The Telegraph newspaper in England today published a report in which a Mitt Romney advisor told them the following:
“We are part of an Anglo-Saxon heritage, and he feels that the special relationship is special,” the adviser said of Mr Romney, adding: “The White House didn’t fully appreciate the shared history we have.”
Obviously, the Obama campaign is pushing back. They call those remarks "stunningly offensive". For their part, the Romney camp is trying to dismiss the remarks.
A couple of points.
1. First, America has had loads of non Anglo-Saxon presidents. Ronald Reagan, to name one.
2. The Romney camp shouldn't pretend to be surprised that their people are making such remarks when the candidate is playing the same exact game himself.
Remember the other day when Mitt Romney said the president's philosophy was "foreign to the American Experience?"
How about when he suggested that President Obama doesn't understand what makes America "unique."
This is to say nothing of the top Romney surrogate, former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu, who kind of apologized after questioning the president's American-ness.
Bottom line: it seems clear the Romney campaign has made the choice to take the low road that John McCain refused to travel in 2008. When they get quoted for it, they should embrace their strategy instead of apologizing and pretending it didn't happen.