The speech Romney SHOULD give

Apparently, Mitt Romney is going to give a speech about religion and politics, but not about his own weird, cultish faith. That's a shame.

He COULD give a persuasive speech in which he would note that all religions are, to a certain extent, weird and cultish.

He could say, for example, that if Joe Lieberman got invited to a clambake this Saturday, God wouldn't let him drive there, and even if Joe were to hitch a ride, God wouldn't let him have any clams.

He could say that when Rudy Giuliani goes to mass, he believes that a cup of wine and a little circular cracker turn into a cup of human blood and a little circle of human flesh -- and then RUDY EATS THEM. (Every Sunday!)

He could say that Congressman Keith Ellison (a Muslim) believes that if he masturbates during the daylight hours of the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, he's going to be in big trouble. So, he either has to get up early, stay up late, or just keep it in its holster.

With enough examples like this, Romney could go on to say that these weird, cultish beliefs and practices--which are present in all of the big three monotheistic religions--are not really what defines one's faith. What DOES define one's faith is a belief in God and certain essential values stemming from that belief. And in that respect, what Romney believes isn't any different from what Lieberman, Giuliani, Ellison, and Mr. and Mrs. MiddleAmerica believe.