Back on Tuesday, I mentioned that Mitt Romney is under fire from the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer for hiring Richard Grenell as his national security adviser. Grenell's sin? Not the numerous disgusting tweets he was forced to delete. Nope, Grenell is openly gay. In what may be a sign that Grenell could be a big problem for Romney among the fundies, two of the most powerful voices on the religious right, Tony Perkins and Gary Bauer, have also slammed Grenell's hire. (h/t to People for the American Way)
Perkins wrote in today's Washington Update that by hiring Grenell, Romney has effectively thumbed his nose at social conservatives. Citing Grenell's strong support of marriage equality, he thinks that Grenell would actively lobby for sexual orientation as a basic human right.
Bauer echoed Perkins' sentiments in an email to his Campaign for Working Families supporters. He called the Grenell hire a major "unforced error," and claims that his uberhawkishness on defense issues is canceled out by his open support of marriage equality.
With three religious right heavyweights now speaking out loudly against Grenell, it's pretty safe to assume that this could be a big issue for Romney. And yet, as I mentioned on Tuesday, Romney has painted himself into a corner. Dump Grenell, and he risks alienating independents. Keep Grenell, and it makes it more likely the fundies stay home.
Pass the popcorn.