Newt’s New Iowa Political Director Off Campaign For Calling Mormonism A Cult

by Warner Todd Huston | December 13, 2011 8:03 pm

Controversial comments about Mormonism being a “cult” have resulted in Newt Gingrich’s new Iowa political director being dumped form the campaign. Craig Bergman made the comments at a Wednesday media focus group and only hours later it was announced that he was off the campaign.

At the Iowa meeting[1] of several Iowa media outlets, Bergman said that he thought that, “A lot of the evangelicals believe God would give us four more years of Obama just for the opportunity to expose the cult of Mormon,” He went on to say, “There’s a thousand pastors ready to do that.”

Gingrich, of course, has made it a point that he intends his campaign to be a positive one and has said that personal attacks on his opponents will not be allowed. If this quick elimination of Bergman is any indication, Gingrich is serious with this proscription against negative campaigning.

Only hours after Bergman uttered his claim that Mormonism is a cult Team Newt’s campaign spokesman, R.C. Hammond, released the following email:

Craig Bergman agreed to step away from his role with Newt 2012 today. He made a comment to a focus group prior to becoming an employee that is inconsistent with Newt 2012’s pledge to run a positive and solutions orientated campaign.

Bergman’s stint with the Gingrich campaign has to be one of the shortest in history. According to reports he had yet to be officially hired when he made his statement about Mormonism, and now the announcement that he’s out causes one to wonder if he ever really ended up securing the position at all.

It is interesting to note that Bergman himself said on Dec. 7 that Newt often says things that are impolitic. A recent article noted that Bergman knocked Newt[2]: “Craig Bergman, a Des Moines political consultant, Gingrich often says impolitic things. ‘Newt is the smartest unwise man in America,’ Bergman said.”

Pot? Kettle?

In any case, Newt is serious. No negative, personal attacks. It’s going to be serious policy issues all the way.