Romney: Obama has "fought against religion"

Romney takes a question at a town hall meeting in Shelby Township, Mich., Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. / AP

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Tuesday that President Barack Obama's administration has "fought against religion" and sought to substitute a "secular" agenda for one grounded in faith.

Obama's campaign seized on the characterization, calling Romney's comments "disgraceful."

Romney rarely ventures into social issues in his campaign speeches, but people participating in a town hall-style meeting one week before the Michigan primary asked how he would protect religious liberty.

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"Unfortunately, possibly because of the people the president hangs around with, and their agenda, their secular agenda; they have fought against religion," Romney said.

The Obama campaign linked Romney's remarks to recent comments by rival Rick Santorum, who has referred to Obama holding a "phony theology" only to say later that he wasn't attacking Obama's faith but the president's environmental views.

"These ugly and misleading attacks have no place in the campaign and they provide a very clear contrast with what President Obama is talking about: how to restore economic security for the middle class and create jobs," said Lis Smith, an Obama campaign spokeswoman.

Religious liberty has been a leading topic in recent weeks because of the Obama administration's mandate that insurance companies provide free birth control even to people employed by church-affiliated organizations, including schools and hospitals. Opponents frame the debate as one of religious liberty while proponents of the mandate say it's about women's health and access to contraception.

Romney hasn't faced voters or reporters very often since Santorum's surge and the rise of social issues in the campaign, largely avoiding questions on the subject. But he's clearly focused on the conservative Republican base that's still skeptical of him, calling himself "severely conservative" during a speech to activists in Washington earlier this month. And his lengthy, detailed answer Tuesday on religious liberty showed clear attention to the issue.

Romney implicitly invoked his own Mormon faith, also rare for the former Massachusetts governor. He said Tuesday that he cares about the issue because he is "someone who has understood very personally the significance of religious tolerance."

He also took questions on gay marriage, Supreme Court appointments and abortion; and when asked about whom he might select as his vice presidential running mate, he listed "pro-life" as the first credential he would look for.

Romney has found himself in an unexpectedly difficult fight in Michigan, his native state and a place where his advisers had long assumed he could do well. He's facing a tough challenge from Santorum, who has excited the GOP base with strong anti-abortion rhetoric and appeals to blue-collar voters.

"I care about Michigan. This is personal for me," Romney said.

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[Freepress1111]

America might want to be cautious about taking religious advice from someone who, according to the words of Christ, has a very slim chance of getting into Heaven. Either Mitt must think that scripture doesn't apply to him, or he doesn't really believe it, or else he wouldn't be so rich. From what I see, Obama has fought against stupidity, but it's a big fight. There are a lot of deceived people out there, and a great number of them exult in calling themselves Christians, but It's not what you say that makes you a Christian, it's what you do.

[netjunkie1]

Ever since Reagan moved from the left to the right did many conservative democrats go republican and upset the critical balance in policy. The surge started during the civil rights era when in 1965 the white house acknowledged that the south was lost to the republicans for generations because many southern democrats changed sides.

[netjunkie1]

let me add they either changed sides or were beaten soundly in elections.

[jqm199]

If Obama was indeed challenging religion I may actually support him. But of course he isn't. A candidate must either believe ridiculous myth or else lie about believing ridiculous myth to get elected. And really...do we want fools and liars running the country? Maybe that is the problem. Just look at Mitt. His church says that a massive civilization with iron weapons and horses existed in America before Columbus. There is no question that this is untrue. And yet...he is about to become leader of the free world. Western civilization really is just about done. Sad.

[Canuck42]

What's with the Republicans??? Have they never heard of the separation of church and state. Obviously they have not or they're determined to turn the good ole USA into a religious republic. Everybody north of the border just think the GOP candidates are a bunch of clowns. We have our own Republican (Conservative). If Prime Minister Harper tries to do the same here, he'll get turfed faster than you can say "O Canada".

[Zann-Zel]

How Dare Obama stand up for the women in this country!

[Zann-Zel]

Women ARE taxpayers.

[Zann-Zel]

RANGER - in case you come back in here......YOU are on my badside now Friend! Girl Scouts - are you kiddin me???

[Zann-Zel]

LOL..........LOL.............LOL...........

what????

[Zann-Zel]

I am happy being married. :)
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LOL! So am I Dan! : )

[PourpaixPourpaix]

I've always taken the "religious freedom" terms in the Constitution to mean that I was free to believe in what I want. Silly me. Thank you, GOP, for educating me. Religious freedom means the Christian Church is free to force me to believe how they want me to believe and act how they want me to act. And that the government is not secular but an extension of the Christian Church. Too bad our founding fathers used terms like "separation of church and state". I guess the Republicans will set things right, yes? Best of all, we get to vote to see if Romney or Santorum becomes God's representative on Earth! Goodie, Goodie!

[Lindag10]

The Republicans are turning it into a contest to see who is the most religious and righteous. Might work for the primary voters, but I don't see the moderates and independants voting for "Best Christian" in the general election.

[netjunkie1]

"The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason."--Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1758

[Zann-Zel]

by Ret_Ranger February 22, 2012 1:05 PM EST
Forgot to add -- she's the daughter of my daughter that keeps her Hair Auburn as well

:)
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How many grandchildren do you have Ranger? ; ) I've got two so far, a 3yr old grandson and a new grandaughter!

[CBS_CEO]

We have a secular government, Dickweed. The day this becomes a theocracy, the revolution begins.

[keote_poet]

seems palin is writing for both sanitorium and romney...