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'On the Record' panel examines reactions by Obama and Romney to US embassy attacks in Cairo and Libya
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Joining us out our political panel ABC news senior Washington editor Rick Klein -- Zander chief political correspondent Byron York and time magazine deputy Washington bureau chief Michael Crowley.
Time's latest cover story focusing on the trouble overseas trip first -- the president says Saddam.
That governor rising -- Tennessee to shoot first and later.
Yeah I -- this was teed up for him because Mitt Romney decided to make this bold play overnight ended up backfiring to an extent because because of the events that happened even after that statement went out.
These campaigns present opportunities to candidates and Mitt Romney's got a lot of criticism for not being bold enough for not.
Taking strong -- in here in foreign policy where he's got a deficit going against President Obama.
His campaign sense an opportunity and they decided to take it makes -- it with a strong statement that he.
Decided to reiterate today the Obama campaign sees -- opportunity they know they can play that commander in chief -- whenever they want.
Don't want to hear things like that the first ethic -- he says it.
This seems so -- to issue first came in the first half that was the beer summit for the present had to have because he took sides with -- front -- -- professor at Harvard University.
-- against the police he said the police acted stupidly before they heard any facts that sounds like -- -- first before you.
Karen from the state tonight -- Yeah well you know I.
Fired on him on the because it was just instant -- consensus that developed in the press that he made a terrible mistake.
And I'm not sure if -- the American public has the same opinion if you look at this news conference that he kind of hastily arranged news conference it was in Jacksonville I think today.
Every single question was variation of did you make a mistake was this a mistake did you do it too early did you say the wrong thing.
The that the Obama administration has a tendency to apologize for US actions there's -- history that about the the administration and indeed.
Mitt Romney's book is called no apology.
So -- I think the -- people think that they have they're on message right now.
Well they may be on message I think they miss an opportunity I think that they -- you you can argue.
Honestly about different world views I think that Mitt Romney feels a Barack Obama I don't vote.
What about never apologizing never said I'm sorry America apologizes -- I think in diplomatic speak that word has a very specific meaning but.
Five with the Romney people in Boston will -- and -- me today.
People understand what they mean he went around the world sending a signal that the Bush Administration had excesses and it did things wrong.
And that that America has and he's got stronger and firmer and it's police more unwavering that's a that's a philosophical difference you can happen but I think Romney shot himself in the foot by coming out.
Before the facts were clear this new dvd store was still in motion.
And open himself up to these charges that he was being -- trying to score political points wears -- he waited until later today when we knew all the facts.
Does it affect my -- better program or -- better organized criticism the president would do to set essentially the same thing.
That's fine but he would have the -- no one could accuse him that he was shooting from the hip and no decision was being political and I just think that as a matter political process have been better to wait and have a philosophical argument you're your point is is -- when we learned that the ambassador had been killed.
That sort of put it up the important skill so much that they did Romney's statement just with an appropriate assessment I think so yeah and and -- hasty that he wasn't getting all the facts and attacked -- ticket but for.
