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Mike
October 23, 2012 10:53 pmThis is no gaffe. This is not a case of Romney being ignorant of geography, it’s a case of the so-called “fact checkers” being ignorant of the trade routes now being used as a result of sanctions.
Romney was speaking in the context of the debate topic on foreign policy and the sanctions restricting the finances and trade of Iran. Although Iran is indeed located on the seacoast of the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, the international trade sanctions have restricted and impeded its ability to transport armaments and other goods through its own seaports. To defeat these trade sanctions, Iran has resorted to using its air transportation to transport goods through an air corridor in Iraqi airspace into Syria and its seaports, such as Latakia.
Romney’s has made this “route to the sea” comment about a dozen times before, and has continued saying it, despite fact-checkers claiming it’s false, based on geography. You’d think by now they would have started to realize that his comment is not about biography – it’s about sanction-driven, trade route realities.
Look, there are many valid reasons to find fault with both candidates – this just doesn’t happen to be one of them.
Lawrence D. Elliott
October 24, 2012 11:26 amReally? Then why are you explaining it and why hasn’t Gov. Romney ever done it himself? It would quiet the “fact-checkers”, right?
Mike
October 26, 2012 6:41 pmThe Iran/Syria connection is fairly well known. There were a lot of much more important issues to talk about at the debates, so Romney used as short-hand commnet he’s used frequently before to mention that connection, and to move on to more important issues, like Iran’s development of nukes.
Fact-checkers are losing credibity with the public, exactly because of chiming in on inconsequential issues like this, and often with wrong or incomplete analysis, as is the case here. In addition, the also frequently weigh in on issues which are really matters of opinion, not fact. Hence, Romney and his campaign have generally been ignoring the fact checkers.
Romney is taking the right approach my not getting distracted by issues like this, and focusing on the issues which are really important to voters – the economy, the national debt, Iran’s development of nukes, and others.
Voters have had enough with these distractions, and they really don’t want to be discussing:
Romney said Iran is Syria’s route to the sea.
Obama said he campaigned in 57 states
Romney tied his dog to the top of his car
Obama ate his dog
Romney hasn’t released his tax returns
Obama hasn’t released his college transcripts.
Etc Etc Etc, ad infinitum and ad nauseum!