No Apology: The Case for American Greatness.

• Author: Fischer, Raymond L.
• Position: Book review

NO APOLOGY The Case for American Greatness

BY MITT ROMNEY

ST. MARTIN'S PRESS, NEW YORK

2010, 305 PAGES, $25.99

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After each of three political campaigns, Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, felt he had communicated less than intended. In No Apology, Romney shares his Americanism more comprehensively than he did in state and national elections. He selected the title because he believes that the U.S. has earned its leadership of free nations and Americans "have nothing to apologize for:'

Romney predicates much of his writing on the conviction that strengthening the American people will allow the U.S. to "meet its destiny for greatness for centuries to come." Furthermore, he believes the country's economic end military leadership not only "proves good for America, but is critical for freedom end peace across the world? The author describes the course he feels the nation must follow in order to remain prosperous, secure, and free.

Although the book is "not an attack piece" on the Obama Administration, Romney finds criticism "unavoidable" when policies seem "harmful to the future generations of America? The Administration has "undergirded" more then 60 years of U.S. foreign policy, "an unnecessary end unwise" rupture. Specifically, Romney objects to Pres. Barack Obama's vision that the nation's purpose is to "arbitrate disputes rather then advocate ideals."

In making an "American apology tour" to France, England, Turkey, end Egypt, Obama established himself as the first American president to apologize extensively for "American misdeeds? Thus, he signaled to foreign countries that their dislike of the U.S. is "something he understands" Obama's speeches have included a "steady stream of criticism, put-downs, and jabs" directed against the nation he swore to represent end defend. So critical was Obama's speech before the United Nations that Cuba's Fidel Castro, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, and Libya's Muammar al-Gaddafi "lavished him with praise."

Romney considers "incessant national fault finding" end apologetic fervor "ominous and potentially dangerous" to the U.S's "culture of citizenship? The country needs a revitalization of pride, patriotism, and "national morality end goodness" Despite popular negativism, Romney remains optimistic about the nation's future; inherently good, American people need a "new commitment to citizenship."

In presenting his views end beliefs, Romney has no concern for the political...