CNN contributor: 'I like the idea' that Augusta bans women

CNN contributor Erick Erickson on Friday declared that he agreed with Augusta National Golf Club's decision not to allow women and accused President Barack Obama of "trying to make everything political" by calling on the home of the Masters to change their rules.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, White House spokesman Jay Carney said that that “women should be admitted” to the all-male club. And for once, probable Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney agreed with Obama.

For years, the exclusive club has made a practice of offering an invitation to IBM’s CEO, which sponsors the Masters tournament. But on Tuesday, Augusta chairman Billy Payne refused to say if they would break from nearly 80 years of tradition to invite Ginni Rometty, IBM’s first female CEO.

"Who cares?" Erickson, who founded the blog Redstate.com, asserted on his Friday radio show. "Who cares that she wasn't invited into the club? She's a woman! Women aren't allowed!"

"See, the president is trying to make everything political. President wants to have it both ways. He wants to go play at the Masters. Oh, you're darn right the president wants to go play at the Masters, but he thinks women should be allowed, they should be members. Why must women be members of Augusta National? Why? Because it's the last bastion of sexism. I thought the Republican Party was the last bastion of sexism and misogyny in America. Oh, wait. They nominated Sarah Palin to be vice presidential nominee."

Erickson added: "And of course, Mitt Romney, 'Well, I think women should be allowed too.' At least, he's smart enough to know that we don't want to wade in to the war on women with Augusta. It is striking to me just how political the president wants to make everything. The war on women coming home to the Masters. Who freaking cares?"

"I would love to be a member of Augusta National one day after I get my private jet, but at the same time I don't really care. And I don't care that the Masters is a male-dominated event. I don't care that women aren't members of the Masters. Frankly, I kind of like the idea that women aren't members of the Masters. Good lord, I don't want to hang out at some women's event."

Listen to the audio below from WSB's The Erick Erickson Show, broadcast April 6, 2012.

(H/T: Media Matters)