Quite a few days of news to catch up on.  Here we go!

Captain Ed comments on the new Rasmussen poll showing Mitt in second place behind Rudy but in front of McCain. 

Mitt spent Memorial Day Weekend in New Hampshire.  Many presidential candidates want to spend time there, but Mitt is fortunate in that he has a home there. 

The Citizen’s Cutter Mitchell reports on Mitt’s frank conversation with Veterans at American Legion Post 72. 

Looks like Al Michaud didn’t appreciate Mitt’s visit.  A self described liberal, Al stated “I’m one person who will not vote for a Mormon.”  Congratulations, Al.  You’re a bigot.  Here’s your sign. 

Townhall.com’s Mike Gallagher is also a Salem Radio talk show host.  He took Blogfather Hugh’s morning drive slot in LA when Hugh got tired of waking up at 3:00 AM and went to evenings.  I listened to Gallagher for a few weeks and gave up on him simply because he ran a boring show.  His latest post at Townhall finds him musing about why he won’t support Mitt even though he’s a smart, talented, decent man with the kinds of values and ideology that most mainstream conservatives can appreciate.”  That said, Gallagher simply cannot bring himself to look at Mitt as anything but a Mormon – and will therefore not support him.  Blogfather Hugh rightly called Gallagher a bigot.  Gallagher seems hurt by this friendly fire from a fellow conservative.  Well, Mike, get ready for some more friendly fire.  You’re a bigot.  Here’s your sign. 

Mitt released a statement on the Iraq War Funding resolution.  Hillary and Obama (having learned nothing from John Kerry’s failed tap dance in 2004)  joined 10 other Democrats in voting against the bill.  Memo to the AP – get your columns straight! 

Obama attempted (and failed) to rebut Mitt’s (and McCain’s) criticism.  This vote will haunt you, Mr. Obama. 

The Washington Times’ Herbert Klein takes a look at the “Mormon” question and wonders if we haven’t been down this road before a few times. 

Bostonist’s Caroline Roberts thinks Mitt has a Sh*t List.  Actually, Caroline, as far as I know, Mitt doesn’t lower himself to such crass language.  You’d be more correct to refer to it as a Crap List, or in a pinch, an Excrement List. 

The Boston Globe’s Joan Vennochi thinks Mitt’s Massachusetts days are the skeletons the MSM has been searching for.   Vennochi evidently has no idea how the Bay State is viewed by the rest of America.  Any state which elects Ted Kennedy time and again is setting itself up for parody.  The fact Mitt managed to push through some conservative policies while governor is amazing and will be exploited for campaign purposes.  This is smart politics, not skeletons. 

Joe Conason, writing in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, declares Mitt to be a “highly flexible Mormon” and a “recent convert to the tenets of the religious right”.  CBN’s David Brody links to a 1994 Mitt campaign flyer which pokes some holes in Conason’s assertions.  Sorry Joe.  Better luck next time. 

Mitt wrote a Townhall.com article on McCain-Feingold which makes more sense than McCain-Feingold does.  Dean Barnett notices the Washington Post’s newfound recognition of Townhall.com. 

Mitt made some waves last week when he took a shot at John Edwards’ non-understanding of the conflict in which this nation finds herself.  Let’s be frank, folks.  Edwards has a Pollyanna attitude which this nation simply cannot afford.

KUTV thinks Mitt is slamming his home state in his new ad.  C’mon guys, even people in Massachusetts admit its one of the most liberal states in the union.  There’s no slam here, just facts. 

Campaigns And Elections has the ad transcript. 

Mitt wasn’t happy with ABCNews’ decision to run with the Iran Covert Op story.  ABC is more concerned with ratings than national security, but this is nothing new. 

The Des Moines Register’s David Yepsen dissects the latest Iowa polling data.  Several journalists have already done this, but Yepsen understands the Hawkeye Cauci better than most anyone else. 

NRO’s Kathryn Jean Lopez (a Mormon) interviews Bay Buchannan (also a Mormon).  The subject is mostly Hillary, but Mitt makes an appearance toward the end.  Next thing you know some tin-foil-hat brigade will start fomenting Mormon conspiracy theories.  Oh, wait, they’re already doing that. 

Yesterday I linked to a Earl Ofari Hutchinson article over at Alternet (scroll down if you want to read it) where he lamented what he believed would be a lack of diversity in a Romney administration.  No evidence was given to sustain this argument, but Hutchinson evidently believes if you repeat an assertion long enough it will become fact.  Today he posts much the same argument at HuffPo. 

Memo to Mr. Hutchinson:  Mitt doesn’t have to explain Mormon Doctrine.  Period.  He has no racist past to atone or apologize for.  You rightly call the “Reverend” Al Sharpton on his bigotry and for that I commend you.  Now, you might want to turn that mirror around – you might be surprised at the fact what you see in Al is something you find in yourself.  End of memo.

Alternet’s Earl Ofari Hutchinson has several bones to pick with Mitt.  Sadly, he is unable to do so without parroting anti-Mormon bigoted talking points.  He claims a Romney presidency would be bad for blacks and latinos, but provides no evidence to support his manufactured claim other than saying: 

Romney probably wouldn’t do what President Bush did and appoint a bevy of high profile African-Americans to top echelon positions. 

Memo to Hutchinson:  Mitt’s philosophy regarding appointments resides in the qualifications of the person being considered.  Diversity for diversity’s sake accomplishes nothing.  Your thinly veiled religious bigotry is insulting.  If you can’t make a coherent argument without resorting to sliming Mitt based solely on his religion, perhaps the flaw lies with you and not with him.  End of memo. 

Evangelicals for Mitt’s Nancy French (published at Newsmax) details her reasons why she can vote for a (gasp) Mormon.  Maybe Hutchinson needs to talk to French. 

The AP’s Mike Glover analyzes the Iowa poll numbers. 

The Boston Globe’s Scott Helman chronicles Mitt’s campaign efforts south of the Mason-Dixon line and says he’s having trouble in South Carolina.  Relax, Scott.  It’s just the language barrier.  Mitt will pick up a better southern drawl than Hillary can possibly manufacture soon enough. 

RenewAmerica’s Michael Gaynor says Mitt the Monogamous Mormon is the best candidate for the Oval Office.  Can’t argue with that. 

Newsmax’s Ron Kessler writes a rather complete bio of Mitt and Ann – with a lot of focus on Ann.  Said focus borders on thinly veiled infatuation.  Down, Ron, down. 

The AP’s Joe Steinbaker chronicles Mitt’s response to John McCain’s immigration fusillade.  Responding to McCain’s repeating the long debunked claim that Mitt hired illegal aliens to do his yard work:

No, we did not hire anyone who was in this country illegally, and we made sure we didn’t. And you might go back to my opponent’s camp and (tell them) we’ve moved - We now live in a condominium, OK? Duh. 

And on McCain’s “varmit gun” jab: 

I have respect for Senator McCain, and I guess it just shows that even when he’s wrong, he’s amusing.

Amusing? Yes.  Presidential? Not by a long shot.

The UPI reports Mitt’s campaign is gaining steam.  Where have they been? 

The AP’s Liz Sidoti summarizes the McCain-Romney tit for tat exchange on the immigration issue.  When the dust settled, McCain came out looking small and vindictive.  Bottom line John – you’re getting your butt kicked. 

IMAO’s RightWingDuck has an accurate description of McCain and Mitt’s exchange of political fire.  The picture of McCain looks pretty accurate.

411Mania.com’s Joe Rivett has a humorous take on how Mitt could’ve answered Chris Matthews question about what is to be disliked about America. 

William Ketter takes a closer look at Mike Wallace’s inappropriate questioning of Mitt and Ann during the 60 Minutes interview.  I don’t agree that the premarital sex question was a softball designed to show Mitt’s human side.  If Wallace had asked me the same question, my answer might have consisted of a right cross to his jaw. 

The Raw Story’s Nick Juliano reports that Mike Gravel can’t wait to eat Mitt’s lunch in the general election.  Mike Gravel is one of the fringe democratic candidates nobody has ever heard of.  Why the Worcester Telegram and Gazette’s Mark Melady saw fit to interview him is beyond me.   Anybody who polls lower than Dennis Kucinich should be more concerned with the primary election than the general. 

The Daily News Tribune’s Peter Young thinks the immigration issue might be the hole Mitt needs to “run to daylight.”  If you don’t understand that metaphor, I can’t help you.  But I digress.  Young might just be right. 

The Chicago Tribune’s Jill Zuckman (published in the Deseret Morning News) has a good profile of Mitt and highlights his ability to deal with criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. 

And finally, just because I’m sure it had to be an interesting day, the “Reverend” Al Sharpton visited Salt Lake City yesterday and partook of the famed Mormon hospitality.  Apologies were made to “regular Mormons” which evidently did not include Mitt.

Sometimes you just need to call a spade a spade.  Here at B4M I’ve made it a point to have a lot of fun at Damien LaVera’s expense.  He’s Howlin’ Mad Howie Dean’s Head Mitt Hit Man – which means he’s tasked with writing press releases every few days where he takes pot shots at “Smooth Talking Mitt”.  For some odd reason, the irony of a DNC staffer deriding anyone as a Smooth Talker (in the wake of Slick Willy) has yet to dawn on LaVera.  Add to that the fact he continuously quotes himself – probably only to increase his Google rating - and you end up with a really comical press release. 

Well, today LaVera crossed a line.  Evidently he thinks if you repeat a lie enough times it will be believed as the truth.  Last December, the Boston Globe’s Jonathan Saltzman, Maria Cramer, and Connie Page wrote a story with the headline “Illegal Immigrants toiled for governor” – insinuating that then Governor Romney hired illegal immigrants to landscape his Belmont property. 

There’s only one problem with the story.  Governor Romney didn’t hire the Guatemalans - they worked for the landscaping company he hired.  The company’s owner was, in fact, a legal immigrant.  Governor Romney wasn’t required by any law or policy to enquire or verify the immigration status of the landscaping company’s workers.  The Boston Globe’s story was based on a false premise and fueled by a false headline.  Said story has long since been debunked. 

Damien LaVera didn’t get that memo and probably ignored the facts surrounding this non-story altogether.  Truth and other factual information mean little to him because that kind of thing doesn’t make for good press copy.  Today LaVera released the following statement about Governor Romney: 

…Romney himself employed undocumented workers at his own home in Massachusetts as recently as December. 

This statement, taken from the first paragraph of LaVera’s self aggrandizing press release is an outright bold faced lie.  Governor Romney did not employ the “undocumented workers”.  He did not interview them, he did not directly pay them.  The most contact he had with them was the occasional “Buenos Dias”.  Unless you consider the occasional glass of water from Ann to be a direct payment, LaVera’s statement leaks credibility like a sieve. 

Facts are stubborn things.  The fact of the matter is, of the current crop of presidential contenders, Governor Romney is the only one who actually did something on the issue of illegal immigration.  You’ll notice that article wasn’t cited in LaVera’s hit piece. 

Damien LaVera’s job is to tarnish Mitt as much as possible.  His job is an unenviable one because there is so little for him to work with that he must rely on lies, half-truths, and ad-hominem attacks to fill his daily press quota. 

I’m sorry, Damien.  Your cheap shot press release comes across a little more than a lie, and a pathetic one at that.  Try harder next time.

All American Patriots has the text of the latest Mitt commercial. 

CBN’s David Brody muses on Dr. Laura’s recent conversation with Focus on the Family’s James Dobson.  The couple’s discussion touched on Mitt.  Brody says Mitt needs Dobson.  I say Dobson’s endorsement of Mitt would be mutually beneficial considering the alternatives. 

Mona Charen marvels at Mitt’s “near perfection”.  I guess that’s as close as she gets to a swoon.  Don’t get too excited – she snipes at him for the rest of her column. 

Claremont Institute’s Ryan Williams came away from Mitt’s Hillsale address unimpressed.  I came away from Williams’ assessment equally unimpressed.  I guess that makes us even. 

One of Williams’ comments focused on Mitt’s low poll numbers.  Well, timing is everything.  Dean Barnett reports on the latest poll numbers – which show real traction for Mitt and are rising – especially in Iowa.  Politico has more number crunching. 

Bostonist’s Caroline Roberts doesn’t like good looking guys.  She refers to the Romney 5 as “weirdly hot” and derides Mitt for referring to Ann as a “babe”.  I sense a thinly veiled jealousy beneath Ms. Roberts’ commentary.  As for why Mitt didn’t plant a big wet one on Ann during the 60 minutes interview, perhaps that scene ended up on the cutting room floor. 

The AP’s Jim Davenport reports on the warm reception given Mitt by the South Carolina Republican convention – also the chilly greeting afforded Senator Lindsay Graham.  Not good news for John McCain. 

Mike Hosey, writing in the High Springs Herald, dissects the Christian voting for Mormon issue, and sums it up with this quote: 

In the end, I may not vote for Romney. If I don’t, it won’t be due to his Mormonism. 

I can live with that. 

Howlin’ Mad Howie Dean’s Head Mitt Hit Man Damien LaVera tries (and fails in spectacular fashion) to poke holes in Mitt’s rising poll numbers.  Damien really needs to stop quoting himself because he lacks the Mitt Smooth Talk gene. 

The Chicago Maroon’s Matt Barnum says he’d rather “rather have a president who I disingenuously agree with than one I genuinely disagree with.”  I can live with that, too. 

The Article IV Boys caught ABCNews changing a headline. Agenda journalism anybody? 

Peggy Noonan tried to make a joke.  Blogfather Hugh didn’t think it was funny.  Neither do I.  If I were less of a gentleman, perhaps I’d make a crack about the color, style, and cut of Peggy Noonan’s thong collection.  Then again, maybe I’d find something more important to write about. 

Political Derby’s Dave Michaels warns that Mitt will find himself in the MSM crosshairs given the latest poll results.  I’m not sure where Dave has been, but Mitt’s been in those cross hairs for a few months now and has acquitted himself rather well in my humbly unbiased opinion.  By the way, Jason, we’re still waiting for a Power Rankings update.

This will be a long post.  Its been a long week and I’ve been overcome by events caused by the fact that I actually have a full time job I have to pay attention to every so often.  Well, enough with the whining – off to the Roundup. 

Check out Article VI Guest Blogger John Mark Reynolds in Part V and Part VI of his thoughts on religion, faith and their roles in the Next Presidential Election. 

While you’re at Article VI, check out John and Lowell’s takedown of religious bigot Paul Weisberg.  Well done, gentlemen.  Also check their comparison of debate moderators (MSNBC vs. Fox).  Funny how Brit Hume and Chris Wallace managed to somehow avoid asking Mitt what he thought about Catholic Bishops. 

The Boston Globe’s Peter Canellos takes a look at the Five Brothers Blog and finds it to be contrived and lacking of substance.  Funny, I took a look at Canellos’ column and had the same impression about him. 

I’m sure these HuffPo guys have a point.  I’m not sure they know what it is and I know for certain they are unable to express it in a manner understandable to anyone outside the HuffPo sphere. 

Journal Chrétien runs a press release about an upcoming documentary on Joseph Smith.  Yes, he did run for president back in the 1840’s.  Mitt is running for that same office in 2008.  End of comparison.  You should thank me.  I just saved you the trouble of having to sit through an exceptionally dry and boring documentary.  The donation box is always open. 

The “Reverend” Al continues to dig his hole at a feverish pace.  Evidently, Mitt no longer qualifies under the title “Regular Mormon”.   Now he’s on his way to Salt Lake City for a press conference apology.  Somebody needs to tell Al he’ll be doing that show solo – LDS leaders don’t come out an mug for the cameras at his invitation. 

Mark Burkhalter, Speaker Pro-Tempore of the Georgia House, declares Mitt to be America’s best hope for a fiscally conservative president.  For those victims of the public school system, that means Mitt will be easier on your wallet than would Hillary. 

Lifenews.com’s Steven Ertelt reports good news from polls in Iowa and New Hampshire.  Mitt still wins the Hair poll. 

The Boston Herald published an AP article who’s unnamed author (might be the AP’s Glen Johnson) seemed to be surprised that Mitt publicly and fervently declared that he planned to “stand by his faith.”  How many times can they recycle this same one-note samba? 

Newsbuster’s Ken Sheppard takes Time Magazine’s Ana Marie Cox to task for her sniping at Mitt’s “gaffes” whilst ignoring those of others.  Sheppard isn’t surprised by Cox’s bias, and neither am I. 

The Deseret Morning News’ Lisa Riley Roche reports on Mitt’s “avid” Utah backers. 

During the debate, Mitt no doubt ruffled some feathers with his “double G’itmo” statement.  For those of you who have a problem with Gitmo, please contact the Department of Defense and let them know you’d like to have a “detainee” delivered to your house for safe keeping. 

The Rocky Mountain News’ M.E. Sprengelmeyer described Mitt’s post debate “peppiness”.  Compared with Tancredo’s irrelevance and Ron Paul’s tin-foil-hatted meltdown, I’ll take “peppy”. 

CBN’s David Brody has a mixed mailbag.  Some are anti-Mormon wing nuts.  Others somehow manage to think clearly. 

Point-Spreads.com has the latest odds on Mitt after the Orrin Hatch endorsement. 

Blogfather Hugh has Mitt’s statement blasting the latest “immigration” deal.  While I’m usually hesitant to criticize other candidates, John McCain’s campaign has begun to circle the drain after he delivered yet another sucker punch to the base on a core issue.  He’s a Great American, but a lousy Senator and a terrible Republican.  Watch out for that fork, John.  You’re done. 

1st Lieutenant Andrew J. Bacevich, United States Army, was an aide to Mitt before he joined the Army and was deployed to Iraq.  He was killed last Sunday by an improvised explosive device while on combat patrol in Salah Ad Din Province.  The cost of war is a high one to pay, and the cost of freedom sometimes takes the very best we have to offer.  Godspeed, Lieutenant Bacevich.

Tricia Erickson wants to warn you about Mitt – at least that’s what she wants you to think.  In all reality, however, she just wants a platform upon which she can establish herself as relevant.  She’s tried several different avenues so far – so let’s chronicle her attempts to insert herself into the limelight. 

Politico’s Mike Allen – along with many other media movers and shakers – received a long, rambling email from Ms. Erickson entitled “Can Mitt Romney Serve Two Masters? The Mormon Church vs. the United States of America” which – among other things – offered “guest appearances” featuring Ms. Ericson as an “expert” on Mormonism. 

I caught wind of Erickson’s diatribes sometime ago and had to chuckle.  Her experience with Mormons ended during her teen-age years and yet she still claims expertise on a subject and people she’s long separated herself from.  Maybe she has delusions of working as a PBS documentary subject someday. 

Erickson’s singular claim to fame – other than being an anti-Mormon bigot – is her having headed a modeling agency which represented the likes of Fawn Hall and Donna Rice.  Maybe you’ve heard of those two – maybe you haven’t.  Think really bad 1980’s hair – maybe that’ll help.  Now she bills herself as a crisis-management expert.  If your crisis happens to be caused by your secretary stuffing classified memos in her unmentionables or your presidential candidate having a Monkey Business fling, I’m sure Ms. Erickson can help you.  Should your crisis happen to involve something else, good luck and let me know how she works out for you. 

Now she’s in search of a talk show (radio/television/blog/outerspace) which will book her as a “Mormon” expert and by so doing will allow her to again enter the limelight – this time to vent all of her pent up anti-Mormon rage upon whichever listener/viewer happens to be in the vicinity.  

Personally, if I were Ms. Erickson, I wouldn’t spend too much time sitting by the phone waiting to be booked for anything other than a late night infomercial featuring the No Excuses Jeans clothing line.