It is an unfortunate stereotype, but why in heck would you — a Presidential hopeful– travel to a host country (hoping for lots of positive photo ops, hoping to look statesmanlike), then launch into a criticism of their signature event? That event being the Olympics and supposedly the source of Romney’s hoped for photo ops. This is also a country currently under Conservative control (they might be your allies, dude) and one where you have just told the world that the current President doesn’t treat as a special partner. But Romney goes to London and tells NBC news:
Romney told NBC News: “There are a few things that were disconcerting. The stories about the private security firm not having enough people, the supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials – that obviously is not something which is encouraging.”
In the interview he also called into question whether the British people were behind the Games.
“Do they come together and celebrate the Olympic moment? And that’s something which we only find out once the Games actually begin,” he said.
David Cameron is having none of it, though:
“This is a time of some economic difficulty for the nation, everyone knows that. But look at what we’re capable of achieving even at a difficult economic time. Look at this extraordinary Olympic Park, built from nothing in seven years,” he said. […]
But Cameron, who was due to meet Romney later on Thursday, said: “In terms of people coming together, the torch relay demonstrated that this is not a London Games, this is not an England Games but this is a United Kingdom Games. We’ll show the world we’ve not only come together as a United Kingdom but are extremely good at welcoming people from across the world.”
This is not how one starts a “special relationship”, Mitt. And I’m thinking that the people of the UK aren’t going to let you invoke your Anglo-Saxon privileges on this, either.