(CNN) - Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama traded barbs Wednesday over Obama's national security assessment of Venezuela in an interview, with Romney calling the comments "stunning and shocking" and Obama's campaign saying Romney “was only playing into the hands” of that nation’s dictator.
Romney was joined by several prominent Republicans as well as the Republican National Committee, which called Obama "out of touch.” Obama demonstrates "an alarmingly naïve understanding of the challenges and opportunities we face in the Western Hemisphere," Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said in a statement.
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Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt responded early Wednesday evening, saying it is "disturbing that Mitt Romney is trying to score cheap political points by blustering and misrepresenting the President's record while failing to outline any coherent foreign policy strategy."
The president told a local Miami television station on Tuesday that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has had little impact on the U.S. of late but the South American country requires continued attention particularly when it comes to Iranian influence.
"We're always concerned about Iran engaging in destabilizing activity around the globe," Obama told Miami's WJAN. "But overall my sense is that what Mr. Chávez has done over the last several years has not had a serious national security impact on us.
"We have to be vigilant," he continued. "My main concern when it comes to Venezuela is having the Venezuelan people have a voice in their affairs, and that you end up ultimately having fair and free elections, which we don't always see."
Latino voters, who are particularly concerned about Chavez's rule of Venezuela, make up a voting bloc seen as crucial this year.
Venezuela has supplied the embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with several shipments of diesel fuel at a time when the U.S. and other nations are imposing sanctions on the country as the government continues a deadly crackdown on the uprising against his regime.
In January, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad toured several Latin American countries and met with Chavez, who said his country and Iran would work together against the "imperial insanity" of the United States, which he called a "threat for the world."
Romney's statement was sharply critical of Obama - blasting him for a continued "pattern of weakness in his foreign policy," but offered no specifics about what he would do differently from Obama.
"As president, I will speak clearly and resolutely on the challenges we face so that both our allies and our adversaries will know where we stand," Romney said.
His criticism of Obama argued it was "disturbing to see him downplaying the threat posed to U.S. interests by a regime that openly wishes us ill."
"Hugo Chavez has provided safe haven to drug kingpins, encouraged regional terrorist organizations that threaten our allies like Colombia, has strengthened military ties with Iran and helped it evade sanctions, and has allowed a Hezbollah presence within his country's borders," Romney said. "And he is seeking to lead – together with the Castros – a destabilizing, anti-democratic, and anti-American 'Bolivarian Revolution' across Latin America."
His campaign also bolstered the critical paper statement from Romney with similarly harsh statements from Romney campaign surrogates, including Rep. Connie Mack of Florida and former Gov. John Sununu.
Obama's campaign spokesman responded with a statement which said Romney "is only playing into the hands of Chavez by acting like he's ten feet tall."
"It's baffling that Mitt Romney is so scared of a leader like Chavez whose power is fading, while Romney continues to remain silent about how to confront al-Qaeda or how to bring our troops home from Afghanistan," LaBolt said in a statement. "People like Hugo Chavez want attention – and that's exactly what Mitt Romney and his supporters gave him today."
LaBolt added that the U.S. "is much stronger today than before [Obama] took office" while "Chavez has become increasingly marginalized and his influence has waned."
Romney has criticized Obama on a range of foreign policy issues - including the handling of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, relations with China and Russia, and the administration's handling of the Arab Spring uprisings.
From CNN Politics
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"pattern of weakness in his foreign policy," – hahaha please, when he isnt working through diplomatic avenues or seeking UN coalitions, our president has shown he is willing to drone strike, sabotage and hack other nations so as to preserve the lives of our troops and not commit them needlessly. Just because he does not rattle the saber every time our nation feels slighted, bored, or in need of military-industrial contracts does not make him weak in the policy arena. Last time I checked, actually, he was very well regarded internationally.
-tellin it like it is
why would obama speak harshly of hugo chavez? chavez is a socialist just like obama. obama has no interest in the rule of law and believes the end jusitifes the means as most leftists do. obama wishes he could go as far as chavez has done in venezuala and take things over. between obama and holder they have come pretty close to doing it.
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Really Junior? Specifics, please. Find something that Obama has done that is comparable to what Chavez has done.
Wow CNN. This will add to your journalistic credibility. Not one statement from the Obama campaign in response to Romney/Romney's surrogate's obvious criticism. Not one quote from a "latino voter" expressing their opinion on the matter of Hugo Chavez. This article can hardly be characterized as fair reporting. You are attempting to appeal to a more conservative demographic but, at the same time, you are alienating your more Clinton Democrat-oriented audience. Your continually abysmal ratings demonstrate that your efforts are failing. You will never beat Fox News; you will never beat MSNBC.
Nice tact away from the economy CNN.., no need for your viewers to be informed.
They fail to mention that Venezuelan exports of oil to the US in April dropped to their lowest level in 18 years. We have to wonder who refines the oil from Venezuela – could it be the Koch Brothers? How much money is Romney making off of his foreign investments, and what countries is he invested in? Romney, you haven't spoken clearly and on point about anything so far in your 7 year campaign for the Presidency other than you want to lower taxes for yourself and your billionaire buddies. Every time a reporter asks you a tough question, you say you're going to study that. And you won't even take tough questions, choosing instead to appear on the FOX Entertainment Network. Marco Rubio wondering about the challenges from Venezuela? He should be wondering about why he used campaign funds to pay his American Express credit card bills.
Wait a minute. I thought under Obama we were liked and loved again throughout the world. Hope and Change.
"Find something that Obama has done that is comparable to what Chavez has done."
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Chavez nationalized his country's oil industry. Obama nationalized our country's auto industry.
Right. Mittens know foreign affairs about as well as he knows how to use a washing machine.
What a joke this "out of touch" idiot is.
Obama/Biden 2012
The chicken hawks who ran away or hide under their wives bed when the country needed them the most are always quick to talk though. Obama is a doer. He always don't rush to judgement.He tries diplomatic approach first on anything. He uses common sense. As always Romney quick to criticise but can't come up with even half solution. Romney should advice his rich sons to join the US force.
I support Mitt Rmoney's plan to bomb Iran, on two conditions:
- The war will be funded from Rmoney's foreign bank accounts.
- At least one of Rmoney's five sons will join the military.
And Robmey knows WHAT about Foreign Policy? Oh yeah, that's right, you ducked and dodged your way to France. So that makes you know.... nothing.
Romney is laughable. What's he gonna do...start a 3rd unfunded war, this time against Venezuela?
What is actually "stunning and shocking" here is the fact that Mitt Romney has absolutely zero foreign policy experience, yet he calls Obama naive. What is not shocking is the fact that he again makes yet another stupid statement that gives absolutely zero specifics as to how he would handle foreign affairs.
"As president, I will speak clearly and resolutely on the challenges we face so that both our allies and our adversaries will know where we stand." Really? Really? Again, Mittens, people need details. You won't even speak clearly and resolutely about what you would do as President to the American voter, but you are going to actually find a way to do that with your adversaries? Really? Well then, let me ask you this: What kind of moron would give a speech at the NAACP and call the ACA by the slang term "Obamacare." Clearly you know nothing of diplomacy.
If guess if you have no real qualifications of your own in foreign affairs, all you can really do is to show fake outrage and talk about how the other guy is naive. You do realize that the more you actually talk about foreign affairs, the less qualified you actually look yourself? Please keep talking about Obama's qualfications on foreign affairs and highlighting your complete lack thereof. It's only helping the President.
neocons will never be happy until every single country kneels and kisses the bum of america's oversized and overreaching military
Our military hasn't been 'protecting our freedoms' for decades now....they're just used now for worldwide dominance.
Real tom paine. How about nationalize healthcare and nationalize auto company. Give over egypt to mb. Allow iran nukes. Duckstep to europe. Come on this guy is a joke. No borders illegals right to vote. No below ground or water energy. He has set us back a long long time.
We need desperately to get these republican clowns out of the senate and congress before they finish the job Bush and Cheney started. Despite the obstruction from these idiots the president has been able to get something done.
Keep things in perspective. These job killing republicans complain about 8.2% unemployment. Look at Spain 24%, Greece 19-20%. I believe that if these bozos(sorry Bozo) would get the hell out of his way, we would be much better off. The Republicans are the American Taliban!
Etch-A-Sketch Mitt RobMe should be talking about the "SAFE HAVENS" he is hiding all his Bain Capital "Vulture Capitalist" profits....Like the SWISS BANK ACCOUNTS, BERMUDA and the CAYMEN ISLAND...more like Hugo Chavez money laundering & t e r r o r i t financing!!!!
Cubans are always stirring up trouble.
@ Anonymous
I couldn't agree more. I am sick of him and his entire party of saboteurs.
We are in big trouble if Romney gets elected. Who in the crap does he think he is? You go around lamblasting other nations with tough talk and it's gonna come back and bite not just you mittens, but the WHOLE dang country. A good leader plays things close to the vest in matters of international diplomacy instead of chest bumping like you do mittens. Just shut up no one believes anything you say mittens; at least no one with half a brain and common sense.
Romney's foreign policy experience consists of going to France with his butler to avoid the draft and having llarge bank accounts in several foreign countries known as tax havens. He's got a lot of credibillity.
For a guy who is the out-sourcer-in-chief of waffles and flip flops....you gotta be kidding me putting Etch-A-Sketch Mitt RobMe and speaking "clearly and resolutely" on anything!
just what is this idiot mitt robme talking about?...start a war with Venezuela Hugo Chavez?
Romney scares me a lot. A good number of world leaders have already noted something since he joined the campaign. The more he talks, the more he makes the matter worse. I pray to god Americans wise up and send this man back to Mass.
Romney no foreign experience? Is that because he is white had a job. Obama only experience is being born offshore.
We need to get Mitt Robbed Me to say anything he will actually do. I agree with Cali that its getting old and he needs to man up and day what he is going to do. I also agree that his sons need to join a non champagne part of the military and let him talk all that junk he is saying. No independents should support him until he releases his tax returns for all his years at Bain. I THINK IT WILL SHOW HE LIVED IN CALIFORNIA INSTEAD OF MA or SOMETHING WORSE. Does anyone else agree with this?