Karl Rove wasn't mad when Dmitry Medvedev scoffed that Mitt Romney's claim that Russia was our "No. 1 geopolitical foe," sounded like a 1970s Hollywood movie -- he was inspired. Rove's American Crossroads released a James Bond-style ad mocking President Obama's hot mic moment from earlier this week, when he told Russia's president that he'd have "more flexibility" on missile defense "after my election." The ad is actually pretty well-done and funny:

Of course, lots of conservatives who weighed in on the issue in op-eds that took a graver tone: National Review's Charles Krauthammer, The Wall Street Journal's Peggy Noonan, and Romney himself have all taken their shots. But sometimes the best way to take down your political foe is not with a serious critique of his policies, but by making him look like a buffoon. A classic example from the 1988 campaign that helped Romney-backer George H.W. Bush beat Michael Dukakis:

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at ereeve at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.
Elspeth Reeve