Medvedev slams Romney for anti-Russia comments
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev criticized Mitt Romney
for his characterization of Russia as the United States' "No. 1
geopolitical foe," insisting his description of the current U.S.-Russia
relationship was based more on "Hollywood" than on reality.
"Regarding ideological clichés, every time this or
that side uses phrases like 'enemy No. 1,' this always alarms me, this smells
of Hollywood and certain times [of the past]," Medvedev said in a press
availability at the conclusion of a nuclear security summit in South Korea,
according to Reuters.
The outgoing Russian leader advised Romney and other
presidential contenders to "do at least two things."
"Use their head and consult their reason when they
formulate their positions, and that they check the time—it is now 2012, not the
mid-1970s," Medvedev declared.
His remarks come a day after Romney criticized President
Barack Obama for getting caught on an open mic Monday telling Medvedev he'd
have "more flexibility" in negotiations over a missile defense system
and arms control issues after the upcoming 2012 election. Obama later said he
was speaking to the reality of election year politics.
In an interview with CNN Monday, Romney slammed Obama's
remarks calling them "alarming" and "troubling."
"Who is it that always stands up with the world's
worst actors? It's always Russia, typically with China alongside. In terms of a
geopolitical foe, a nation that's on the Security Council, and as of course a
massive nuclear power, Russia is the geopolitical foe," Romney told CNN's
Wolf Blitzer. "The idea that our president is planning on doing something
with them that he's not willing to tell the American people before the election
is something I find very, very alarming."
Democrats immediately seized on Romney's remarks. In a
statement issued by the Democratic National Committee, former NATO Gen. Wesley
Clark accused Romney of trying to "rehash Cold War fears."
But the Romney campaign gave no signs of backing down.
Asked for a response to Medvedev's remarks, Romney's policy director, Lanhee
Chen, suggested it was more evidence that "the Kremlin would prefer to
continue doing business with the current incumbent of the White House."
"In contrast to President Obama, Gov. Romney is
clear-eyed about the geopolitical challenges Russia poses," Chen said in a
statement. "Russia's nuclear arsenal, its energy resources, it geographic
position astride Europe and Asia, the veto it wields on the U.N. Security
Council, and the creeping authoritarianism of its government make Russia a
unique geopolitical problem that frustrates progress on numerous issues of
vital concern to the United States."
But Medvedev and Obama's Democratic allies aren't the
only ones criticizing Romney for the remark. Asked by NBC's Luke Russert if he
agrees with Romney's remarks about Russia, Boehner deflected and it said was
inappropriate to be critical of Obama while he travels overseas.
"Clearly while the president is overseas, he's at a
conference, and while the president is overseas I think it's appropriate that
people not be critical of him or our country," Boehner told NBC.
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