Romney Camp Balks At Steele's Mormonism Comments

When guest-hosting Bill Bennett's radio show last Friday, Republican National Committee chair stumbled into another embarrassing public statement. Overshadowed by his comments on empathy was a harsh critique of potential 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

"Remember, it was the base that rejected Mitt because of his switch on pro-life, from pro-choice to pro-life," Steele told a caller. "It was the base that rejected Mitt because it had issues with Mormonism. It was the base that rejected Mitt because they thought he was back and forth and waffling on those very economic issues you're talking about."

Romney's people, understandably, objected. "Sometimes when you shoot from the hip, you miss the target," said Romney spokesman Eric Ferhnstrom. "This is one of those times."

Gail Gitcho, the Republican National Committee's new spokesperson, sent out a statement, her first (but probably not her last) clarifying the chairman's remarks.

"Chairman Steele regrets the way his comments have been interpreted. Chairman Steele believes Mitt Romney is a respected and influential voice in the Republican Party and looks to his leadership and ideas to help move our party and our nation in the right direction."

In an amusing coincidence, Gitcho worked for Romney during the presidential campaign.

Meanwhile, Romney himself made a rather bold statement on Laura Ingraham's radio show last week. Asked about his perceived swipe at Sarah Palin, the former governor said. "Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh are two of the most influential voices in our party and thank heavens for that."

Comments

[dax49]

i see the snakes are still lunching on each other

[Darwin48]

Mitt, high up on my list of people that I wish would just go away. The Palins top that list.
John Boehner is on there.


Basically, any and all Republicans.

[naturallight]

Mitt would make and excellent President. (of Utah)

[Darnamell]

Psst...it's Deseret.

They get touchy about that kind of thing.

[LoriAnn]

Im sure that is where they store his "magic bloomers" !!

[kannita]

Poor woman, she is making her money!

[TonyRome]

Mitt Romney will never get elected president as a Republican. The rabid, right wing, Christian conservatives will never support a Mormon. Just ain't gonna happen, folks.

The lunatic fringe whackos, the Robertson/Falwell/Graham/etc Christian right swear up and down that Mormons are not Christian.

[Pammy2]

And the "rabid, right-wing, Christian conservatives....lunatic fringe whackos" is all the Republican party has left. Seriously, they just keep driving more and more people away from the party and they seem really pleased about it. What's up with that?

[TonyRome]

The far right, Limbaugh ditto monkey Republicans think they can win with just the fringe conservatives. They have no room for moderates, independents or liberal Republicans.

Just listen to "Pudge" Limbaugh slander non-conservative Republicans.

[julia23]

Its hard to read the book of Mormon and think its Christian. Its pretty far out there. Marriott Hotels used to have them alongside the bible.

I agree with you and think that a Mormon would never win the republican nomination 'cause he couldn't get the religious right base.

[seenitall]

Christians believe burning bushes spoke; people walked across the Red Sea; Jonah lived in a whale for three days; people lived to be 800 years old and Job turned into a pillar of salt. Mormons don't have the corner on wierd beliefs.

[RealPlumber]

Yes the Marriott, Mormon owned....a big cash cow for the LDS church (10% to the church). The church which condemns liquor, coffee, and "R" rated movies.....in the Marriott you can order liquor, coffee, (in the restaurant or room service, and porn on the room tv). So the church makes bank on the "evil" that they oppose---myconclusion, anyone know different?

[CRA1]

They will not support anyone running for presidnent if they are non-white and non-males. Maybe Ann Coulter can run!

[RW69]

If Mormons were the religious majority, they'd hate the evangelicals. All these "Christians" think their brand is the one and only. Let them have there way, they will destroy each other.

[RW69]

"their"

[VSamuels]

Steele is an embarrassment to the GOP, he seems to believe his job is to be a spokesman for the party rather than a behind the scenes organizer and administrator of policy to get them back on track for 2010 and 2012. At some point some, they are going to come forth and announce he is taking another position, perhaps something newly created, but Steele is done.

He might be a very engaging fellow and perhaps in another time and place he would have been wonderful, but mostly what today's GOP needs is disclipline, and Steele is proving time and time again that he absolutely has none to spare.

[dax49]

he was elected as proof that the republicans weren't racist- they had no idea he would actually speak in public. they thought he would be a good little token and just sit quietly on some dais somewhere

[carnegie]

What a wimp!

[Aja321]

I'm still waiting for someone to in the republican party stand up to Rush, and not apologize a day later.

[seg153]

I don't see anyone that has the balls to do so. except some cute young newly elected one from the midwest.

[roudy]

The statement by Romney that:

"Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh are two of the most influential voices in our party and thank heavens for that."

Should read:

"Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh are two of the most influential voices in our party and (THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SAYS) thank heavens for that."

[Worrierking]

I may be wrong but hasn't "the base" also rejected Michael Steele?

No one does the circular firing squad like today's Republicans.

[Dakotagal]

Sorry, Mitt, I would never vote for another Republican, but the fact that you are a mormon makes it doubly so. I want a president who answers to the people, not the "Prophets" Until the Mormon Church owns up to it's shady past and it's Great Prophet Brigham Young's involvment in the Mountain Meadows Massacre, they have no credibility with me.

[Dakotagal]

Most people don't care what happened 150 years ago? What kind of "religion" doesn't care about the butchery of 120 innocent people done in their name? Why hide the truth? Because the great prophet was involved and he of course could do no wrong, just as the current prophets can do no wrong. Give me a break. There is no difference between the Mormon church then and now when people take the word of a man, prophet or not and never question what they say. The young boys sent out to "convert" me had no response to my question about Mountain Meadows except to say it was all lies by non mormons. Secrets, lies and more secrets. Sounds more like a cult to me and I want nothing to do with them.

[carnegie]

Sounds like a cult? Sounds like the Christian church to me. Catholic altar boys anyone?

[doubtingdavid]

First of all what you just said makes you a religous bigot. The good news is with people like you on the Dumbo side I can never vote for a Democrat again, haven't since Carter anyway, so at least our votes cancel each other out. You mention Mountain Meadows, if you want to go down that road, your logic dictates you condemn just about every other religous denomination as well since many can be a connected in some way to some injustice or other at some point in time. Anyway you slice it your a bigot.

Religous and not a mormon or an evengelical either.

[Dakotagal]

I'm an independent, not a democrat, mormon, evangelical or anything. I don't go to any church anymore because most of them are hypocrites and I don't see Jesus in them. And the sins of the catholics during the inquisition and the corruption of the popes is well known and is not denied by the church historians. The Mormon Church is another story entirely. It is a Church of Secrets and denial of any wrongdoing in the past. I am not a religious bigot for pointing out fact. And it's you are spelled you're, not your a religious bigot. Just thought I'd point that out too sweetie.

[NotStarvingArtist]

Yes, all religions can be connected to some injustice. Organized religion has always been the greatest cause of wars and persecutions. The world would be a better place without any religion at all. Believe in a supreme being if you must, but don't organize and force your belief on others.

[NTexasHillbilly]

Thank you. You won't be missed.

[timberdoodle]

I still can't understand how mormonism is an accredited religion as it was started by a convicted felon and bears no resemblance to modern day religions. Maybe the best way to make money in America is to start up your own church and collect donations from your converts...............of course the best place to do this is in the deep South.

[truthandvalues]

Joseph Smith was never convicted of a single crime. If you think he was then name the place and the crime. You can't because he was never ever convicted of a single thing.

Get the facts straight.

[swan1]

No the crimes were swept under the carpet. Joseph just took excerpts from the Bible, changed names and location and added some tales. Tablets became golden plates, Abraham became Nehu, Moses became Lehi, ........

[MourmonDudeCTR]

You're right. He was never CONVICTED. However, He and some fellows burned down a printing press that opposed the mormons. Before he was caught/captured, he was shot in a gunfight.
Yes, He's quite the martyr.

[NotStarvingArtist]

It sounds like you are describing Scientology. Or any number of other religions. They all have similar goals.....make the founder and subsequent leaders rich and powerful.

[sasidechick]

"Chairman Steele regrets the way his comments have been interpreted"??

I love that line. How else can you interpret "Remember, it was the base that rejected Mitt because of his switch on pro-life, from pro-choice to pro-life," Steele told a caller. "It was the base that rejected Mitt because it had issues with Mormonism. It was the base that rejected Mitt because they thought he was back and forth and waffling on those very economic issues you're talking about."

Comprehension problems seem to be a requirement to be a Republican today. We heard what Steele said--he dissed Mitt from every angle. They don't like that he did that. Now his own press secretary (who used to work for Romney--LMFAO) is issuing clarification statements.

Priceless.

[MsLiz]

Exactly. Steele regrets the accuracy of his comments.

[scjk67]

Mittens is a poster child of the plastic groom on top of a wedding cake....nuff said.

[BlackJAC]

I had to live under Mitt's governorship. He cares about exactly one thing: the career ambitions of one Willard "Mitt" Romney.