The Hypocrisy on Foreign Policy of Romney and the Right.

Are Americans really listening to what Romney and the right wing talking heads have been saying the last couple days? First off they like to use the words “apology and appeasement.” Both things that President Obama has never done. Not now not ever. The statement sent out by the American Embassy in Egypt before the violence escalated was as follows:

“The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims — as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.”

Where exactly is the apology? What exactly in that statement is as Romney says, “against American Values?” Is it not an American value to oppose religious intolerance, is it weak to state a belief that our very nation was founded on? What if this was about an anti Christian or anti Semitic movie, would this be considered a bad statement by the Republican’s then or is it only weak because it is aimed at Islam?

No one, not the President, not the State Department not even the majority of the Libyan people are stating it is ok to respond with violence to this trash. All have expressed such unequivocally. It is just as wrong as people bombing abortion clinics killing innocent people in the name of God.

A foreign policy of apology and appeasement they say. What they really mean is that this President actually tries to use diplomacy, understanding, communication and finding common ground when dealing with other nations. This includes all nations not just Israel. This as opposed to a chest thumping President who used cowboy diplomacy that resulted in two wars, the worst terrorist attack on our nation, and two nations he called the “Axis of Evil” deciding to protect themselves by developing Nuclear Weapons.

In addition I have been actually hearing Right Wing mouthpieces question the wisdom of supporting the ouster of the Dictator Mubarak resulting in Egypt moving toward democracy. Isn’t it the Republicans favorite justification for intervention in other countries to spread democracy? Democracy is messy, because the people choose who will run their country. It is in fact way easier to control a dictator. Yet it is and has always been our nation’s mission to promote democracy and the will of the people anywhere in the world. They criticize the ouster of Mubarak not because they have a democracy now that is less easy to predict their future, they criticize it because it happened during President Obama’s time in office.

Thank goodness a democracy wasn’t created that a terrorist group was voted into power, oh wait that did happen in Lebanon where Hamas took power in democratic elections. But that happened during Bush’s Presidency so that’s ok apparently.

The facts are this, America is exceptional, America is strong, America is the best hope for peace and Democracy around the world. But we must have leaders of vision, that other countries trust, and that are effective.

During this President’s time in Office, One war was brought to an end, another will end soon. More terrorists have been killed or captured in the last 3 years then the entire 8 years of the Bush Administration including Bin Laden himself. Our country has not been attacked by foreign terrorists on our soil, not even once. Long time dictators have fallen in several countries and others are on the brink. Our current President is cheered when he makes trips to other nations when the last President had to be snuck in, in the middle of the night.

Weak? Appeasing? Clearly not. The right word would be effective.