As always, the Article VI Boys have the best post-speech reaction coverage. Put plainly, if John and Lowell don’t link to what you have to say about Mitt’s speech, you don’t matter.

Blogfather Hugh has an excellent summary of the Speech.

Charles Krauthammer, writing at NRO, warms up the semi-truck and runs over Mike Huckabee. Huck has made spectacularly bad use of the religion card lately and it will come back to haunt him. Krauthammer’s column wins today’s “Read The Whole Thing” award, but I’ll just quote is closing statement:

I suspect that neither Jefferson’s Providence nor Washington’s Great Author
nor Lincoln’s Almighty would look kindly on the exploitation of religious
differences for political gain. It is un-American.

Well said, Charles. Amen.

Speaking of the Huckabee campaign, the Article VI’s Lowell overheard an interesting post-speech conversation in College Station between a Romney aide and a reporter that bears repeating:

The Romney aide was looking at his Blackberry and said, “The response is
amazing. I can’t believe who I am getting e-mails from.”

Reporter (with a twinkle in his eye): “Is there one from the Huckabee
campaign?”

Romney aide (laughing): “No, but what would they be saying right
now?”

Reporter: “Damn!”

Damn indeed.

RedState’s Jason Bonham has some reports pointing to a “Tacit Anti-Mormon” campaign by Team Huck. I’ll have more to say about this next week, but basically its time for Huck to “man up” and say what he thinks. The waffle is well done now.

US News’ James Pethokoukis talks economics with Mitt.

I agree with RightWingSparkle. Lets stop the silliness and get to it.

PoliticalDerby’s SA Kalinich just doesn’t get it. The posts are barely intelligible and not worthy of commentary.

***UPDATE***

The Maha Rushie is at this hour describing Mitt’s Mormon Speech as “inspiring”.

If you missed the speech, Powerline’s Paul Mirengoff has the transcript and the video.

If I may be so bold, and since its my blog I will, here are some of the most powerful soundbytes of the speech – some which I seriously doubt the MSM will play much:

There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church’s distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes President he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths.

Recall the early days of the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, during the fall of 1774. With Boston occupied by British troops, there were rumors of imminent hostilities and fears of an impending war. In this time of peril, someone suggested that they pray. But there were objections. ‘They were too divided in religious sentiments’, what with Episcopalians and Quakers, Anabaptists and Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Catholics. Then Sam Adams rose, and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot.

And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God … they founded this great nation.  (Emphasis Added)

**** First things first.  Mitt’s speech is scheduled for 10:30 AM Eastern.  I’ll leave it to you to figure out what time that is where you live.  If you can’t figure that out, you have more serious problems than I can help you with.  Watch it live on Mitt’s website..If you can’t get to a computer, you can listen to the speech by calling this number: 866-866-2244 and enter the Participant Code 9411758.  (HT EFM’s Nancy)

.The Romney Press Shop has posted excerpts from Mitt’s “Faith In America” speech.  As near as I can tell, he didn’t use any of my suggestions.  While Mitt didn’t listen to me, it appears NRO’s Mark Hemingway did.  Good to know some people are listening.  Last we heard from Hemingway he was busily trying to connect Western WATS to Mitt.  At least he found something more constructive to do. 

The Article VI Boys will be at the speech.  Watch that space for excellent commentary.  They’ve been busy chronicling the speech commentary over the past few days. 

As they’re on the road and probably offline, I’ll do today’s speech linkage: 

Chicago Sun Times – Bob Novak. 

Houston Chronicle – Jonah Goldberg and Alan Bernstein. 

Washington Post – Jacqueline Salmon.  Memo to Ms. Salmon:  The purpose of the speech is not to “prove” Mitt’s Christianity.  If you’d read the pre-release quotes, you’d know that.  It’s called research.  Try some.  End memo. 

ABCNews – Tapper & Hinman. If there was a more bigoted and slanted way to write an article about religion in American politics, I’m sure these two authors would have found it. 

Blogger News Network – RB Scott.  Tongue in cheek and pretty funny. 

US News & World Report – Kenneth Walsh. 

Washington Post’s Trail Blogger Dan Balz. 

NRO’s Jim Geraghty. 

RCP’s Steven Stark. 

Human Events’ David Limbaugh. Sorry, David, too late.  The Speech is on. 

New York Times Caucus Blogger Kate Phillips.  Nice one, Kate. 

The San Jose Mercury News’ Mary Anne Ostrom.  Memo to Ms. Ostrom:  Exactly what “Mormon backlash” are you referring to?  End Memo.