on Thursday.
LONDON — Mitt Romney’s carefully choreographed trip to London caused a diplomatic stir when he called the British Olympic preparations “disconcerting” and questioned whether Londoners would turn out to support the Games.

“The stories about the private security firm not having enough people, the supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials, that obviously is not something which is encouraging,” Mr. Romney said in an interview with NBC on Wednesday.

That prompted a tart rejoinder from the British prime minister, David Cameron. “We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere,” an allusion to Salt Lake City, which hosted Games that Mr. Romney oversaw.

Mr. Romney’s verbal slip came on the first day of a highly anticipated trip that was expected to test his skills on foreign diplomacy, terrain in which he is not necessarily as comfortable as when dealing with economic issues. His remarks quickly threatened to usurp the news cycle of his overseas trip, which will also include a visit to Jerusalem to meet with Israeli leaders on Sunday.

Later, in brief remarks before his meeting with the Labor Party leader, Ed Miliband, Mr. Romney seemed to try to walk back his comments.

“My experience with regards to the Olympics is it is impossible for absolutely no mistakes to occur,” he said. “Of course there will be errors from time to time, but those are all overshadowed by the extraordinary demonstrations of courage, character and determination by the athletes. The Games are, after all, about the athletes, the volunteers and the people of the community that come together to celebrate those athletes.”

Still the British press had already pounced. News of Mr. Romney’s remarks led The Times of London’s Web site under the headline, “PM rebuffs Romney over readiness for Olympics,” and The Telegraph’s Web site splashed a story titled, “Olympics: David Cameron rejects Mitt Romney’s suggestion Britain is not ready.”

Mr. Cameron was to meet Mr. Romney, the Republican presidential candidate, later in the day Thursday. Responding to Mr. Romney’s remarks, Mr. Cameron said:

“This is a time of some economic difficulty for the UK, but look at what we are capable of achieving as nation even at a difficult economic time,” he said. “I think we will show the whole world not just that we come together as a United Kingdom but also we’re extremely good at welcoming people from across the world.”

Mr. Cameron added: “I will obviously make those points to Mitt Romney. I look forward to meeting him.”

In his original remarks Tuesday, Mr. Romney also seemed to question the enthusiasm of the British public for the Games, which will feature a horse owned by Mr. Romney’s wife, Ann, competing in the dressage competition.

“Do they come together and celebrate the Olympic moment?” he asked about the British people. “That’s something which we only find out once the Games actually begin.”

The remarks came as Mr. Romney’s campaign was trying to keep press accounts of the candidate’s visit on the positive side. On Wednesday, for instance, Mr. Romney toured an exhibit with Foreign Secretary William Hague, his campaign shared in an e-mail that their conversation was “broad and wide ranging,” and included issues like the importance of free trade, and the situations in Syria and Egypt and the Arab Spring.

“Also worth noting,” the e-mail read, “they both discussed their mutual love of Kit Kat bars.”


Eric D. Schwerin
Rosemont Seneca Partners, LLC
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eschwerin@rosemontseneca.com
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