Mitt Romney's crippling Olympics neurosis

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney meets with British Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street in London July 26, 2012. / AP Photo

(The New Republic) Right now you're probably wondering: What possessed Mitt Romney to insult the Conservative Prime Minister of Britain -- on a foreign trip meant to demonstrate Romney's supposedly superior ability to manage foreign affairs -- by criticizing the U.K.'s handling of the Olympic games on the eve of their commencement? This blunder catches Romney in an exquisite trap of his own making. On the one hand, he seems to have genuinely angered David Cameron, a rare European ally in the lonely fight against European-style socialism. On the other hand, Romney's 11th Commandment is: Thou Shalt Not Apologize To Foreign Leaders, especially when on foreign soil. The guy wrote a whole book about it! How could Romney be so stupid as to hoist himself on this petard?

I think I have the answer. First, though, let's review this gaffe in detail.

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Here is what Romney said early today (Thursday) in London (during an interview with NBC's Brian Williams): "You know, it's hard to know just how well it will turn out. There are a few things that were disconcerting, the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials, that obviously is not something which is encouraging."

Ouch!

Here is what Cameron was moved to say in reply, during a visit to Olympic Park: "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." Cameron was referring to Salt Lake City, which of course is not only where Romney supervised the Winter Olympic games in 2002, but also the spiritual home of Romney's Mormon ancestors. Cameron's riposte was roughly equivalent to calling Mecca a hick town during a state visit from King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud.

According to the Guardian, Romney "rowed back" his comments after meeting with Cameron at 10 Downing Street. "I am very delighted with the prospects of a highly successful Olympic Games," he said. "What I have seen shows imagination and forethought and a lot of organization and [I] expect the Games to be highly successful." Under no circumstances are we to regard this as an apology. It is, instead, an unacknowledged contradiction of what Romney said earlier.

So how did Romney get himself into this mess? I think that becomes clear when you look at what Romney went on to say to Williams after he noted that the early signs about the London Olympics were discouraging:

Because there are three parts that makes Games successful. Number one, of course, are the athletes. That's what overwhelmingly the Games are about. Number two are the volunteers. And they'll have great volunteers here. But number three are the people of the country. Do they come together and celebrate the Olympic moment? And that's something which we only find out once the Games actually begin.

You've heard this voice before. It is the voice of a comically self-satisfied man basking in the glory of achieving something very few mortals would be capable of -- in this case, running a successful Olympic Games. Indeed, Romney would have you believe that he didn't just make the Salt Lake City games a success -- he saved the Olympics themselves. He grabbed ahold of an Olympic torch extinguished by international scandal and relit the flame. That is the unembarrassed message of Romney's 2004 book "Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership, and the Olympic Games." Romney's Olympic triumph is what made the difference (at least in Romney's mind) between his failed 1994 Senate campaign and his successful 2002 gubernatorial bid, which put him on the path to the White House. It is, today, a significant part of Romney's argument for electing him president.

It's also, as I've written before ("No Medal For You,") a pretty weak case. Romney did a perfectly fine job running the Olympics, but so have lots of other people. When reporting my earlier column I asked Lisa Delpy Neirotti, who teaches sport management at George Washington University, whether she could name a single U.S.-based Winter or Summer Olympics -- going back three decades -- that wasn't managed well. She could not. But Romney is deeply invested in the idea that it takes superhuman skills to save an Olympic Games from the disaster and international humiliation to which it naturally inclines. The idea that it can be done reasonably well even by a past-its-prime power like Britain is too much for Romney to bear. And I'm afraid he let it show at a very inopportune moment.

Timothy Noah is a senior editor at The New Republic. Previously he was a senior writer at Slate, a Washington reporter for the Wall Street Journal, an assistant managing editor at US News & World Report, and an editor of the Washington Monthly. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

[clifjay]

Mitt Romney did not save the olympics, taxpayer dollars did, one and one quarter billion of them and Mr. Romney was glad to get them, so lets give credit where it is due. Romney is so quick to criticize government intervention except when it benefits him and his resume.John McCain criticized use of taxpayers money for olympic games because the process to get them abuses the whole system and the dollar amount keeps increasing because everybody is taking advantage of it. Get the money while the getting is good, seems to be the attitude. McCain hasn't been right about much( Sarah Palin) but he is right about this. Mr Romney should be openly challenged for taking credit for something he has no right to acclaim.

[MojitoMamma]

He gets his arrogance from his cult-like religion. Mormons believe they are "the chosen ones," they believe that they are Better Than Everybody Else, and that's why he's so puffed up about his experience with the Olympics.

And I love the Prime Minister's comeback. He was correct - Salt Lake City is the Middle of Nowhere and the Mormons have turned it into an intellectual wasteland, a vast desert of narrowmindedness, arrogance, and ignorance and bigotry.

[Martha12345]

With the games having lots of problems, Romney seems to have been correct. The Brits knew things were not going to go well, so were a bit touchy. Will we see an apology from the British Press...... I think not.

[skyper12]

1 1/2 Billion Federal Dollars saved the SLCity Games. Twice as much as had previously been spent!

[petesis]

Isn't this the same guy that tied his dog to the roof of his car... why are you acting surprised? He will say anything. The GOP and Romney deserve each other. After all their teabaggery and right wing hot air, and him pretending to be severely conservative... no wonder he tied his dog to the roof of his car.

[tryhonesty]

Mitt Twit Ruinme did not save the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, the United States Taxpayer SAVED the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. PERIOD.

[GaijeK]

I don't think it's all that complicated. Romney's a terrible candidate, with the social skills of an autistic pumpkin. He jus says these things because on some fundamental level he doesn't understand he shouldn't, no matter what the subject.

Or else, he's just stopped trying.

http://weldbham.com/popandpolitics/2012/07/27/mittens-self-sabotaging-or-just-an-idiot/

[stoltz61]

The Guardian and Telegraph newspapers in England were reporting the news about a strike and having enough security, so why is everyone down on Romney? Their own newspapers are idiots along with our so called news here in the USA!

[lesserof2evil]

Like Robmee, you lack the intelligence to understand diplomacy.

[Raptorsmasher]

It appears critical thinking is not your strong point.

[Mick_from_Amsterdam]

Sarah Palin without the lipstick...

Another international embarrassment for America...getting lots of laughs wherever they go...

But not because they INTENTIONALLY do anything that's humorous...

[nohater]

big deal. everyone seems to have forgotten newly elected potus obama bowing to the saudi king when they first met in person. everyone seems to forget michelle saying that for the first time she was proud to be an American just because obama was elected. as mr. timothy noah makes clear in this piece you are either an obama or romney fan no matter what they have done good, bad, or indifferent. vote according to your feelings, your beliefs, your finances, whatever but just vote. mr. noah will be voting for obama as others posting here. personally just tired of obama and michelle and will vote against the duo. my one tiny vote, my choice whether anyone likes it or not.

[Mick_from_Amsterdam]

A rather incongruous name, no hater...

Why do you cons always yell, "Big deal...Obama and the Dems do it too...and they were doing it FIRST"...

While never addressing the blunder, or the exposed lie, or even a criminal act that your reich-wing heroes sometimes commit and get caught for?

You loudly insist that it just doesn't count because your opponents do it as well...right?

Since you clearly have no relevant comment to offer on the SUBJECT of this article, which is Mitt Romney's dim-witted and very revealing remarks to a foreign head of state...blurted out at the very time when he's supposed to be impressing American voters with his diplomatic skills...

Why say anything at all?