Mitt Romney in Vegas La Vegas speaks on foreign policy, avoids Libya

Mitt Romney was in Las Vegas yesterday and was taking Obama to task over foreign policy, but oddly left out Libya.

Las Vegas Review Journal: Speaking in Las Vegas, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on Saturday criticized President Barack Obama's foreign policy in the Middle East.

Romney said the president hasn't been tough enough on Iran and its nuclear program. And he said he was surprised Secretary of State Hillary Clinton referred to Syrian President Bashar Assad as "a reformer" even as he puts down protests.

"Obama is either unwilling or incapable of dealing with this at all," Romney said, speaking about Iran to a Republican Jewish Coalition meeting. "Israel's very existence may be at stake."

Yet Romney was silent on Libya, where the U.S. and its NATO allies are enforcing a no-fly zone as rebels try to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi from power.

Romney after his speech refused to take questions from reporters about his own position on Libya. Instead, he and his wife, Ann, escaped up an escalator at the Venetian hotel-casino where the event was held.

"I've got a lot of positions on a lot of topics, but walking down the hall probably isn't the best place to describe all those," Romney said as he walked away with half a dozen journalists trailing him. [MORE]

Seriously?

Not having anything to say on Libya is bad enough, but to duck the question so poorly only makes it worse. I suspect given how convoluted the Libya situation is, Romney thought it would be safest not to commit himself to an answer at this time.

This is one of the things I find so unappealing about Mitt. He is just too much of a politician. Everything he does seems calculated for maximum effect. I find it almost impossible to imagine Romney doing necessary things even if they may prove unpopular.

Speaking of unpopular, despite giving a speech on foreign policy, Mitt was questioned about RomneyCare.

In response to an audience member's question, Romney defended his efforts to reform health care in Massachusetts. He said if he were president he would work to repeal "Obamacare" and grant the 50 states waivers so people aren't forced to buy health insurance.

He scoffed at the notion that Obama patterned his federal reform after Romney's state plan, which he said is how it should be done at the local level not nationally.

"Why didn't you call me?" He joked, referring to Obama and saying the two never talked of it.

Mitt had better get ready to hear that question over and over and over again, because it simply isn't going to go away.

Via: Memeorandum
Via: Las Vegas Review Journal