In the backlash of Biden’s comments about Romney’s ineptitude on foreign policy and national security – “Bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive” – Romney reacted swiftly to combat the aggressive attack.
Romney Provides Zero Positive Messaging for Own Foreign Policy
Chart shows distribution of sentiment of statements from Romney concerning Terrorism, Foreign Policy, and National Security. Date range is April 24-May 5.
Romney made statements regarding Terrorism, Foreign Policy and National Security in equal parts – around 30% for each. When discussing the Bin Laden raid, Al Qaeda, and Obama’s record on National Security, only 6% of Romney’s statements were negative to Obama. In fact, 9% of his discussion of National Security was actually positive toward Obama. Romney had a difficult time generating negative messaging in regards to how Obama has kept the US safe during his presidency.
It was on other foreign policy issues that Romney found some attack points. All of Romney’s discussion of Foreign Policy was negative to Obama. He used Obama’s successes in anti-terrorism and national security as a launching pad for supposed inefficiencies in other areas. Romney’s Foreign Policy oriented attacks included Obama’s handling of Iran, his schedule for troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, and his relationship with Israel.
What was missing from the data was any Romney positive messaging for his own Foreign Policy and National Security positions. Never did he put forth and support ideas or plans of his own. His only strategy was to compliment and then criticize the President. At some point in the process, logic would dictate that Romney will have to promote his own antidotes for the problems he has identified, instead of relying on the chastisement of Obama as his only strategy.
