In his recent "mock" presidential address before an audience at the George Bush Library in College Station, Texas, Mitt Romney attempted to declare it politically incorrect, even un-American, to question or take into consideration the religious beliefs of presidential candidates as we endeavor to decide for ourselves which contender is most worthy of our vote. Romney's handlers clearly felt the speech was an opportunity to clear their "Campaign To Do List" before the hectic upcoming holiday season.

I'm guessing the bullet points might have read something like this...

To Do #1:Throw the brakes on the seemingly unstoppable political steam engine of Mike "Jesus is my Co-pilot" Huckabee.

To Do #2: Create "presidential-esque" photo opportunity - complete with Romney perched behind Bush #1's Chief Executive seal and flanked by two American flags.

To Do #3: Drum-up support from the slightly left of center by conjuring media comparisons between Mormon Romney and Catholic JFK.

To Do #4: Create an atmosphere so steeped in political correctness that Romney, already famous for his convenient moral and political waffling, might never be forced to answer for the clear inconsistencies between his religious and political self.

Shame on you, Campaign Mitt! You greatly underestimate the ability of the American public to resist being blindly led down the narrow path of "political correctness". Our nation sits at a crucial crossroads in the history of "Body America". Left and right of center, Americans agree we are facing the prospect of all-encompassing change in every aspect of America's life: cultural, moral, economic, military and diplomatic. The next American president will bear the heavy responsibility of positively directing that change and protecting America's future position within the larger global community. Our individual votes have the power to determine just who that leader will be and, as a result, we reserve the right to analyze our Presidential contenders in a similar all-encompassing fashion - on every aspect of their lives: moral, spiritual, economic, educational, professional, public and personal.

When, in the name of garnering big group support, candidates agree to embrace certain labels....Christian, Democrat, Liberal, Republican, Conservative, Mormon...they forfeit their right to declare it "politically incorrect" for Americans to analyze the candidates' exact relationship with the labels they have embraced. For example, when Hillary Clinton declares herself a Democrat, we can look at the Democratic party platform and analyze how often her political actions reflect the greater Democratic party objectives. If her votes consistently reflect Democratic ideals, we can make certain calculated assumptions about Ms. Clinton's integrity and how she will govern in the future.

In a similar fashion, when Mitt Romney declares himself a Mormon, we should be able to look at the foundations of Mormon belief and analyze how often Mr. Romney's political actions have reflected his chosen religious label. In doing so, there is certainly no First Amendment violation. We aren't passing judgment on Mormonism. We are doing something much more important. We are passing judgment on Mr. Romney's character and to what extent his political actions reflect his faith. If his votes consistently reflect the greater mission of Mormon ideals, we can make certain calculated assumptions about Mr. Romney's integrity and how he will govern in the future. If not....well...I'll let you decide.

Of course, none of this analysis is possible as long as the atmosphere of "political correctness" prevents us from asking the difficult questions about just exactly what it means to be Mormon.

Nice try, CampRomney...but "To Do List Item #4" is a no-go with this passionate American voter.