So, while hosting Bill Bennett's radio show, Michael Steele decided to respond to a caller's endorsement of Mitt Romney. Rather than add basic platitudes of support, or otherwise have kind words for his party's runner-up in the 2008 primary, Steele decided to toss Mittens overboard:
RNC Chair Steele Slams Mitt Romney
And yes, if part of Steele's job is to work the press, then hopefully for him, he was looking for that headline, because that's what CNN.com delivered, though the actual story has an updated one to deal with Team Romney's response.
In any case, what problems did Steele have with Romney? Well, he thought that he couldn't get the support of Republican voters because of his Mormonism:
It was the base that rejected Mitt because it had issues with Mormonism.
Yup. Steele thinks his voters rejected Romney because of his Mormonism. There are a few other reasons in there too: flipfloppy on choice, and some vague words about his economic package.
But if the GOP can't endorse Mormon candidates, they're going to start falling further and further behind, as the Latter-Day Saints are the rare breed of Christian fundamentalist that is growing in popularity and size. The Mormon Church took down Prop 8, toes the line on abortion, and otherwise endorses and promotes a hard-right agenda.
So if Steele is helping drive a wedge between most political Mormons and the political party that represents their views most, well, don't let me stop him.
Also worth considering: does this have anything to do with Free Republic's repudiation of Mitt Romney here?
This a coalition in full meltdown mode, with its leadership in the thrall of radical right-wing bloggers and newscasters, a base rejecting big chunks of itself, and any reform attempts shot down with a vengeance.
Couldn't happen to a nicer party.
For this and more, check out my blog: http://mrbillingham.blogsome.com
UPDATES FROM FREEPERLAND:
They're talking about it here
With me he lost because I’m not going to have a cult-member as President of the United States.
There are a significant number of Christians who are never going to vote for a cult member. Mormonism is one of the two largest cult groups in the United States and also being "home-grown" too, so Christians do know a lot about that cult group.
A Mormon looks a whole lot better than the Muslim we now have.
—
Voting for either cult group member would not be what a good number of Christians would do.
I wouldn’t have voted for him because of the Mormonism. Mormons do beat Muslims, but just barely.
Mormonism is to Christianity what Islam is to Judaism.
A good number of Christians will not put into office a President who belongs to a cult group.
I spoke to numerous people in the "Bible Belt" who were traditionally Republican but who said that they absolutely would not back Romney---and not one of them cited a position. In every case, it was "he's a Mormon."
Yeah, I guess Steele knows his base.