Mitt Romney Mormon-Gate Watch: Who Did it?
Republican presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, speaks during a town hall-style meeting in Henderson, Nev., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007.
Remember the Flap and Scandal about someone or some campaign either conducting anti-Mormon and anti-Romney “PUSH POLLS” or represented telephone calls as polls.
Now, the Attorney General of New Hampshire is investigating the matter since it is illegal in New Hampshire to conduct such surveys over the telephone without disclosing the identity on whose behalf the call is made or who the phone survey/caller is opposing.
Deputy Attorney General Bud Fitch said New Hampshire has never prosecuted a case involving such calls but was moving forward. He cautioned against expecting an immediate resolution.
“Generally, these investigations can take at least several days and sometimes several weeks,†Fitch said.
Among the questions the caller asked was whether the person receiving the call knew Romney was a Mormon, that he received military deferments when he served as a Mormon missionary in France, that his five sons did not serve in the military, that Romney’s faith did not accept blacks as bishops into the 1970s and that Mormons believe the Book of Mormon is superior to the Bible.
“It started out like all the other calls. … Then all of the sudden it got very unsettling and very negative,†said Anne Baker, an independent voter who was called in Hollis, N.H.
Who is behind the telephone calls/polls?
There are a number of theories:
Roger Stone, a long time GOP political consultant points to Mitt Romney.
Just as Bobby Kennedy was behind anti-Catholic calls and literature to Catholic Households in The 1960 Democratic Party. I smell a dirty trick. I suspect a pro-Romney motive to inoculate against future use of the religious issue and to breed sympathy for Romney.
No respectable Republican polling firm like Tarrance would be involved with this.
PS- a 20-minute call is the work of an amateur. The long call is designed to get ALL the negatives out, to put them off limits for future attacks.
STONE
Soren Dayton, a GOP consultant also points to Romney.
To prove a crime, you need means, motive, and opportunity. The Romney campaign has the motive. They have the means financially, intellectually, and logistically. And there is lots of circumstantial evidence linking the Romney campaign and his supporters to the people that used the weapon. Opportunity? Well, that’s self-evident, if it happens.
There’s a case here. More facts are necessary, but there’s a real case.
Mitt Romney’s campaign has denied involvement.
Erick Erickson from Redstate thinks it is a friend of a campaign including Romney’s.
Friends can be so well intentioned, yet so dumb sometimes. I’m talking about these anti-Mormon phone calls in New Hampshire and Iowa. I suspect close friends of one of the candidates are behind the calls. It would not surprise me if a friend of Mitt Romney’s, thinking it’d do some good, was behind the calls. That’s not to say it was a Romney friend, but I think that is just as plausible as a Huck friend, McCain friend, Rudy friend, or Thompson friend.
Jim Geraghty at National Review Online says someone with DEEP Pockets.
First, it’s both Iowa and New Hampshire, no? So that would boost the cost even higher, and make the likelihood of a bunch of renegade supporters of anybody less likely. On the other hand, I find a hard time buying the idea that any campaign would consider playing this card worth the risks. If and when the New Hampshire Attorney General names someone, I suspect we’ll find somebody with deep pockets, a relatively new desire to play in the political game, and little concern about long-term relationships in the GOP.
So, who dunnit?
Flap bets that it is either a LEFTY or LIBERTARIAN based 527 group with stealth/unreported donors. Either of these groups have an incentive to smear the GOP.
Will those responsible be “OUTED” prior to the New Hampshire primary?
Only if Western Wats’ folks are called before a Grand Jury and squeal who hired them or someone who made the calls is paid or threatened with criminal prosecution to RAT OUT the donors.
Stay tuned…..
Previous:
Push Polls Highlighting Mitt Romney as a Mormon Being Conducted in Iowa and New Hampshire – Part Two
Push Polls Highlighting Mitt Romney as a Mormon Being Conducted in Iowa and New Hampshire
Why Mitt Romney Did NOT Receive the Right to Life Endorsement
Mitt Romney Slip Sliding Away to Mike Huckabee in Iowa
California Republican Assembly Endorses Mitt Romney
Mike Huckabee a Threat to Mitt Romney in Iowa?
Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney
13 Comments
Justin
Here’s what a source at WW has told me:
http://race42008.com/2007/11/18/western-wats-details-negate-the-romney-did-it-theory/
Flap
Justin,
You have a point and Western Wats can clear this all up by releasing the name of who paid them.
Want to bet that it is a 527 with stealth donors?
Somebody is destined to RAT OUT the perps though – especially if the callers themselves face criminal prosecution.
Scott McDonnell
Maybe you can explain how the NH Attorney General can compell a company in Utah to do anything. All they can do is ask. The NH AG has no jurisdiction in Utah. So, no, I do not see criminal charges being brought against a company in Utah breaking laws in NH.
So, therefore, you will never find out who did this unless someone steps forward and leaks information. And what’s the best way to make sure that doesn’t happen? By getting friends to do it in the first place.
Romney did this to himself. Plain and simple. Of ALL the polling companies in the country (or world for that matter) why Utah and why a company tied to the Mormon religion and Romney? Sounds pretty stupid for anyone BESIDES Romney to do that.
So, believe what you want. I think I’ll just stick around in the real world.
Flap
Are you kidding me?
You do not know much about the law now do you?
The calls were placed into New Hampshire by the Western Wats company. If the calls violated the law, of course, the NH AG has jurisdiction.
I am not saying Romney or one of his supporters were not involved. I think it is unlikely though.
If Romney is involved, his campaign is OVER.
Scott McDonnell
Apparently much more than you do.
If the company is not physically located in NH, the AG does not have jurisdiction over the company. Simple as that. The “crime” of NH was committed in Utah, physically.
NH’s laws only matter in NH. Why do you think they haven’t asked IA to investigate?
If somehow, Western Wats voluntarily released their client’s name and THEY were located in NH, then sure. But, the argument is trying to compell WW to reveal their client. Not going to happen, legally.
You are not going to find out who did this unless someone leaks the information.
I don’t think I can find another way to word it, so if you can’t understand that, then I can’t help you.
Do you really believe they didn’t know this when they did it? These people (whoever did it) are not stupid.
Scott McDonnell
I’ll give you an example, in Georgia, it is illegal to view porn on your computer (I believe it Georgia) yet, GA cannot prosecute a company in Florida with a website delivering porn to Georgia. They can however, prosecute a person viewing the porn.
Again, unless the company is located in New Hampshire (or the client) then they did not violate NHs law. That law only applies to companies and individuals in NH.
Flap
This is just silly and so is your hypothetical.
So, you are telling me I can telephone into New Hamsphire in a clear campaign violation of New Hampshire law and since I reside in California they cannot prosecute me?
Sorry, you are no lawyer.
What about federal conspiracy laws as well?
And why is a Ron Paul – bot so interested in this topic? Your guy involved?
Flap
Please read my comments policy.
I deleted your last comment for a violation and this is your warning.
Jennifer
As a mormon I can tell you, Romney was not behind this! Just trust me on this….This is only beginning, and there will be plenty of mormon haters who will start increasingly coming out of the woodwork, especially if Romney gets the nomination. I am also appalled that anyone would think that a staunch believing mormon would try to shed their own faith in a negative light. It is just appalling. Romney would NEVER do something like that. I mean NEVER!!! The man is not a wishy washy mormon. He is a very devout mormon and has held leaderships positions in the church, was even a bishop. You guys don’t get Romney at all
Franco
You’re right. I don’t get a guy who is pro-choice one minute and anti-abortion the next. He’s the definition of “wishy-washy”. Are you trying to tell us that “devout Mormons” who hold “leadership positions” usually support abortion, and then change their mind when they’re running for President?
Helen
Would anyone really be surprised that the Romney camp could be behind the calls…
The new book: “When Salt Lake City Calls” by Rocky Hulse
“Is there a conflict between Mormonism and the public trust” answers that question and much more.
Charles Wilson
Mitt, how many times do politicians have to learn that it’s not the crime it’s the coverup? Or does it all depend on what IS is?
Pingback: