“Look. I just told you what I think pro-life voters want to know about the next president. They don’t want to know what I was contributing to in the ‘90s. They want to know who I am going to be appointing to the bench in the future. And I just told you. I know John Roberts. John Roberts is a friend of mine. And I know people like John Roberts who will look great in a black robe.”
That should be his story, and he should stick to it.
The second news hook for the panel will be Al Sharpton’s outrageous slam at Mormons. In a “debate” with Christopher Hitchens this week, Sharpton declared:
“As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyway, so don’t worry, that’s a temporary situation.”
The YouTube post of the audio is here. Hume and company will almost have to bring this up to Romney for a reaction.
Romney has been asked and has answered hundreds of questions about his LDS faith by now, many of them by me in A Mormon In The White House. He has proven very, very patient with journalists who are knowledgeable about the church as well as with the ill-prepared. He has refused to take offense, but he has also refused to allow his campaign to become the focus of a theological debate. His affable refusal to give the “big speech” that many lazy observers intone is a prerequisite to seriousness has been accompanied by record fundraising receipts and rising poll numbers in Iowa and New Hampshire.
But Sharpton’s repulsive aside –so very much like the disgusting display of bigotry by Imus which provoked so much outrage by none other than Sharpton—may be the occasion for Romney to tutor the press about how the nearly 6 million Mormons in America are, like any other racial or religious minority—full citizens deserving of the respect of their fellow citizens. “Take any shot at me you’d like,” Romney might say, “but folks like Al Sharpton ought to be called on their bigotry, just like Imus was, and by the same people who condemned Imus.”
Perhaps neither question will get asked, and certainly there are many others that need asking –Iran with nukes?. But Tuesday night will be another significant conversation with the republican electorate, this time moderated by one of journalism’s serious people. Be sure to tune in.