Posted on 01/23/2007 5:52:17 PM PST by NotchJohnson
For Republicans, Mitt Romney’s an attractive candidate. He has a good track record as head of the Salt Lake City Olympics and governor of Massachusetts. And, thanks to a convenient, pre-presidential conversion, he’s now anti-choice, anti-gay rights and anti-gun control. There’s only one problem: He’s a practicing Mormon.
Should Romney’s religion be an issue in politics 2008? It already is. Indeed, given the basic tenets of Mormonism, there’s no way Romney could escape it.
Most of us only know Mormons from two experiences: either having zealous young missionaries knock on our door; or watching HBO’s hit TV show “Big Love” (under political pressure, Mormons officially rejected the practice of polygamy in 1890). But few of us know what they really believe. Here’s my brief, unofficial synopsis:
The Mormon Church is an all-American creation, founded by a man who taught that all Christian doctrine developed after the crucifixion of Jesus was a whopping lie. Mormons believe the angel Moroni first appeared to founder Joseph Smith in 1823 and directed him to a set of gold tablets, buried on a hillside near Palmyra, N.Y. Wearing a pair of magic glasses, given to him by Moroni, Smith translated those tablets, originally written in Egyptian hieroglyphics, into what became The Book of Mormon. He founded the church in 1830.
According to the Mormon Bible, American Indians descended from an ancient Hebrew tribe, the Garden of Eden was located in Jackson County, Mo., Jesus came to North America shortly after his resurrection, and it’s only a matter of time before he returns to America (hence the name Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). Meanwhile, God speaks directly to each Mormon prophet, and the president of the church is accepted as the contemporary mouthpiece of Jesus.
It’s no surprise, then, that, both in print and on the talk shows, the debate about the significance of Romney’s Mormon faith is already underway. Several prominent evangelicals have said they could never vote for a Mormon.
In a recent cover story for The New Republic, Damon Linker challenges: “ Romney . . . needs to convince voters that they have nothing to fear from his Mormonism while simultaneously placing that faith at the core of his identity and his quest for the White House.”
Writing for Slate.com, Jacob Weisberg says there’s nothing wrong with refusing to vote for a believing Mormon: “Objecting to someone because of his religious beliefs is not the same thing as prejudice based on religious heritage, race or gender.”
In the Los Angeles Times, Tim Rutten says they’re both wrong. Romney’s record is fair game, argues Rutten, but his private religious conscience is not.
Holy smoke! What to believe? Is it fair to make Romney’s faith be an issue in the race for president? Absolutely. But only in one sense. Not on the basis of his religious beliefs. The First Amendment, after all, gives every American the right to believe, or not believe, anything he or she wants. And for those who think finding divine gold tablets buried in a New York hillside defies serious belief . . . have you heard about the virgin birth? Or the miracle of loaves and fishes? Or raising Lazarus from the dead?
No, the only religious question fairly posed to Mitt Romney is the same one posed to Catholic candidate John F. Kennedy, back in 1960: Where does your loyalty lie? Since Catholics believe in the infallibility of the Pope, many Protestants were concerned about potential conflicts between what the Constitution demanded of a future-President Kennedy and what the Pope might tell him. In his famous meeting with the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, Kennedy said he believed in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute: “I do not speak for my church on public matters, and the church does not speak for me.”
It’s important that Romney make a similar Kennedyesque statement. The sooner, the better. Once he does, any further probing into his religious faith is out of bounds — for reporters and political opponents.
In the end, Mitt Romney should be treated like any other candidate for president. His fitness for office should be judged on where he stands on the war in Iraq, health care, the environment, education and other major issues facing the nation — and not on what nonsense he happens to believe in the name of God.
Would you vote for a statist?
I could care less about Romney's religion. I've known good Mormons and bad Christians, and vice versa.
Yes.
But I wouldn't vote for a democrat.
Wow, what a smarmy attack by Press. Low even by his standards.
This may start a heated subthread, but Mormons are Christians.
I can'rt stand Bill Press.
However in answer to the question about voting for a Mormon, the answer is that I would, if their views were compatable with mine. There is a large Mormon population in Orange County California, and as far as I can tell they are rock solid conservatives.
HOT CHICKS !!!!!
My bad. I should have said "mainstream" Christians.
Islamic candidate? Forget it.
No. I only vote for Lutherans.:)
Read this essay and then answer the question.
http://www.zionsbest.com/proper_role.html
No, but I would for a mor-on: Go Hillerobama!
Yes but not a liberal who pretends to be Conservative!
------
I want to vote for a candidate who will make the KIND OF PRESIDENT we need right now -- and that is one that is tough and will take on the socialists in a hard fight. Anything less than that and we can kiss our Republic good bye.
As long as McCain doesn't convert to Mormonism, its not an issue to me.
McCainism is the only thing that will get a flat "no" from me.
You know,.... I heard a lot of the very same crap about Catholics when Jack Kennedy was running too.
"And I would vote for a Mormon in a tree
In the rain
On a train
I'll vote for a Mormon here and there
I would vote for a Mormon Sam I am!"
Prove it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.