From: Justin Ruben, MoveOn.org Political Action

Dear MoveOn member,

Our hearts go out to the families of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and the other Americans who lost their lives during Tuesday night’s attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya. Demonstrations outside several U.S. embassies continue, and American officials may still be in danger.

At such a grave moment, Mitt Romney could have chosen words to help console and unite a nation in grief. Instead, he launched a false and craven attack on our president.

Romney accused President Obama of “sympathizing” with the murderers and apologizing for American values, based on a statement the president never made.1

Even Republicans were shocked by Romney’s response. “Just calling it a ‘disgrace’ doesn’t really cut it,” says a former John McCain aide.2 “It wasn’t presidential,” according to a former Bush State Department official.3

When faced with a national emergency, Romney rushed to judgment, acted rashly, lied to the American people, and put politics ahead of the national interest.

That’s something voters need to consider when they decide who has the temperament to be Commander in Chief. You have the power to make that happen by getting in the most highly read section of the newspaper: the letters to the editor.

Here’s what happened. In response to a clearly offensive amateur film defaming Islam, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo condemned efforts “to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims.”4

In a misguided attempt to exploit the Libyan tragedy, Romney falsely attributed this statement to the White House, falsely claimed it was an apology, and falsely identified it as a response to the attacks, even though it was made before the attacks.5

In fact, while President Obama rightly rejected the denigration of religious beliefs, he strongly condemned the attacks, saying, “we must all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of these public servants.”6

Americans are probably asking themselves today whether Romney failed a critical test of leadership. One senior Republican even called this Romney’s “Lehman moment,” in reference to Senator McCain’s failure to act as a steady leader in response to the Lehman Brother’s crisis in 2008.7

But what matters even more is what you think. Your voice can be the most powerful in shaping the views of your friends and neighbors. So share your thoughts about what Romney’s actions say about his fitness to lead.

Thanks for all you do.

–Justin, Laura, Stefanie, Wes, and the rest of the team
Sources:

1. “Obama Condemns Attack That Kills Ambassador to Libya,” The New York Times, September 12, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=280653&id=51585-21095459-zzRfgCx&t=4
2. “Foreign Policy Hands Voice Disbelief At Romney Cairo Statement,” BuzzFeed, September 12, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=280582&id=51585-21095459-zzRfgCx&t=5
3. Ibid.
4. “An embassy statement, a tweet, and a major misunderstanding,” The Washington Post, September 13, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=280652&id=51585-21095459-zzRfgCx&t=6
“Mitt Romney will never be president,” Salon.com, September 12, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=280608&id=51585-21095459-zzRfgCx&t=7
5. Ibid.
6. “Obama Addresses Libya Attacks, Death of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens,” The Huffington Post, September 12, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=280661&id=51585-21095459-zzRfgCx&t=8
7. “Foreign Policy Hands Voice Disbelief At Romney Cairo Statement,” BuzzFeed, September 12, 2012

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Sent by MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

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Romney’s shameless attempt to exploit the consulate tragedy in Libya as a political attack shows a lack of character and judgment. Send that message to members of your community by writing a letter to the editor (it’s the most read section of the paper!).

Write a letter to the editor about Romney’s character and judgement.
Influence views in your community by writing a letter to the editor.
http://pol.moveon.org/lte/lte_t.html?zip=45402&lte_campaign_id=140

Mitt Romney’s Fitness to Lead

Our hearts go out to the families of U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and the other Americans who lost their lives during Tuesday night’s attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya.

At such a grave moment, Mitt Romney could have helped console and unite a nation in grief, instead of launching a false and craven attack on our president. Romney’s irresponsible and misleading response to the tragedy have raised serious concerns about his ability to lead, even from within his own party.
[. . .]

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=280582&id=51585-21095459-zzRfgCx&t=9