contemplativeIn a separate incident, the American Embassy in Cairo was breached by protesters, and the nation's flag was torn down. No deaths were reported. Earlier this morning protesters stormed the US Embassy compound in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, tearing down and burning the US flag. It is unclear whether or not the attack in Libya was planned to mark the 11th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001. Some reports say that both the Libya and Egypt events had been motivated by anger over an anti-Muslim film made in the United States.
Romney blasted the initial statement from the US Embassy in Cairo as disgraceful and "akin to apology." Here is a YouTube video of his remarks:
President Obama made a statement in the White House Rose Garden condemning the attacks and announcing plans to deploy additional Marines at diplomatic posts overseas. In an interview with CBS News' 60 Minutes later, President Obama accused Romney of having "a tendency to shoot first and aim later." He said "It appears that Governor Romney didn't have his facts right." Here is a video of the President making those remarks:
At a rally in Las Vegas, President Obama said he had a message for the rest of the world: "No act of terror will dim the light of the values that we proudly shine on the rest of the world, and no act of violence will shake the resolve of the United States of America."
Reaction to Romney's remarks have been mixed. Former Republican Congressman and Fox News pundit Joe Scarborough wrote "How can it be that this man who turned around countless businesses, saved the 2002 Olympics and ran Democratic Massachusetts like a pro be the head of such a disastrous campaign?...Who told Mr. Romney to issue a political broadside against the commander in chief the day after a U.S. ambassador was murdered?"
Politico writer Rich Lowry took the reverse view, writing "Late Tuesday night, Romney condemned the thoroughly condemnable embassy press release. In a rapid confirmation of Romney’s wisdom in doing so, the White House threw the embassy’s statement under the bus: 'It doesn’t reflect the views of the U.S. government'...No one should get the vapors over Romney’s critique. Matters of war and peace are inherently political and should always be fodder for political campaigns."
Let's get some expert analysis from you the members of this community about whether or not this will have an effect on the outcome of the election:
Will the situation in Libya and the candidates' responses to it be a factor in the upcoming election?
Yes, a huge factor
3(42.9%)
It will be a minor factor
4(57.1%)
It won't be a factor at all
0(0.0%)
Something else (tell us what in a comment)
0(0.0%)
Did Mitt Romney's remarks help or hurt his campaign?
Helped a lot
0(0.0%)
Helped a little
1(14.3%)
Neither helped nor hurt
0(0.0%)
Hurt a little
2(28.6%)
Hurt a lot
4(57.1%)