Romney: Man of Year choice 'disgusting'
Romney is not happy with Time Magazine's choice.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Count Republican Mitt Romney among those who aren't happy with Time Magazine's choice of Russian President Vladimir Putin for Person of the Year.
In an interview with CNN's Glenn Beck, the presidential candidate called the choice "disgusting."
"You know, he imprisoned his political opponents. There have been a number of highly suspicious murders," Romney said on Beck's radio show. "He has squelched public dissent and free press. And to suggest that someone like that is the Man of the Year is really disgusting. I'm just appalled."
"Clearly General Petraeus is the person, or one of a few people, who would certainly merit that designation," the former Massachusetts governor added.
Rival presidential candidate John McCain also said Wednesday he disagreed with the choice.
“I noticed that Time Magazine made President Putin the Time Magazine ‘Man of the Year,’” McCain said, according to NBC. “I understand that probably, but my man of the year is one Gen. David Petraeus, our general who has brought success in Iraq.”
Time Magazine: A Tsar Is Born
Watch: Why Time chose Putin
- CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
Mitt Romney is ignorant in his opposition to Putin being Time's man of the year. Putin is a much better leader than our president and Putin has the respect of his nation and of other world leaders. Most of the faults Romney slams Putin for can also be attributed to George Bush. If Romney is appalled I am even more appalled that we haven't impeached Bush.
Person of the Year doesn't go to the person who does the most good, it goes to the person who has most affected the news. Hitler was Person of the Year, that doesn't mean Time thinks he's a good person, but he certainly affected the news. The fact that Romney is complaining that Time picked a villain shows he's not paying attention to the truth of the selection and that he shouldn't make comments on something he is ignorant about.
OK Mitt....here's your quote:
"He has squelched public dissent and free press".
The exact same thing that the Bush regime has done to their oppontents. Isn't this the pot calling the kettle black?
BTW, it is "Person of the Year"
"I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy….I was able to get a sense of his soul." —George W. Bush, after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, June 16, 2001
figures. a politician jumps on a relatively meaningless opportunity to curry favor with certain voters. who really cares who time names as the person of the year: it is a relatively meaningless distinction. besides the magazine has a history of naming less than positive figures as people of the year (hitler and stalin for example). hey romney, why don't you talk about something that matters: what will you do about our plummeting economy?
Romney has just proven how much of an idiot/playing to the pundits he is. Time's Man of the Year is not an honor, necessarily. It is Time taking note of whom they deem the most newsworthy person, be it for good or bad. Let's consider this: Stalin, Hitler, etc. Time wasn't applauding them. They were newsmakers, as was Putin!
They just dont get it, do they? Did they know that Adolf Hitler was the Time Man of the Year for 1938? The title does not necessarily carry a positive connonation. It's simply the guy who had the most impact on humankind that year, positive or negative.
Oh please. And an obvious choice that panders to neo-cons and militarism is better? Time mag sucks anyway.
This guy really doesn't understand that the Time Person of the Year is about the individual who had the most effect on the world, good or bad. Putin is changing the way an entire country is managed in a very authoritarian way and is leagues more important than a U.S. general who oversaw a military surge in war-ravaged Iraq. The Time Person of the Year is not a propoganda campaign, Mr. Romney.
Then again, considering his pandering on the issues (popularly known as flip-flopping) he probably doesn't believe a word that coming out of his own mouth.
Putin is something Romney will never be: the leader of a country.
Romney and McCain–yet again–prove themselves to be unworthy of being President. Time Magazine bases their selection, at least in part, on influence, whether it be good or bad. Obviously, the GOP doesn't understand world politics, or the need to ruffle feathers at every opportunity. Smells like desperation. Gen. Petraeus? He's been in charge of a small military operation for a few months, with limited success...and that success only came about because his boss, President Bush, destroyed the country in the first place.
Brother Romney was hoping that Time would pick President Hinckley.
Romney doesn't seem to understand the whole point of POY. The fact that it took a big "feel good" approach in recent years hasn't helped. In all honesty the issue shouldn't be why it's Putin this year, it should be why it wasn't Osama Bin Laden in 2001.
The difference between Putin's USSR and Bush's America? Different crime syndicates run the countries, that's all. For years we demonized them only to become just like them.
Who reads Time magazine anyway? The only time I see it is when I visit my dentist. Another 20th century magazine that is well past its sell-by-date.
So Mitt is mad Vlad got picked because he's a bully who squelches civil liberties, but he himself wants to double Guantanamo (whatever that means).
Hey Mitt, mind that glass house now.
If the choice of Putin is "disgusting," than he must look back at the history of his church with great pain as it is filled with unsavory characters such as Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. They were responsible for far more treachery, but he doesn't condemn them. Maybe he's just "politicking" again. Could you imagine if Romney was elected? I wonder how that first summit with Putin would go... "Hello President Romney. So you think I'm disgusting. Let's discuss."
At least Putin stood up to Chimpy McSmirkster . That's more than I can say for our Democratic leaders.
Hey Mitt, I would put General Petraeus in the top 10. Are you happy now?
Yes, I agree with the above comments...
Romney clearly doesn't understand the criteria for Time's award. It goes to the most influential, not beneficial person. If he read the article, he'd see that Putin is portrayed in a not-so-praiseworthy light.
Interesting. And what do you have in store for anyone that opposes the Christian, big-business, neo-con agenda?
Folks, please, please look around you. What we are becoming is not that different than the people we are calling enemies. Just change a few nouns. Scary, is it not? Some of you are just as set on shutting down anyone of free thought as Putin is inclined to do.
As much as the extreme left and right irritate me, I do now worry about anyone's future that beleives in human reason, human intelligence, and human creativity.
Have you finally managed to kill anything resmbling progress? Do the dark ages mean that much to you? Please help me understand.
"success in Irag"??? are romney and mccain kidding? the audacity to call our attack and occupation a success is mind-numbing. just because we've been pulled out of the gutter by the competant Petraeus hardly means it's time to start calling Iraq a success.
Do these two guys know that, if elected to be the president, he may have to be on good terms with Putin?
This is an undiplomatic statement of a presidential candidate.
Spin it however you want to, the fact the Putin was chosen directly correlates to the state of world. There are people who garnered more attention and did do some good things. I glad we have leaders like Mitt and John saying what needs to be said...at least we Americans can still do that!
Real good for foreign relations, you guys with all your great experience!!! Way to insult an ally.
Obama is smart enough not to insult our allies, I'll take his leadership/experience over these idiots anyday
OBAMA 08
I agree- why Putin? Why not someone doing greater things than Putin? Heck Brad Pitts done more and I wouldn't choose him. Joe Namath is better. How about here's to the Troops everywhere. And there familes. Were they afraid the magazine wouldn't sell? I didn't buy Putiin. Some more media mishap. Where's all the helps the troops its the holidays and such?