Romney Campaign Brings on Key Religious Conservative (Thompson staffer leaves, joins Romney)

CBN News ^ | 31 October 2007 | David Brody

[Spiff]

Romney Campaign Brings on Key Religious Conservative

October 31, 2007
David Brody
CBN News Senior Correspondent

Mitt Romney's campaign tells The Brody File that Bill Wichterman, who used to do conservative and religious outreach for Fred Thompson's campaign, has joined Team Romney. This is a nice "get." He'll be a part of the Faith and Values steering committee.

Bill Wichterman left the Thompson campaign because Thompson DOES NOT support the federal marriage amendment. At least the version that is on the table now. Mitt Romney does support it. Wichterman liked that fit. Who can blame him?

This is a guy who has been big on the federal marriage amendment for years. When Bill Frist was trying to push the amendment through the Senate, it was Wichterman who was leading the charge by getting social conservative groups organized and mobilized. Expect him to be a big boost for the Romney campaign when it comes to the marriage issue. His depth of knowledge here is masterful.

It's not just the marriage issue. By nabbing Wichterman, it's a sign to inside and outside the beltway social conservative groups that Romney is serious in courting them. Wichterman is very well respected by these groups and he has close contacts at places like Focus on the Family, Family Research Council, etc. When he was on the Hill, he was very active in the Senate's "Value Action Team" meetings where dozens of groups would meet once a week to go over social policy and plot strategy.

[Spiff]

There was rumor of this earlier. It was said that this might be a key indicator of an impending Romney endorsement by James Dobson.

[Spiff]

• Send FReep Mail to Unmarked Package to get [ON] or [OFF] the Mitt Romney Ping List •

[Samba]

Let the power vaccume begin...Romney is about to put the gas pedal down, and truck right thru these other candidates.

Romney is legit!

[The Iceman Cometh]

I’ll vote for Fred McCain or Rudy Brownback or any warm body should Hillary be the Dem’s pick. This is not the election to sit out.

[Samba]

I agree....I’ll will be voting for whoever is against Hillary, I just hope its Mitt. I think he would smoke her in the primary debates.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>I think he would smoke her in the primary debates.

I knew Mitt had many liberal ideas. When did he become a Democrat?

[mylife]

So how did ol Mitt respond to Freds smackdown today on his lousy immigration record?

[JCEccles]

It's been suggested that this development presages Dobson's endorsement of Romney.

It makes sense. Only Romney supports the agenda of the religious right in all important respects. Better yet, his personal and family life exemplify Christian ideals even if he is not seen by evangelicals to be Christian per se.

[JCEccles]

What's Fred's immigration record?

* * * crickets * * *

Yeah. Fred doesn't want to talk about that.

[Spiff]

So how did ol Mitt respond to Freds smackdown today on his lousy immigration record?

The Romney campaign responded to Thompson's jab thusly:

“Fred Thompson is as wrong as he is late to this campaign and the debate over tougher immigration enforcement.

“Governor Romney has been at the forefront on this issue, advocating tougher standards of enforcement of existing immigration laws while also initiating the call the cut off federal funding to sanctuary cities that ignore our immigration laws. Governor Romney also took action in his state by working out an agreement with the federal government to authorize state police to enforce federal immigration laws.

“Governor Romney strongly opposed the McCain-Kennedy legislation and was a vocal critic of the blanket amnesty it provided to lawbreakers with the Z-visa provision.”

[mylife]

Looks like these two are gonna cross swords again over this issue

[George W. Bush]

There was rumor of this earlier. It was said that this might be a key indicator of an impending Romney endorsement by James Dobson.

Interesting rumor. It does make some sense. Since Dobson is absolutely opposed to Rudi and, let's say, not happy with Fred, then before he jumps to a third-party he almost has to endorse some GOP candidate that he does accept. Otherwise, people will question his judgment, whether he gave the GOP field a fair chance and so on.

So Dobson does almost have to endorse someone.

I'm still thinking that Dobson will go for Huckabee and try to jumpstart his campaign with an Iowa win. But Iowa might not cooperate so well. It's very important for these organizations to endorse the winner and help them to become the winner. That is their entire value politically. So Huckabee is too much a long shot for Dobson to risk his influence by endorsing him, I think.

At this level of politics, these organizations need to pick a winner, especially one that needs their help, then help make them the winner so that they can be seen in a kingmaker role. Then if their guy wins office, he owes them, other politicians fear them, etc.

[JCEccles]

Bump.

Another lost opportunity for Fred.

Ah, but Fred doesn't need them. He's doing it HIS way.

[Samba]

His looks are going to work with the ladies. For me, its his strong family values. Our country needs a strong role model, and If you cant admit that his moral compass is tighter than the rest, then I question your judgment.

The man is legit, admit it.

[Huck]

I’d like to know more about Fred’s position. I know I’m opposed to a federal marriage amendment. Big Gubmint is supposed to be for libs.

[tabsternager]

“I’m still thinking that Dobson will go for Huckabee”

If Romney wins the primaries, as I hope he does, then the best move he could make would be to choose Huckabee as his running mate, in my opinion.

[SevenMinusOne]

I'm not looking for a father - Reality is you will find no better man that GWB. In terms of the man's integrity. Hell Mitt has jumped all over the place on issues. GWB stands for what he stands for.....whether you like him or not (and that includes his base).

Fact is we need a strong leader, with backbone to continue the WOT.

I would like the next POTUS to have a WH that was much more effective and engaged in the PR aspect.

[joebuck]

"Since Dobson is absolutely opposed to Rudi and, let's say, not happy with Fred, then before he jumps to a third-party he almost has to endorse some GOP candidate that he does accept."

This is why I'm not completely comfortable with Clergymen being in the endorsing business. Getting too involved with the world has a way sucking one in farther than they intended to get.

[Huck]

Found it.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/08/cwa_spokesman_thompson_stance.php

I agree with Fred on this one. It’s no business of the feds to define marriage. The excuse used by supporters of an amendment is that one state could be forced to recognize gay marriages from another state, but Fred’s preferred amendment takes care of that, while properly leaving it to the states to govern themselves on the issue.