Romney: No Muslims In My Cabinet

Ken McCracken • November 28, 2007

That he was even asked the question is puzzling. His answer is outright bizarre.

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.”

I’m not sure why anyone would think that you need a Muslim in an administration to combat Islamic extremism, anymore than you’d need a Hispanic in the cabinet to have effective immigration policy. The question itself has a rather absurd foundation.
And while Romney’s press secretary’s response makes sense, Romney seems to be talking about affirmative action for cabinet level positions. As though a President’s cabinet is supposed to reflect, in proportion, the racial makeup of America as a whole. Which doesn’t make any more sense then affirmative action in the workplace does.
Should the President not find the best people available for each cabinet position regardless of race, gender, religion, etc.? That’s the response I’d have liked to hear from Romney.

Tags: Asshats, Domestic Issues, Politics

http://Array kbiel

It was a gotcha question, just a stupid one that Romney should have knocked out of the park. For example, he could have said:

As a business man, I know how important it is to hire the right people to get the job done. It doesn’t matter what their race, gender or religion is if they are the best candidate.

A clear, concise answer that nails home one of the major themes of his campaign (CEO, business man, yada yada yada) while making it clear getting a Muslim in his cabinet is neither a priority nor out of the question.
Bat One

Rob,

I suggest that a more accurate and appropriate title would be “Romney: No Ethnic or Religious Pandering in My Cabinet.”

I agree that Romney could have handled his answer more clearly and decisively, but this was obviously a “gotcha” question with no other purpose than to stir up controversy and make the candidate look bad.
DBdowner

His answer was not a good one. I think he was saying that if there was a high percentage of Muslims, he might select a Muslim in order to approve the image of his presidency. Since they are a small percentage (dealing only with selecting for a social group), they are not considered. I think it was a silly answer that reveals how he thinks. It is similar to his comment on what he would do if America suffered a serious attack. He said he would talk to the lawyers. Obviously, he would talk to the lawyers to make sure what he would do in response had legal grounding and justification. But it reveals his thinking process. He is transparent at least…
docdave

But the governor does not believe that in order to effectively fight radical jihad you need to have Muslims serving in the Cabinet.”

The idea that you need a muslim in the cabinet to fight Islamic terrorists is beyond absurd. No serious number of muslims have ever denounced muslim terrorism, so what would make a rational person think that having a muslim would be of any value. To me permitting muslims to have a significant role in government is much like letting the fox in the hen house.
Nate

“No, that’s not what I said. His question was, Did I need to have a Muslim in my Cabinet in order to confront radical jihad, or would it be important to have a Muslim in my Cabinet?’ And I said no, I don’t think you need a Muslim in the Cabinet to take on radical jihad any more than we needed a Japanese American to understand the threat that was coming from Japan or something of that nature.” – Romney
http://sayanythingblog.com/ likwidshoe

The answer should of been, “There will be no religious tests for service in my administration.”

A silly answer.

Have you checked out some of the religions out there in the world?
Lestat

but this was obviously a “gotcha” question with no other purpose than to stir up controversy and make the candidate look bad.

A “gotcha” question. This was a softball question. The answer should of been, “There will be no religious tests for service in my administration.” He screwed this up all on his own.
Jeugenen

ARE THERE SENSIBLE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVES – CONSIDERATIONS IN THE STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN SURVIVAL

Are sensible categorical imperatives different during war time and peace time?
Example: When can Muslims be hired to check baggage on airlines?

What does the Spanish expression, “The only good Muslim is dead Muslim”, really mean? Hint: Why were all of the Muslims expelled from Spain; and not just the bad ones?
dannyboy

How about who gives a lick what your religion is, just be qualified and competent?! A dumb answer to a dumb question.

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Romney: No Muslims In My Cabinet

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