He gives Khatami exactly the amount of respect he deserves:

Governor Mitt Romney today ordered all Massachusetts state government agencies to decline support, if asked, for former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami’s September 10 visit to the Boston area, where he is scheduled to speak at Harvard University.

“State taxpayers should not be providing special treatment to an individual who supports violent jihad and the destruction of Israel,” said Romney.

Romney’s action means that Khatami will be denied an official police escort and other VIP treatment when he is in town. The federal government provides security through the U.S. State Department.

Romney criticized Harvard for honoring Khatami by inviting him to speak, calling it “a disgrace to the memory of all Americans who have lost their lives at the hands of extremists, especially on the eve of the five-year anniversary of 9/11.”

I'm not a Republican, but if he wins the nomination, this will count a lot for me in 2008.

Good on him.

Of course, the really appropriate response would be to arrest him as soon as he steps into Massachusetts. If this man isn't a terrorist, who is?

If this man isn't a terrorist, who is?

Oh give the guy a break. He atleast tried (in vain) to open up relations with the west and pass a bill curbing the powers of the council of guardians.

Last month he even had the guts to declare at a conference held at the Tokyo United Nations University that the United States should stay in Iraq until the Iraqi government has the country firmly under control. If he returns to Iran in the coming months i'd say that he's very likely to be shot.

Well, he's what passes for a Republican in MA. Anywhere else, he'd be a RINO. You take what you can get, tho.

Stupid question, how does anyone with ties like his to Iran even GET INTO the United States? Why should he be allowed to visit?

I'm sure the students were clamoring for Khatami as a Guest Speaker on the topic of academic freedom. What next Jack Kevorkian speaking on the topic of "Live and let live"? How about Bill Clinton leading a seminar on "Truth and Marital Fidelity"? If the leftist morons of diversity want to hear Khatami speak, let them go to Iran.

Well, he's what passes for a Republican in MA. Anywhere else, he'd be a RINO. You take what you can get, tho.

Romney or Khatami? :)

Hey Chris, Was that before or after he helped Iran speed along the road to nuclear weaponry and jailed students and journalists for criticizing the government? Oh, and calling for the destruction of those peasky Zionists.

Bill, you're getting your Iranian Supreme Leaders mixed up.

If I recall correctly it was Ali Khamenei who was responsible for jailing those students and journalists. He also had something to do with having several thousand candidates for the 2004 election banned so that he could install Ahmadinejad into power.