Washington (CNN) - Indiana Republican Dan Coats, a senator with experience as U.S. ambassador, questioned the timing of Mitt Romney's statement which slammed the Obama Administration for sympathizing with protests in Egypt instead of condemning them. He also questioned the timing of a statement issued by the U.S. embassy in Egypt.
"Making a knee jerk or quick political responses or knee jerk policy response – usually you have to amend that – so before we jump to too many conclusions and throw things out that aren't necessarily the best solution in the way they addressed the problem – let's assess all that," Coats told CNN in an interview Wednesday.
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Coats, who served as ambassador to Germany early in the administration of President George W. Bush, said his experience tells him it's always best to take a step back before making statements – and that goes for Romney as well as the U.S. Embassy in Egypt.
In its initial statement Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo seemingly condemned an anti-Islamic movie. Later, in a tweet after the embassy had been breached, it repeated that condemnation and additionally condemned the actions of the protesters that had gotten inside the embassy's outer walls. That tweet has since been deleted and the administration has backed away from the original statement.
"The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims," read the original statement.
Romney released a statement Tuesday evening blasting the administration. Romney on Wednesday increased his criticism of the Obama administration in a press conference.
Democrats – sensing an opening against a former Governor with no foreign policy experience – are going after Romney in a big way.
"To make those kind of statements before you even know the facts, before families have even been notified, before things have played out, is really, not just inexperience, it's irresponsible, it's callous, it's reckless. And I think he ought to apologize, and I don't think he knows what he's talking about, frankly. It's that simple," said Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry.
Coats responded that even though the election is only 55 days away, both sides should strive to take the politics out of the tragedy – including Romney.
"I think we need to keep the political focus on the election separate from the possible implications of what goes to security and how to protect our citizens," said Coats.
Coats, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said it's too early to know exactly who is responsible for the attacks, but also said he believed it was related to the 9/11 anniversary.
"Violent action against the united states on 9/11 – too much of a coincidence to say it's a coincidence," said Coats.
