Remarks on video begin at 9:05 mark.
Senior Obama strategist David Axelrod hammered likely GOP nominee Mitt Romney for his criticism of the administration’s handling of Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng.
“I think what's shameful is when presidential candidates are so craven to score political points that they speak irresponsibly on half information at a time when the president is trying, and the administration is trying to resolve a situation that is very, very sensitive and very difficult,” Axelrod said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”
Chen, a blind human rights activist who has been under house arrest, sought refuge in the U.S. embassy last week. A deal to allow Chen to live with his family and receive regular contact with U.S. diplomats quickly unraveled last week after Chen said his family had been threatened by Chinese officials and that he wanted to leave the country.
Romney called the incident “dark day for freedom” and “a day of shame for the Obama administration.”
“We want to help Mr. Chen achieve his goal, which is to come here, and we want to do it in accordance with our values, and we want to be successful in doing that. And we're making some progress in that regard,” said Axelrod. “But it doesn't help to have candidates blunderbussing around, trying to score political points, when we're in the middle of that process.”
Click here to read more on The Hill's Global Affairs blog.
