For a good part of yesterday, it looked like the Romney campaign had given a pretty telling clue about just how far it is willing to go in order to appease the religious right. Mitt's wife, Ann, was due to speak at the first day of this weekend's Values Voter Summit, a yearly conference cosponsored by the American Family Association, Liberty Counsel and Family Research Council. Well, last night the Romney campaign told Buzzfeed that Ann isn't coming.
Despite a program advertising her attendance at this weekend's Value Voters Summit, Ann Romney never planned to attend the social conservative conference, the campaign told BuzzFeed.
"Mrs. Romney is not scheduled to attend VVS this weekend. To my knowledge, it has not been on our schedule," said Sarah Haley, a campaign spokesperson.
Really? Then how come Ann's name was even listed on the program if it wasn't on the schedule? Don't take my word for it--PFAW got a screenshot of Ann being listed as a speaker. You would think that if the wife of the Republican presidential candidate were indeed listed as a speaker, somebody would have at least checked to make sure she was actually coming. Especially with only two days before the wingnut festivities start. Something tells me that the Romney campaign must have figured out that having Ann share the stage with the likes of Gary Bauer, Michael Farris, Tony Perkins, Tim Wildmon and Mat Staver would have been the same as having Mittens himself attend.
Granted, Paul Ryan was already scheduled to speak there, but having Ann there would have been added confirmation that the Romney campaign was kowtowing to the religious right in a way no Republican candidate in recent memory has ever done. But at least we know that Ryan has no problem appearing with Jerry Boykin, a guy who has called for a ban on mosques. And Ryan has no problem appearing with Harry Jackson, a guy who wrote a column calling for Christians to form a "fifth column" in order to stop the supposed rollback of Christian influence in this country. Even without a Romney actually being there, the fact his running mate is willing to share the stage with these loons is still telling.