Politics

‘Real News’ War Room: Mitt and the Olympics

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has found himself in a controversy abroad, first saying during an interview with NBC’s Brian Williams that several logistical issues at the 2012 Olympic games were “disconcerting,” as well as other comments questioning the appetite Londoners have for the games.

Romney’s comments have brought about an uproar in the British press, as well as rebukes from London Mayor Boris Johnson and Conservative Party Prime Minister David Cameron, who responded Thursday; “We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere,” which some have perceived as a swipe at Salt Lake City, where Romney organized the 2012 Winter Olympics.

While most mainstream media on Romney and the Olympics has focused on this latest slip-up, the Deseret News of Salt Lake City has recently released a two-part report looking at how Mitt Romney ran the Salt Lake City games in 2002, and whether we can draw parallels from this experience to how he would perform as president.

The first part of the report looks at Romney’s big picture vision when taking over the games that had been marred in scandal. Romney invested in structures that would be practical for Salt Lake long after the games had left. He was frugal, skipping cabs and serving basic meals to the board members so the money could be spent where it was needed most. The second part of the report examines crisis management, and planning for the games when 9/11 happened.

On ‘Real News‘ Friday the panel discussed the report, and whether Romney’s experience as president of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics can give any indication of the kind of president he would be for this country:

Comments (20)

  • Lgbpop
    Posted on July 29, 2012 at 2:51pm

    Seems Johnson and Cameron are a bit too defensive too quickly. As the organizer of the only Olympic Games to have turned a profit in fifty years, how can that which Romney opined on be considered a gaffe? He speaks from experience. Frankly, judging from the comments of many Britons I see and know on Facebook (an insipid source, but not without its uses) anything and everything from traffic control – viz., those infuriating, empty “Olympic Lanes” – to accomodations to security, the UK seems to have acted before it thought.

    Pardon me while I try to figure out how to pay my bills and still buy groceries, because here in the USA that is first and foremost on my and on many other peoples’ minds, regardless of our media attempts to ignore the real controversy we face.

    Report Post » Lgbpop  
  • FotoChief
    Posted on July 29, 2012 at 8:02am

    It’s no coincidence that the tiff started with Brian Williams inquest of Romney. Any non-Progressive sitting for an interview with NBC must expect that it will turn into an inquest usually by a surly interrigator.
    I do take exception to the lead in above calling Romneys response a “gaffe”. He made an honest comment reflecting the news from the local/national media of England.

    Report Post »  
  • bobbiejean
    Posted on July 28, 2012 at 11:19pm

    Perhaps, Romney’s remarks were from HIS experience in heading up those Olympics in the
    ”middle of nowhere.” Wonder how the folks will like the traffic problems during the work
    week? Hope they leave in PLENTY OF TIME for any events they care to see.
    As for the beat down from the Brit media—what can you expect? Most of them are as left-
    leaning as those in the US. Now, IF it was Obama who had made those remarks, they MAY
    have said, ”Yes, he could be right. We should check into that.” Hypocrisy? Oh, yeah!

    Report Post »  
  • Twit123
    Posted on July 28, 2012 at 1:22pm

    Brian Williams was planted by the Liberal/Progressives/Democrats to hook him in a situation that would stain his first foreign visit. I think Brian Williams is a traitor to his country. Katie Couric did similar trick to Sara Palin. Katie Couric went down in history, and hope so with Williams,

    What about discussing the 57 States, the Corpsman, the Asian Hawaiian Islands?

    Report Post »  
    • maggieBP
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 3:25pm

      What have you against cuttin Mitt Romney some slack? This is a man of high integrity, a man who can and will represent us well no matter where he is. He doesn’t think like a snake or viper ergo they get him. He will learn to fight back in a very productive way. Remember, we learn a lot about those who who pull this foolisness. We need to all pull this wagon together with the help of God and we can make it happen. Think of how wonderful we will feel when Oblamer is defeated and we can begin to take our country back with Mitt Romney as our LEADER President, not a divider. .
      I am a great grannie who was born during the great depression and let me tell you, it was very tough on my parents but times were different then. We all pulled together, fed one another, offered hostel and supported each other. The PATRIOTISM and PRIDE IN OUR COUNTRY held us in good stead and we climbed out of the hole with te independent spirit we all have inside us. This generation needs to turn off the phone, the TV and all other distractions and get the family back together before it is too late. This is a great country and the plastic cutout of a president we have will be only a large inkspot when we get done with him if we all get busy and get involved. Absent that you will read about the 80 year old grannie standing at the top of the stairs with a 12 guage shotgun aimed at staving off the intruder who comes to steal her stuff or her gun.
      GOD BLESS AMERICA

      Report Post »  
  • beelzebub
    Posted on July 28, 2012 at 1:18pm

    … am I the only one that was offended by PM Cameron calling the USA … NOWHERE !!! … Oh, and by the way PM Cameron stay the hell out of our politics. It‘s not Romney’s fault the Security Workers Union decided to go on strike 2 weeks before the Games while asking for triple pay force Great Brittan to call up thousands of soldiers … that’s right PM Cameron is the Labor Union Party Guy.

    Report Post »  
  • right field
    Posted on July 28, 2012 at 11:17am

    Any expectation that the liberal, Marxist media will not rip into Romney for simply “existing” is wishful thinking. The purpose of the liberal media is to rebut, rebuke, retaliate and re-write the facts so that the “little people” can be controlled and forced into top-down government funded lifestyles so that the elite statist can live in total luxury!
    Always question the media and everything they say, video, write and support – including this website.
    Do your homework – read – study- question – and repeat this process everyday!
    Eventually the truth will prevail.

    Report Post »  
    • robrobbins
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 12:50pm

      How could Mitt be dumb enough to appear on this show in the first place????????????????????????

      Report Post »  
    • donnaz
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 1:13pm

      THIS WAS NOTED A DAY OR TWO AGO AT THE OLYMPICS…..TODAY NOTE THE CONTROVERSIES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE WITHIN THE OLYMPICS…MITT WAS RIGHT TO AT LEAST MENTION SOMETHING…OBAMA WAS TOO CONCERNED IN HIS PROPAGANDA AD TO LAUNCH LAST NIGHT!

      MORE ON THAT ALERT

      People are being let back into the mall. No word yet on what triggered the alarm or what led authorities to declare the area safe again.

      _Diana Ingram

      ___

      SECURITY ALERT

      AP staff at Westfield Mall, just outside Olympic Park and its security perimeter, say everyone has been told to vacate the mall. An alarm is sounding.

      People are gathering outside and being forbidden to go back in.

      _Diana Ingram

      Report Post »  
  • leonardo44
    Posted on July 28, 2012 at 9:59am

    Where is the Eric Metaxas segment from the July 27th show of “Real News”?? He’s talking about freedom of religion in this country and the Obama administration and he totally nailed it, the guy is fantastic, brilliant. He is someone The Blaze readers would really want to hear from and The Blaze doesn’t post it??? Who is in charge ? Santarelli, Scott Baker wake up !!!! Have you no sense about what matters? Makes me so mad that the important stuff like the fight to preserve religious freedom in this country is ignored by The Blaze in favor of posting some silly nonsense generated by the liberal press denigrating Romney. Please post the Metaxas segment from Real News.

    Report Post »  
    • donnaz
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 12:52pm

      Thank God Mitt said a least something…hopefully now there will not be a threat due to the FACT THEY NOTED THAT THEY DIDN‘T HAVE ENOUGH SECURITY AND EVEN IF THEY DID THEY WOULDN’T BE TRAINED IN TIME FOR THE FIRST BEGINNING PART OF THE OLYMPICS!!!!!!!\
      and by the way….THEY ENDED UP TAKING THEIR MILITARY MEN OUT OF THE WAR FOR THE OLYMPICS!!! SO-OUR USA SERVICE MEN CAN NOW HANDLY ANOTHER REGION WITH OUR MONEY AND TROOPS….WAKE UP AND PAY ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

      Report Post »  
  • BUDDY LITTLE
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 11:50pm

    TIME MAGAZINE Cover-story:A Picture of Mitt Romney and a Caption that reads “Why Don’t THEY LIKE ME” …..Well ..MITT look’s like its universal…

    Report Post »  
  • marine249
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 11:03pm

    tjhats

    AND TAKE YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR A$$

    Report Post »  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 7:30pm

    It‘s good the Brits aren’t voting in our election then,we won our war of independence with the rotten teeth Brits,now we’re fighting a Marxist POS president.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • barber2
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 7:58pm

      Whom the bad teeth ( part of their health care system ?!) Brits love since Obama is part of their band of international Labour Party type Lefties ! AND it is the same band of Lefty Lap Dog Media members that propagandize over here which fuel their me actions dia. The same group of Labour Lefties who have been carrying on the Media witch hunt on conservative Murdoch because he does not share their Lefty views not print their Lefty propaganda. The OWS , the London riots of last summer, and the Media over there are all part of this international, organized action which is fomenting here ( think the Left quieted the OWS/ MIC check stuff since the publicity wasn’t good ) . The Adbsusters / OWS anti-capitalist group have promoted an “ American Autumn ” since last year. Know what that is all about ? Just guess. Think the anarchists are part of this and am watching the Republican convention to see if our so-called Ron Paul people ( hidden anarchists ) have “ plans” to start something there…. remember the Jessie/ Al God Bless the Hoodie march in Florida ?? Stay tuned…

      Report Post »  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 8:01pm

      So true – a reading of the list of grievances in the Declaration of Independence reads like it came from yesterdays’ headlines.

      I realize it is not as “inspiring” as the body of the Declaration, I encourage (implore) you to read the list of greivances. We are reliving the same tyranny that we fought against with England .

      But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

      Adonai li v lo Ira – The Lord is with me, I fear not

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
    • saranda
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:04pm

      Sorry,no one ever said dental was part of any health care plan inUK,Canada or the USA. And even the Daily Mail,conservative paper, has called out mittwit as devoid of substance and worse than Palin. First major trip abroad, and to our best friend,and mitt the twit blows it.

      Report Post »  
    • marine249
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:48pm

      @SARANDA

      Get off the demorats talking points.

      And take ypu head out of your a$$.

      Report Post »  
    • Mutiny
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 2:02am

      I dont think Palin being better than Mitt is debatable or a talking point. That is just pure fact.

      Report Post » Mutiny  
    • bobbiejean
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 11:08pm

      ProgressiveSlayer, That’s what I thought too, when I heard the PM’s remark. Why did he get
      his knickers in a twist when Romney is a Yank and does not represent the Brits? As yet, they
      (the Brits) can’t vote in US elections. UNLESS, something sneaks through the UN allowing
      other nations to choose our President. Something they, no doubt, would like to do.

      Report Post »  

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