“Operating out of a converted methamphetamine lab in the woods near Galivants Ferry in the Upper Conway Lower Aynor region of South Carolina, FITSNews.com “reports” on politics, pop culture, sports and emerging trends in needlepoint, all under the alliteratively-ingenious tagline “Irreverence, Institutionalized.”

So Much for what the Pink Flamingo has to say.

It’s also idiotic and dishonest for observers to keep harping on anti-Mormon bigotry as the basis for Mitt Romney’s disappointing showing. Yeah, it’s true that 81% of Evangelicals voted against Romney— but 75% of ALL Iowa Republicans voted against him, so where is the big evidence of “anti-Mormon bigotry”?

Those statistics are misleading. In using the ALL Iowa statistic, he is including evangelicals in that number, so it is no wonder the number that voted against him is so high. If Medved were honest, he would look at the number of non-evangelicals who voted for or against Mitt and compare that to the number of evangelicals who voted against mitt.

Also, on a recent Hugh Hewitt show, Medved also used the number of evangelicals who voted against Huckabee as proof that there was no anti-mormon influence. However, one can be anti-mormon and not vote for Huck. An Anti-mormon may decide, that Huck isn’t their candidate and vote for Fred or McCain. Anyway, that’s all I have to say about that. But I would like to hear you’re analysis of Medved’s article: http://michaelmedved.townhall.com/blog/g/75f7897d-1fb4-4a2f-9177-32b8ee72fe17

I therefore do not give any credence to the notion that he might oppose Romney out of some kind of religious motive. I have not heard his rationale for supporting the other candidates.

Thanks for your comment. I tried to comment on your blog but found it impossible to create an account. Or do you just have me black-listed?

I am curious: Are you a Huckabee supporter? Or are you “uncommitted?” Seriously – just wondering.

I do not find the evidence your present that Romney hjas sanctioned dirty tricks very persuasive, by the way. I do find plenty of evidence that Huckabee shelters and attracts anti-Mormon bigots. Just visit his web site and read the comments about “throwing out this Mormon garbage.” At best, you’ve got some weak circumstantial evidence of Romney’s complicity in dirty campaigning, I guess. We have written evidence for all to see of Huck’s complicity in playing the bigot card.

You’re right, it is getting very nasty, but it is very difficult to lay the blame for that at Romney’s feet.

I’ve been listening to Michael for years. I’ve bought his books, was a member of his website, and listened whenever the opportunity would arise. (I work for a living, so catching Medved in the middle of the day was always a challenge.) I knew Medved’s position on illegal immigration and by and large I agreed with many of the points of his position. No, we can’t just kick 12 million people out of the country in one fell swoop. But Medved has a place in his heart for immigrants. You just have to read his book “Right Turns” to understand why. So, it’s not something that bothers me. That, in all my years listening to Medved was the only thing about which I can remember disagreeing with him. But notice, I’m writing in past tense. The problem with Medved’s opposition to Romney is sort of like going against precedences. People who have been listening to Medved for years have come to understand that he has rational and logical positions born of rigorous thought processes. Yet, Medved’s positions against Romney bear no resemblance to his previous disciplined positions and seem even fanatical. That leaves many people, especially those who’ve listened to him for years wondering.
So, here are some reasonable and perhaps, not so reasonable possible explanations for Michael Medved’s “anybody but Romney” stance:
* Mitt Romney is smarter than Michael Medved and Michael knows it.
* Mitt Romney insulted Michael Medved at some point and Michael can’t bring himself to forgive Mitt.
* Michael Medved is a closet bigot. Not likely, but perhaps there’s a pocket there.
* We’re seeing the first signs of Medved boredom with the status quo.
* Medved is suffering in his listenership and wants to create controversy to stir up more listeners.
* Medved is flopping back toward liberalism and Huckabee is a great way to do it without admitting to it.
* McCain has pictures
* Medved just doesn’t agree with Romney on some issues and so demonizes him.
* Mitt Romney has better hair.
* Success envy.
* Huckabee has promised Medved that he will be his press secretary if elected.

Well, as you can see, this is one ardent and passionate Medved listener that has flip flopped. Not because Medved is against my candidate, but because he isn’t being consistent with his history.

But he’s become downright hysterical and dishonest in his opposition to Romney. He’s endorsed McCain. He has intellectually contorted himself into a pretzel to defend both McCain and Huckabee, doing whatever possible to attack Romney.

He las lost all credibility as a pundit for me. It’s sad because I used to really like him but now he’s intolerable to listen to.

Medved is quite correct on his facts. The big problem is the whole smoke and mirrors game Romney is playing. He (or rather his operatives) are pulling some very dirty things, or have pulled them. It is fascinating how he gets away with them by everyone crying anti-Mormon bigotry.

I suggest you check the archives of The Palmetto Scoop to find out just what is going on in South Carolina. I’ve been following his campaign antics at The Pink Flamingo.

Perhaps the problem is the fact that maybe Romney is the “wrong” Mormon. I’d vote for Orin Hatch or Chris Cannon in a minute. I think Mitt Romney is the GOP version of Bill Clinton, blowing in the wind looking to score points on which ever way the opinions are blowing. Maybe that’s why Michael Medved is after him.

SJ Reidhead
The Pink Flamingo