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Mitt's Reading List Reveals Wingnut Mentor

Popular video shows candidate lauding Mormon extremist

By Greg Atwan, Newser User

Posted Aug 6, 2007 1:46 PM CDT

(Newser) – Mitt Romney tried to unburden himself of some left-wing baggage in a talk-radio interview this weekend—but the National Review’s Mark Hemingway says he may have gone too far. In praising the work of W. Cleon Skousen, his former BYU professor and an “all-around nutjob," Romney may have overcorrected in his attempt to shore up conservative cred.

In his heyday, Skousen complained that communists were infiltrating the John Birch Society, wanted to deny Mormon priesthood to African-Americans and was even called “an incipient Hitler” by the mayor of Salt Lake City. The writer doubts Romney believes anything so “outlandish," but warns the candidate to keep the Skousen connection “chained to a radiator in the attic.”

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

Republican presidential hopeful former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife Ann make their way through the crowd at the end of the ABC News Republican presidential debate, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007,... (Associated Press)

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks to a crowd of supporters, Saturday, July 28, 2007, in Miami. (AP Photo/David Adame) (Associated Press)

Republican presidential hopeful, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a gathering of potential supporters, Friday, July 27, 2007, in Adel, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) (Associated Press)

Republican presidential hopeful, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney walks to a news conference, after speaking at a gathering of potential supporters, Friday, July 27, 2007, in Adel, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie... (Associated Press)

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Mitt's Reading List Reveals Wingnut Mentor