Gov. Romney Interview With Jan Mickelson

Gov. Romney Interview With Jan Mickelson

Friday, August 03, 2007

Mitt Takes the Gloves Off

Posted by Dean Barnett  | 9:58 PM

Yesterday, Mitt Romney went into Iowa radio host Jan Mickelson's studio for a conversation about politics. At least it should have been about politics. Instead, Mickelson decided he wanted to grill Romney on the Mormon church and Mormon theology. (I also thought Mickelson's comments on politics, namely that the President should overrule the Supreme Court when in the President's opinion the Court oversteps its bounds, were a tad on the screwy side as well.)

Mickelson's station, WHO, had a video recorder on the governor that was recording his off-air comments, something that Romney was unaware of. On the air, Mickelson stated that according to Mormon theology, Romney should have been excommunicated from the Mormon Church because he was once pro-choice. Off the air, Romney tried to gently tell Mickelson that he didn't know what he was talking about. Although I've never heard even a snippet of Mickelson's show before today, I bet Mickelson holding forth on something he knows nothing about happens on a not infrequent basis. The off air exchange (that once again Romney didn't know was being taped) was at times heated. WHO today posted the footage on its website.

Dirty pool aside, I don't think Romney has looked better at any time during the campaign. Firm, decisive, authoritative – that's the guy I know. While it's a shame that some members of the media will decide that Romney should have to defend his faith and insist that he campaign for theologist-in-chief as well as commander-in-chief, it was wonderful to see Romney making such a strong case for his candidacy and the proper role of religion in the campaign.

The footage above starts a bit slow, but give it time. I promise you it heats up.

From the YouTube comments:
hlynnj (3 hours ago) Marked as spam

Did anyone else get the impression that Mickelson was trying trap Romney in his words? Perhaps the entire interview was a setup. Which GOP candidate is Mickelson supporting anyway? Mickelson seemed to deceive Romney into thinking their off-the-air conversation was off the record too but Mickelson recorded the whole thing. Nice job Mickelson! If anything, this interview helps Mitt Romney. Go Mitt!

gundyrage (3 hours ago) Marked as spam

You would think that this Mickelson fella would do a little research before accusing a former leader of the LDS church of not knowing the churches teaching, than later accusing him of not being devout to said teachings. This interview lacks class and respect.

HiveRadical (7 hours ago) Marked as spam

I wish people would get over the Stephanopolous thing. The man clearly didn't know what to ask what he wanted to ask. I'm glad Romney's been assertive on that. As a Mormon myself I get frustrated when people simplify things, and in so doing, distort them to the point that they are literally wrong.

Marked as spam

If Mikelson wanted to really find out then why not give the full position of the Chruch on abortion? It's available on the website where it clearly points out views of exceptions in which abortion may be okay, or even proper.
But he misunderstood the Church's position. He missed the nuance that our Church allows abortion in certain circumstances and he misunderstood that being for the capacity to keep the options of abortion available for such exceptions is NOT against Church policy. Mikelson was not wanting to allow the nuance that genuinely exists.

BrenttheGreat (7 hours ago) Marked as spam

That DJ is worthless. He won't even listen, or give Romney the chance to talk. Romney did well.

phil24601 (9 hours ago) Marked as spam

This Mickelson guy is definitely a little screwy. I'm glad we're electing Romney and not Mickelson for president. The dude wants to just ignore the supreme court whenever he doesn't like a decision.

This video shows a very impressive side of Romney, he's not going to put up with radical stunts like this where they don't give him a chance to answer.

theaustinpeay (9 hours ago) Marked as spam

Romney is very impressive. Even when he doesn't know he's being taped. He's very classy.

darthmills (9 hours ago) Marked as spam

wow, first time i have seen mitt get upset. refreshing. Go get em mitt! President Romney 08!!

Edenite2006 (12 hours ago) Marked as spam

Thanks for posting this.. This is the kind of open discussion we need to see Mitt speaking openly about his faith so we can understand where he stands on his beliefs...

SCOTTMSTER (12 hours ago) Marked as spam

I feel Jan Mickelson had a pre-planned agenda for Mitt Romney to explain his views on his LDS religion and make his religion an issue in his run for the presidency. It however turned into a GREAT off air and genuine perspective of how Mitt views his moral and religious convictions, how those morals and views intertwine to make him what he is and yet separate as a President.
Mitt wins again, what a classy Presidential candidate.
Scott Rasmussen
Gilbert. Az.

From the TownHall comments on Dean's post:

SJU writes:	Saturday, August, 04, 2007 4:34 AM
Is Mickelson Promoting Christian Facism?
Wow, Mickelson seems to be saying, if someone from his church were to run for president that he would expect that president to convince or maybe even impose his beliefs into the decisions that all the citizens in the U.S. make. Does that sound a little like the Taliban to you? Is that what those who are against Romney, on the basis of religion are saying? It sure sounds like it. Either that, or Mickelson's church doesn't have any standards and therefore there's Nooo Probleeeem. No wonder the left worries about the evangelical extremists. They start to sound like, either it's their way, or off with our heads!

Daniel writes:	Saturday, August, 04, 2007 2:54 AM
What arrogance!
Romney was exactly right about Mormon beliefs. It was ridiculous to see Mickelson pretend that he understands what being a Mormon means better than does a man who has led a congregation as a Mormon bishop and then, as a Mormon stake president, has led SEVERAL congregations and overseen SEVERAL bishops. Mitt Romney has been a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint as well as a full-time missionary for it, and Mickelson isn't even a member. Astonishing.

Thomas9938 writes:	Saturday, August, 04, 2007 1:59 AM
Off-Mitt-da-Gloves
A rare look at a candidate's true nature...and I liked it alot. While I'm a "Rudy-Guy" myself (talk about the abortion question, but Rudy gets a pass, because he's Catholic and they don't really follow the rules anyway), I would be perfectly comfortable with Mr. Romney as President. He's smart, sensible, and a realistic person. He's right too. You don't run or govern as a representative of your religion (and it must be terribly frustrating to have to remind interviewers of that simple fact, time after time). You run for the job, pledging to perform it, as the law dictates. It was a cheap-tacky-trashy sort of thing this interviewer did, to secretly record the "Off-Air" comments of his guest. It's a cheap-shot that will likely make Mr. Romney a better candidate from here on out though.

chessexpert writes:	Saturday, August, 04, 2007 1:30 AM
Is Mitt sincere? Yes
The biggest complaint about Mitt Romney is that he is flip flopper. The fear is that you can't take his words at face value. He might advance other words and actions when it suits him. Is he sincere? Is he steadfast? These attacks on Mitt have an obious opportunistic quality. They gang up and repeat, and repeat, and repeat. They are mostly soundbite arguments. Still the questions remain: Who is the real Mitt Romney? Is there a there there? It is ironic that the sins of the Democrats - Kerry, Clinton, and others - are visited on a Republican, Romney. I think Romney is sincere and steadfast. He is the real deal. Yes, it's wise to question, but it's not worldly or smart to be a perpetual cynic.

jimgdvm writes:	Saturday, August, 04, 2007 1:13 AM
Hmmm
I agree this is not Mini-Mitt, or "Plastic-Mitt". It is the best I have seen him. Maybe it's that passion that he has not really shown in debates and on the stump. Understandably though, if you have been hammered about your faith for all these months, you ought to take the opportunity to "vent". Mitt did so in manner that showed a controlled frustration with his interviewer. While I'm not sold yet, it sure makes me look at him even closer.

one hot minute writes:	Saturday, August, 04, 2007 12:48 AM
Mitt looked great
Yeah, there are some folks out there who still haven't figured out we're electing a Commander-in-Thief, not a Theologian-in-Chief. If these folks think they have a theological divide with LDS, wait until they find out what living under the Islamic caliphate is all about ! Mitt looked great in handling the situation, and Brightwinger makes a good point about how it appears Mickleson was hoping to catch Romney in a relaxed "gotcha !" moment where, say, the Governor was picking a piece of broccoli out of his teeth. For heaven's sake, at least the guy who does the "Girls Gone Wild" videos asks his subjects to sign a document affirming they know they were being videotaped. And you know if either the Sam Brownback or Ron Paul campaign got ahold of a hypothetical video of Romney picking broccoli out of his teeth, it might enable them each to sustain their 9th and 10th place "grassroots" campaigns for another...two weeks ! Townhall's own anti-Romney blogger Matt Lewis would have been able to mine that gold for at least a week's worth of "If Mitt has trouble with broccoli, just HOW can we trust him to defeat Al Qaeda ?!" posts.

se7en writes:	Saturday, August, 04, 2007 12:29 AM
2nd Coming acc. to Mormons
Mitt was very impressive. He's exactly right. The whole George Stephanopolis issue is just silly. Mormons believe the 2nd Coming (or when Christ appears to the whole world in His glory), will be at the Mount of Olives! Now, Mormons also believe that he will appear in Missouri BEFORE that time to meet with few faithful mormons. That is NOT the 2nd coming. They also believe that Jesus appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820 - Is that Jesus's 2nd coming? NO, his 2nd coming is when he appears to the whole world in all His glory, not when he makes little appearances to individuals or small groups of people. Therefore, Mitt is correct on Mormon theology. Mormons do believe the 2nd Coming is in Jerusalem, NOT Missouri.

cordeiro writes:	Saturday, August, 04, 2007 12:28 AM
Mickelson
got taken to school. Well done Mitt. Thanks for the post Dean.

Joe writes:	Saturday, August, 04, 2007 12:10 AM
Mitt impressed me with this
Mitt held his own and defended his position well. Frankly I thought Mitt was a bit of a phony, but he raised his stature with me a lot with his arguments. They were civil and forceful. Maybe I have been too hard on the Governor.

Joe writes:	Friday, August, 03, 2007 11:45 PM
I heard Mitt get way-laid
by Glenn Beck too. It was about the flat tax. I will give Beck limited credit in I think he is a jerk on the flat tax to all politicians, but it was still out of hand. I was impressed that Mitt calmly explained that the American people would not tollerate the superrich not paying any taxes (which is what Beck's flat tax would mean) and the middle class paying the vast bulk of taxes.

Daniel (LA) writes:	Friday, August, 03, 2007 11:43 PM
Wow!
Mitt was impressive! Standing firm in his personal beliefs while understanding the difference between personal belief and governance. Mickelson came off as arogant and unwilling to reason. Even as Mitt would offer a rebuttal, Mickelson seemed incapable acknowledging his errors.

Sami writes:	Friday, August, 03, 2007 11:06 PM
Love it!
Mitt supporter since Dec '04 Wearing a Mitt shirt today strangely enough. Seeing Mitt handle himself under fire in an "off the record" environment was fantastic. Cool, poised, firm, fair, can't give him enough props. I hope a lot of people see this video. It'll help with independents and the farther right at the same time.

DK Walser writes:	Friday, August, 03, 2007 11:04 PM
Wow!
Look, I know Jan Mickelson was TRYING to do the right thing, but that was just way out of line. It was good to see Mitt stand up for himself, but it was so painful to listen to Jan grill Romney about Romney's beliefs. Who's the best arbiter of what Mitt Romney believes, Romney or someone else?

shockfam2 writes:	Friday, August, 03, 2007 10:57 PM
Wow.
You know, I've supported Romney for a while now by default (he's been the least "bad"). One of my biggest complaints about him was that he was plastic, that most of his lines were well rehearsed and focused grouped. The only thing I can say now is that he actually really impressed me here. He was firm but respectful and answered the questions directly. I don't know what Mickelson's intent was in releasing this video, but I do think it will only help the Governor.