Let's start with this gem:
Mitt Romney Embassy Attack Comments Backfire - YouTube
As right winger Noonan said, he's not helping himself very much this week.

Romney's got to stop doing this.
Articles: Sounding and Acting Like Reagan, Romney Has Them Terrified
“The killing of Sheikh Abu Yahya only increased the enthusiasm and determination of the sons of (Libyan independence hero) Omar al-Mokhtar to take revenge upon those who attack our Prophet,” said al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula said in a statement, quoted by the US-based monitoring group.

To say the movie had nothing to do with it is idiotic, when every single protest out there is referring to the film. Sheikh Abu Yahya died June 4, 2012. The attack on the consulate was probably planned out this far in advance, but all of the rioting is not because of Sheikh Abu Yahya's death.
What would Romney have done differently anyways? Like everything else he is scant on details. He'd just be different. Hmm, well he does employ Bush advisers in his campaign. He'd probably invade Iran.

Couldn't the present White House reaction be construed as trying to defuse the situation, instead of escalating or exacerbating it?

Not if you are a rightwingnut.
I'm inclined to agree with walter. The embassy attacks were too well planned to be related to the movie. This is more like a terrorist celebration of 9/11 The movie was just an exercise to excite the ignorant masses.

Oh yeah, the consulate attack was surely planned. I'm not denying that. Walter is on record in a few threads though as saying the riots are not because of the film. That's bunkum. In fact it's a good idea by the fundies to stoke the hatred of the US so that there will be riots concurrent with their plan to attack the consulate. The crowd surely didn't hurt their chances of accomplishing their goal.
But, the riots have gone on for days now, against that film. They are holding up signs calling for the beheading of those who insult their religion and prophet. The two are not mutually exclusive, the planned attack and the film causing riots.

Oh yeah, the consulate attack was surely planned. I'm not denying that. Walter is on record in a few threads though as saying the riots are not because of the film. That's bunkum. In fact it's a good idea by the fundies to stoke the hatred of the US so that there will be riots concurrent with their plan to attack the consulate. The crowd surely didn't hurt their chances of accomplishing their goal.
But, the riots have gone on for days now, against that film. They are holding up signs calling for the beheading of those who insult their religion and prophet. The two are not mutually exclusive, the planned attack and the film causing riots.

These protests haven't been going on continuously for years. For years, an event takes place and the protests and riots are in response, with periods of time in-between where nothing like this is happening. How can you in good faith turn the causality backwards without acknowledging the fact that these riots and protests are not in fact a daily occurrence over the last decade?

How long between the film being on Egyptian television and the riots? How long has the film been available in Arabic? These protests haven't been going on continuously for years. For years, an event takes place and the protests and riots are in response, with periods of time in-between where nothing like this is happening. How can you in good faith turn the causality backwards without acknowledging the fact that these riots and protests are not in fact a daily occurrence over the last decade?