Get Your Success!': Former Polish President Gives Romney Warm Welcome (and De Facto Endorsement?)

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.”

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.

"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.