Thank You, Mitt Romney!

[Crabtownboy]

Maybe some good will result from Romney's gaffe in Israel.

Romney's observation that "culture makes all the difference", which he offered as his explanation for the disparities between the Israeli and Palestinian economies, was so remarkably out of touch with reality that it set off an unprecedented explosion of press commentary in the U.S. and Europe. In the two days that followed these remarks, the "Palestinian economy" received more than 6,700 mentions in the media. Most of the U.S.'s major daily newspapers featured articles, commentary, and even editorials taking issue with the Romney quote - highlighting repressive Israeli policies, and not an "inferior culture" as the reason for the poor performance of the Palestinian economy. Most made this point by including citations from the World Bank ("the government of Israel's security restrictions continue to stymie investment") and the C.I.A. World Factbook ("Israeli closure policies continue to disrupt labor and trade flows, industrial capacity, and basic commerce...[and] have resulted in high unemployment, elevated poverty rates, and the near collapse of the private sector"). What is striking is that while these assessments were not new, it took Romney's remarks to bring them into the public discourse. In fact, when the most recent World Bank report was published just a few days earlier, it received scant attention. The only take away for many reporters was the Bank's comment that the Palestinian's were too dependent on foreign aid and that their "economy is currently not strong enough to support...a state" - a line latched onto by opponents of the Palestinian's bid for statehood.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-zogby/thank-you-mitt-romney_b_1741245.html

 

[targus]

Yes, of course everyone knows that there was a flourishing high tech garden of eden society in Palestine before Israel showed on the scene to tear it all down and destroy all evidence of it's very existence.

The people of Palestine have been know for centuries for their artistic, scientific and social superiority.

The Palestine population was the envy of the world for their outstanding level of education and wealth.

If only the U.S. shared one tenth of the cultural success of Palestine...

We too could be sitting in the dirt all day, surpressing our women and plotting the down fall of the entire civilized world.

 

[just-want-peace]

Palestine is desolate and unlovely. And why should it be otherwise? Can the curse of the Deity beautify a land?

It's time for YOU, Crabby, to get a reading assignment.

http://kreplach-oy.blogspot.com/2007/06/mark-twain-on-palestine-in-1867.html

Maybe Romney's gaffe was only a gaffe in the eyes of the uninformed; ya think maybe????

--highlighting repressive Israeli policies, and not an "inferior culture" as the reason for the poor performance of the Palestinian economy.

And you believe the MSM -- SHAME!!!

Israel was nowhere to be found when ole Mark made his observations!!!:sleep:

Such gullibility is pathetic!!

 

[saturneptune]

Crabby,
There are openings for a history and political science professor at Almeda University.

http://almedauniversity.org/

 

[mandym]

Maybe some good will result from Romney's gaffe in Israel.

It wasn't a gaff. And he is correct.