British PM 'middle of nowhere' comment elicits jab
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Mitt Romney jabbed. British Prime Minister David Cameron countered. Salt Lake City's mayor hit back.
Ah, let the games begin. No, not the much-anticipated 2012 Olympics, but an across-the-pond kerfuffle between London, the host city, and Salt Lake City, the home of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
It began with the suggestion from presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who led the Utah games, that British officials might not be prepared to pull off a successful Olympics.
The remark sparked sharp responses from Britain's top officials, including Cameron, who said it was easier to hold an Olympics in the "middle of nowhere." That "middle of nowhere" seemed a reference to Salt Lake City.
Enter the city's mayor, Ralph Becker, whose office noted Friday that officials in Utah would gladly educate Cameron on all Salt Lake City has to offer, even providing a map "so he doesn't run into any trouble locating the middle of nowhere."
"We'd welcome the opportunity to share all that we enjoy here with the PM, including a great number of assets that you'd be hard-pressed to find in London," said the mayor's spokesman, Art Raymond.
Raymond pointed to world-class outdoor recreation, a resilient and prospering economy, one of the best-educated populations in the world and a rare sense of community.
Romney's political career was born from his leading role in organizing the 2002 games, which were plagued by scandal before he was tapped to take over. His remarks about London's readiness drew the ire of residents across the United Kingdom.
Cameron said: "We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. Of course, it's easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere."
The British news media also weighed in, lampooning Romney at that start of his trip to meet foreign leaders.
"Who invited party-pooper Romney?" the Daily Mail quipped. "Nowhere Man" declared the more reserved Times of London. "Mitt the Twit" screamed The Sun's headline.
Cameron said Romney and others would "see beyond doubt that Britain can deliver."
Back in Utah, Becker's office paid no mind to Romney's comment, which the former Massachusetts governor walked back on Friday, saying "it looks to me like London is ready."
Ah, let the games begin. No, not the much-anticipated 2012 Olympics, but an across-the-pond kerfuffle between London, the host city, and Salt Lake City, the home of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
It began with the suggestion from presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who led the Utah games, that British officials might not be prepared to pull off a successful Olympics.
The remark sparked sharp responses from Britain's top officials, including Cameron, who said it was easier to hold an Olympics in the "middle of nowhere." That "middle of nowhere" seemed a reference to Salt Lake City.
Enter the city's mayor, Ralph Becker, whose office noted Friday that officials in Utah would gladly educate Cameron on all Salt Lake City has to offer, even providing a map "so he doesn't run into any trouble locating the middle of nowhere."
"We'd welcome the opportunity to share all that we enjoy here with the PM, including a great number of assets that you'd be hard-pressed to find in London," said the mayor's spokesman, Art Raymond.
Raymond pointed to world-class outdoor recreation, a resilient and prospering economy, one of the best-educated populations in the world and a rare sense of community.
Romney's political career was born from his leading role in organizing the 2002 games, which were plagued by scandal before he was tapped to take over. His remarks about London's readiness drew the ire of residents across the United Kingdom.
Cameron said: "We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. Of course, it's easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere."
The British news media also weighed in, lampooning Romney at that start of his trip to meet foreign leaders.
"Who invited party-pooper Romney?" the Daily Mail quipped. "Nowhere Man" declared the more reserved Times of London. "Mitt the Twit" screamed The Sun's headline.
Cameron said Romney and others would "see beyond doubt that Britain can deliver."
Back in Utah, Becker's office paid no mind to Romney's comment, which the former Massachusetts governor walked back on Friday, saying "it looks to me like London is ready."
The US fought and won two wars against the Brits and in the last century we had to go to war twice to keep them from becoming a German colony. Now we're supposed to care because some of them got their tails in a twist over a comment made by a Presidential candidate.
If this is the biggest gaff the Dems can find to throw at Romney he's in pretty good shape.
 @Mej47 Everything you say is true but, oddly enough, you leave out one key point, the British are our ally. It is just a simple matter of not going over there and saying anything that belittles them, embarrasses them or gets them mad at us. In a way, this is a double offense for Mitt. Because he is the presumptive Republican nominee, he does represent the US and should be careful about what he says for that reason alone. As well, as a guy who was once in charge of some Olympic games, it is kind of tactless to criticize those who are in charge of the current games.Â
@kennewickman The Brits; like the rest of our so called allies only support us when it benefits them. In the war on terror they've been reluctant allies at best. Of course when they needed technical assistance during the Falklands war they were our long lost cousins.
If the time ever comes when the US really needs an ally I think the nations standing in line to offer us assistance will be very short and I doubt if any of our European friends will be  there.
Â
It is probably a good idea not to start trading insults with the British, they have some particularly well-honed skills in this area.Â
That's one salty lake too they got there in those parts. Â
In other news we will be sending in a delegation of Dentists so the Brits will know what one looks like. You see a D.H.E.R.T. (Dental Hygienist Emergency Response Team) is being built up to send post haste to the British Isles to prepare the bloody Brits for a good teeth cleaning. They could use some mouthwash too it seems.
Why is it that NOBODY, inlcuding KOMO can get the facts of this story right? I would challenge anyone to produce tape or video of Romney saying anything remotely to the effect that ..."British officials might not be prepared to pull off a successful Olympics". HE NEVER SAID SUCH A THING! Allhe did was comment on the "issues" that plagued the London Olympics in preparing for this event, Imigration officials threatening strike and private contract guards backing out of their contract. Funny thing is how KOMO and the other mainstream meadia twisted this and jumped all over it. How many days did it take the mainstream media to report Obama's famous "you didn't build that" speech..TRY 3 DAYS! Shame on you KOMO for presenting such a false and misleading story!
 @AnAmerican Citizen How many days did it take the mainstream media to report Obama's famous "you didn't build that" speech..TRY 3 DAYS!Â
Â
That's because Obama was referring to the infrastructure that supports business - things like roads, bridges, colleges and universities - and not to the businesses themselves. Â Until the Republicans and the right wing media took it out of context, it was a non-story. Â I think you're the one that needs to "get the facts of this story right."
 @Cetus The rest of the speech makes clear his disdain for business. The context makes it worse actually. He was putting down those who think they are "smarter" or "work harder." Epic fail on President O's part. No more Mr. Nice Guy for Team Romney. Looks like paybacks a byatch (for taking Romney OOC). Get your Big Girl Pants on.  This isn't Lame McCain's campaign.
 @kennewickman I think  "evolving" positions are a bit of wash between the two.
Â
And... this... video of which you speak? Will it be playing on my Talking Picture Box anytime soon? Perhaps they will replay Mr. Romney's campaign speech positioned in front  of the Solyndra building. That was a good one. Or maybe his speech in front of the hostile NAACP where he had the spheres to go, KNOWING that 99% of the audience is going to vote based on pigmentation. Be sure to throw in the standing ovation at the end. Wouldn't want it to be taken out of context. Oh, they can show Obama's speech to the NAACP as well... oh... maybe not.Â
Â
I guess he was "busy" that day...
Â
My bad.
 @Sid Vishess Yep, as flyskiwindsurf quite aptly says, not true. You are right though about the fact that this isn't McCain lame express to oblivion, it is far worse. The real action hasn't even begun yet, when it does Mitt will not be able to withstand the withering fire. He has left a video record for all to see that show him as nothing more than a sociopathic liar, someone willing to say anything to get the job.
@Sid Vishess. Not true.
@AnAmerican Citizen This is what he said "Â saying that the preparations he had seen were âdisconcertingâ and that it is âhard to know just how well it will turn out.â
Yes, pretty much an insult. You of course have FOX written all over you and don't know the difference between fact and fiction. By the way The British PM, London's mayor and a good part England took the comment as  an insult.
So I guess Romney's forgien policy is to go around critizing our allies.
 @snoopy84  @AnAmerican At least we will see continuity in foerign policy under his Presidency then, eh?
Â
"Obama Disses Ally" (and consider the source! Not exactly Fox (#1) News, eh?)
Â
http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2010/03/obama-snubbed-netanyahu-for-dinner-israelis-claim/
"
Shame on Mitt for being rude regarding such an important event. Remember when your mom taught you "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"? Maybe his mom forgot that lesson. I hope this isn't an example of what we could expect from him if he were to be elected president.
@justmyopinion Go back and watch what he said, this story is wrong and misleading.
 @AnAmerican Citizen Here are his actual words in quotes. It certainly doesn't seem to me to be something supportive a world leader would say when visiting on foreign soil. I'm not making a statement of whether or not what he said was truthful, I take issue with the wisdom of the remarks.   "You know, it's hard to know just how well it will turn out. There are a few things that were disconcerting, the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials, that obviously is not something which is encouraging."Â
Â
And, if you want to talk about remarks being taken out of context, it seems to me the Romney campaign has been the leader in that area.
Â
Â
This is what the Seattle Times has as a sub headline:
Â
The presidential candidate irritates Brits by casting doubt on London's readiness for the Games, spills the beans on an unpublicized meeting with MI-6, muffs protocol at a news conference and raises money with bankers under investigation in a rate-fixing scandal
Â
I swear, there's a Mastercard commercial just screaming to get out of there, with the "priceless" line being the one about the money raising.
@LocalLady. Robmoney is such a tool.
I know that Prime Minister Cameron will surely use the map so that he knows where NOT to travel to if he ever visits the U.S. Just let it go Salt Lake, your boy Mittens has already done enough to embarrass us all.
Salt Lake City is in the middle of God's country. I don't mean that religeously either. I mean it's just a beautiful area and lots to explore.
But....Salt Lake City IS in the middle of Nowhere!
 @orcasthunder:Â
Â
Reminds me of the SWC/SMC "Red States Tour" (the Director's pet name for it - it was actually the Rocky Mountain States Tour). The joke was that SWC+SMC combined outnumbered the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (and they were a LOT more fun, too!). Wonder what all those Mormon thought about all those gays & lesbians showing up in their city & performing?
 @LocalLady I don't know. I haven't exactly partied with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Who knows? That could be one 'wild and crazy' group.Â
 @LocalLady Well...as long as they stay out of the parks...<g>
 @OrcasThunder Isn't that why you go to Salt Lake? To get away from everything and go skiing? This whole tuff is a joke. First of all I have been reading for weeks that the British have been complaining that they weren't ready for the Olympics. I guess they just didn't want someone else pointing it out? Salt Lake just got the biggest boost they have gotten since the last Olympics...everyone just said, "oh yeah I remember that place".
 @whoareyou Apparently, simple manners when a guest are not something you understand.Â
 @kennewickman I have no problem with gay marriage, I believe that Obama is a US Citizen, my kid's go to the dentist and I am in an inter-racial marriage and my kids are a mix of races? Care to assume any other stereotypes? Like I said..you are 100% a partisan, elite and now a racist! How do you even know that I am white? What a frigin' hypocrite you prove you are with each statement. I am liberal on about a third of my beliefs, so in this case your assuming made an ass out of only you!
@whoareyou Geez, shouldn't you be elsewhere hyperventilating about gay marriage, Obama's birh certificate, fluoridation, or non-whites having the temerity to vote. While I appreciate your ceaseless efforts here helping to 'refudiate' the 'lame stream media', I just worry you might be overtaxing your wit, in fact, I worry you might even be running a deficit.
 @OrcasThunder BTW..I could agree with you on something (which I am actually liberal on a number of issues) and you will still attack. That is what is called partisan!
 @OrcasThunder No my partisanship doesn't, as I have said above BOTH Salt Lake and London should take a breather and not be so PC about this silliness. If the British themselves are saying they aren't ready and Salt Lake is in the middle of nowhere and usually is proud of it, then what is the problem from both sides? See that is what is called not being partisan! You should try it sometime. Finally, your last two sentences are silly. I have no problem with anyone expressing their viewpoints. I am just pointing out the hypocrisy in YOURS! Every topic, no matter what, you are partisan.  You just proved it. You go after Salt Lake for questioning the PMs gaffe and crucify Romney for doing less of one. That is called blind partisanship. I think both the PM and Salt Lake are being childish in this debate....as are you!
 @whoareyou "Of course your partisanship shows through again and again"
Â
And yours doesn't?
Â
Is it you view that only those who agree with your particular position have the right to express an opinion?
Â
If that's the case, than why are you here, on a DISCUSSION board? Want to control the conversation, start your own blog!
 @kennewickman I swear you are so partisan that no matter what a conservative says or does you will flip out! No problem with the PM insulting Utah, but God forbid Romney echos what the British themselves are saying. You are such a joke! I for the most part was agreeing with you that both sides of this (London and Salt Lake) should take a breather. Of course your partisanship shows through again and again. You on the other hand have no problem making fun left and right of the south and those who are beneath your liberal elitism!
 @whoareyou That's just it, they don't appreciate some outsider telling them they're doing it wrong.
Â
Look at it this way. Your house is a mess. You know it's a mess. You know there's dishes stacked up in the sink and the trash needs taken out. But when you have a guest you expect them to be polite and not point out that the dishes need washed and the trash needs emptied. It's rude and presumptuous to go into someone else's home and point out that there's something amiss. And Romney's doing so highlights his distinct lack of diplomacy and tact, especially when dealing with one of our closest allies. Not something you want to see from someone who is vying to be the one dictating our foreign policy.
 @Cetus Yep...helps strain the bugs out...
 @LNSeveN I think you are good either way if the Lizard King shows up. I think he was very flexible in his demands about the cleanliness of his surroundings. I understand that he would have been a bit more concerned about the supply of whiskey.Â
 @OrcasThunder We have coffee cups that say "Everything tastes better with dog hair in it".
 @Mikeftm I have a small sign at the door: "Dog hair is a condiment"...
 @Mikeftm The flip side of that is I wouldn't dream of having a guest over with my home looking or smelling like a pigsty, Then again if Jim Morrison shows up it might be different., I would want him to feel at home.
 @OrcasThunder How dare you SIR! It's between Wendover, NV and Vernal,UT!