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Posted on 06/05/2007 12:49:51 PM PDT by Reaganesque
So far, the opposing Republican presidential campaigns have by-and-large refrained from attacking Mitt Romney on what's been called "the Mormon issue." Specifically, the issue is that many see Mr. Romney's Mormon faith as a potential stumbling block in his run for the presidency, on account of Americans' mixed views on (and lack of understanding of) the Mormon religion.
Today, however, a blogger has provided me (on condition of anonymity) an email from the Rudy Giuliani campaign drawing attention to an article from today's Salt Lake Tribune tying Mr. Romney to a disavowed Mormon prophecy of a "White Horse" that will ride onto the national stage to save the Constitution.
The email doesn't say much, but in it, the "Deputy eCampaign Director" of the Giuliani campaign, Katie Harbath, directs the blogger to the Salt Lake Tribune story — clearly in the hope that the story and its "Romney-as-fulfiller-of-Mormon-prophecy" angle will receive wider play.
The blogger describes him/her self to me as a Romney critic, but someone who "doesn't have a problem with his religion." (It's a statement that matches up completely with the blogger's public record.)
Here, then, is the email (with identifying details redacted):
From: Katie Harbath <[redacted]@joinrudy2008.com>
Date: Jun 4, 2007 [redacted] AM
Subject: Is Romney the stuff of Mormon legend?
To: [redacted]
[redacted],
Thought you'd find this interesting.
Best,
Katie
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_6055090
Is Romney the stuff of Mormon legend?
Alleged Smith prophecy says a Mormon will save the U.S. Constitution
By Thomas Burr
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake TribuneArticle Last Updated:06/04/2007 12:49:40 AM MDTWASHINGTON - It's Mormon lore, a story passed along by some old-timers about the importance of their faith and their country.
In the latter days, the story goes, the U.S. Constitution will hang by a thread and a Mormon will ride in on a metaphoricalj white horse to save it. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not accept the legend - commonly referred to as the "White Horse Prophecy" - as doctrine.
The issue, however, has been raised on those occasions when Mormons have sought the Oval Office: George Romney was asked about it during his bid in 1968, Sen. Orrin Hatch discussed it when he ran in 2000, and now Mitt Romney.
"It is being raised," says Phil Barlow, a professor of Mormon history and culture at Utah State University. "I've heard it a bit lately."
Romney says he doesn't believe in the supposed prophecy, nor did his father when he ran.
"I haven't heard my name associated with it or anything of that nature," Mitt Romney told The Salt Lake Tribune during an interview earlier this year. "That's not official church doctrine. There are a lot of things that are speculation and discussion by church members and even church leaders that aren't official church doctrine. I don't put that at the heart of my religious belief."
The disputed prophecy was recorded in a diary entry of a Mormon who had heard the tale from two men who were with Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, Ill. when he supposedly declared the prophecy.
"You will see the Constitution of the United States almost destroyed," the diary entry quotes Smith as saying. "It will hang like a thread as fine as a silk fiber."
Not only will the Mormons save the Constitution, under the prediction, but the prophecy goes further, insinuating that Mormons will control the government.
"Power will be given to the White Horse to rebuke the nations afar off, and you obey it, for the laws go forth from Zion," the prophecy says.
The LDS Church denounces the premonition, which was recorded 10 years after Smith's death. A church spokesman pointed to a quote from the faith's sixth president, Joseph F. Smith, who called the prophecy "ridiculous."
"It is simply false; that is all there is to it," the church prophet was quoted saying.
Joseph Smith, who Mormons believe found ancient gold plates and transcribed them into the Book of Mormon, ran for president in 1844, a year after he supposedly told of the White Horse Prophecy. Smith was murdered by a mob shortly thereafter.
So far, it hasn't been overtly discussed in reference to Romney's bid, but he told The Tribune previously that it was raised in the 1968 presidential run of his father, George Romney.
"It came up in the race, but he didn't believe in it," the younger Romney said in 1999.
In fact, George Romney said there are different interpretations of what Smith and Brigham Young, another Mormon prophet, were saying, according to a 1967 edition of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought:
"I have always felt that they meant that sometime the question of whether we are going to proceed on the basis of the Constitution would arise and at this point government leaders who were Mormons would be involved in answering that question," George Romney was quoted as saying.
In the 2000 presidential race, the prophecy again made news during Hatch's failed bid for the White House. The Utah Republican and Mormon commented on the Constitution hanging by a thread during a radio interview, fanning thoughts of whether he was referring to the prophecy. Hatch says he was not referencing the premonition.
Mitt Romney has faced a barrage of questions about his religion from the news media but few in public from voters. One man in New Hampshire last week told Romney he wouldn't vote for him because Romney's a Mormon. But the guy added that he was a liberal and voting for Hillary Clinton.
On the trail, Romney talks generally about his belief in God but does not engage in doctrinal debate over details of his faith. He declines often to go into the specific tenets of the Mormon religion, saying that he is not a spokesperson for his church.
Ann Marie Curling, a Mormon in Kentucky who backs Romney, knows of the prophecy but puts no stock in it. "It's definitely not playing into why I support him," says Curling, who runs a pro-Romney blog.
She says the few who believe in the prophecy are in the "extreme" fringes of the faith. "I don't see it being the reason everyday LDS persons are supporting him."
While the LDS Church does not accept the White Horse Prophecy as doctrine, several former leaders of the faith have spoken of the threat to the Constitution at various times, according to research by George Cobabe, who studied the prophecy's origins for the Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research. The group's mission is to defend the church and correct misunderstandings.
He says the concept of religious people saving the Constitution in the last days is a common theme for many faiths, but adds the White Horse Prophecy is bunk.
"I don't think the White Horse Prophecy is fair to bring up at all," he says. "It's been rejected by every church leader that has talked about it. It has nothing to do with anything."
Barlow, the Utah State University professor, says probably 10 percent to 20 percent of Mormons in America have heard of the prophecy by name but that many more have likely heard bits and pieces of it.
"It's dubious whether this originated with Joseph Smith but it seems to have a life of its own," Barlow says. "While most Mormons may not have heard of it, there are some themes that have some currency."
The main theme is the apocalyptic end of the world and the phrase that the Constitution - which Mormons believe was divinely inspired - will "hang by a thread."
Still, Barlow says it's doubtful the so-called prophecy will make a big splash during the campaign.
"It's too esoteric than bigger things like polygamy that will get brought up," he says, referring to the practice of marrying multiple wives that the church officially denounced in 1890.
_________________________________________
Katie Harbath
Deputy eCampaign Director
Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee
Ph: [redacted]
The Romney campaign weighs in with the following response, delivered by campaign spokesman Kevin Madden:
"I sincerely hope that the Giuliani campaign did not send that e-mail out to reporters in an effort to provoke questions about a fellow candidate's faith. They may have just been passing it along for other reasons, but given the focus of the article, they should be more careful since it could very easily be seen as an effort to question Governor Romney's faith. An action like that would be terribly disappointing."
I have contacted the Giuliani campaign for comment, but have yet to receive a response.
It's disappointing that the Giuliani campaign passed it on but, as political dirty tricks go (if it is one), this one is really lame. I doubt Rudy will be bringing this up in the debate tonight. McCain on the other hand...naaaaah!
In that case it would be he who was riding the white horse!
A statement regarding the Mormon email sent by a Giuliani staffer, issued by senior advisor Tony Carbonetti:"This was a regrettable mistake and is not acceptable. We extend our sincere apologies to Governor Romney and reaffirm our commitment to running a clean campaign."
The Giuliani campaign declined comment as to whether any action would be taken internally regarding the staffer who sent the email.
If this is real, Guiliani’s campaign is either in trouble, or he’s surrounded himself with not ready for prime time players.
I think the Rudy campaign hit its highwater mark a couple of weeks ago.
We’ll see.
Good for them.
Presidential ================= Post-menopausal.
“You will see the Constitution of the United States almost destroyed,” the diary entry quotes Smith as saying. “It will hang like a thread as fine as a silk fiber.”
Well, he was right about that prophecy. If the Dems were smart, they’d refrain from giving credence to specious prophecies and thus appoint conservatives to the Supreme Court rather than libs. In the end, their actions only spur religious zealotry, and as they themselves often remind us, we must not do anything that encourages religious extremism.
Mitt may make a good VP for Duncan Hunter - balance the ticket, so to speak.
It’s been “hanging on by a thread” for a long, long time. Like since 1860.
Now that’s funny!!! And tremendously accurate.
With all due Respect: Not MY President!
If Rudy has to go back before 1918 to dig stuff up, he’s digging pretty deep.
Great. In 1992 it was boxers or briefs. Now with Romney and Rudy in the race, the question is boxers, briefs, secret underwear, or women’s underwear?
With all due respect (which is very little, for RINOs Rudy or Romney), Rudy did not make the comment, the Salt Lake Tribune did. One of Rudy’s staffers sent an e-mail regarding a newspaper article. Rudy has hardly started a smear campaign.
I think this article is more of a “hit” piece on Rudy than Romney. But they both deserve to be hit hard!
Someone needs to save The Constitution, and it damned sure won’t be Rudy!
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