Romney: War almost 'out of sight, out of mind'
Columbia, South Carolina (CNN) - Claiming war is "almost out of sight, out of mind" for most Americans, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney invoked FDR's fireside chats as a way to explain how he would be a better wartime communicator than President Barack Obama.
"One of the things that I think has been sorely lacking in our nation as we have been at war these last many years is a constant reminder to the American people that we are at war and people are making huge sacrifice," the former Massachusetts governor said Friday in Mauldin.
Romney and fellow White House contenders Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and Texas Gov. Rick Perry spent Veterans Day in South Carolina, home of the nation's first southern primary as well as thousands of veterans, active duty military and their family members.
While Bachmann and Perry walked separately in a Veterans Day parade in downtown Columbia, GOP frontrunner Romney met with a group of military veterans in the upstate.
Romney said he would clearly explain the mission and exit strategy of military conflicts if he were to become commander-in-chief, a criticism that's been leveled at both the current Democratic and last Republican administrations.
"I will regularly update the American people on what's occurring, the nature of the sacrifices and the involvement that the American people should have in supporting those who are in harms way and whose families are sacrificing," he said.
On Saturday, the candidates will convene in Spartanburg at Wofford College for a debate that is expected to focus on national security and foreign policy issues.
–Follow Shawna Shepherd on Twitter: @ShepherdCNN
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Good, Romney. You know what... if you keep talking about war constantly, you'll scare Americans into listening to you and thereby legitimating your command. War doesn't need to be discussed, or even need to happen, unless necessary – which it typically isn't. WWII against Nazi Germany is the only example I can think of.
Go call Sheriff Apacia and fire some more people and ship their jobs.
This man has been running for years....He appear to desperate to me. Adding on to his mansion and telling homeowners to go to hell along with Detroit.... Flip Flopper means desperate.
Just because MItt hasn't been listening doesn't mean that Obama has not clearly explained our mission and exit strategy for Afghanistan and Iraq (or for Libya, althouh our mission there is pretty much over). Obviously Obama has been pretty clear, as the other Republicans have criticized him at every turn.
"One of the things that I think has been sorely lacking in our nation as we have been at war these last many years is a constant reminder to the American people that we are at war and people are making huge sacrifice,"
Except your kids, right Mitty? You've been campaigning for 6 YEARS and you can't crack 25% support from your own PARTY, much less the entire country. Face it, Mitt – we're just not that into you.
rommney is like chenney in that while he may of had no defferments like chenney,,,,not actually sure of that,,,,but his sons not serving certainly shows us how dedicated they are,,,,fruit doesn't fall far from the tree
paul/ventura 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who better to remind the American people about sacrifice and war...it's clearly Mitt who best understands what it's like to be an American family with a loved one over seas. While he's at it, maybe some daily reminders about how difficult it is to be unemployed?
"Here's some good news. Barack Obama announced he's bringing home troops from Iraq. That's right. Unfortunately, he couldn't get them direct flights home. They have a two-year layover in Afghanistan." –Jimmy Fallon
@whatssup-
Obama is guilty of many things – but action is something he's quite good at. Look at all of the things he's done in his foreign policy – increased drone strikes not only in Pakistan but also in Yemen, action in Libya, Uganda, Bin Laden, AlAwlaki etc... Most of that stuff done with little to no communication, might I add. Interestingly enough, all this stuff he decided and did which didn't require any permission from congress – (mostly thanks to W. Bush) perhaps if he was able to get some of his domestic policies through congress, we would have some improvements here at home. Unfortunately, people like you will never be satisfied so frankly it wouldn't matter. Why not just admit that you wouldn't vote for Obama because he's _Obama_ instead of pretending the current state we're in is as a result of his policies? His policies haven't ever been passed as he proposed them. They've either been turned down flat or turned into crap by the republicans.
Time to elect someone with the cajones to tell the bankers and military industrial complex to jump off a cliff and just bring our troops home already. Undeclared illegal wars brought on by Bush and then escalated by Bush 2.0 are getting old and draining this country of much needed resources. Ron Paul 2012, bring em' home and let's put America back to work!
Why vote for Mitt when we have Obama? One and the same, empty suit puppet? Guess Mittens is more palatable to the dixiecrats eh? Different flavors of fascism, war, and debt is all it is. Take your pick.
Too little, too late for a lame try at patriotism. Mitt...Obama is way, way ahead of you as a commander-in-chief.
there has been a new black out since obama took over...unlike vietnam when the evening news was 90% war coverage
War is like going to court ,.You know you going in but one do not know how you come out. Said enough.
For Mitt Romney the veterans and the war is out of sight, out of mind. He is too busy focusing his sights on the White House. And he is out of his mind!
Whatssup is Whatsdown . . . Just talk with no substance or validity. Yes, a true Republican, clinging to lies, hate and self destruction. What words do you want on you grave when you guys are layed to rest?
What Romney forgets (is this the new Republican disease?/!) is that even Bush forgot the Afghanistan war, and frankly he should have forgotten the Iraq war before he started it. Unfortunately, both wars went forward, heavily floated by bold lies, with no exit strategy. These wars must end, and I suppose it is the Halliburton gravey train that the Republicans feel badly about in these wars' ends.
Hey Whatssup- did you fail to notice that Osama bin Laden is gone? Who did that? Mittens?
Hiis sons are too chicken to sign up, so I guess for him it is out of sight and out of mind. What a patriotic family. Oh WOW - a lapel flag pin. Wheeeee
Romney has never served in the US military, and neither has any of his 5 sons .... SO how can he even begin to try and look at or speak of their sacrifice , because they have never experienced it first hand !! We must have a God(Christ ) Fearing commander-and-chief to lead this nation, someone who could bring this nation together in a time of crisis as George BUsh did... Not a non-believer like Romney !!!! NEwt has ask the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and is a new Catholic . All of you out there without sin, cast the first stone !!!! Gingrich/Cain 2012
this man is definitely showing hes not fit for presidency, he sounds like a warmongerer....cain sounds like a deviant, perry sounds like forgetful drunkard, and gingrich sounds like a dismissive liar, none, and i mean none are fit for the presidency, if that man is president, im moving to another country, no damn way am i fighting for a country led by warmongerers
Jarlv wrote ( so eloquently) "Every comment that's here are from people that are not very good critical thinkers".
I will agree with you if you are someone who only reads the comments from the reactionary right-those are not demonstrative of "very good critical thinkers". Otherwise, stick to the Fox news website, you won't last three posts in here.
Yeah ET, Obama totally ran the country into the ground in 2008. Darn his
Magic Time Machine!
Today should be about our war vetarans and how the US can ensure that their service will be rewarded. Romney et.al should just shut up.