Mitt Romney was asked to weigh in on Chick-fil-A and on the McCarthyite campaign against Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin, and he refused, telling reporters, “Those are not things that are part of my campaign.” However, I see he’s hanging out with some folks who aren’t quite as shy about expressing opinions on these issues:
Mitt Romney took time on Thursday during a trip to Denver to meet with a group of well-known social conservatives, including Gary Bauer, James Dobson and others, POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin reports.
The group assured Romney they are firmly behind him, according to a source familiar with the conservation.
… Thursday’s meeting … also included former Sen. William Armstrong and Lt. General William Boykin….
Boykin? I expect a Republican presidential candidate to meet with Bauer and Dobson, who are bad enough, but Jerry Boykin? Seriously?
You probably know this about Boykin:
A Pentagon investigation in 2004 concluded that Boykin had violated “internal regulations” by giving speeches marked by fiery religious rhetoric while in his U.S. Army uniform….
In one instance, Boykin mocked a Muslim adversary in Mogadishu for believing he would be protected by Allah. “I knew that my God was bigger than his,” Boykin said. “I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol.”
… Despite the controversy, Boykin remained deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence under Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld, and retired in 2007.
But he was recently one of the signers of a letter to House Speaker John Boehner endorsing Michele Bachmann’s call for an investigation into Muslim Brotherhood influence in the U.S. government.
… If our country and its people are to be spared potentially grave harm, it is essential that we establish the nature, extent and impact of … influence operations aimed — to borrow the Brotherhood’s own words — at destroying us from within, by our own hands.
We urge you to acquaint yourself with the background and status of the Muslim Brotherhood’s civilization jihad in America. Should you do so, we are confident you will agree with us that the requests for formal inspector general investigations into this matter by Reps. Michele Bachmann, Louie Gohmert, Trent Franks, Lynn Westmoreland and Tom Rooney are both warranted and needed….
And no, these aren’t just a couple of blemishes on an otherwise exemplary record.
Boykin has maintained that “Islam is evil” and a “totalitarian way of life,” and therefore its adherents should not receive First Amendment protections. Boykin even wants the U.S. to ban mosques, telling fellow mosque-banner Bryan Fischer, “no mosques in America.” But his conspiracies don’t end there. He believes that a “cabal” led by George Soros and the Council of Foreign Relations is trying to “create a global government,” and that Obama, who may or may not be a member of the Muslim Brotherhood himself, is using the health care reform law to build his own version of the Brownshirts to impose Marxism on America. He also seems to think that the only difference between Islam and Marxism is that Muslims believe in a God.
… Boykin in an interview just this week on TruNews with Rick Wiles praised McCarthy and said he wishes “we could find a McCarthy-like individual today that was willing to stand up and proclaim very boldly that we do have a problem with a Marxist cabal in America, which are now in powerful positions, influencing our policies and the direction of our country,” including Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
Wiles: Little Leon Panetta, he’s got some Marxist relationships in his closet too, if you go back far enough, Mr. Panetta, he’s palled around with no communists.
Boykin: That’s right. He certainly has, as have a number of the people who are in the administration right now….
Boykin went to agree with the host that Joe McCarthy “was a great American.”
Why is it acceptable for a major-party presidential candidate to meet with a guy like this, and to accept his endorsement? Why isn’t this a scandal? It would be scandalous if Romney met with Orly Taitz or Alex Jones or some other conspiratorialist. Romney gets grief when he hangs out with Donald Trump. Why isn’t this on par with that?
(X-posted at No More Mister Nice Blog.)
Ben Franklin
I doubt Twitt knows Boykin’s History. I am certain, if he knew, he wouldn’t give a shite.
We know Twitt. ‘Nuff said….
gnomedad
Mitt officially supports floor waxes and dessert toppings.
arguingwithsignposts
why hasn’t boykin been stripped of his rank?
Joey Maloney
Assumes facts not in evidence.
BigSouthern
There was no scandal when one of their major primary candidates voiced support for bringing back child labor, so there’s no reason one of the backers of the presumptive presidential nominee voicing support for bringing back HUAC would cause anyone to bat an eye.
I mean, obviously it should, but sadly it won’t, and they’ll just keep circling sanity’s drain.
Baud
It’s not a scandal because there is no audience for this type of behavior that the MSM wants to appeal to.
buckyblue
But, but, but…. Jeremiah Wright hates ‘Merica.
Daulnay
This is a minor press failure compared to non-coverage of Mitt’s compulsive lying. And outrage because major figures on the right are cesspools of conspiracy theories? Um, you have not been living in the same world I have. That ended long ago.
David Hunt
It isn’t. It’s worse.
maya
I gather Boykin would love Harry Reid because of his McCarthy-like stance on Rmoney’s tax situation, then.
These Repubs are so confusing.
MattF
There’s a system here–most of the denizens of the fever swamps are actually quite careful about not crossing certain lines, and the few who are reckless enough or crazy enough to cross the lines get ejected. So, Boykin (General Boykin) is free to peddle his psychotic fantasies–as long as he can resist what the ‘bad’ voices in his head are telling him to do, it’s all cool.
Todd
I think a new and improved set of HUAC type hearings would be awesome. Targets of the investigation could be openly contemptuous at the hearings, because society has changed. It would blow the lid off of candyassed conservatism.
Linda Featheringill
@Todd:
Issa has tried.
burnspbesq
Trying to avoid a spoiler, but expect another “Olympics coverage is unfair to African-American wymyn” thread from ABL any time now.
Villago Delenda Est
Boykin should have been dismissed for the good of the service.
He disgraced the uniform. Fuck him.
Same God. Different name. The God of Abraham.
Oh, wait. Boykin is a 21st Century American fundamentalist.
His God is Mammon.
MikeBoyScout
Is it really so far off to say everything Slick Willard says is a lie?
Honest to Betsy, by comparison he makes Nixon look like a truth telling angel.
PeakVT
Why isn’t this a scandal?
A couple of possibilities. One is that Boykin is an accepted part of the evangelical establishment (or acceptable to said establishment) and thus off limits. Or maybe the uniform makes him off limits. Another is that our media just hasn’t noticed that particular squirrel.
Great Odin's Raven
Yet Obama caught hell over Jeremiah Wright. Absolutely ridiculous.
red dog
If the Main Stream Media were not so intimidated by a FOX news reprisal they would climb all over this but they all cover their own asses all the time. Somebody at CBS or NBC has to grow a pair. ABC news has merely become of pawn of FOX so they are not expected to bring this up.
amk
@burnspbesq: Of all things to be poutraged about, you chose this ?
spartacvs
Why is it acceptable?
Rev. Wright, that’s why. That’s what they will claim anyway.
burnspbesq
@Ben Franklin:
I think you’re being excessively charitable here. The Romney campaign knows exactly what it is getting with Boykin, and they want it. They need to continually re-validate the crazies to keep them from staying home in November.
Ben Franklin
@Villago Delenda Est:
His God is Mammon
Republican vision of Jesus
http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/2012/08/well-regulated-jesus.html
Emma
@burnspbesq: Jesus Christ would you propose to the woman already? You’re a classic case!
MikeJ
@Villago Delenda Est: American fundies have this whole story about how Muslims *think* they’re worshipping the god of Abraham, but some sort of moon demon is secretly intercepting all of their prayers and amassing evil XP for it. They have a pretty low opinion of Abraham’s god, I think. The one true omnipotent god can’t even get his prayers delivered! Abolish the USPS!
burnspbesq
@amk:
It’s still early. I’ll find something you approve of to get outraged about.
Sides, ABL’s chain needs to be yanked whenever possible.
jwb
@maya: Yeah, I’m losing track of whether conservatives think calling someone McCarthy is a compliment or insult.
Ben Franklin
@burnspbesq:
He wants it today. Tomorrow he’ll run from it.
Mark S.
@PeakVT:
Probably. I know I didn’t recognize the name.
I have to admit, wanting to ban mosques and saying Islam isn’t protected by the 1st Amendment is really extreme even by religious nutball standards. I think someone should ask Mitt if he approves of such views. I’m not sure if Mitt still answers questions from non-Fox media.
amk
@burnspbesq: Felling childish and petty today, are we ?
Cermet
This is so not relavent – mitt’s tax returns are what matter! Why waste effort on such minor shit like the kock sucker boykin (as in the kock brothers) and focus on the lack of tax returns? mitt, like a cockroach can’t allow one of those returns to see the light of day and be made public or he is finished! The roach knows it. This along with his ‘raise the taxes’ on the middle class are the only topics Obama and the left should be talking about. All else just lets the cockroach continue to hide under the rock.
burnspbesq
@Emma:
My heart belongs to shortstop.
ChrisNYC
Bain layoffs, Olympics subsidies, Anglo-Saxon comment, Burma uniforms, poor Rafalca, Bachmann’s witchhunt. Don’t blame me. Not my fault. I didn’t do it. The buck stops there. Way way over there.
ChrisNYC
Bain layoffs, Olympics subsidies, Anglo-Saxon comment, Burma uniforms, poor Rafalca, Bachmann’s witchhunt. Don’t blame me. Not my fault. I didn’t do it. The buck stops there. Way way over there.
Ben Franklin
@Cermet:
It’s suppressing fire on their flanks. An effective attack must broach all venues.
Ben Franklin
@Cermet:
It’s suppressing fire on their flanks. An effective attack must broach all venues.
Haydnseek
The minute the MSM says a less than positive word about Boykin, they will immediately feel the wrath of the entire wingnut empire. “See, this proves that the librul media hate America. How dare they impugn a noble veteran wearing our countries uniform, defending us daily from our many enemies! Have you no shame?” The MSM will never utter a peep about this lunatic, because they’re slow, ignorant, and basically scared.
Ben Franklin
@Cermet:
It’s suppressing fire on their flanks. An effective attack must broach all venues.
Ben Franklin
@Cermet:
It’s suppressing fire on their flanks. An effective attack must broach all venues.
Todd
@burnspbesq:
The two of you would definitely make a cute couple.
Ben Franklin
@Cermet:
It’s suppressing fire on their flanks. An effective attack must broach all venues.
Brachiator
@PeakVT:
Because most people just don’t care and others accept a kind of unthinking boiler plate patriotism in which Muslims are indeed the enemy.
Dubya nailed it for a lot of folks when he said “either you’re with us or against us,” and there are no rational arguments which will budge them from this position.
And for the ultra cynical: Romney is doing political theater by playing to the wingnut crowd, but after he is elected president, he will shrug them all off and govern like a moderate. Yes, I still hear this from people who are absolutely convinced that Romney will be the pro business savior of America.
Anya
@burnspbesq: Oh, how sweet burnspbesq! You wuv her, tru wuv…
xian
@burnspbesq: don’t project your own neurotic needs onto others
Emma
@burnspbesq: Then you’re a internet stalker. This obsession is getting creepy, ok?
Ben Franklin
Holy Shite ! 3 duplicates with no edit. Awesome.
Anya
Simple. Muslims are scary. Blacks are scary. White men who love god and hate both, not so much.
wrb
@Mark S.:
Mitt has put himself in a place where he can’t give interviews or even take questions from anyone not completely.
Imagine:
Mitt, here is Obama’s statment in context (roll film)
Here is what you said about it.
Where I come from folks would call what you did their “lying about the president.” Howwould you defend it to them.
Mitt, did you pay large amounts of US Federal Income Tax every year of the last 12?
Did you ever received a UD Federal income tax refund?
How much in taxes did you pay when transferring $100m to your boy’s trusts funds?
Did you take advantage of the 2009 tax amnesty on overseas funds?
muddy
I didn’t notice that there were a lot of repeats in Chet’s thread below, giving more credence to the theory that he is DougJ, fully engaged and weeding out extras as he goes. ;-)
Anya
@ChrisNYC: I think Rafalca was MAD, when she was slighted by Mittenz, that’s why she took her revenge on him by going to Harry Reid with everything she knows about Mittenz and his shady tax return. She can be over-the-top when she feels slighted.
GregB
Romney is a total fucking coward.
A draft dodging, chicken hawk,
@jwb:
It depends on the day. I think he’s revered in M/W/F and vililfied on T/T. Sunday is a day of rest.
Mike in NC
Easy. Because Mitt will meet behind closed doors with whackos like Boykin and ten minutes later he can get away with denying it ever happened.
Omnes Omnibus
@arguingwithsignposts: I believe he is retired.
Brachiator
@arguingwithsignposts:
He’s retired. Not much point in a symbolic post retirement stripping of rank, even if it were possible.
karen marie
@Brachiator: Romney’s promised “moderate” presidenting is going to translate into moderate legislation where Obama’s hasn’t how?
trollhattan
@Ben Franklin:
Count again, grasshopper, it’s close to a record already and the day is yet young. ;-)
But on that thought (thought, thought, thought, thought) no one issue sinks the S.S. Willard, it takes a full spread of torpedoes between now and November. To which I say, pour it on.
trollhattan
@Brachiator:
Knocking him down to corporal would certainly take a bite out of his pension, but I doubt it’s possible to do so post retirement.
Brachiator
@karen marie:
Not really sure what you are trying to ask. But here’s the thing. Romney hasn’t promised much of anything, except that he will be the anti Obama. Meanwhile, fundamentalists, Tea Party People and wingnuts are convinced that Malleable Mitt is so weak and easily frightened that they will be able to bend him to their will.
And yet, despite this, some people I talk politics with, including some who voted for Obama in 2008, discount everything that Mitt says and cling to the idea that he is a stealth moderate.
I am also willing to bet that you will see more pundits trying to sell this BS after the conventions.
Woodrowfan
@Brachiator:
Just remind them that the most successful businessmen we’ve elected President in the past century were Herbert Hoover and Jimmy Carter.
Ben Franklin
@trollhattan:
I knew someday I’d receive recogontion for something :>)
karen marie
@Brachiator: My point (badly worded, I see) is that it does not matter one bit whether Mittens is in fact a moderate at heart when he is effectively not the leader of his own party — he does what he’s told.
I think anyone who believes Romney would be a moderate are fooling themselves. Romney is not saying moderate things in the “quiet rooms,” he’s courting the flamethrowers (see, e.g., Trump, Cain, Boykin, Paul Ryan, Drudge, et al.)
Congressional Republicans will not allow Romney to govern as a moderate any more than they have allowed Obama to do so.
SiubhanDuinne
@trollhattan:
Retroactive retirement, though.
SiubhanDuinne
@jwb:
Depends on whether the McCarthy in question is Joe, Gene or Jenny.
Fluke bucket
I try to understand folks who believe that we are capable of being forced into being an Islamic nation but I can’t.
muddy
@Fluke bucket: It’s pure projection. They know that they want to force everyone to be a fundie Christian, so they know that their Muslim counterparts want to do the same. The argument falls apart when you look at the numbers of each group residing in this country.
Bubblegum Tate
It’s not scandalous because the guy’s in the military, so if you point out that he’s batshit crazy, then WHY DO YOU HATE THE TROOPS?!?!?
muddy
@Bubblegum Tate: But why does *he* hate the troops, by pushing anti-Constitutional stuff off onto his underlings.
Christian Sharia treason!
AxelFoley
@burnspbesq:
Oh, you wanna join the anti-ABL trolls now?
David Koch
The wackos are gonna freak out when they find out Mitty didn’t join Chick-fil-a-gay.
Bubblegum Tate
@muddy:
Dibs on this as a band name!