I think a lot of conservatives will share the sentiment, but would prefer better attention to detail on the part of Romney:
“The United Nations has been an extraordinary failure of late,” Romney said in response to a question at a pancake house along the coast of early voting South Carolina. “We should withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council.”
Actually, the United States doesn’t have a seat on the human rights council, which it has been boycotting.
UPDATE: Team Romney writes in to clarify:
The Governor believes we ought to withdraw completely from the UN Human Rights Council, and that means ending our financial support in addition to not seeking a seat on the council. We should not legitimize the council, either with financial or diplomatic support.
#more#
Below are a few bullets showing that the United States has indeed pledged financial, diplomatic and political support for the UN Human Rights Council.
- In April 2006, Secretary Rice Said The United States Would Not Seek A Seat On The Human Rights Council But Would Still Support The Body. “Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has decided that the United States will not seek a seat on the new U.N. Human Rights Council, U.S. officials said April 6. In a statement announcing the U.S. decision, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said ‘there are strong candidates in our regional group, with long records of support for human rights, that voted in favor of the resolution creating the council. They should have the opportunity to run.’” (Judy Aita, “United States Will Not Seek Human Rights Council Seat,” The State Department, http://usinfo.state.gov/is/Archive/2006/Apr/07-534030.html, 4/7/06)
- Ambassador Bolton: The U.S. “Will Work Cooperatively With Other Member States To Make The Council As Strong And Effective As It Can Be.” “However, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, U.S. representative to the United Nations, pledged support saying that the United States ‘will work cooperatively with other member states to make the council as strong and effective as it can be.’” (Judy Aita, “United States Will Not Seek Human Rights Council Seat,” The State Department, http://usinfo.state.gov/is/Archive/2006/Apr/07-534030.html, 4/7/06)
- State Department: The U.S. Will Support The Council “Politically, Diplomatically As Well As Financially.” “McCormack said that the United States will support the new council ‘politically, diplomatically as well as financially’ and will be an observer.” (Judy Aita, “United States Will Not Seek Human Rights Council Seat,” The State Department, http://usinfo.state.gov/is/Archive/2006/Apr/07-534030.html, 4/7/06)