Romney to Give 'Mormon' Speech Thursday

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney apparently has decided to give the "Mormon" speech (inspired by John F. Kennedy's address on his Catholicism in 1960) well before the end of the holidays.

Earlier, it had been reported that his campaign staff had made an internal decision to wait until January before Romney took on that particular issue.

But that was before recent polls that showed Romney's campaign faltering in Iowa, where caucuses will be held Jan. 3, and in New Hampshire, where primaries will be held Jan. 8.

Romney will make his "Mormon" speech this Thursday morning during a visit to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Presumably -- although I haven't heard any announcements about this -- the speech will be carried live on CNN, C-SPAN, Fox, MSNBC and other cable news outlets.

If you're interested in making a comparison, the text of JFK's speech, delivered to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association in September 1960, can be found at the JFK Presidential Library and Museum, along with a recording of the address.

In his speech, Kennedy didn't actually defend Catholicism. He defended religious freedom and his right to be Catholic. He also made a vigorous argument that no president -- of any faith -- should take directions from the leaders of his church.