Mitt Romney's trip to the UK has gone from bad to worse. It was revealed today that he described Britain as 'just a small island' that 'doesn't make things that people in the rest of the world want to buy'.
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Mitt Romney’s trip to the UK has gone from bad to worse as it was revealed today that he described Britain as ‘just a small island’ that ‘doesn’t make things that people in the rest of the world want to buy’.
The revelation makes a mockery of the racially motivated comments of a Romney advisor who claimed earlier this week that President Obama did not ‘fully appreciate’ the special relationship because he isn’t of ‘Anglo Saxon heritage’.
Romney’s trip to the UK has been blighted by a series of gaffes. A Parliamentary motions last week criticissed the role of Barclays executives in organising a $75,000 per head fundraising dinner, concerns were raised about the racial overtones of comments about Obama’s attitude towards the UK, and the presidential candidate today flip-flopped over the Olympics after previously questioning London’s preparedness.
But Foreign Policy have now revealed that in his 2010 book, No Apology, Romney wrote:
“England [sic] is just a small island. Its roads and houses are small. With few exceptions, it doesn’t make things that people in the rest of the world want to buy. And if it hadn’t been separated from the continent by water, it almost certainly would have been lost to Hitler’s ambitions. Yet only two lifetimes ago, Britain ruled the largest and wealthiest empire in the history of humankind. Britain controlled a quarter of the earth’s land and a quarter of the earth’s population.”
Is this series of gaffes the reason why tickets for tonights drinks reception have been slashed to just $1,000 per person?
• Romney, boss of corruption-laden Salt Lake City 02, questions our readiness to host Games 26 Jul 2012
• Romney’s ‘Anglo-Saxon’ dog whistle the latest in a string of attacks on Obama’s heritage 25 Jul 2012
• Parliamentary motion calls on Barclays’s senior staff to stop fundraising for Romney 17 Jul 2012
• Romney’s bankerlove extends as Barclays lobbyist raises $184k for Presidential campaign 16 Jul 2012
• Obscene: Romney to host $75,000 London fundraiser – hosted by a lobbyist for Barclays 11 Jul 2012
78 Responses to “Romney: ‘Britain is just a small island that doesn’t make things people want to buy’”
John Aravosis
I’m not sure any of you guys noticed this particular gaffe yet. Romney appears to suggest that he’s critical of Cameron’s austerity program: http://www.americablog.com/2012/07/romney-suggests-hes-critical-of-uk.html
Bronson Page
You can’t be serious. This is a joke, right? He didn’t really say that. Facepalm.
An American Friend
W have visited Great Britain twice, which imho is not often enough, and loved every minute. The hospitality and kindness of the British people is second to none. The conversations we had in pubs, the beauty, the history all combined to make us love that sceptered isle. London is a great vibrant metropolis and has been for centuries Pay no attention to Myth Romney: he’s a complete tosser and not worth the money he spends on hair dye.
Barney Thomson
Intrigued that he referred only to “England”.
Perhaps he likes to buy copious quantities of Scottish Whisky, the overconsumption of which which unfortunately leads him to spout bullshit.
[Whisky is a delight in moderation but Romney does not know the meaning of that word]
Lionelair
none of the posts so far mention that he said England. Proves to me most Engurlish people have no issue with conflating Ingurland and Britain. Well the other nations of this so called union do. smarten up you badly educated morons, or your last colonies will be gone. (this kind of takes the Great out of Britain) Not that many English will care. Get by if you wish without the Scottish oil and the millions of litres of welsh water supplying Manchester, liverpool and Birmingnam