On Tuesday's NBC Nightly News, anchor Brian Williams smugly dismissed Mitt Romney's overseas trip as having, "ended today almost the way it started here in London, with controversy, some hurt feelings, and some raw tempers. Campaigning back home in the states is hard enough. The stakes weren't supposed to be this high for the campaign overseas." [Listen to the audio [1]]
Correspondent Peter Alexander followed: "...this trip has been supposed
to be, according to his advisors, a low-risk one....But it was at times
marred by missteps. Romney offending his Olympic hosts and Palestinian
leaders."
Alexander touted reporters inappropriately shouting questions during
Romney's visit to Poland's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as more evidence
of "missteps": "Tensions grew today between the press and the campaign
over restricted access. And this morning it boiled over when Romney
ignored shouted questions and a press aide angrily intervened."
Alexander also highlighted the incident on Tuesday's Today [2] show.
Wrapping up his Nightly News report, Alexander proclaimed: "Be
very clear tonight, Brian, this did not go the way the campaign had
planned. And tonight, as they land back in Boston, they are all happy to
be focusing on what they think is the top issue in this election, the
economy."
Here is a full transcript of the July 31 report:
7:06PM ET
BRIAN
WILLIAMS: Now to Mitt Romney's three-nation overseas trip, which ended
today almost the way it started here in London, with controversy, some
hurt feelings, and some raw tempers. Campaigning back home in the states
is hard enough. The stakes weren't supposed to be this high for the
campaign overseas. NBC's Peter Alexander is traveling with the Governor
and remains in Warsaw tonight. Peter, good evening.
PETER ALEXANDER: Brian, good evening to you. Here in Poland, Mitt
Romney wrapped up his week-long foreign tour visiting several war
memorials and also praising the Polish people and their thriving small
government, free enterprise economy. He made it clear that this trip has
been supposed to be, according to his advisors, a low-risk one, with
Romney projecting the image of a leader ready for the world stage. But
it was at times marred by missteps. Romney offending his Olympic hosts
and Palestinian leaders. Tensions grew today between the press and the
campaign over restricted access. And this morning it boiled over when
Romney ignored shouted questions and a press aide angrily intervened.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN [REPORTER]: Governor Romney, just a few questions sir!
You haven't taken but three questions on this trip from the press!
UNIDENTIFIED MAN B [ROMNEY PRESS AIDE]: Show some respect, Jim. Kiss my
ass. This is a holy site for the Polish people. Show some respect.
ALEXANDER: That press aide later apologized to reporters. But be very
clear tonight, Brian, this did not go the way the campaign had planned.
And tonight, as they land back in Boston, they are all happy to be
focusing on what they think is the top issue in this election, the
economy.
WILLIAMS: Peter Alexander in Warsaw. Peter, thanks.