Ahead of the PBS broadcast “The Mormons”, Mitt is getting some comparative coverage.  Some is better than others. 

The Union Leader’s Shawne Wickham does a decent job of covering the issue – several quotes by Tagg Romney help. 

The Saginaw News’ Barrie Barber reports on Mitt’s once having sworn off politics. Somebody get me an egg timer before this is labeled as another flip-flop.  Barber also has another piece reporting on Mitt’s address to the Saginaw County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day breakfast. 

The Boston Globe’s Campaign Notebook chronicles the blogospheric “firestorm” resulting from his comment that “It’s not worth moving heaven and earth spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one person [Bin Laden]”.  Here’s some food for thought: Bin Laden hasn’t been able to send even a video taped message from his hole in the ground for nearly five years.  Yes, he’s an important target, but in an era of strained resources, just exactly how much are we willing to spend in order to get one man?  Mitt understands a concept foreign to those on both the left and right side of this manufactured controversy – its called “Marginal Cost/Benefit”.  I don’t have the time to explain it to them. 

If you’re looking for a speech that transcends rhetoric and has actual goals and objectives, check out Mitt’s address to Yeshiva University in New York. 

The AP’s Daniel Lovering has Mitt’s reaction to last week’s Democratic Joint Press Conference in South Carolina.

The Salt Lake Trib’s Thomas Burr has a biographical piece on Mitt’s head money man, Spencer Zwick.  If Zwick raised $20+ million for me, I’d adopt him too. 

Seacostonline’s Chris Quartarone reports on Mitt’s visit to Stratham. 

The Stanford Review’s Grant Starrett has read Mitt’s “Turnaround” book.  Good review. 

CBN’s David Brody has a bunch of comments on his last Mitt post. 

The AP’s Liz Sidoti, published at ABCNews, quotes Mitt as saying “everybody changes their minds”.  Unlike most of the MSM, Mitt actually backs his claims up with facts. 

Politico’s Mike Allen interviews Mitt.  Allen tried to sneak some curveballs past Mitt on the “Mormon” issue.  Case and point:

Q. At the grand opening of your headquarters in Iowa, on a teleconference call you had question from a lady about polygamy. Why do you think that in this day and age, the year 2007, some key tenets of your faith are still so misunderstood? 

A. “Well, I think most people have other things to do in their lives besides keeping up to date with Mormon doctrines.” 

Q. But, Governor, polygamy is more than just a doctrinal issue. 

A. “Yes, of course. But you have TV shows that continue to play off the old history, and people don’t spend a lot of time looking at the disclaimer that says this is not the practice of the Mormon church today. They just sort of watch it and don’t pay a lot of attention to it. My expectation is that as this campaign goes on, there’ll be a little more attention to recognize that some of the old misconceptions are exactly that.” 

Memo to Mike Allen:  It’s called “originality”.  Try it sometime. 

Finally today I’ll point you to Frank Pastore – it will be the last time I do so unless Mr. Pastore has something constructive to say about Mitt specifically or Mormons in general.  This is Pastore’s second attempt to explain Mormonism as seen through his fish-eye lens.  This attempt is no more successful than was his first.  He asks a question at the top of his column entitled “Mormonism: Religion, Denomination, or Cult?” 

Am I an anti-Mormon bigot for simply raising this question? 

To which I will answer – Yes, Mr. Pastore.  You are a bigot – and an Anti-Mormon one at that.  To refer to Mormons as not only “not Christian” but “Anti-Christian” from birth can only be interpreted as bigoted.  I’d use more expressive language, but this is (by my decree) a PG blog.  I state again, for the record, sir, you are not remotely qualified to judge just who and who is not Christian.  Your column is badly researched, deeply flawed, and fundamentally offensive.  Strike two. 

Corrections, Revisions, and Extensions 

Two issues have been brought to my attention which need some clarification.

First, Holly Ramer doesn’t work for the Boston Globe, she’s an AP reporter out of Concord.  My mistake, Holly.  And, she actually didn’t say Mitt needed “better answer” on Iraq.  Apologies again.  That volley should’ve been directed at the nameless, shapeless journalistic entity known as “The Headline Writer”. 

Also, I evidently rankled a feather or two over at the New York Sun’s Political Blog.  My point in linking to Ryan Sager’s denial as to the source of a Romney to Thompson defection was not to finger him as the source, but only to point out glee with which he would welcome such news.  I’m sure he is equally hard on all the candidates, and it wouldn’t surprise me to find voodoo dolls of Rudy, Mitt, and McCain in his office – each full of pins.  Oh, and Ryan, I don’t have to work very hard to point out anti-mormon bias in this campaign cycle.  The difference with this cycle is guys like me aren’t going to sit around and take the bricks that are thrown at us.  This isn’t 1830 anymore, and there’s a lot more than 6 of us Mormons – so expect some of those bricks to be hurled back.