GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney offered up a speech yesterday critiquing President Obama’s foreign policy record, which most pundits—even some conservatives like New York Times columnist David Brooks—view as one of the biggest successes of the Obama administration.
Romney went after Obama’s handling of Iran’s nuclear threat, the violence in Syria and relations with Israel during a speech at the convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a group that the president also addressed.
“This conduct is contemptible,” Romney said of the leaks of classified information. “It betrays our national interest. It compromises our men and women in the field. And it demands a full and prompt investigation by a special prosecutor, with explanation and consequence.”
Up until now, the leak accusations had come from Republicans in Congress, but now Romney is trotting them out to see if he can get any traction from them. This was the first time Romney brought any real passion to attacking the president on any foreign policy-related matters.
“What kind of White House would reveal classified material for political gain? I’ll tell you right now: Mine won’t,” Romney said.
Although U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has appointed two federal prosecutors to investigate the leaks, Romney indicated that this wasn’t enough. But it’s probably all that the GOP will get on the issue, since the White House has rejected calls for a special prosecutor, saying there is no need for one.
During a news conference last month, Obama called the leak accusations “offensive” and “wrong.”
