Steve Bannon bashed Mitt Romney Tuesday night for, as he put it, hiding behind his religion to avoid getting drafted into the Vietnam War.
Tuesday Bannon was rallying for Alabama Senate hopeful Roy Moore when he brought up Mitt Romney after the 2012 presidential nominee tweeted criticism of Moore’s honor and integrity saying “no vote, no majority is worth losing our honor, our integrity.”
Roy Moore in the US Senate would be a stain on the GOP and on the nation. Leigh Corfman and other victims are courageous heroes. No vote, no majority is worth losing our honor, our integrity.— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) December 4, 2017
Bannon lashed back saying that Moore, a Vietnam veteran, “has more honor and integrity in a pinkie finger than your family has in its whole DNA.”
“Mitt, here’s how it is, brother: The college deferments, we can debate that — but you hid behind your religion. You went to France to be a missionary while guys were dying in rice paddies in Vietnam,” Bannon said of Romney. “You had five sons, not one day of service in Afghanistan and Iraq. … Where were the Romneys during those wars?”
Wednesday morning Utah leaders responded to Bannon.
Governor Gary Herbert tweeted Utahns reject the ugly politics and tactics of Bannon and said Romney and his family represent the best of Utah values. Later tweeting to Bannon: “#stayout of Utah. We don’t need you. We don’t want you. You don’t line up with American values. You don’t line up with Utah values”.
.@MittRomney and his family are honorable people and represent the very best of Utah values. Utahns reject the ugly politics and tactics of @SteveKBannon. #stayout #utpol— Gov. Gary Herbert (@GovHerbert) December 6, 2017
Senator’s Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch also jumped to his defense.
Senator Lee saying “Mitt Romney is a good man” and “you can’t credibly call into question his patriotism or moral character on the basis of religious beliefs”.
Mitt Romney is a good man. Whether you agree or disagree with him on any matter of public policy, you can’t credibly call into question his patriotism or moral character—especially on the basis of his religious beliefs or his outstanding service as a missionary.— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) December 6, 2017
Senator Hatch offered to sit down with “Mr. Bannon and help him understand more about the LDS Church”.
See his full statement here:
Senator Hatch’s response to Steve Bannon’s attacks on @MittRomney, his family, and our LDS faith— #utpol pic.twitter.com/kDJpiKL6ux— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) December 6, 2017
President Trump, who offered his full endorsement of Moore earlier this week, is scheduled to hold a rally just 25 miles from the Alabama border in Pensacola, Florida, later this week.
