If you're advertising yourself as the businessman with vastly more experience in the private sector, shouldn't you at least be able to achieve a minimal level of competence when it comes to hiring staffers?
A Mitt Romney aide told reporters to "shove it" Tuesday morning after the American press corps here shouted questions at the presidential candidate.Hmm, let's see: Romney hired Richard Grenell without quite realizing that his sexist wisecracks on Twitter would be an embarrassment (and also without realizing that religious rightists would demand the openly gay, pro-marriage equality Grenell's head). Romney also hired (and continues to employ) Eric "Etch A Sketch" Fehrnstrom. And now Gorka goes to a holy site in Poland and tries to act like a club bouncer guarding a velvet rope. Hey, Mitt -- isn't a quarter-century as a CEO supposed to teach you something about the importance of good personnel decisions?
As Romney was walking away from Pilsudski Square toward his vehicle, reporters asked him about his string of gaffes and whether he had any comment for Palestinians, some of whom took offense at the Republican's suggestion Monday in Jerusalem that Israel's economy is superior because of cultural advantages Israelis enjoy. Romney ignored the questions and got in his car.
But his traveling press secretary was furious.
"Kiss my ass; this is a holy site for the Polish people," said aide Rick Gorka. "Show some respect."
Gorka then told a reporter to "shove it."
Of course, the problem here is that Romney is used to building teams for an enterprise that's simply not answerable to most of the outside world. Plus, he's hiring from a talent pool that has no respect for people outside the conservative tribe. So maybe Mitt's vaunted business experience doesn't help him at all in this -- nor would it help him if he were president. Just the opposite, in fact.
