THE THINGS ROMNEY DID NOT SAY: JERROLD L. SOBEL

Posted By on October 25th, 2012

NO URL: THE AUTHOR IS AN E-PAL
With all the strategies, political maneuverings, and desire to look presidential, Governor Romney passed up a plethora of issues he could have brought up or responded to the President with. Whether right or wrong in doing so, only the polls in the upcoming days and ultimately the election in 13 days will determine.

For example, as he did during the second debate, President Obama once again bitingly brought up investments the Governor may have made in Chinese companies. Not taking the bait, Romney took the high road and refused to get in the mud with Obama over this attack on his investments. He had already responded to what some consider a cheap shot during the second debate.

Like Obama, Romney’s money is controlled by a trust and has no control of the day by day stewardship of that trust or which global companies they’re invested in. If the Governor had wished to go down that road, a lesser man might have reminded the President of some his own investments:

  • China Life Insurance-The largest life insurance company in China, just one of several Chinese based holdings in Obama’s pension plan.
  • Apple-The tech company’s Chinese manufacturer Foxconn has come under increasing scrutiny for its unfair labor practices.
  • Domino’s Pizza-The Company’s founder, Thomas Monaghan, a devout Catholic that continuously supports anti-abortion groups.
  • Exxon/Mobil-One of several large energy companies in the President’s pension plan. Not exactly a company you would expect a supposed environmentally conscious Obama to own.
  • Halliburton-This company, once run by Obama’s arch enemy, former Vice President Dick Cheney is often criticized by the President for no-bid governmental contracts.
  • ConAgra-The pension fund includes shares in the food conglomerate, which makes many kinds of prepared snacks foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt, like Reddi Wip. In other words, everything that Michelle Obama has actively campaigned against.
10 Companies Inside Obama’s Pension Fund

How Romney held back from asking the President about the $50,000-$100,000 he invested in these companies which are counter to his professed political positions is testament to the Governor’s self control. Interestingly, according to an article published in the Huffington Post; not exactly a right wing publication, “Awkward! Obama’s Pension Invests in Sheldon Adelson, the Super Rich Guy Funding Romney ,” the President and the First Lady have also invested in a Vanguard index fund and has nearly $5,000,000 in cash investments.

If behind in the race rather than questionably having the wind to his back, Romney might have inquired: “Mr. President how did a Community Organizer, in effect a social worker, acquire such wealth.” “Furthermore sir, I’m curious. In 1981 as a 20 years old sophomore in College you managed to travel to India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Africa. Where did you get the money for such extensive travel?”

More germane to Obama’s investments, Romney might have continued: “Mr. President, recognizing your concern for my taxes and that of other wealthy Americans, can we now discuss the 6400 square foot mansion you bought at 5046 S. Greenwood Ave in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood? In lieu of the fact, the list price for the six bedroom, six bath room house with four fireplaces was listed at $1,950,000 dollars how could you even contemplate purchase of such a house? Since your salary as a U.S. Senator was $157,082 dollars a year at the time. Is it true convicted felon Tony Rezko assisted you in this purchase along with a $300,000 dollar discount off the asking price? Finally sir, if any of this is true, what was Mr. Rezko promised in return for his help?” (For an intriguing, detailed report on this story read: How Convicted Felon Helped Obama Buy Home.

Turning to foreign policy, the supposed main topic of Monday night’s clash, many on the right, including Charles Krauthammer felt Romney was much to genteel responding to a foreign policy vulnerable in many areas, especially the Middle East.

Iraq: With the total withdrawal of American troops, Iraq has once again descended into the abyss of sectarian violence.

Afghanistan: Having pre-warned the Taliban of our departure in 2014, the enemy has been emboldened, our casualties have dramatically increased over the past year, particularly so called “Green on Blue” violence; Afghan troops shooting American soldiers. Afghanistan: ‘Green on Blue’ Killings Explained

Egypt: After 30 years of uninterrupted calm, Egypt is now under sway by the grandfather of all Islamic terror groups, the Muslim Brotherhood. By his remarks, Obama seemed to approve, stating In Egypt we stood on the side of democracy. A more feisty Romney might have countered. “So what Mr. President, wasn’t Hitler also democratically elected?”

Libya: Totally sidestepping the September 11th murders of our people, the sacking of our consulate, and the on going coverup. With a straight face Obama had this to say: “In Libya we stood on the side of the people. And as a consequence there is no doubt that attitudes about Americans have changed.” Somebody should have mentioned that to our FBI agents which did not feel safe enough to enter the burned out consulate for two weeks following its sacking.

Israel: When the conversation switched to Israel Romney said we must support Israel. Never one to pass up a patronizing moment, Obama quipped, Israel is our friend and closest ally. If that’s the case it makes one wonder, why he ignored Netanyahu during his recent visit, opting in stead to hang out with Jay-zee and Beyonce, schmooze with David Letterman and exchange niceties with the girls on The View.

To his credit, Romney did question Obama about his mea culpa tour of the Middle East in 2009. The one in which the President denigrated American exceptionalism, visited every despot in that beautiful neck of the woods but couldn’t find time to stop by and say hello to his professed best friend and “closest ally” Israel?

Likewise, the Governor drew blood when Obama talked about supporting the opposition in Syria, yet passed up a golden opportunity to support the opposition in Iran during the “Green revolution” of 2009-2010.

Unfortunately, to the chagrin of many Israeli advocates, the Governor once again passed up an opportunity to ask Obama several other key questions relating to Israel.

How is it in Israel’s interest to retreat to the pre 1967 armistice lines which the President has called for? Why has the President consistently placed the onus for restarting “peace talks” on Israel’s shoulders? Since Abbas represents no one other than himself, why does Obama insist Israel negotiate with him? Even if Abbas chose peace with Israel; which he doesn’t, peace talks with him are meaningless.

Terrorist Groups: With Hezbollah, Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and al-Qaeda undeniably on the rise throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and the Arabian Peninsula, does the President still think what he deems Israeli “settlements” to be the major impediment to peace in the region?

Syria: Besides the death of 30,000 civilians, which in itself is one of epoch proportions, the spill over of this conflict into neighboring countries such as Turkey and Jordan is quite destabilizing. Many were disappointed the Governor didn’t ask concretely what Obama has done to prop up America’s second best friend in the region King Abdullah of Jordan in face of increased threats from the Syrian civil war and an Egyptian affiliated Muslim Brotherhood.

According to reports, the Saudi-owned news channel Al-Arabiya, citing leaked files, reported the embattled regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies have sought to destabilize neighboring Jordan by manipulating peaceful demonstrations there and turning them into deadly violence. Muslim Brotherhood Taking Aim at Jordan

In sum, two separate dynamics were at play in Monday night’s debate. One concerned foreign policy which the event was ostensibly about. The other was political strategy on the part of both candidates.

From the viewpoint of Governor Romney and his handlers his major victory in the first debate was so overwhelming that his goal was to avoid the potential of looking disrespectful to the President by not taking him to task over many of the aforementioned issues. A strategy many, including this writer disagree with but seems to be vindicated by the national polls and more importantly by the ones in the swing states.

President Obama and his people also watch the news and were inclined to put on a full court press, attacking the governor personally for his putative lack of foreign policy experience. Which had the correct strategy? We’ll all know in less than two weeks.

Categorized under: ANTI-SEMITISM.
Tagged with: no tags.

Comments are closed.