In 2012, Democrats laughed at Mitt Romney’s assertion that Russia was America’s “number one geopolitical foe.” Four years later, members of the same party will probably want to eat their words in light of Russia’s apparent role in the Democratic National Committee hack — which resulted in more than 20,000 stolen emails getting published by Wikileaks, a “transparent Russian FSB operation.”
Officials with knowledge of the ongoing FBI investigation into the hack told CNN the breach is just one incident of many from Russia — which prominent Democrats laughingly dismissed as totally not our foe not so long ago.
During a 2012 meeting with Russia’s then-president Dmitry Medvedev, Obama told the foreign leader he would have “more flexibility” to discuss missile defense after his last election. His candid remarks were caught on a hot mic, infuriating many including Romney, who was running for president at the time.
Romney told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that Russia was America’s “number one geopolitical foe,” a statement heavily mocked by Democrats.
“Russia, this is, without question, our number one geopolitical foe,” Romney said. “They fight every cause for the world’s worst actors. The idea that he has some more flexibility in mind for Russia is very, very troubling, indeed.”
1. Obama Replays Sick Middle School Burn
In response, Obama mocked Romney’s statement: “The 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because…the Cold War’s been over for 20 years.”
2. Clinton: It’s So Last Season To Be Concerned About Russia
Hillary Clinton got in on the action, saying it was “somewhat dated” to be worried about Russia.
The self-titled “pantsuit aficionado” should probably stop judging other people for doing things that are “dated,” am I right?
3.Joe Biden: It May Be A Gaffe; I Would Know
Vice President Joe Biden suggested Romney’s assertion might’ve been either a slip of the tongue, or an indication that he belongs to “a small group of Cold War holdovers.”
4.John Kerry: Bro, Have You Even Seen ‘Rocky Balboa?’
Secretary of State John Kerry suggested during the 2012 Democratic National Convention the former Massachusetts governor’s understanding of Russian relations was gleaned from Cold-War era flicks.
“Mitt Romney talks like he’s only seen Russia by watching ‘Rocky IV,’” he said.
5. MSNBC: Russia Is Our BFF!
MSNBC’s Chris Matthews and Rachael Maddow both mocked Obama’s then-opponent, claiming he was merely trying to copy Ronald Reagan.
“He read about Reagan’s private, outside-the-CIA cabal of team-B zealots who were telling him that Russia had all the stuff they didn’t have so he could justify a giant defense budget,” Maddow said.
“I don’t know what decade this guy’s living in,” Matthews said. “Is he trying to play Ronald Reagan here, or what?”
You can watch clips of their comments in full here.