international affairs

Squabbling Begins Over Romney’s Foreign Policy Speech Before He Gets a Chance to Deliver It

APOPKA, FL - OCTOBER 06: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign rally on October 6, 2012 in Apopka, Florida. Mitt Romney is campaigning in Florida after a visit to the state of Virginia yesterday. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Photo: Justin Sullivan/2012 Getty Images

About a week ago, Mitt Romney’s advisers told Politico that he’d be delivering a “major” foreign policy address on Monday at the Virginia Military Institute, and proceeded to share the details of their infighting over how he should address the attack in Libya. This gave the Obama campaign ample time to prepare a response, and apparently they just couldn’t keep it to themselves any longer. As the president arrived in Los Angeles for a fund-raiser on Sunday, spokeswoman Jen Psaki issued a prebuttal. “We’re not going to be lectured by someone who’s been an unmitigated disaster on foreign policy every time he’s dipped his toe in the foreign policy waters,” Psaki said, according to the Washington Post. “Just as a refresher, this is the same guy who when he went overseas on his trip, the only person who has offended Europe more is probably Chevy Chase.” On the plus side, it seems America hasn’t seriously ticked off our friends on the Continent since the 1985 film National Lampoon’s European Vacation.

Psaki promised to have a more detailed answer after she’s actually heard Romney’s speech, but his campaign has already issued its response. Spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg said:

In every region of the world—and particularly in the Middle East—American influence has been weakened by President Obama’s failed foreign policy. American security and the cause of freedom cannot afford four more years like the last four years, and Mitt Romney will restore the bi-partisan tradition of American leadership abroad that President Obama has not lived up to. Mitt Romney understands that a strong America is vital to ensuring peace and prosperity for our nation and our friends and allies.

If advisers manage to hash out every point of Romney’s speech before tomorrow, maybe they can just take the day off.

Obama Team Prebuts Romney Foreign Policy Speech