I never understood how "She turned me into a Newt!" became the anti-Romney candidate?
There is a visceral, gut-level, negative response against Romney from "socially conservaitve" evangelicals and Southern Baptist types.
This is based in part on his record as a social moderate as Governor. Mostly his support of civil unions with all the benefits of marriage and his opposition to government intervention in abortion decisions.
The other part is the Mormon thing.
Rmoney's granpappy fled the US's polygamy laws in order to establish a Mormon "sanctuary" in Mexico (which is now described as a "colony"). The Romney's gave up their polygamous ways a while back but there are still some polygamists in Mexico today because of Granpappy's ,move.
Mormons in Colonia Juarez, including the Romneys, long ago abandoned polygamy, although some Mormons still practice it in the nearby communities of Galeana and LeBaron.
www.dallasnews.com
So there's that.
Plus, on a very basic doctrinal level, the deeply religious Christian fundamentalists consider Mormonism to be cult.
But moderate Republicans aren't the ones who could derail a Romney candidacy. His obstacle is the evangelical base--a voting bloc that now makes up 30 percent of the Republican electorate and that wields particular influence in primary states like South Carolina and Virginia. Just as it is hard to overestimate the importance of evangelicalism in the modern Republican Party, it is nearly impossible to overemphasize the problem evangelicals have with Mormonism. Evangelicals don't have the same vague anti-LDS prejudice that some Americans do. For them it's a doctrinal thing, based on very specific theological disputes that can't be overcome by personality or charm or even shared positions on social issues. Romney's journalistic boosters either don't understand these doctrinal issues or try to sidestep them. But ignoring them won't make them go away. To evangelicals, Mormonism isn't just another religion. It's a cult.
www.washingtonmonthly.com
We saw the truth of this in South Carolina recently.
But why Newt?
They got nobody else.
The fundies who play this game know fer a certainty that Sanctorum is unelectable but he is their well groomed poster boy and the closest thing the Fundies have to an actual statesman at this point. His job is to be in there herping that crazy derp with as much sincerity as he can muster, not to actually win anything.
Ron Paul won't pander to them so he's out.
Ron Paul doesn't appear to pander to anyone.
Which is, of course, why is so singularly loathed by both the fundies *and* the establishment GOPhers.
That leaves Newt.
Self-appointed queen of the teatarded, socially conservative set, Sarah Palin, recently gave Newton LEROY Gingrich a very luke warm endorsement.
But only after he promised her a prominent place in his administration.
Well, that *and* a unicorn on the moon.
/Sarah's a shrewd bargainer.
The Freepers still think she is their saviour funnily enough.
They still haven't realized that she is just a grifter out to con then.
It's not too late for a Sarah Palin to get into this thing. Still 95% of delegates left to be decided and we have five weeks before the next major string of primaries.
Check out the Freep "Romney Wins FLA Primary" thread that came from.
www.freerepublic.com
It's epic.
Be Well.
/Epic fail. ^__^
