Ana Marie Cox: 'I Know Mitt Romney Is Not Himself Christian'

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Ana Marie Cox: not just a snarky ex-blogger turned Time editor -- now a theologian who has pronounced Mitt Romney not a Christian.

The former Wonkette is all over MSNBC today. This morning, as I noted here, Cox [as seen here] cattily swiped at Katie Couric on "Morning Joe," surmising that the CBS Evening News anchor was traveling to the Middle East because she needed rugs.

This evening, Cox appeared on "Countdown" to discuss the Larry Craig matter with Olbermann. Talk turned to the way Mitt Romney (R-Ma.) has dealt with the Craig matter. The Idaho senator had served as Romney's co-chairman in the Senate. Romney was quick to disassociate Craig from his campaign, and Tuesday referred to Craig's behavior as "disgusting."

ANA MARIE COX: [Romney] has inserted himself into this story several times. I think the smart political thing to do would have been to get rid of the guy from your campaign staff, maybe take the [Craig endorsement] video down, but why would you perpetuate the story, why would you involve yourself in this? It really just seems politically inept in my opinion.

KEITH OLBERMANN: Are we again missing something here? Is there some base that he's appealing to by being cruel to somebody's who's in trouble? I'm quite serious about this.

Olbermann lamenting cruelty toward Craig? That's really just too rich. Olbermann is of course reveling in Craig's disgrace, going so far as to have produced a mocking "Joe Friday" re-enactment of the restroom scene.

COX: I think that his understanding of even the conservative base is rather incomplete. I think that someone like Sam Brownback, you may disagree with him, but you really cannot doubt his social conservative credentials, at least has the strength of character to extend Christian mercy.

That's when Cox ruled Romney off the Christian reservation.

COX: I know Mitt Romney is not himself Christian, or [trying to retrieve herself] that's a point of debate, but to show some kind of compassion for somebody who at least there family is going through something really terrible, I think it smacks of opportunism for him to, you know, throw the guy aside.

I wonder if "Time" endorses the view of its Washington editor of Time.com questioning Romney's Christianity?

[restornu]

You are silly person FOX’S BOOK OF MARTYRS was around centuries before you!

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

I agree with you and others who make clear that we are about electing a President, not Chief Theologian. None of our recent Presidents would qualify for that office.

I also agree that the question of whether Mormonism is Christian (I choose to discuss doctrine rather than people) is always a reasonable - and interesting - issue.

Here’s a link to a most informative site (I do not agree with the author’s associations) on the topic - http://www.mazeministry.com/ with one page that addresses the topic head on: http://mazeministry.com/mormonism/newsletters_articles/aremormonschristians.htm

[MarkBsnr]

What, pray tell, might the oldest Christian religion be named? I would count myself extremely fortunate to be a part of it. Where do I sign up?

I guess all of us got it wrong. We thought that Joseph Smith had his visions in upstate New York and that he never made it to Utah. How wonderful that you have showed up here in order to correct us.

[MarkBsnr]

And yet, we use the example of “doubting Thomas” as an admonishment to those who require excessive proofs in order to believe!

[MarkBsnr]

Sigh. Thanks for the compliment.

However;

Do you realize that nobody has caught the erroneous use of ‘benefactor’? It should be ‘beneficiary’ instead.

Sigh.

[MarkBsnr]

Are you even remotely suggesting that Foxe is on a par to Scripture?

[kawaii]

You are silly person FOX’S BOOK OF MARTYRS was around centuries before you!

1. So by your logic old things are beyond reproach by new ones? Great! The Apostolic church was around 18 centuries before mormonisml guess that mean mormonism is a fraud.

2. I don't care how old something is if they do not reveal their sources they're at best plagerists and at worst liars.

[NoDRodee]

Jesus Started His Church, bought with His very own blood. Any deviation from His Church is not “christian”

[ChiefBoatswain]

Welcome to the discussion. Just curious, you say you belong to the world's oldest Christian religion. An interetsting comment. One could say that there's really only one Christian religion. It seems to me if you consider that comment along with this: neither Mormon, Catholic, Protestant or Presbyterian that you don't see those as Christian? Or am I reading too much into that?

And, just to nit pick, Joseph Smith was never in Utah.

I agree that this would be a better world if more people did as you say. Well, except maybe for the large families, that might lead to a bit of over crowding.

One final observation. From John 3:16, it would seem that belief is required to get into heaven. Behaviour notwithstanding. Therefore, membership in any religion is irrelevant, wouldn't you agree?

[Eric Blair 2084]

It doesn’t matter what I think.

Jesus forgave a murderer on the cross. I guess he already answered the question.

[sevenbak]

So while I am hopeful for the election of a true conservative, I am at peace with the idea that whatever happens, whomever we choose to be our rulers, God is able to bend their will to serve his purpose as easily as he can bend or shape the course of rivers.

I’m not so sure that He will do that. I didn’t see it with Clinton. I think He lets us make choices, and elect good or bad people, and then deal with the consequences of our actions.
Since this is a Mitt thread, I will post what Mitt (and I) believe on this topic.

From the Book of Mormon:

Mosiah 29:
21 And behold, now I say unto you, ye cannot dethrone an iniquitous king save it be through much contention, and the shedding of much blood.
22 For behold, he has his friends in iniquity, and he keepeth his guards about him; and he teareth up the laws of those who have reigned in righteousness before him; and he trampleth under his feet the commandments of God;
23 And he enacteth laws, and sendeth them forth among his people, yea, laws after the manner of his own wickedness; and whosoever doth not obey his laws he causeth to be destroyed; and whosoever doth rebel against him he will send his armies against them to war, and if he can he will destroy them; and thus an unrighteous king doth pervert the ways of all righteousness.
24 And now behold I say unto you, it is not expedient that such abominations should come upon you.
25 Therefore, choose you by the voice of this people, judges, that ye may be judged according to the claws which have been given you by our fathers, which are correct, and which were given them by the hand of the Lord.
26 Now it is not common that the avoice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people.
27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.
28 And now if ye have judges, and they do not judge you according to the law which has been given, ye can cause that they may be judged of a higher judge.
29 If your higher judges do not judge righteous judgments, ye shall cause that a small number of your lower judges should be gathered together, and they shall judge your higher judges, according to the voice of the people.
30 And I command you to do these things in the fear of the Lord; and I command you to do these things, and that ye have no king; that if these people commit sins and iniquities they shall be answered upon their own heads.
31 For behold I say unto you, the sins of many people have been caused by the iniquities of their kings; therefore their iniquities are answered upon the heads of their kings.
32 And now I desire that this inequality should be no more in this land, especially among this my people; but I desire that this land be a land of liberty, and every man may enjoy his rights and privileges alike, so long as the Lord sees fit that we may live and inherit the land, yea, even as long as any of our posterity remains upon the face of the land.

[sevenbak]

6 kids, awesome! Keep up that good work obeying that first commandment! Multiply and replenish the earth.

I have 4, including twins. Let me tell ya, 3 in diapers at one time is no fun thing. You’re a good man, much respect here!

[sevenbak]

f you could please deny the following I might consider mormons Christian: LOL, why am I haveing a hard time believing that. ;-)

[P-Marlowe]

I’m not so sure that He will do that.

LOL

I have it on good authority that he will and that he always has.

God is in control.

[sevenbak]

BTW if mormons think it’s irrelevant whether their founders believed that God made blacks into slaves nuff said. LOL. What a spin!! God made blacks into blacks, man made blacks into slaves.

The church has always been extremely opposed to slavery. It's primarily what got them kicked out of Missouri and Joseph murdered. The support of the underground railroad and other anti slavery issues made the church a lot of enemies.

[sevenbak]

George Washington was a Freemason.

along with 14 other presidents...

[sevenbak]

Mormons and Masons...

Been all over this and beyond in other threads. Do a search.

[sevenbak]

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be cursed." - God (Galatians 1:8) The validity of a religion is not based on a burning in the bosom, for the heart is deceitful, and none can trust it.

The same way we know the bible to be the word of God, is the same way we know the BOM to be scripture. By the spirit. The "burning in the bosom" is one way, as the disciples on the road to ammais found out. Other ways, still small voice, etc. The spirit of truth is just that, the spirit.

To learn of him and by him is to be like him and of him.

Otherwise, were all scrambling in our own interpretations. That's why there are 30 thousand plus Christian denominations all preaching different doctrines. All the best.

[sevenbak]

IMHO, that is the best Romny can hope for, and he'd make a Good VP

If he doesn't make the nomination, a VP post would be great. Then we'd have possibly 16 years of Romney.

But I think he has better chances than you think.

[sevenbak]

So most of this world is going to be lost anyway and that includes ALL Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, atheists, liberals etc. God has enough company in heaven now to last him forever so if this whole world explodes big deal.
I disagree strongly. God’s children include everyone. To assume he doesn’t have a plan for them and love for then in the eternities is as bad as Nazi’s thinking their one true race was all that should exist.

In your post, you mentioned Noah, and the flood that killed the wicked. This speaks directly to what we believe. We believe that all men are judged according to the laws that they have, and where much is given, much is expected. It also speaks to why Christ visited the spirits in prison after his Death. To give them a chance to hear the good news.

1 Peter 3:8 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
22 Who is gone into Haven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.