Mitt Romney really stepped in it this time. Using the violent deaths of Americans overseas to attack President Obama, on the anniversary of 9/11 to boot, is even drawing criticism from many Republicans.

And now his campaign is desperately circulating talking points to supporters, to try to deal with the consequences of his crass statements. Expect all of these to immediately start spouting from the right wing media and blogs: Romney Camp Tries to Manage Fallout From Libya Response.

From the “Questions and Answers” section:

Questions & Answers:

Don’t you think it was appropriate for the embassy to condemn the controversial movie in question? Are you standing up for movies like this?

— Governor Romney rejects the reported message of the movie. There is no room for religious hatred or intolerance.

— But we will not apologize for our constitutional right to freedom of speech.

— Storming U.S. missions and committing acts of violence is never acceptable, no matter the reason. Any response that does not immediately and decisively make that clear conveys weakness.

— If pressed: Governor Romney repudiated this individual in 2010 when he attempted to mobilize a Quran-burning movement. He is firmly against any expression of religious hatred or intolerance.

Reports indicate the embassy in Cairo released its initial statement before the invasion of the embassy commenced. Doesn’t this show they were trying to tamp down the protest and prevent what ultimately happened, not sympathize with the protesters?

— The Administration was wrong to stand by a statement sympathizing with those who had breached our embassy in Egypt instead of condemning their actions.

The part in bold above is essentially identical to the statement from the US embassy in Cairo that Romney infamously criticized.