Romney denounces "poisonous language" at Values Voter Summit

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Speaking at the Values Voter Summit in Washington Saturday, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney berated a conservative leader who slammed Mormonism.

Romney did not mention Texas megachurch pastor Robert Jeffress, who called Mormonism a cult Friday, but did take aim at Bryan Fischer, a director at the American Family Association who spoke later, CNN reported.

Fischer has said Muslims and Mormons have "a completely different definition of who Christ is" than the founding fathers did and thus do not deserve First Amendment protections.

"One of the speakers who will follow me today, has crossed that line," Romney said. "Poisonous language does not advance our cause. It has never softened a single heart nor changed a single mind. The blessings of faith carry the responsibility of civil and respectful debate."

Taking the stage after Romney, Fischer said, "We need a president who believes in the same creator as who the founders believed."

Friday, after introducing Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Jeffress said Republicans shouldn't vote for Romney because of his faith, then described Mormonism as a cult.

Jeffress' comments overshadowed speeches made later by Perry, Herman Cain, Rep. Michele Bachmann, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Sen. Rick Santorum.

Radio host and former Education Secretary Bill Bennett attacked Jeffress Saturday, calling the pastor's comments "bigotry."

"Do not give voice to bigotry," Bennett said. "You stepped on and obscured the words of Perry and Santorum and Cain and Bachmann and everyone else who has spoken here. You did Rick Perry no good sir, in what you had to say."