Romney slaps Steele over Mormon comments

[ccharles000]

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's (R) camp is not happy with Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele's suggestion that base Republicans had a problem with the 2008 presidential candidate's Mormonism.

On Monday, Romney's camp responded to the comments Steele made Friday while guest-hosting a conservative radio show, comments a Romney spokesman said were ill-considered.

Responding to a caller who said Romney could have beaten President Obama had he won the Republican nomination instead of Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), Steele took his analysis to another level.

"emember, it was the base that rejected Mitt because of his switch on pro-life, from pro-choice to pro-life. It was the base that rejected Mitt because it had issues with Mormonism," Steele said.

"I mean, I hear what you’re saying, but before we even got to a primary vote, the base had made very clear they had issues with Mitt because if they didn’t, he would have defeated John McCain in those primaries in which he lost," he added.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/romney-slaps-steele-over-mormon-comments-2009-05-11.html

[Hekate]

1. On the one hand it's probably true: the Repub Party aggressively courted bigoted Yahoos and now...

... they have to deal with the fact that bigoted Yahoos are their "base".

On the other hand: how I love the smell of Schadenfreude in the morning. Mitt Romney had a good chance of appealing to independents and moderate Dems in a way that McCain-Palin could not. Lucky us. :evilgrin:

Hekate

[Skittles]

2. it wasn't his Mormonism

it was his Assholism

[JI7]

3. yeah, but many evangelicals consider mormonism

to be assholism. of course they think that about anyone who is not like them. to be fair the mormons are often the same way about others.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Isn't this fun? I hope they have other stupid reasons to fight each other.

Maybe the Log Cabin Republicans will grow some balls and lash out.

Maybe African Americans will be upset about Cheney throwing Powell out of the Republican Party.

[yellowcanine]

5. I have a friend who is Morman who was pissed at Mitt because of his waffling on abortion.

I think Steele probably got it more right than wrong regarding the base and Mitt. But of course as chair of the Republican Party he should have kept his views to himself. Steele is toxic. If Republicans can find a way to force him out before 2010 they will. If not they will use disappointing results in 2010 to get rid of him as leader.

[brooklynite]

6. And.....Steele apologizes AGAIN!

from the National Review:

I asked the RNC if Chairman Michael Steele had any response to criticism of his comments about Mitt Romney, coming from usually-not-hostile voices like Jay Cost, Phil Klein, Rich, etc.

Gail Gitcho offered this statement: "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."

[Uzybone]

7. That idiot Steele seems to be on his knees all the time

is there anything he says that he doesn't have to apologize for the next day?

[firedupdem]

8. gotdamn Steele... n/t

[TwilightGardener]

9. Steele's right, Mittens would have won Iowa if not for Huckabee's evangelical bullshit.

Deal with the ugly truth, Mittens--it's YOUR party.

[stevenleser]

10. Rethuglican Party 2006-2009 is the gift that keeps on giving...

... what more can you ask than this?