No Muslims in a Romney Cabinet?

Posted: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 11:45 AM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray

We have a feeling this story might get some play today: "Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, asked about putting a Muslim in his presidential Cabinet, said that he 'cannot see that a Cabinet position would be justified' based on the percentage of Muslims in the U.S., according to an Islamic businessman who asked the question at a fundraising reception.

"Kevin Madden, Romney’s national press secretary, told Politico: 'At this point, we're not focused on what Gov. Romney's Cabinet might look like. But the governor does not believe that in order to effectively fight radical jihad you need to have Muslims serving in the Cabinet.'"

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Comments

the president of the Morman church, Gordon B Hinkley was theSecetary of Agriculture under Eisenhower. So

Arpad Finta Las Vegas, Nv (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:14 PM)

the president of the Morman church, Gordon B Hinkley was the Secetary of Agriculture under Eisenhower. So

Arpad Finta Las Vegas, Nv (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:15 PM)

Is it just me or are people completely jumping over the statement by the press secretary?

I say high five to Romney.

Write On, SC (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:17 PM)

This is strange Mitt dosen't want to be judged for being a Mormoan but would keep someone who is a Muslim off his cabinet. I say we should keep Mitt out of the White House!

Marcel, Las Vegas, Nevada (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:17 PM)

Once a MARINE always a MARINE. Once a Muslim, always a Muslim. If it is true OBAMA was raised a MUSLIM but in College he became an Athsist how can he sing GOD bless AMERICA? and mean it.

John Bell, Topeka, KS (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:27 PM)

SOB (Wherever the hell 'WD' is) - wipe the foam off your monitor and SHUT ME UP, little man.

Left On (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:29 PM)

Ok, how many need a civics lesson? The constitution bans the gooberment from having a religious test...individuals can use any religious test they want to pick their candidates, or not...personally I shy away from the ones who carry their religion around in public...yech

Rick, WS, NC (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:30 PM)

I agree with Mr. Romeny, With all my respect to Muslims,but I can say NO moderate in Islam, they have to follow the Quran

Jeanette Petter, Brockton, MA. (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:59 PM)

This has been reported in a shamefully misleading manner.(I'm sure MSNBC did this inadvertantly) He did not say he would not let a Muslim on his cabinet, he responded to a question about whether he thinks his cabinet should have a muslim in an effort to reach out to muslims across the world and his answer was no, that is not a good reason to call a cabinet member, just because of their religion, he said it should be based on qualifications. I believe his exact words were he wouldn't have a "check the box" type qualification for cabinet members.

Joe, Omaha, NE (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 4:07 PM)

What a bunch of cows you all are...get in line..the slaughter house is up ahead. Did any of you hear/see a transcript of the question and the answer? Don't be so quick to react to what you read in print this looks to be a case of distorted facts, or words taken out of context...what a suprise. Obviously everyone react to the story based on your predisposition to crucify or support Romney anyway. I'm not a Romney supporter btw.

Sandi D. Malvern, PA (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 4:35 PM)

To answer Nancy's naive ramblings...Did you hear the entire question, or are you a panderer. Perhaps, the Islamic Businessman was a plant..lol We currently have a President who obviously deferred to your type of thinking in considering racial quotas for top government officials and look what it brought us???
Hummmmmm???
I'm a paralegal at a law firm. One of the associates at the firm is a practicing muslim and a really great person. He's a strong family man and a polite and personable boss and very grounded. Its really sad to me that people are still judging others based on their faith. Isn't that the very reason the founding fathers left England?? I feel Mitt's answer was not only an insult to Muslims but also to all Americans that feel the same way i do. It would have been ok if he have said he would go by qualifications and not race, religion or gender but its obvious his answer was only meant to pander to his conservative base. I hope he loses votes for this answer but knowing how narrow-minded conservative republicans can be he probably just gained votes.

Dave Harrison (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 4:47 PM)

Have all the candidates for the Presidency of the USA been scrutinized about their religious beliefs? Who the ideal candidate would be in order to satisfy everybody? Or everything amounts to Mitt Romney's religion or Mormons bashing? I do believe Mormons are Christians and anybody is welcome to attend their meetings on Sunday and listen to their teachings.

Dawn, SLC, UT (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 5:27 PM)

Wow...this just keeps getting better. Check out MSNBC's new story on it:
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/27/482645.aspx

Now we find out that the accuser is donating heavily to democratic candidates, especially Hilbillary.

Elbeau (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 5:37 PM)

This was a trap question and Mitt fell for it, STUPID!

John S. Alexander,Edinboro, PA (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 5:42 PM)

I believe the 'God' is in the details. The Children of Abraham, Itzhak and Ismail, pronounced the name of his 'God', two different ways. Itzhak said, 'Eloi' and Ismail said, 'Allah'. Either way, it's their Dad's 'God'. The same Deity in Latin is pronounced...well, 'Deus'.The term 'God', is an Aglicizing of the Germanic 'Gott'. In the Southern United States, it''s often pronounced "Guh-HAWD!". This Terminology War is nothing new to the Mediterranean Religions. The Greeks and Romans had different names for the same Gods, who had the same attributes. The Greeks felt the Roman Kings stole them along with their Architecture, and after the Greeks came up with Christianity, they felt the Roman Empire appropriated that, too. Hopefully, the next President will load the Administration with Buddhists. It's either that, Wiccans, or Scientologists.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 5:51 PM)

Just another hit job by the left on anyone religious. Anything to make someone that believes in something more than themselves look like a Bigot.

Enrique, Seattle (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 6:03 PM)

Jerry- The best person qualified?? Whyncha ask Bush about how that works, huh bro??

Buzz (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 6:09 PM)

Personally, I think Mitt should name a Muslim female as Vice President.The Secreatary of State should be Buddhist.

Rev Dan Shutters, Dauphin, Pa (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 7:13 PM)

romney is not a natural politician to his woe

bob (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 8:11 PM)

MITT ROMNEY IS A WHITE MALE BIGOT!!!!

HE IS A CHICKENHAWK SISSY....

HE WANTS 2 BE A BIGOT AGAINST BLACKS LIKE OBAMA BY PRONOUNCING HIS NAME AS "OSAMA".... WHAT A COWARDLY AZZ PUNK!!!!

HE & OTHER REPUKES LIKE GIULIANI "FEAR BLACK MEN".... GAINING & CONTROLLING "THE HIGHEST OFFICE", BECAUSE "THEY FEAR", THIS POWER WILL BE "USED TO SQUASH BIGOTS LIKE THEM"....

BLACK MEN HAVE BEEN PUTTIN UP WITH THIS KIND OF CRAP FOR 400 YEARS.... TO MY FELLOW AMERICANS, WHITE, BLACK, HISPANIC, ASIAN OR WHATEVER, CHRISTIAN, JEW & MUSLIM.... "STAY FOCUSED", THE REPUKES ARE ABOUT TO BECOME A "MINORITY PARTY", WITH THAT NEO CON BULL$#%t!!!!!

GOD BRINGS PEACE & JUSTICE!!!!

NOT MAN!!!

WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME OF CHANGE!!!!
ALL PEOPLE OF GOODWILL OF ALL COLORS & FAITHS WILL
INHERIT GOD'S KINGDOM ON EARTH....

IGNORE THE BIGOTS....
THEY WANT TO TAKE YOUR "HOPE & JOY"....
DONT LET THEM!!!

"NO DRAMA WITH OBAMA".... GO OBAMA 2008!!!!

TRUTHFUL BLACKMAN... WHO TAKES NO S#!t!!!! (Sent Wednesday, November 28, 2007 2:26 AM)

Well lets think about this first, what happened in the late 1800s. Presidents put in who they wanted who were not qualified. President Garfield was shot, because he didn't put someone in.
Now the matter at hand is was the question was only used for a spin. Rommney's response. In another article Romeny states that he will put the best qualified in. Yes in the past people have filled their cabinet with other groups of people for votes. If the best person for the job is there, use them, regarless of race, color ethic background. I don't even care if they were born in America. If they are the best use them. A few presidents have even crossed political lines.

Paul Heaton, Kanab, Utah (Sent Wednesday, November 28, 2007 2:34 AM)

who said u cant be a muslim and american? who said u cant be black to be an american? who said u cant be white to be an american? who said u cant be a jew and american? loving ur own country is part of islamic faith. Dont push us away. oh ya one more question? umm can u be an american indian and american? after all i dont think they believe in jesus (Isa: peace be upon him)!

russel (Sent Wednesday, November 28, 2007 3:50 AM)

wouldn't putting someone in their cabinet just because they're of a different race/ethnicity as a scheme to please demographic groups be exactly what bush did, and did it work? no. i think romney is on for not putting someone in his cabinet so he can please one group, i know he didn't word it in his favor, but i think that's what he meant. and it's not bigotted to say you won't put someone of a different race in office just to put them in office. we can say all we want, but everything has to play out how it will, everyone, dem and rep needs to be given a chance to prove themselves in speech and action. forget the baiting tactics and mudslinging and let actions speak louder than words.

sir arthur, meridian, id (Sent Wednesday, November 28, 2007 10:21 AM)

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