Perry Camp’s Anti-Mormon Message [retread troll zot]

The Daily Beast ^ | October 16th, 2011 | McKay Coppins

[JustAnotherOne]

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has publicly distanced himself from the anti-Mormon rhetoric of a prominent Baptist minister who has endorsed his presidential campaign. But new evidence suggests that Perry’s team may be quietly advancing the notion that Mitt Romney’s faith should disqualify him from the White House.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has publicly distanced himself from the anti-Mormon rhetoric of a prominent Baptist minister who has endorsed his presidential campaign. But new evidence suggests that Perry’s team may be quietly advancing the notion that Mitt Romney’s faith should disqualify him from the White House.

Lane responded the next day with a lengthy email that began, “Thank you for what you are doing and for your leadership. Getting out Dr. Jeffress [sic] message, juxtaposing traditional Christianity to the false god of Mormonism, is very important in the larger scheme of things.”

Publicly, the Perry campaign has insisted that Jeffress was not speaking at their behest when he attacked Romney’s religion, and Perry himself has said he does not personally believe that Mormonism is a cult. As recently as Friday, Perry attempted to dismiss the controversy, calling it a “sideshow” that voters were uninterested in, and reiterating, “We clearly said we didn’t agree with that statement.”

But in the emails, Lane—on whom Perry is reportedly relying to rally evangelical voters to his candidacy—struck a different tone.

“We owe Dr. Jeffress a big thank you,” he wrote to Bott, adding that the media criticism that has called attention to the pastor’s comments was “a stroke of luck.”

Lane and Bott did not respond to multiple requests for comment by The Daily Beast.

The emails raise questions about whether Jeffress’s anti-Mormon rhetoric was a deliberate strategic move by the campaign, or simply the prerogative of an independent pastor expressing a widely held view among evangelical Christians.

Mark Miner, a spokesman for the Perry campaign, declined to answer questions about the nature of Lane’s relationship with the campaign. When The Daily Beast shared quotes from the emails, Miner responded, “Based on what you’ve provided this appears to be a private conversation that has nothing to do with our campaign.” According to the campaign’s most recent FEC report, Lane doesn’t appear to be on the candidate’s payroll.

But Lane’s involvement with Perry’s nomination efforts has been widely reported, and he is seen as the linchpin to the candidate’s outreach to evangelicals. In August, when the Texas governor held a large prayer rally for evangelical Christians shortly before entering the race, the Los Angeles Times reported that Lane was one of the masterminds behind the event. And a Religion News Services article listed Lane as one of several prominent evangelical figures who is “lin[ing] up behind Perry.”

Perhaps even more telling, Lane reportedly arranged a conference call last June for conservative Christian heavyweights that was designed to identify an ideal presidential candidate. The consensus was that if Perry entered the race, they would get behind him—a message that Lane, who has been organizing evangelical voters in key states ahead of 2012, took seriously. Lane’s influence in that community is well documented. Doug Wead, a leading historian of the Christian right, has described Lane as “the mysterious, behind the scenes, evangelical kingmaker who stormed into Iowa in 2008 and tilted the whole thing from Romney to Huckabee.”

Lane made clear in his emails that he has similar plans to derail Romney’s candidacy this time around. In fact, he told Bott that he would rather sit the race out than vote for a Mormon or President Obama.

“Let me go on the record, I won’t vote for Mitt Romney as Republican nominee in 2012.” He followed the statement with a link to a news article describing Romney’s various ecclesiastical positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He also cited Romney’s past positions advocating for abortion and gay rights before adding, “The Soul of America is at stake, where is the Church? Will a Gideon or Rahab the Harlot please stand?” (The last question refers to Biblical characters whom God called to save the Israelites in the Old Testament—an apparent plea for a candidate who will bring America in line with conservative Christian values.)

The emails refer to Lane strategizing with the Perry campaign to mobilize evangelical voters. In an earlier email to Bott that makes no mention of Romney specifically, Lane described a conversation he had with an unnamed “key Perry aide” in which he argued that “the creation of a clarion call to Evangelical pastors and pews is critical and from my perspective is the key to the Primary.”

He also told the aide that Perry needs to be praying and reading the Bible daily; “otherwise he has nothing to say” on the campaign trail. There is no mention in the emails of how the aide responded to this counsel, but the messages do indicate that Romney isn’t alone on Lane’s list of unacceptable nominees.

At the height of speculation that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie would enter the presidential race, Lane wrote to Bott that “Christie is not a strong social conservative—says homosexuality not a sin, was for cap-n-trade, for civil unions and more.”

That email concluded, “If RP [Rick Perry] can sound the trumpet to Evangelicals, a spiritual call to war for the Soul of America, Christie is weak on our issues.”

The Romney campaign declined to comment for this article.

[JustAnotherOne]

Emails obtained by The Daily Beast show an operative with close ties to Rick Perry’s campaign engaged in anti-Mormon cheerleading.

[TheThirdRuffian]

Oh, gag.

Is hiding behind mormonism all Romney has left?

Romney really is Obama-lite, as Rush calls him.

[madmaximus]

And being anti-mormon is bad because...???

[bullypulpit]

Beast uses a bullsh$t headline. From deep inside the article, underneath the first fold, we find out that The Daily Beast is grasping at straws: "Mark Miner, a spokesman for the Perry campaign, declined to answer questions about the nature of Lane’s relationship with the campaign. When The Daily Beast shared quotes from the emails, Miner responded, “Based on what you’ve provided this appears to be a private conversation that has nothing to do with our campaign.” According to the campaign’s most recent FEC report, Lane doesn’t appear to be on the candidate’s payroll."

This is news, how?

There are a ton of incompetent journalists in the mainstream media (if Beast should even be considered 'mainstream.'

[Sudetenland]

Ah--The Daily Beast, a well known bastion of conservative thought and pro-Republican journalism. Now that's an authoritative source.

Let's see, "someone with close ties to Rick Perry's campaign,"--translation: supports Perry, campaigns for Rick Perry, but is NOT employed by or authorized to speak for the Perry campaign.

Man the liberals in the press and in Mitt's campaign are getting desperate.

[JustAnotherOne]

It is considered bigoted by many Perry supporters, and detracts from the primary message. There are many great reasons to attack the Romney campaign without attacking the GOP platform, or any specific religion or creed.
Leadership, vision, Focus. Win

[Tennessee Nana]

So perry has a pro-Christian message ...

Whats wrong with that ???

[txroadkill]

At the height of speculation that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie would enter the presidential race, Lane wrote to Bott that “Christie is not a strong social conservative—says homosexuality not a sin, was for cap-n-trade, for civil unions and more.”

how dare they use the truth to slander Chris Christie like that! The shame!

Do I need the sarcasm tag?

[Sudetenland]

Did you hear Rush today? The Mitt-ster has come out in support of the 99%ers. Apparently he believes that we need to be aware of their plight and supportive of their needs.

Sniff-sniff, hmmm smells like establishment Republican RINO fear to me.

[Tennessee Nana]

There are many great reasons to attack the Romney campaign without attacking the GOP platform,
_________________________________________

Whats the GOP platform got to do with Mormonism ???

Are the Republicans pushing an anti-Christian religion now ???

[bullypulpit]

The author of this screed is a Mormon himself. No wonder. Cognitive dissonance. He's pulling for Brother Mitt. Fair and Balanced. All that. Here's his resume/cv (note: Brigham-Young University).

[muawiyah]

So, who is BOTT?

None of this makes much sense at all unless you know who ~ is he perhaps Henry de Bott, Viscount ~ something like that, or is he an application on an Ipad?

Sometimes we need enlightenment.

BTW, I wanted Perry (Perri Caliente = hot dog) to recant his support of instate tuition for illegal aliens. He didn't and went on to tell me I'm heartless. Now, let's say I want Mitt to recant and repudiate Joseph Smith's abusive comments regarding the Campbellites ~ would that make me a bigot?

[Rashputin]

"Is hiding behind mormonism all Romney has left?"

Just be glad Romney isn't a Catholic. Perry's pal said the Pope is the antiChrist or the seat of the antiChrist, something like that, which I guess makes Catholics minions of the Antichrist. If he had said the same about Mormons Romney would be in curled up in a little fetal ball crying.

Of course, when Jeffress called the Catholic Church a pagan mystery religion from Babylon most of the articles reporting that were headlined with something like, "The Catholic Attack on Perry". At least Jeffress is basing his attacks on Mormonism on facts instead of on discredited bunk like, "The Two Babylons" that every honest Christian scholar knows is total fiction. Romney should consider himself lucky and stop whining.

Jeffress and Perry have been seen on stage at the same time so they're not the same person and I don't see why Perry needs to apologize for what Jeffress says about anything. Jeffress is obviously just another "solid" Fundamentalist and that's how the majority of them see things. Perry, he's a politician who appreciates the support from Fundamentalists but I bet you dollars to donuts that the guy cares about his own political goals a lot more than he cares about Jeffress or Fundamentalism.

JMHO

Regards

[MEGoody]

If Perry is involved in this, it is despicable. Campaign against Romney’s positions on the issues, not his religion.

[Candor7]

Perry: Country first..religion second.

Romney: Religion first .....country second.**

Muktadha al Sadr: Allah above all....country second.

Are we getting it yet?

************************************************

FACT:**

1)

Mitt has never denounced the racist past of the mormon church, and he was in his thirties before mormonism finally allowed blacks to become full members. He will have that hanging around his ears immediately if he wins the nomination.

2)

You may not be aware that Romney has made this “sacred”, “Law of Consecration” oath frequently in the mormon temple.

“You and each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar, that you do accept the Law of Consecration as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, in that you do consecrate yourselves, your time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he may bless you, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of Zion “

http://www.lds4u.com/lesson5/templecovenants.htm

Now...can you be positive that Mitt will, after swearing many times that he will put the mormon church above ALL else...will just cast that oath aside while acting as POTUS? Especially since he met with church leaders to get permission to run for president in ‘08?

[JustAnotherOne]

Nothing wrong with a pro-christian message. A lot wrong with anti- (Mormon, Catholic, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Adventist, or whatever).

Article VI, paragraph 3 of the United States Constitution:

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

[isthisnickcool]

I know a lot of Mormons. All nice folks. I recently was at a Mormon event and all they talked about is Jesus and the Bible. I thought that was fine. One thing I’m fuzzy on is their Jesus “our” Jesus? Can any Mormons here explain that? I have heard that they think Jesus was in the states at some point. So that seems to be a different guy? I’m going to ask some of the Mormons I know and see what they say. In the meantime any Mormons that have an answer to this question please post it.

[TheOldLady]

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[JAKraig]

would that make me a bigot?

________________________________________________________

First, we don't need Mitt Romney for President. There could be worse choices, I just at the moment don't know what they are.

That being said, why does Mormonism or any religion have to have anything to do with it? This is a slippery slope when we have only a certain “approved” religion that is acceptable. Which religion is that? Do Unitarians need not apply, how about Lutherans? I know, once we make Evangelicals the accepted religion we can then kick out all the Catholics from government. We should make a place on the application that Federal workers fill out when they want to go to work for us, “What is your religion”, “Do you pray daily?”, “Do you pray only to Jesus?”, “Do you have any allegiance to the Pope?”

This is wrong, it is dirty, condescending, underhanded sleazy politics. Is that what Rick Perry is? If he is sleazy on the campaign, what will he be in office? It makes me feel slimy just reading it.

This is America, not Amerika.

[madmaximus]

Then that says a lot about some of Perry’s supporters. A candidate’s faith or lack should be of importance. To know their beliefs, start with their faith.

Mormonism is a false religion, perpetrated by a two-bit con artist and snake oil salesman Joey Smith, masquerading as a Christian sect.

In addition to Romney’s liberal stances, his mormonism should be taken into question, PC police be damned.