Fred Karger Declares Himself The 'Anti-Romney Candidate'

Right now, the 2012 GOP field is only starting to congeal. Perhaps with former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney edging closer to a formal announcement, the long wait for the frontrunners to make up their minds and get in the game will soon come to an end. In the meanwhile, we're basically dealing with real estate mogul Donald Trump's "Cry For Help" media tour, and all of its concomitant embarrassments.

Need a break from that? Well, here's uber-underdog Fred Karger making an appearance on the MSNBC!

Karger is the longest of shots, owing to his obscurity and his politics. A long-time political consultant and openly gay candidate, Karger has been working to advance the cause of LGBT rights in the Republican Party. Thus far, he's striven to come across as the nice guy wronged by the party establishment, who haven't yet allowed him to play in the 2012 campaign season's reindeer games. But today, he added some edge, announcing himself as "the anti-Romney candidate," who "plans to run a campaign specifically designed to throw a wrench into Romney's run."

"I just don't think Mitt Romney is well-suited for the job right now," Karger said. "He's got a great record of flip-flops. I think we need some new, fresh ideas."

But the anti-Romney antipathy has a deeper resonance with Karger. He says his "sidebar goal" is to push back on efforts led by the Mormon Church against marriage equality. "I've asked Governor Romney to use his influence to get the church to back away from that fight," Karger said.

MSNBC's Thomas Roberts asked Karger some pointed questions about whether he was serving up some intolerance of his own against people of Mormon faith, which he denied. Karger went on to state that, if the Mormon community dropped their support for California's Proposition 8 -- even if it were to serve the end of getting Romney elected -- he would consider it a "battle won."

Karger has had some trouble getting on the card for the May 5 debate in South Carolina, which finally led him to essentially invite himself to the event.

He's had better luck in New Hampshire, though. Afew weeks ago, he just beat Romney in the Saint Anselm College Republicans' straw poll.

Watch the whole segment below:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Would you like to follow me on Twitter? Because why not? Also, please send tips to [e-mail] -- learn more about our media monitoring project here.

Comments

[Hivoltaghe]

06:36 PM on 04/13/2011

Further proof that Republicans eat their own. Bon appetit.

[Electronicsboy1]

02:49 PM on 04/13/2011

We have Mitt for that.

[millertime]

02:20 PM on 04/13/2011

He's the 'Anti-Romney" in the fact that people actually know who Mitt Romney is.....this guy, not so much

[Alex 2012]

01:42 PM on 04/13/2011

I believe Mr. Karger is mistaken.

The LDS church did not allow blacks to hold the priesthood until 1978, which I believe is different than 'being a member of the church'.

Keep up the good work sir. Still the church claims non-profit status, insisting that they do not get involved politically. Enough is enough. Pull their status.

operation2012 dot com

[ruthtruth]

10:13 AM on 04/13/2011

I don't think he has a chance. His own party won't vote for him as they are against gays for the most part. The right can't accept a man of color so what makes this guy think they would ever back a gay man. I personally don't care what color are sexual persuasion anyone is , only that they are honest and care about all Americans, not just the rich and powerful.

[Sumi Allen]

12:22 AM on 04/26/2011

actually I'm a (STRAIGHT) republican and I'm totally open to gay candidates. Just the ones who hold a little more integrity than Barney Frank. Sorry, gay is not synonymous with @#ore.
Sorry to bust your bubble HACK. The PR firm you're shilling for is wasting their money.

[MNKen]

10:12 AM on 04/13/2011

Fred who?

[mtibbens]

09:56 AM on 04/13/2011

but 'at least' he put his birth certificate online, www.fredkarger.com sad and pitiful.

[henrypapillon]

09:29 AM on 04/13/2011

Wasn't he in Nightmare on Elm Street?

[Eagleman]

08:38 AM on 04/13/2011

He should run. I will be good for our country to get ready for a "First Partner".

I will give hope to the many US citizen who are looked down upon because of their orientation.

That coming from the GOP...? Sounds like a Sci-Fi movie..!!

[myth buster]

01:39 AM on 04/13/2011

Romney just comes off as a sleezeball. I can guarantee you that Cain, Huckabee, Palin and Paul and Trump would be cordial with one another, but Romney just goes around provoking everybody and attacking fellow Republicans. If Huckabee runs, it'll quickly be down to Huckabee vs. Trump once we get past South Carolina. At that point, whichever wins the nomination will likely give the other the VP nod. If Huckabee doesn't run, however, then the field is wide open, and I don't know what happens.

[Sumi Allen]

12:23 AM on 04/26/2011

Romney IS a sleazeball. BTW, I'm a Christian Republican. Romney is financially literate and he supported TARP. What Christian steals from the victims for the benefit of the rich? That wasn't part of the Biblical doctrine. He and the Neocons give Christianity such a bad name.

[Freesia2]

12:11 AM on 04/13/2011

They'll use you like a mascot - if they speak to you at all Fred. And that's it.

The only thing that will happen is your giving them a chance to say "See! We have one too. We're not prejudiced". And you know that. You're a political strategist, remember?

Grow up.

[ChinoBlanco]

11:43 PM on 04/12/2011

I noticed that Andrew Tobias (the DNC’s long-serving treasurer) has posted his quick take on Fred’s candidacy, and I think he neatly sums up its appeal to those of us who otherwise don’t have a dog in the GOP race:

"If I were going to vote Republican in 2012 (I am so *not* going to), my candidate would be Fred Karger, a long-time Republican strategist who last month became the first challenger to file with the F.E.C. What’s cool about his candidacy is that he may well be included in the debates – and he would be the first openly gay candidate ever to attract that kind of national attention. It might make it harder for Republicans to continue to oppose his equal rights once he can respectfully challenge their rationale on national TV."

[AgingLady]

11:36 PM on 04/12/2011

"the anti-Romney candidate" Sure nuff. Sounds substantial to me!!!

[PAbodysurfer]

11:14 PM on 04/12/2011

The GOP is as friendly to gays as they are to immigrants, climate change legislation, education and common sense....this guy has no shot in Hell...next...

[CoronaDischarge]

11:06 PM on 04/12/2011

Any candidate with a pulse is the Anti Mittens candidate. What else explains the rise of Trump? 

Republicans are shifting in their seats at the thought that he will be the standard bearer.