Karl Rove On Pastor’s Anti-Mormon Remark: ‘Cult’ Comment Will Hurt Perry; ‘Doesn’t Belong In Politics’

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by Alex Alvarez | 9:44 am, October 11th, 2011

» 35 comments

Laura Ingraham sat in for Bill O’Reilly last night on The Factor, where she spoke with political analyst and George W. Bush’s Deputy Chief of Staff George W. Bush Karl Rove about a topic that’s been the subject of many headlines over the years, and this week in particular: “The politics of Mormonism.”

You’ll recall, of course, that a pastor named Robert Jeffress recently and single-handedly created a distracting media firestorm after having referred to GOP candidate Mitt Romney‘s (and Jon Huntsman‘s) Mormon religion as a “cult” while introducing Rick Perry at last week’s Values Voters Summit.

Rove felt that, while “we want our leaders to be people of faith,” comments like those made by Jeffress muddle the issues and have no place in politics:

This is a terrible mistake on the part of the Pastor; it’s the kind of thing that doesn’t belong in politics. We want our candidates, we want our leaders to be people of faith, but we don’t get into and we haven’t gotten into since at least the 1960 presidential election in the determination over whether or not somebody’s professed faith is acceptable to the vast majority of Americans.

Ingraham weighed in, sharing that it’s unfair to allow Perry to be “sandbagged” by comments he didn’t make, and wondering what kind of social and political climate we’re in when one has to be careful to thoroughly vet the person introducing a candidate at a forum that isn’t even his own. Rove was inclined to agree:

Well, look, you have to. That’s one of those lessons I learned in 2000. You may remember we had a guy introduce Bush in South Carolina who took a 2 x 4 to John McCain. We even vetted what his comments were supposed to be and he went off-script and attacked John McCain in a way that hurt Bush. And the same thing has happened to Perry here.

My problem, I wish Perry was a little bit stronger in denouncing this, but my problem is not so much with Perry. He’s suffering some fallout from this. My problem is with the pastor. The pastor should not have said this.

Somewhat curiously, Rove then gave an example from the past, referring to President Abraham Lincoln as an “unorthodox Christian” and Stephen Douglas as a “real” Christian.

Have a look, courtesy of Fox News:

fox news, Jon Huntsman, Karl Rove, Laura Ingraham, Mitt Romney, Mormonism, Religion, Robert Jeffress

Anonymous

Well Karl, according to our resident moron, Royal Emperor, Mormon bashing is totally fair game.
Anonymous

How would you feel if John McCain fathered an illegitimate black baby?
Anonymous

Humpty Dumpty Rove doesn’t belong in politics. What a bloated slug!
Anonymous

This coming from Rove, was he not among the group, that McCain remarked about “ I believe that there is a special place in hell for people like those”……….
Anonymous

This coming from Rove, was he not among the group, that McCain remarked about “ I believe that there is a special place in hell for people like those”……….
Anonymous

Just for the conservatrolls that think politics/the world began on Jan 20, 2009 and will disavow any knowledge of aforementioned reference: http://www.dadmag.com/archive/060400jmccain.php
Anonymous

Robert speaks with authority and holiness because he has religious statues in his front yard , and he treats all with kindness and good humour .
Valkrie101

Republicans dug their own grave on this Mormon issue since they made Obama’s religious views the major issue of the 2008 campaign. Before it is over, Mitt, nee, “Willard”, will be addressing his religious views beyond just calling those that question them “bigots”.
D L

I may not agree with you politically, sir, but when you’re right, you’re right. The GOP (and the Dems, for that matter) opened the floodgates for attacks on politicians’ religious views, and the people they associate themselves, with, by making such a big stink about Obama’s church/secret Muslim faith. The ironic thing is, Romney won’t likely get past this issue without addressing it head on, while Obama barely took heat for the Wright/Farrakhan problem.
The Real Royal Emperor

Never said that, Liar, and I don’t bash Mormons collectively. I merely point out, as I am called to do and all Christians are called to do that while Mormonism may be a fine religion, it is not a Christian sect. All Christians are charged to call out heresy.
http://twitter.com/gadfly666 gadfly666

Carl Rove is against smear tactics now?

Is he not the same guy who confused the low-iq Republican voters against John McCain by spreading rumors that John McCain is an unpatriotic, illegitimate-black-baby-fathering Manchurian Candidate.
Anonymous

Who imagined there would be an increasing snowball effect for this issue, but here it is…
Anonymous

Obama did not have to really address Wright issue because the Democrats did not view this as an issue.
Republicans should not make religion a litmus test for the Presidency
Anonymous

“But this is a Christian nation and only Christians should hold positions of power!!! Execute the heretics!!!” – GOP2012
Anonymous

I agree, but for some reason ‘having the right kind of faith’ is another supposed guide and measure of meaningful character.

Although, historically it has never stopped corruption or the loosening of trousers by interested parties.

Politicians are as flawed as anybody else.
http://thefunemployed.blogspot.com/ rance

You know what doesn’t hurt Perry? Rove’s hatred of him. That is actually a plus.

And for the record, Jeffries the Evil Pastor, supported Bush and McCain.
Anonymous

The fact is that if Romney wins the nomination the Mormon factor won’t help Obama one bit. I don’t want Romney to be the Republican candidate but he is a sight better than Obama and I will be proud to vote for him in the main election. For me his being a Mormon has nothing to do with it.
S R Karenova

I think John McCain in 2000 and Valerie Plame in 2003 would argue that Karl Rove doesn’t belong in politics.
Anonymous

Religion doesn’t belong in politics.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Brian-Skinner/100000598231323 Brian Skinner

Real christians don’t endlessly point out the flaws of others.
Anonymous

Many pastors do what pastor Robert Jeffress did, open
mouth and insert foot.
Remember the pastor who was having a “Burn the Koran party”. There
are others who told of the exact day the world was coming to an end, it’s no
wonder many are accused of belonging to cults. I believe the Bible and any
other good book from Heaven should have written on the front of it “This
Book is for practicing not for preaching”, this should apply to all
preachers, this way everyone could sit in front of a mirror and educate one’s
own self. People always see themselves to be on a higher pedestal than those
around them. This seems to be excessive today with those who have been blessed
with wealth and power. We have heard Power Corrupts. Those in a position of
power are continually proving the accusation to be true. There punishment
should be to practice humility and get their mind off of money.
Valkrie101

Nonsense. Without Wright, Obama would have won by 20 points.
Michelle

You are a liar. You bash them all the time. Are you even capable of telling the truth?
Michelle

Um Romney addressed it last time he ran. To those who have been taught to hate Mormons, it wouldn’t matter what he says and we all know it.
Jolene Howard

Mormons in fact belong to the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They are truly Christians. They believe in the Bible. The Book Of Morman is a second testiment Of Jesus Christ. Those who call them non Christians are only
showing their ignorance of the truth.
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

Holy Crap!!

We agree on something!!

The world must be coming to an end if two people on totally opposite sides of the political spectrum can do that!!
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

It’s been stated my many political pundits that Rove and Perry don’t get along!! So, of course will bash Perry at every chance he can get!!

Rove wants to win the Presidential election and wants to see Obama out… and seems that he will stop at nothing to achieve those goals!!
Anonymous

Republicans are even having to do damage control from their own evangelical ministers.
Anonymous

Riight. Carl was/.is in his own cult. A cult of ignorance & hatred. Not so very different.
Anonymous

One previously unknown preacher says something stupid and it drives the LSM into a news cycle frenzy.

Yet Obama sat front and center in the front pew for 20 years while his minister ‘GOD DAMN AMERICA’ Wright spewed racist hatred and hate America vitriol, and it rates a huge yawn by the LSM.
Anonymous

Love your Rev. God Damn America Wright though, hey?
Anonymous

Love your Rev. God Damn America Wright though, hey?
Anonymous

Karl Rove is pathetic. His patron is out of power and he cannot STAND it. Why would anyone care what this loser thinks?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IC7HRBJRXKA7IKTTZS5W3UIECQ Agent of Truth

And Rove does not belong in politics either.
http://www.facebook.com/jsabadojr.1 Jose F. Sabado Jr.

For me, The Church of Jesus of Latter-Day Saints is the only true Church. It was founded by Jesus Christ not Joseph Smith. Other denominations are founded by the Philosophy of men with the help of the Scriptures. Reading the Bible does not make you a Christian.