ROMNEY TOLERANCE
Script: Joe Wengert Idea: Nichols
This Draft: 11-5-07 (CLK)
INT. NEWSROOM
ANCHOR
Turning to the election, Mitt
Romney's campaign took a major hit
this week after an interview he
gave in 1992 resurfaced which
indicates that the presidential
hopeful may be tolerant of
homosexuals.
ALTERNATE:
ANCHOR (CONT'D)
Turning to the election, Mitt
Romney's campaign took a major hit
this week after a radio interview
he gave in 1992 resurfaced in the
conservative press. Several remarks
from the interview transcript have
some voters asking if the candidate
may be tolerant of homosexuals.
GRAPHIC: A series of newspaper clippings featuring Romney
quotes in which he supports equal rights for gays.
GRAPHIC: Excerpt of the transcript next to a WKRW radio
graphic.
ANCHOR (V.O.) (CONT'D)
In the 1992 interview, a host at
Boston's WRKO asks, "Do you believe
gays should have the right to civil
unions?" To which Romney replied,
"I would not have a problem with
that." The Romney campaign sought
to downplay the controversial
remarks today with this written
statement:
GRAPHIC: Text highlighted in a longer Romney statement.
PHOTO: Romney, just general photo.
ANCHOR (V.O.) (CONT'D)
"Mitt Romney has no intention of
dignifying the allegations that he
is tolerant of homosexuals.
This is blatant attack politics at
it's worst." Nonetheless, his
opponents wasted no time seizing on
the former governor's remarks.
FOOTAGE: Statements from other Republican candidates saying
things like "I think he owes the American people an
explanation" or "I call on him to apologize for his remarks."
Politicians say these things a lot about their opponents.
----
ALTERNATE:
ANCHOR (CONT'D)
Nonetheless, his fellow party
members wasted no time distancing
themselves from the former
governor's remarks.
---
ANCHOR (CONT'D)
Joining us now from our War For The
White House command center is
political analyst Arnold Renfro.
Good to see you Arnold.
RENFRO
Thanks.
ANCHOR
Arnold, how much damage could this
do to the Romney campaign?
RENFRO
Quite a bit, I think. You have to
remember, there have been rumors
going back a number of years that
Mitt Romney is not repulsed by
gays.
Anchor shakes his head as if he can't believe such a thing.
RENFRO (CONT'D)
RENFRO (CONT'D)
Without a doubt, because this goes
right to the heart of his
credibility. You can't take the
high road and say you've always
been in favor of disenfranchising
homosexuals, with stories like this
coming out.
Voters have a sixth sense for
honesty, ANCHOR, and they just
don't believe Romney's homophobia.
They just don't.
ANCHOR
I don't really believe it myself.
RENFRO
Look, conservative voters just want
a clear answer from the candidate
himself: does Romney really believe
homosexuals are creatures of sin
doomed to spend an eternity
drowning in a lake of fire or not?
If he can't answer 'yes' to that
question he has no business running
as a Republican.
ANCHOR
Now, his supporters are arguing
that the quote was taken out of
context.
RENFRO
Well, it's hard to imagine any
situation that would lead Romney to
express that sort of blatant
tolerance. He said "I would not
have a problem with that".
ANCHOR
(chuckling)
It really doesn't get much more
clear than that.
RENFRO
No, and apart from this statement,
just look at the facts: Mitt
Romney was the governor of
Massachusetts. Massachusetts
allows gay marriage. Mitt Romney
did not resign as governor of
Massachusetts. Actions speak louder
than words, ANCHOR.
ANCHOR
Arnold, on the campaign trail this
week Romney has refused to respond
to the controversy directly but
he's made statements that are
clearly a calculated response to
critics his anti-gay credentials.
We've got one of those to look at
now.
FOOTAGE: Romney making a speech. He says something like "I
believe that each child in America has the right to have a
mother and a father."
ANCHOR (CONT'D)
What do you make of that?
RENFRO
It's the right sentiment, but for a
lot of people thought it just comes
off as disingenuous. It doesn't
matter how many homophobic remarks
Romney makes in coming months if
voters believe it's just a
political strategy. He needs to
put some passion behind it. Use
examples from his own life to
explain why he sees gays as sub
human degenerates.
FOOTAGE: Romney with Rev. Jerry Falwell or someone like that.
[PRODUCTION NOTE: He recently accepted an edorsement from the
President of Bob Jones University.]
ANCHOR
Here he is yesterday, appearing
publicly with a known crusader
against gay rights.
ALTERNATE:
ANCHOR (CONT'D)
Romney has also made of point of
appearing publicly with well known
crusaders against gay rights.
RENFRO
Yes, but it's not going to be
enough to just rub shoulders with
gay haters. His constituents need
to know he hates gays himself. And
not just when the cameras are on,
but in his heart of hearts, too.
Does he talk to his wife about how
he finds gays abhorrent? Does he
tell his own children he'll stop
speaking to them if they have gay
friends? You see what I mean.
ANCHOR
So you think Mitt Romney has a
fundamental credibility problem
when it comes to gays?
RENFRO
Yes -- people suspect, deep down,
he thinks they're human. A recent
poll asked potential voters: Which
candidate could you picture sitting
down and have a beer with a
homosexual. 43 percent said Mitt
Romney.
ANCHOR
Ouch. So is there anything Romney
can do to mend fences with those
who he's offended?
RENFRO
Well he's got to show his
constituents that the very idea of
homosexuality physically sickens
him. There are a couple things he
could try. Disown a gay relative.
Propose a law banning gay adoption.
Call an opponent a faggot. Call
anyone a faggot!
They both laugh at this.
ANCHOR
Well, I'm sure he's hearing that
from a lot of supporters.
RENFRO
For his sake, let's hope he
listens. At this point he needs
prove to them he shares their core
values.
ANCHOR
Well, we'll be keeping an eye on
the situation. Thanks for being
with us.
RENFRO
Thank you.
ANCHOR
When we return...
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