‘Get Your Success!’: Former Polish President Gives Romney Warm Welcome (and De Facto Endorsement?)
- Posted on July 30, 2012 at 10:44pm by
Erica Ritz
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Mitt Romney (L) sits with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (R), during a meeting at Artus Court, in Gdansk, Poland. (Photo: Getty Images)
Despite the best efforts of the media and the Obama administration to portray Mitt Romney’s international tour as being filled with gaffes and inadvertent insults, the reality on the ground both in Israel and Poland seems to paint an entirely different picture.
Today– presumably hoping to detract from Romney’s success among Israelis– media reports are focusing on how the Republican presidential candidate offended Palestinians.
(‘Standing Ovation’: Here‘s What You Need To Know About Mitt Romney’s Trip to Israel)
“And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things,” Romney said while discussing how two locations– like Israel and the Palestinian territories– can be so drastically different.
The remarks clearly offended Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who retorted: “It is a racist statement and this man doesn’t realize that the Palestinian economy cannot reach its potential because there is an Israeli occupation.”
Mitt Romney and his wife Ann hold the hands of former Polish President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa. (Photo: Getty Images)
But now the Republican candidate has moved to Poland, and though there are the expected detractors, Mitt Romney has landed a major win in the de facto endorsement of former Polish President Lech Walesa.
“I wish you to be successful because this success is needed to the United States, of course, but to Europe and the rest of the world, too. Governor Romney, get your success, be successful!” Walesa said through a translator, hitting his hand on the table for emphasis.
Walesa, a Nobel Prize-winner, is well-known for his anti-communism efforts in Poland. A staunch supporter of Ronald Reagan and a hero to many Poles abroad, Walesa unveiled a statue of the late American president in Warsaw last November.
He explained to Romney: “Individuals who have struggled all their lives really favor the kind of views and perspectives that you share…”
Walesa has publicly butted heads with President Obama a number of times in the last few years. Most recently, the Poles wanted Walesa to receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of a member of the Polish underground during World War II, but the White House rejected their choice as being “too political.”
Many speculate the dismissal was “payback” for Walesa’s refusal to meet with Obama in a large gathering during his trip to Poland, preferring instead to hold a private meeting. “Not unreasonable, given that Walesa is a major historical figure who won his Nobel Peace Prize after earning it,” according to Keith Koffler.
Rubbing salt into the wound, Obama then called Nazi concentration camps “Polish” during the ceremony.
Mitt Romney, accompanied by his wife Ann, and son Josh, lays a wreath at the World War II Memorial Westerplatte, in Poland. (Photo: AP)
“Poland and many other countries will certainly do their best for the United States to restore its leadership position,” Walesa told Romney. “And after our conversation, I’m quite confident that you will be successful in doing that.”
In response to Walesa’s enthusiastic encouragement, Romney reportedly laughed and said: “Thank you so much. I appreciate your invitation and I’m glad to be here with you,” praising Walesa’s staunch support of freedom throughout the world.
The Los Angeles Times has analysis on how the trip will play politically back home:
Political experts said Romney’s visit to Poland provided two opportunities–to highlight foreign policy differences with President Obama on missile defense and the United States’ relationship with Russia, and to court voters of Polish descent in swing states.
Relations between the United States and Poland have cooled, notably after Obama scrapped a George W. Bush plan to build a missile-defense system in Poland and replaced it with a different plan to be completed by 2020.
Romney is expected to give a speech in Warsaw on Tuesday, highlighting liberty and Washington’s connections with Poland. In the meantime, the media will likely focus on the members of Walesa’s “Solidarity” movement who have come out against the Republican candidate.
But for the millions of Poles who live in swing states, Romney‘s trip likely won’t hurt.
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pennswoods
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 6:54amGod bless Lech Walesa and Romney. American AFL-CIO Presient Michael Trumpka need to sit down and have a serious conversation with Lech Walesa about the meaning of Marxism. Trumpka has these kinds of talks at the White House each week with our first Communist President Barack Hussein Obama but they are pro Communits pep talks on how to turn the USA into what Poland was under Commmunism.
Report Post »chinqua
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 1:05amLove Mrs. Romney’s dress! Wonder if it cost $6800? (If it did, at least the taxpayers didn’t pay for it.)
Report Post »yohannbiimu
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 12:20pmBarack Obama is endorsed by Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, while Mitt Romney is endorsed by Lech Walesa. Obama’s endorsements come from steel-fisted dictators, while Romney’s is from a liberty-loving anti-Communist hero.
Romney wins…
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 6:37amI see the Paulbots and the other leftists didn‘t waste any time jumping in here to attack 0bama’s top opponent. They’re scared to death that Romney is going to beat 0bama.
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 7:24amyou are completely delusional. Obama and the democrats are hopeless. There is some hope for republicans, which is why we still try. However, Romney is not the guy to do it
Report Post »Jim AZ
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 8:36amYeah, well…
Report Post »Without the cooperative media blitz against Paul, and the party’s cheating and thug tactics, you would have a much stronger opponent against zer0… and… the Convention has not yet occurred.
qpwillie
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 6:27am“Despite the best efforts of the media and the Obama administration to portray Mitt Romney’s international tour as being filled with gaffes and inadvertent insults,”
Does the 0bama administration really want to talk about “gaffes and inadvertent insults,”?
Report Post »reagan_worst_ever
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 3:15amMitt RobMe is a puppet that will say whatever he is told.
Report Post »nocalifornia
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 5:31amESAD you POS
Report Post »TheCalmOne
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 1:04amRomney apparently endorses other countries’ universal healthcare schemes but will not opnly support such a scheme in the USA. I wonder why that is?
http://www.buzzfeed.com/zekejmiller/romney-praises-israels-socialized-health-care-sys
Report Post »reagan_worst_ever
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 3:12amCause Mittens is a flip flopping clown that says what he is told.
Report Post »reagan_worst_ever
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 3:14amCause Mittens is a flip flopping clown that will say whatever he is told.
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 9:03am@WorstEver
Like Oblamer? Soros loves to watch him dance!
Do I need to repeat myself?
Report Post »Tankertony
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 12:03amThe guy fought marxists like obummer his whole life, of course he’s going support a real American.
Report Post »Cosmos102
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:55pmObama ordered that the U.S. Missile shields in Poland be removed his first year in office. Of course Poland hates Obama’s guts. Obama pretty much dissed all the U. S.’s allies. Our enemies…that’s a different story. They have been given positions in the Pentagon, White House and throughout our military. It‘s a wonder chanting isn’t heard 5 times a day from the WH. Maybe that will have to wait for his second term.
Report Post »Cosmos102
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:47pmObama had their missile shield removed his first year in office. Of course Poland hates Obama’s guts. Obama pretty much dissed all the U.S.’s allies his first year in office. Good thing nobody watches the news anymore, or they would have screamed for this traitor to be impeached. Our enemies…now they are a different story. Obama is giving them seats in his administration, the military and the WH. It‘s a wonder we don’t hear chanting 5 times a day directly from the WH. I guess that will have to wait until his second term.
Report Post »The_Cabrito_Goat
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:40pmthe blaze, Romney isnt “your guy”. Cease with the butt-kissing stories
Report Post »DEFCON4
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 12:03am@cabrito, So, who is the Blaze‘s ’your guy’ ?
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:28pmthe election was completely fake and rigged because nobody likes Romney, can’t even get a crowd to show up even if he pays millions for an event. he should drop out now he has no chance against Obama.
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 12:25am“nobody likes Romney”
Well, except the millions who voted for him during the primary season. How many states did RuPaul win again?
Report Post »Paul
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 12:59amNobody likes you…
Report Post »Simonne
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 4:29amI see you don’t follow because he does attract crowds. I have to laugh when I read posts here about Romney‘s flip fops because Obama’s flip flops are considered a person who has evolved.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:27pmPolish people support Ron Paul lol, i didn’t hear anyone cheer or hold Romney signs, wow nobody likes Romney sad. Romney paid for the few folks that even greeted him. Ron Paul the crowd was cheering and signs all over.
Report Post »Paul
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 1:01amAdd your comments
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:15pmDobjze.
Report Post »mrawfull
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:13pmWalesa has also endoresed the occupy movement. He is generally viewed as an imbecile in Poland.
Report Post »Brother Winston Smith
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:13pmPolish Choice – Ron Paul Kongres Nowej Prawicy!
Report Post »JohnLarson
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:12pmOh wow, a maybe? endorsement former former Polish President… the faith of the world is truly with Mitt Romney.
Gimme a break, right-wingers in America don’t even like the guy.
Report Post »Brother Winston Smith
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:08pmAnd THE PEOPLE… “welcomed” him a little differently…
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ2YgEhDCrU
RepubliCorp
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:17pmThe NeoCon Walesa didn’t endorse Ron Paul ???? No RP statue ??? what a jerk
Report Post »welloddyfriggindah
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:05pmThey’ve got to get ALL OVER broadcasting this endorsement! Hope Mitts staff is awake!
Report Post »CommonSense41
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:05pmObama does not like Lech Walesa because he inspired Polls to spring from socialism/communism to capitalism. Obama likes different kind of springs – from stone era to socialism/communism.
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 10:58pmPersonally I could care less what foreigners think about our politics. I mean really!
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 10:53pm…
Report Post »Oh no. Future first lady Ann Romney is starting to dress as badly as Moochelle.
What was she thinking, when she decided to wear that dress?
Mitt and his Son look pretty sharp. The way a President and a first family member should look.
welloddyfriggindah
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:10pmReally! It’s pitiful…are they really that ignorant of how weird they look?
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:25pmYou act like it is some show – the Romneys dont wear a crown….perhaps the dailymail is more up your alley.
Report Post »Scottsman
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 10:53pmCheck out this endorsement!
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/ron-paul-supporters-amass-poland_649135.html
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:18pmWOW. Amazing. Why doesnt Fox News provide the same sort of Ron Paul coverage in country????
His quotes:
“We are interested in Ron Paul and what he says, because he is the one that really makes a difference. He’s the one that says about our troops coming back to Poland and not dying with American troops out there.”
“We are completely against President Obama. President Obama is a socialist–in Poland, he would even be called a Communist.”
“You know, there are no differences between Obama and Romney, in reality….But there is a huge difference between Ron Paul and everybody”
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 12:27amHow many states did Paul win again?
Really…seek help. It’s over.
Report Post »yohannbiimu
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 12:37pmAh yes…there are even insane people in Poland. What else is new?
Report Post »West Coast Patriot
Posted on July 31, 2012 at 5:00pmGoodstuff, Quit listening to the media, they lie to you. Paul is still in the race, Romney has not won yet. What he has won, he won by election fraud, violating GOP rules and violating federal law. If Romney has it all wrapped up, why is he trying to steal Paul delegates from Maine and Massachusetts? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ2×073YQZE&feature=youtu.be
In Massachusetts, the GOP violated federal law by forcing Paul supporters to sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury that they would vote for Romney on the first round.
“42 USC 1971 (b) Intimidation, threats, or coercion
No person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, shall intimidate, threaten, coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose, or of causing such other person to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, presidential elector, Member of the Senate, or Member of the House of Representatives, Delegates or Commissioners from the Territories or possessions, at any general, special, or primary election held solely or in part for the purpose of selecting or electing any such candidate.”
They could be facing charges here soon.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 10:50pmYeah, they kinda know a little about this communism thing………they know it’s always fatal.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 10:59pmSee how this is working … the leaders that are respected … Bibi .. Walesa, like Romney .. Obama gets the likes of Chavez endorsing him ;-) I think we can tell which man is on the right side of history!
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 11:06pmThe only draw back, is they did ask Romney if he could show them how to change a light bulb and as far as tips for having babies, he had to tell them, “turn her over”
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