Romney Overseas - Part 3

On July 30, 2012 Romney arrived in Poland and met former Polish president Lech Walesa in Gdansk. Walesa said through a translator “I wish you to be successful because this success is needed to the United States, of course, but to Europe and the rest of the world, too, Governor Romney get your success; be successful!” thus giving Romney his endorsement. Following his meeting, Prime Minister Donald Tusk didn’t publicly support Romney. Solidarity, the trade union group that spearheaded the Polish struggle against communist rule, said “Mitt Romney supported attacks on trade unions and employees’ rights. Solidarity was not involved in organizing Romney’s meeting with Walesa and did not invite him to visit Poland.” Alex Storozynski, president of the Kosciuszko Foundation, a nonpartisan Polish educational and cultural group, said “Poles in Poland are frustrated with the Obama administration.” (Obama didn’t fulfill his promise to add Poland to a list of visa waiver countries-it would’ve allowed freer flow of travel to and from the US for families, business people and tourists; some are miffed by Obama’s “reset” policy with Russia, a longtime Polish nemesis, and his backing away from using Polish soil for our anti-missile systems-part of George W. Bush’s missile defense plan), and in May during remarks at the White House he referred to “a Polish death camp” as opposed to a Nazi death camp in German occupied Poland – this drew swift and stern public rebukes from Polish leaders that led to a letter of regret to Polish President Komorowsk.) There is ample evidence US-Polish ties, particularly military, remain strong. Obama approved steps to assign a US Air Force contingent to Poland beginning in 2013 as part of the NATO alliance. And both countries’ military leaders (Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and the Polish Defense Minister) say they have close working relationships. John Micgiel, director of the East Central European Center at Columbia University said “But what Mr. Walesa says doesn’t carry a lot of weight with Poles or Polish-Americans.  He thinks differently than most people. They don’t see Obama as their candidate or Mitt Romney as their candidate. They are truly swing votes.”

On July 31 after Romney paid his respects to Poland's war dead, he shook hands with a small gathering of the nation's military veterans and chatted with Warsaw's mayor. As Romney made his way to his vehicle, reporters shouted questions to him which he ignored. (During his trip Romney did sit down for interviews that included CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox News.) His traveling press secretary, Rick Gorka, lost his cool and cursed at reporters. Here's the questions and Gorka's response: CNN: "Governor Romney are you concerned about some of the mishaps of your trip?, New York Times (NYT): "Governor Romney do you have a statement for the Palestinians?, Washington Post: "What about your gaffes?, NYT: "Governor Romney do you feel that your gaffes have overshadowed your foreign trip?", CNN: "Governor Romney just a few questions sir, you haven't taken but 3 questions on this trip from the press! Gorka: "Show some respect". NYT: "We haven't had another chance to ask a question..." Gorka: "Kiss my ass. This is a Holy site for the Polish people. Show some respect." Moments later Gorka told Politico reporter Jonathan Martin to "shove it." About a half-hour later, the aide called reporters to apologize. Gorka's comments to the media came just hours before Romney's foreign policy speech in Warsaw.

In Warsaw Romney said “In a turbulent world, Poland stands as an example and a defender of freedom. (After the US and Afghanistan, the country has committed the third highest number of troops to the Afghanistan war.) I and my fellow Americans are inspired by the path of freedom tread by the people of Poland…Today, as some wonder about the way forward out of economic recession and fiscal crisis, the answer once again is to ‘Look to Poland.” “The world should pay close attention to the transformation of Poland’s economy…A march toward economic liberty and smaller government has meant a march toward higher living standards, a strong military that defends liberty at home and abroad, and an important and growing role on the international stage.” (Romney frequently makes Europe a foil of his domestic stump speech, warning voters that they do not want to head down a path to becoming a “social welfare state.”) Romney also said “I believe it is critical to stand by those who have stood by America. Solidarity was a great movement that freed a nation. And it is with solidarity that America and Poland face the future.” Romney also said “He (Pope John Paul II) reminded the world there would be no justice in Europe without an independent Poland and he reminded the Polish people, long deprived of their independence, from where they drew their strength. John Paul the Second understood that a nation is not a flag or a plot of land; it is a people - a community of values. And the highest value Poland honors - to the world's great fortune - is man's innate desire to be free.” Romney praised the Pope and his Cold War ally, Ronald Reagan, for their roles in bringing down the Soviet Union. He also warned about present-day Russia, a nation that Poland has long viewed warily. And while he shelved some of his usual tough talk about Russia, which he had previously dubbed America’s “No. 1 geopolitical foe,” he still sent a message likely to be greeted coolly in Moscow. “In Russia, once-promising advances toward a free and open society have faltered,” Romney said.

In trying to downplay the missteps, Romney told Fox News Channel “They'll instead try to find anything else to divert from the fact that these last 4 years have been tough years for our country.” This may be true but Romney in one week made friends with one country while managing to tick off 5.