# Mr Candidate goes to London **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 26, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485 "2012-07-26T19:30:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/161 "2012-07-28T06:00:16Z")
Now Israel, that could end up being really funny. Isn’t that Romney’s next stop? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/162 "2012-07-28T06:06:45Z")
Nope. Poland is next. Great Og, but the jokes write themselves, don’t they? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/163 "2012-07-28T06:08:38Z")
I don’t think he’ll screw Poland up. Romney has the Reagan template down pretty well and the Poles eat that up. Israel’s relationship with the US and President Obama especially is a little more complicated, so plenty of opportunities for Romney to say something he shouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/164 "2012-07-28T06:25:44Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > [Sample headline](http://www.standard.co.uk/olympics/olympic-news/london-2012-olympics-are-you-watching-mitt-michelle-obama-gives-a-fun-masterclass-in-diplomacy-7982153.html) from the London Evening Standard: “London 2012 Olympics: Are you watching Mitt? Michelle Obama gives a fun masterclass in diplomacy.” You failed to cite the relevant piece of info from that article: She said: “I’m so excited,” after jogging to the stage **as a marching band played the University of Florida fight song.** I suppose it’s only proper that the first non-British band to ever play on the mall in front of Buckingham Palace is from America’s flagship university and athletics program. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/165 "2012-07-28T06:34:18Z")
Okay, [this](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3mdZhRWZv54/T_TXLy8_QtI/AAAAAAAAG-c/J53LaReR4EE/s1600/romney%2527s%2Bhorse%2Benroute.jpg) is totally unfair and a cheap shot, but I LOLed. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/166 "2012-07-28T12:17:51Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Funfact: Fox News, what you linked to, is a 24 hour polemic. It’s not a real news source. And even they are keeping news of Mitt in London off their front page. That is saying something. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/167 "2012-07-28T12:27:19Z")
While Fox certainly has a right-wing bent, is the Mitt story the most important thing going on right now? The first thing I observed when this became a big deal was that the sectors of the media that are more liberal have Obama’s back and are trying to create a new story to distract from the previous story that was a problem for the President. Objectively, neither the “You didn’t build that” gaffe nor Romney’s poor performance in Britain are top stories. ---
**Author:** ![nogravity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@nogravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogravity)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/168 "2012-07-28T13:19:30Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I don’t think he’ll screw Poland up. Romney has the Reagan template down pretty well and the Poles eat that up. Israel’s relationship with the US and President Obama especially is a little more complicated, so plenty of opportunities for Romney to say something he shouldn’t. What makes you think Mitt will fare any better in Poland. He gaffed his way through the UK which should have been a cake walk. He’s gaffed his way through the US by insulting people that were already on his side such as NASCAR fans (where did you get those cheap ponchos and I don’t follow NASCAR but I know several team owners and in Tampa - I’m unemployed too). The list goes on. Reagan was a trained B actor and knew how to perform. Mitt hasn’t demonstrated any finesse whatsoever. I have no idea what he’ll say in Poland but don’t be surprised if he criticizes their babushkas and kielbasa. ---
**Author:** ![nogravity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@nogravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogravity)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/169 "2012-07-28T13:22:48Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Okay, [this](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3mdZhRWZv54/T_TXLy8_QtI/AAAAAAAAG-c/J53LaReR4EE/s1600/romney%2527s%2Bhorse%2Benroute.jpg) is totally unfair and a cheap shot, but I LOLed. I LOLed. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/170 "2012-07-28T13:41:21Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > While Fox certainly has a right-wing bent That’s an understatement. Fox news bends so far it wraps back in on itself. Kind of like a black hole of news where rational thoughts only escape as background radiation. I mean they are so slanted, it actually makes the news when they say something positive about the president. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/171 "2012-07-28T13:44:41Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Now Israel, that could end up being really funny. Isn’t that Romney’s next stop? > [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Nope. Poland is next. Great Og, but the jokes write themselves, don’t they? Romney goes to Israel today, and Poland after that. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/172 "2012-07-28T14:16:09Z")
> [@nogravity](#): > > I have no idea what he’ll say in Poland but don’t be surprised if he criticizes their babushkas and kielbasa. Poland is a minefield for the unwary. I predict he says something stupid about the Holocaust. ---
**Author:** ![nogravity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@nogravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogravity)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/173 "2012-07-28T14:29:24Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > Poland is a minefield for the unwary. I predict he says something stupid about the Holocaust. Or the blitzkrieg - Mitt: What made you think your cavalry could stand up against the German panzer division? On the other hand my wife’s horse, Rafalca, could have danced her way out of harm ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/174 "2012-07-28T15:32:37Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Romney goes to Israel today, and Poland after that. Thanks for the correction. When I Googled to check that, my first hit said something close to “goes next to Poland and Israel”, yes, in that order, and I went with that. :smack: Maybe one of Romney’s campaign staffers wrote that? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/175 "2012-07-28T19:14:35Z")
Rumor is that Romney is going to present Benjamin Netanyahu with a Honeybaked ham. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/176 "2012-07-28T19:19:44Z")
Wonder what he thought at the opening ceremonies, watching the section celebrating the National Health Service? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/177 "2012-07-28T19:22:23Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Wonder what he thought at the opening ceremonies, watching the section celebrating the National Health Service? He must be fit to burst, and he can’t say anything critical because he already put his foot in it. I hope he gets asked about it, so we can watch him twist in the wind. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/178 "2012-07-28T19:29:05Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Okay, [this](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3mdZhRWZv54/T_TXLy8_QtI/AAAAAAAAG-c/J53LaReR4EE/s1600/romney%2527s%2Bhorse%2Benroute.jpg) is totally unfair and a cheap shot, but I LOLed. i scared the cats on that one. let us hope that mr romney learns from history and does not “carnally lust after the polish people”. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/179 "2012-07-28T19:34:05Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I don’t think he’ll screw Poland up. Romney has the Reagan template down pretty well and the Poles eat that up. Israel’s relationship with the US and President Obama especially is a little more complicated, so plenty of opportunities for Romney to say something he shouldn’t. The Reagan template down? Reagan always knew his lines, and could think on his feet. I don’t recall him ever cocking up an answer so badly, especially right out of the box. Mitt the Twit is an excellent example of why CEOs may not be good presidents. When a CEO says something stupid in his company, everyone laughs dutifully. It is harder when your audience doesn’t work for you. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/180 "2012-07-28T20:29:59Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Objectively, neither the “You didn’t build that” gaffe nor Romney’s poor performance in Britain are top stories. I hate tu quoques in general, but this one is particularly ridiculous. Romney’s performance in London is not, I think, especially important, except inasmuch as Romney’s sniping at Obama for lackluster diplomatic performance is no longer on the table. How can he mock Obama for his crappy gift to the Prime Minister, after his own London performance? But whether or not it’s important, it’s a set of real gaffes. Obama didn’t make a gaffe with “you didn’t build that.” It’s not a gaffe, it’s a coordinated, calculated misinformation campaign by right-wing sources who conduct a lie by omission to make it look like he said something that he obviously didn’t say. What he actually said is something that should be noncontroversial. In fact, the Daily Show on Thursday (?) did a wonderful side-by-side comparison of Romney saying almost exactly the same things that Obama was actually saying. The Romney gaffes are making the news, not because they’re important, but because they’re funny. The Obama “gaffe” is making the news, not because it’s important or funny, but because of a deliberate and dishonest smear campaign. Don’t sully yourself by becoming party to that campaign. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485.md?page=10)