New rule: You can't ask Mitt Romney about abortion or Todd Akin because he'll look dumb

Your super bold, leadership-y, ready-to-face-down-terrorists Republican nominee for president:

Reporter: 'And political specialist Shaun Boyd just finished an interview with Romney, just literally a couple of minutes ago. Shaun's with me now. And Shaun, you were one of only four local reporters to get to talk to him. And, what did you ask him?'

Reporter Shaun Boyd: 'You know, I had about five minutes with him, and we got through a fair amount of material, actually, in that five minutes. The one stipulation to the interview was that I not ask him about abortion or Todd Akin ' he's the Missouri Republican who created a firestorm after saying women's shut down in a legitimate rape to prevent pregnancy. I did ask him about health care, the female vote, and energy.'

Come on, Mitt. If you're so proud of being "pro-life," why wouldn't you want to take every opportunity available to talk about how "pro-life" you really are?

1. Is it because your party just officially endorsed the Todd Akin position on abortion'no abortions, without exception, even if it kills the mother?
2. Is it because you still can't find an "appropriate spokesperson" to talk about lady things? God forbid the nominee himself should have to discuss such matters.
3. Is it because you and your running mate can't agree on just how illegal abortion should be?
4. Is it because you once said that "we should sustain and support" Roe v. Wade and "the right of the woman to make that choice" and promised "you will not see me wavering on that"?
5. Is it because of that time you were governor and passed Romneycare, which is pretty much like Obamacare, except that Romneycare covers abortion?
6. Is it because of that time you made money off a company that disposes of aborted fetuses?
7. Is it because you're an unprincipled coward who doesn't want to have to explain how it is you've taken every position possible on abortion and then some?
8. Is it because, like everything else about your record, you think such things should only be discussed in "quiet rooms"?

Since this is multiple-choice Mitt Romney we're talking about, I guess the answer is "All of the above."

2:30 PM PT: Of course:

The Romney campaign told TPM that asking for stipulations for interviews is not standard practice.

'This is not how we operate,' a campaign official said. 'The matter is being addressed.'

You can't make this stuff up.