Romney criticizes summit speaker for 'poisonous language'

Mitt Romney criticized another speaker at the Values Voter Summit Saturday for bringing “poisonous language” into public debate, a day after his Mormon faith came under attack by a Texas megachurch leader here.

But Romney’s criticism wasn’t aimed at Robert Jeffress, Baptist pastor who called Romney’s Mormon faith a “cult.”


Instead, Romney aimed his criticism at Bryan Fischer, a controversial official at the American Family Association who was scheduled to follow Romney in the program.

Fischer, a leader at the Mississippi-based AFA, has blamed homosexuals for the Holocaust, suggested banning Muslims from serving in the military and has strongly attacked Mormonism.

He argued only days ago that the constitutional right to the free exercise of religion doesn’t apply to Mormons, declaring: “The purpose of the First Amendment is to protect the free exercise of the Christian religion.”

Romney didn’t address Fischer by name or specify which of his remarks were offensive. But the message was unambiguous.

“Our values ennoble the citizen and strengthen the nation. We should remember that decency and civility are values too,” Romney said. “One of the speakers who will follow me today, has crossed that line, I think. Poisonous language doesn’t advance our cause. It’s never softened a single heart nor changed a single mind.”

He continued: “The blessings of faith carry the responsibility of civil and respectful debate. The task before us is to focus on the conservative beliefs and the values that unite us – let no agenda, narrow our vision or drive us apart.”

A Romney adviser confirmed his remark about “poisonous language” was referring to Fischer.

Romney’s campaign has declined to address the Friday remarks by Jeffress, explaining that the former Massachusetts governor has already outlined his views on his faith in a speech during the 2007 campaign.

But his decision to confront Fischer shows that Romney is prepared to push back on critics of his religion – and that he’s happy to be viewed as a candidate who stands up to extreme elements of his own party.

Fischer did not respond to Romney in his speech, but he did say that the GOP's 2012 nominee should be a "genuine Christian." He also criticized homosexuality as a "threat to public health," called Islam a "religion of war and violence and death" and described evolution as a "bankrupt theory."

This article tagged under: Mitt Romney