Romney's foreign trip takes another contentious turn

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivers a speech in Jerusalem, Sunday, July 29, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

This article originally appeared on RealClearPolitics.

(CBS News) A three-nation foreign expedition envisioned as a relatively low-key endeavor took its second major turn toward controversy Monday when Mitt Romney spoke at a Jerusalem fundraiser about the role culture plays in the relative strengths of the economies of Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Addressing a small crowd of American citizens at the King David Hotel, Romney noted that during his business career he had been interested in the economic disparities among nations.

"As you come here and you see the GDP per capita for instance in Israel, which is about $21,000, and you compare that with the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority, which is more like $10,000 per capita, you notice a dramatic, stark difference in economic vitality," he said. "And that is also between other countries that are near or next to each other."

First of all, Romney underestimated Israel's annual per capita GDP -- which a U.N. website lists as $27,060 for 2009 (the most recent data available) -- and he grossly overestimated the figure for the Palestinian-controlled West Bank and Gaza Strip, which the U.N. shows as $1,367 (also as of 2009).

(Watch a clip of CBS News' Jan Crawford's recent interview with Romney.)

But the portion of Romney's remarks that drew the biggest reaction came when he noted that he had read several books related to economic disparity among nations, including "Guns, Germs, and Steel" (which attributes such differences largely to geographical circumstances) and "The Wealth and Poverty of Nations" (which credits differences in culture for these disparities).

Romney left no doubt where he stands on this question: "Culture makes all the difference. 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."

This is a topic Romney addressed in his 2011 book, "No Apology," and one that was a major point of emphasis in the stump speech he delivered many dozens of times during his 2008 presidential run. Yet his decision while in Jerusalem to apply this broad concept to the complicated and sensitive dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian relationship led him into another thicket.

Romney's comments drew a stinging rebuke from Saeb Erekat, a top aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who unloaded on the presumptive Republican presidential nominee in an interview with the Associated Press.

"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," Erekat said. "It seems to me this man lacks information, knowledge, vision, and understanding of this region and its people."

(Romney delivers a speech in Jerusalem on Sunday.)

Romney met with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Sunday night but did not convene with Abbas during his trip to the region.

Romney campaign spokesperson Andrea Saul said that the candidate's remarks had been "grossly mischaracterized," and aides to the former Massachusetts governor noted that his description of disparities among other neighboring countries showed that his comments were part of a broader point he was making.

Just days after Romney drew scorn from the British media and some public officials for echoing widespread concerns about preparations for London Olympic Games, his characterization of a touchy economic matter served as another reminder that every utterance a potential commander-in-chief makes while on foreign soil will be carefully examined.

• no previous page
• next

1/2

[Bendech]

It's very dangerous to form your opinions based on a "couple of books" you've read instead of objective scientific research.
You can find authors to support of refute any social theory.
But there has never been an objective scientific study of the effect of culture on GDP.
For example, China has a lower per capita GDP than countries like Ecuador, Tunisia, Peru. Does that prove that those countries are culturally superior to the Chinese.
Meanwhile the Chinese has had double digit GDP growth rates for the last 30 years...while the US eeks out a meager 2-3 percent year over year. Does that make the Chinese the superior culture.
In fact China not only has the fastest growing economy on earth, but the US has ceded most of it's manufacturing jobs to China, owes China about one trillion dollars in debt. China has the longest bridge, the biggest dam, the fastest high speed rail, a GROWING middle class. They take more gold at the Olympics, outscore Americans kids on math and science test scores, have a higher savings rate than America and less government debt.

So does that mean that the Chinese are culturally superior to Americans.

According to the books Romney has "read"...apparently so.

[sjc_1]

G.W. Bush said that he does not read books, he reads people. I would rather have a president that reads books. President Clinton was an avid reader and it showed, he knew what he was talking about.

[Maria0420]

Doesn't Mr. Romney have advisors and handlers to help him keep his foot out of his mouth? His general knowledge on world affairs seems shallow to say the least. He sounds arrogant, uninformed and even rude. Even his endorsements come out wrong. Walesa defended Romney but claims he lacks charisma. Worse yet, the Solidarity Labor Union did not endorse him. In fact went for President Obama. Yet the Republicans decided to ignore the Solidarity's opinion. How can you spin that one?

[ObamaBlackRobinHood]

Screw the terrorist PLO. They're nothing but terrorist who's econonmy will always be a failure because of their own ignorance.

[Yeah_Its_Me]

The PLO isn't Palestine... or the source of its culture.

[RollotheNorman]

Actually the Palestinians, prior to Ben-Gurion and his terrorist take over of Palestine had a prosperous agricultural economy. The Zionist promptly relieved them of the farms their families had owned for generations and left those that remained in the land largely without means to support themselves. I suggest RepubliCONs try learning a little history instead overworking their feeble abilities trying to rewrite it to fit their prejudices.

[jimbom121]

First off, there are many reasons why the Palestinians are poorer than Isrealis. Culture is part of it, but its also corruption in their government, the fact that they are considered terrorists (Hamas).

But that being said, the US is the only country that can he;p to achieve peace, and the only way to do that is to be an even broker. Romney has not shown that he can he an even broker.

[joule18]

Considering there was never a Palestinian people and the term Palestine was given to the are by the British during their occupation, I would say Romney did well to recognize the displaced Jordanians than now call themselves Palestinians. The Arab countries are not concerned with helping them because they are used as a propaganda tool.

[baileycccc]

It is obvious he is not ready to be President.

[BUDDYofPA]

By the time Mitt Romney gets back to America he will have destroyed the last friendly relationship the USA had with another country.

[omnibus66]

Keep it up, Willard. Your phony facade is wearing thinner and thinner each day. A zebra masquerading as a thoroughbred is only as good as the paint job. You should have enamel instead of latex.

[nancy_naive]

"Gee, you people sure are good with money."

And no one noticed?

[Mr_Maz]

"Israel has flourished under extremely difficult circumstances -- a small nation with no mineral wealth and surrounded by enemies bent on its destruction......"

erm, I see Max Boot is ignoring the $billions and heavy weapons given to Israel by the US Government

[blazorboy]

Romney was unwise to tell the truth about corrupt Arab culture.