--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The low point occurred in July, during…" description: "\"“The low point occurred in July, during Romney’s junior week abroad, in which the press became increasingly frustrated over Romney’s refusal to talk to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/mark-leibovich-14257_around-the-world_the-low-point-occurred-in-july-during-ro_10745.jpg" --- # The low point occurred in July, during Romney’s junior… ![“The low point occurred in July, during Romney’s junior week abroad, in which the press became increasingly frustrated over Romney’s refusal to talk to them. It came to a head in Warsaw during a visit by Romney to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier there. As the former governor walked to his car…” quote by Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/mark-leibovich-14257_around-the-world_the-low-point-occurred-in-july-during-ro_10745.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/mark-leibovich-14257_around-the-world_the-low-point-occurred-in-july-during-ro_10745.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/mark-leibovich-14257_around-the-world_the-low-point-occurred-in-july-during-ro_10745.jpg) > ““The low point occurred in July, during Romney’s junior week abroad, in which the press became increasingly frustrated over Romney’s refusal to talk to them. It came to a head in Warsaw during a visit by Romney to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier there. As the former governor walked to his car, reporters shouted questions at him about his earlier mishaps. “Kiss my ass,” admonished Romney’s traveling press aide, Rick Gorka. “Show some respect. This is a holy site for the Polish people.” Channeling Fonzie, Gorka also instructed Jonathan Martin of Politico to “shove it.” Some in the political echo-system treated this as a major international incident, a skirmish between weary but still potent superpowers—the press, the Romney campaign—that conjured Cold War–like tensions. After Gorka’s unsacred words raced around the world, the jackals rechristened the Polish holy site “Gorka Park.” Ryan, on the other”” [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The episode illustrates how a campaign’s aggressive stance toward the press can inflame tensions, turning a routine foreign visit into a symbolic clash over respect and media access. **In simple terms:** Campaign‑press conflict at a sacred site. Key Takeaway Media relations can become a political battlefield. Themes power dynamics media relations national symbolism political theater conflict escalation Mood irritated defiant sarcastic Type anecdote political commentary journalistic observation When to use this quote - campaign press briefings - foreign diplomatic visits - media‑campaign confrontations - public relations crises Key Concepts press freedom campaign strategy cultural sensitivity public perception Practical Applications - advising political teams on press strategy - training journalists on handling hostile sources Questions to Reflect On - How does a campaign balance message control with press freedom? - What are the risks of using confrontational language in diplomatic contexts? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Cold war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-war/) ## Related quotes > [“THERE ARE LOW points, and there are low points. This-rattling down an endless stretch of interstate in a Greyhound bus toward the middle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/there-are-low-points-and-there-are-low-points-this-rattling-down-an/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [“Middle age is such a low point for well-being; it's at the bottom of a U-shaped curve that shows greater happiness among the younger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/middle-age-is-such-a-low-point-for-well-being-it-s-at-the-bottom-of-a/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [“When you travel mentally from a low point to a high point, the ensuing inspiration eclipses the negativity of the initial downfall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-davis-jr/when-you-travel-mentally-from-a-low-point-to-a-high-point-the-ensuing/) [Raoul Davis Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-davis-jr/) > [A huge adrenaline rush is usually followed by a pretty low point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bode-miller/a-huge-adrenaline-rush-is-usually-followed-by-a-pretty-low-point/) [Bode Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bode-miller/) > [The truth hurts sometimes, particularly when it involves someone at a low point in their life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/the-truth-hurts-sometimes-particularly-when-it-involves-someone-at-a/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [The absolute low point for me in more than 30 years of professional life was the Brexit vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/the-absolute-low-point-for-me-in-more-than-30-years-of-professional/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [I think we're in a very low point of music right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crumb/i-think-we-re-in-a-very-low-point-of-music-right-now/) [George Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crumb/) > [“If you don't acquire the discipline to push through a personal low point, you will miss the reward that comes with persevering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/if-you-don-t-acquire-the-discipline-to-push-through-a-personal-low/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [Florida was the low point.The entire state, yep. I'm not sure I'd go back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/florida-was-the-low-point-the-entire-state-yep-i-m-not-sure-i-d-go/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [Whenever I get to a low point, I go back to the basics. I ask myself, "Why am I doing this?" 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It was a low point in both of our lives, but being with him was still somehow the highlight of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/but-he-s-right-it-was-a-low-point-in-both-of-our-lives-but-being-with/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [I was at a really low point, thinking of going to university and doing a course because the music thing just wasn't happening for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leona-lewis/i-was-at-a-really-low-point-thinking-of-going-to-university-and-doing/) [Leona Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leona-lewis/) > [Sometimes you must experience a low point in life in order to learn a lesson you wouldn't have learned any other way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-must-experience-a-low-point-in-life-in-order-to-learn-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Mark Leibovich > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [To cover politics in Washington allows you to live in the very, very wide gap between what the actual truth is, and how people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/to-cover-politics-in-washington-allows-you-to-live-in-the-very-very/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Politicians, in many cases - their moral code will be dictated by what can get them reelected, what they can get away with. 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It has become this permanent feudal class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/washington-has-become-this-place-that-people-don-t-leave-it-has/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I'm just a journalist. I shine a mirror to the culture. I give the cop-out answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-m-just-a-journalist-i-shine-a-mirror-to-the-culture-i-give-the-cop/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [“a mantra she attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt: women in politics, she said, “need to develop skin as tough as a rhinoceros hide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/a-mantra-she-attributed-to-eleanor-roosevelt-women-in-politics-she/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I work for a big newspaper, and I guess I'm an insider. 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I have probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-been-a-print-reporter-my-whole-career-it-s-all-i-ever-wanted/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I think that part of being a good journalist, part of being an awake member of the world you're in, is to view yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-think-that-part-of-being-a-good-journalist-part-of-being-an-awake/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) [Explore all 47 Mark Leibovich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) ## More Around the world quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. 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These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It's difficult to believe in yourself because the idea of self is an artificial construction. You are, in fact, part of the glorious oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/it-s-difficult-to-believe-in-yourself-because-the-idea-of-self-is-an/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [Once, as an experiment, I travelled around the world with a single suit. Before I left, I went to a tailor in Savile Row…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/once-as-an-experiment-i-travelled-around-the-world-with-a-single-suit/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) > [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I believe there definitely are good things about social networking. It's a way for people to connect all around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/i-believe-there-definitely-are-good-things-about-social-networking-it/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [“Isn’t everyone on the planet or at least everyone on the planet called me stuck between the two impulses of wanting to walk away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/isn-t-everyone-on-the-planet-or-at-least-everyone-on-the-planet/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [You always can improve and I think that's the beauty of international cricket, particularly test cricket, is playing all around the world against different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-williamson/you-always-can-improve-and-i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-international/) [Kane Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-williamson/) > [Trump is reviled around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/trump-is-reviled-around-the-world/) [Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/) > [Knowledge is generally considered a good thing; so, presumably, knowing more about how the U.S. thinks and operates around the world is also good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/knowledge-is-generally-considered-a-good-thing-so-presumably-knowing/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) [Browse all 3,349 Around the world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The low point occurred in July, during Romney’s junior week abroad, in which the press became increasingly frustrated over Romney’s refusal to talk to them. It came to a head in Warsaw during a visit by Romney to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier there. As the former governor walked to his car, reporters shouted questions at him about his earlier mishaps. “Kiss my ass,” admonished Romney’s traveling press aide, Rick Gorka. “Show some respect. This is a holy site for the Polish people.” Channeling Fonzie, Gorka also instructed Jonathan Martin of Politico to “shove it.” Some in the political echo-system treated this as a major international incident, a skirmish between weary but still potent superpowers—the press, the Romney campaign—that conjured Cold War–like tensions. 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