Romney’s Olympolitics

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Buckingham Palace will be full of Hollywood Stars, renowned sports stars and more than a hundred head of States.  The whole world will be present this Friday in London which has become an enormous media frenzy. In the VIP section of the Olympic Stadium just a stone throw away from Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, we will see the Republican champion Romney trying to strike up a conversation with William and Kate or admiring Mohamed Ali’s biceps.

The ex governor of Massachusetts not only owes his presence at the opening ceremony  as the Republican nominee to the American Presidential election but also to his past as organiser of the Winter Olympics in 2002.  In 1999, the former business man is asked to save the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics from near bankruptcy in the Mormon religion strong hold.  Thanks to his leadership and effective management, Romney becomes known as the ‘Games Saver”.

After this success, Romney will be seen in Olympia, the birth place of the games and also in the 2008 Beijing games next to George Bush. Romney has become a usual site in the Olympics and he coming to London on his comfortable zone

The Romney & Bush couples in the 2008 Beijing Games – The past and the future of the Republican Party (Mandel Ngan-AFP-Getty Images)

Mitt Romney’s presence this week in the British Capital is not only to admire the athletes but also to make sure he is seen in ‘the place to be’ of the moment.  To help him gain credibility on the international scene and by boomerang effect improve his ‘Presidential’ image with the Americans.  London is only the first step on a foreign tour which will take him to Israel and then to Poland where he  will meet more Heads of state and other celebrities.The London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony is the perfect stage to remind the American voters his part in saving the 2002 Games.  A very strong point on his resume that reinforces him campaign message that he is the saver of the economy.  Just like in 2002, Romney is the man that will take the US out of the economic crisis!

Mitt Romney a the time of the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City (Video in French)

Diplomatic Apprentice

Other than attending the Olympic Games, Romney’s presence is also to highlight the ‘Special Relationship’ between the United States and the United Kingdom.  Talking on the American TV channel NBC News, the Republican Champion reaffirmed the ‘Special Relationship’ between the two nations which is based on their common culture and history.  Romney also took advantage to show himself with Tony Blair and David Cameron.

Unfortunately for him, his first diplomatic steps were overshadowed by his declarations over the Games organisation.  On a television interview on NBC, Romney, expressed his doubts on problems with the UK border control, the security and the involvement of the London people in the Games. (see video) Romney’s views did not go down well with the Game hosts.  Boris Johnson, the eccentric London Mayor, didn’t hesitate to openly contradict Mitt Romney in front of thousands (see video).

The Republican nominee also revealed, to show his importance, that he also discussed geo political subjects with the MI6 chief, the foreign arm of the British Secret Services.  Not very discreet!

Liborgate

The former Governor of Massachusetts, while visiting London will also take the opportunity to finance his campaign.  However, British support for his campaign may not help his image…
Throughout his career at Bain Capital, Romney created a lot of ties with the financial world all over the planet.  Of course, his former acquaintances with deep pockets are generously contributing to the campaign today.  Only problem, some of his financiers are tangled in ‘Liborgate’, a financial manipulation scandal that is shaking the City.  (Read more about this subject).

At least two of Romney’s allies are tangled in this story that could well shake up the campaign.  Bob Diamond, until a few weeks ago, CEO of the powerful Barclays Bank and Patrick Durkin, Board member of Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and HSBC.  Embarrassing allies who are suspects in the enormous Banking fraud scandal.

Potential corrupt millionaires are not the entourage that Mitt Romney needs at this moment, while he is already under attack from the Obama campaign surrounding his rôle in his former life at Bain Capital.  His ‘hidden’ fortune scattered around Tax-havens and his previous Financial statements that he refuses to reveal are heavy baggage that the Republican will have to carry with him until the election. (See article:  Obama Romney: Tous les coups sont permis)

Targeted Attacks

To celebrate in their fashion the opening of the Olympic Games, the Democrats will be pushing out new ‘Anti-Romney’ Olympic TV spots in some key states.  In the first, TV spot influenced by the super-pac:  ‘ Prioirites USA Action‘, Romney is seen the Leader in outsourcing.  In this clever spot, Romney is acclaimed by the Chinese and Indian delegations, who are thanking him for all the jobs created in their countries!

Myanmar is also mentioned, as the official costumes of the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Games were outsourced to the dictatorship.  Switzerland, the Bermudas and the Cayman Islands also praise the Republican Candidate for depositing millions of dollars in their banks!

Romney aims for Gold: One of the best TV ads of the campaign so far (video).

Another TV spot outlines once again the secrets of Romney’s tax declarations that he is refusing to make public.  Of course, there is no legal obligation to reveal them but in it is a tradition that most presidential candidates reval their past Tax declerations.  In this video, Romney avoids repeatedly to release his income tax records while a Horse is dancing around.  This is of course a video of Rafalca, Ann Romney’s horse.  The wife of the Republican nominee has found a real passion for Horses.  The Olympics are definitely a family tradition at the Romney household.

Do we really want a President who dances around the issues?(video)

After this busy stop in London, Mitt Romney will visit Israel before finishing his trip in Poland.  Two strong allies of the United States.  Strategic stops that will help him develop his presidential image.  Under the condition he avoids diplomatic slips and doesn’t transform his international campaign into disaster.

Every four years, the world’s most watched sporting event and the world’s most followed Presidential election happens.  Friday’s opening ceremony also kicks off the final sprint in the American presidential race.  A tedious event which opposes Mitt Romney and Barack Obama with the Whitehouse at the final.  A race that neither candidates will want a Silver Medal.

DAVID KETCHELL

> Voir l’article en français: Les jeux olympolitiques de Romney