Polygamy, Polygamy, Polygamy...

Anderson Cooper grills Schweitzer on polygamy

by Charlie Spiering Commentary Staff Writer


CNN's Anderson Cooper interviewed Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana last night, highlighting the comments the Governor had made about Mormon polygamy and Mitt Romney.

"You raised a lot of eyebrows in these comments saying that Romney's family comes from a polygamist commune from Mexico," said Cooper. "I mean is that fair to talk about?"

Schweitzer, it appeared, had no interest in further discussing his remarks, but noted that "the Mormon religion hasn't accepted polygamy in 120 years."

Cooper repeated his question, "But in this interview you mentioned six or seven times that his family came from -- his father was born into a polygamy commune in Mexico. Repeatedly mentioning that. It was Mitt Romney's great-grandfather who practiced polygamy in the 1800s. Is that fair to raise?

Again Schwizer declined to discuss it.

"You were saying he was having a woman problem and he doesn't want to talk about the fact -- the Mexico fact because of the polygamy connection." Cooper said again.

Again Schweitzer dodged his remarks on polygamy.

Cooper turned to his second guest, Ralph Reed of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, and asked,

"To the governor's original comment, do you think he has a woman problem or a problem talking about his father's ancestry in Mexico because of the history of polygamy?"

After Reed dismissed the comments, Cooper tried to engage Schweitzer on his remarks to the Daily Beast.

"Do you regret, though, giving this interview where you mentioned polygamy six or seven times?" he asked.

Finally an irritated Schweitzer responded.

"How many times I mentioned in an interview, I can't tell you. I'm asked questions by a reporter the way you're asking right now. You've asked me three or four times in this interview." he said.

Schweizer said that he stood by his comments, but added, "I simply said that Mitt Romney is not a polygamist, doesn't support polygamy and neither does the Mormon Church.

All told, the segment featured the word "polygamy" 14 times, by my count, six times by Cooper alone.