President Obama sharply characterized Mitt Romney as being “new” to foreign policy in his speech before the Democratic National Convention last night, citing, among other things, Romney’s criticism of the London Olympics that rankled the British press and even London Mayor Boris Johnson.
Speaking to reporters in Iowa on Friday, Mitt Romney said that he was glad his own personal experience leading the Winter Olympics in Utah allowed him to talk frankly with other nations on the world stage, and that he wishes President Obama had the courage to do the same.
“I’m very pleased that my Olympic experience allows me to talk about the Olympics in a straight talk manner and I think it would be appropriate if the president would talk to China in a straight talk manner,” Romney said. “They have manipulated their currency for well over a decade. They have taken American jobs and I think it’s totally appropriate to show backbone and strength as we deal with other nations around the world. Nothing wrong with telling people the truth.”
