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.
sorry. won't ever vote for a mormon.
Authoritarian liberal trying to shed his RINO image? No.
Can a Smoky Backroom thread be hijacked? I mean, these threads were meant to be hijacked. Joining in here is like getting on a bus with the marquee "Wherever."
Hi. Knew you'd be here. 80% of your last 300 posts have been on Romney-Mormon threads. You've been kind of single issue poster lately.
If we select him as our candidate, we're toast! Mitt is in the Mormon leadership hind pocket.
Couldn't prove that by what he's done is MA.
Considering that you signed up on this board specifically to promote your fellow Mormon candidate, that's a little like the pot calling the kettle black.
I have a 2 1/2 year history on FR, much of it has nothing to do with Mormonism. Right now, my focus is on what I know....mormonism because I was one, born and bred and now I see how I was deceived. And Romney happens to be a Mormon. It makes perfect sense that I would be posting vehemently about it.
What's YOUR story?
As usual, you presume too much and didn't do your homework. Don't flatter yourself that I've come here just to pick on you.
Did I say that? That you came here to pick on me???
Know I see that sharp reasoning skill that led you to support Romney.
rbrookward since January 2, 2007.
Things that make you go hmmmmm...LOL
Know= Now
You are very sloppy. Show me a post where I support Romney.
I vote for Morons all the time, though in my defense they look just like everybody else while out on the campaign trail.
Wow, Bill Press must be concerned about Mitt to come out with this hit job on a religion. I wonder what Bill Press' world view is? :-)
You'd be surprised how many people who call themselves *Christian* are anything but :-)
Considering that you signed up on this board specifically to promote your fellow Mormon candidate, that's a little like the pot calling the kettle black.
The keywords are "promote your fellow Mormon." Since you are following me thread to thread and condemning my posts regarding Mitt and his Mormonism, which I can link to if you'd like, and since you have me listed me on your hompage specifically as an "anti"...anti what it doesn't say. Then I would assume you are here on this thread specifically to discount anything I have to say.
IMHO.
Sure looks that way, CC. But we need to refocus, m'Lady. Romney's Mormonism isn't waht makes him unfit to be President as a Republican, but he would make a great democrat president, don'tchathink?
Actually MHG,
I vote for Mormons all the time....I live in Utah for crying out loud. If there is a Christian candidate running against a Mormon I vote for the Christian....sorry.
My point is....why would we select a flawed candidate, when now is the opportunity to weed them out and select the strongest candidate. If we are simply trying to send a candidate that can "win" regardless of their personal life, then we might as well send Giuliani. Who cares if he left his wife....we aren't electing a husband....and let him who is without sin cast the stone.
But Romney's inability to see to the heart of the deception in mormonism, calls to mind a lack of foresight. That is something I don't want in a President.....and it goes to the very heart of who this candidate is.
Mormonism is about strict obedience, and they do that very, very well. I commend them for their determination but as my dad used to tell me.
He was right dead right,
As he rolled along,
But he was just as dead,
As if he'd been wrong.
Stubbornly adhearing to a mindset that is wrong, just for the sake of being determined can be a very dangerous thing in a POTUS.
For a change of pace, would you please list Romney's very liberal record? Some Republican candidates are 'moderates', but Mitt seems more a liberal than a moderate.
All the church's businesses pay taxes, just like everybody else.
>Since you are following me thread to thread and condemning my posts regarding Mitt and his Mormonism...
>Then I would assume you are here on this thread specifically to discount anything I have to say.
You still haven't done your homework, and are still flattering yourself by thinking I follow you around or care much about anything you say against Mormons. Most of what you say is petty and sophomoric.
As for listing you as an anti on my profile page, it's just a label. Get used to it. I'm glad the list is so short, it's a sign most people understand the situation better than you do.
By they way, still waiting for you to show all my posts supporting Romney. If you are going to malign me personally in front of everyone on the thread, you could at least show the proof. (Hint: search by poster--that's how I came up with the fact that 80% of your most recent 300 posts were on Romney threads with the intent of spreading misinformation about Mormonism.)
Why don't you go pick on the Scientologists or Muslims? You'll get a lot more support from folks here on FR, but not from me. I see little use in belittling others beliefs, no matter how "out there" they may be. But I will defend mine as best I am able.
Sure...thanks for the opportunity (like it isn't already posted thousands of times here on FR, by people who are far mor knowledgeable about Massachusetts and the words of Mitt Romney...Now me, my specialty is the deception of Mormonism and the intricate workings and intrigue that puts Mormons in many positions of power in this country, but the time is not right to highlight these facts yet...there is more ground work to do. But we'll start by saying what does the liberal rag LA Times and Staples (one of Mitt's special projects) have in common?
Okay, on to the reasons that Mitt is a lib.
Gay marriage
Massachusetts health insurance
The Big Dig
He was for abortion before he was against it.
Gun rights
He's a one term Governor from a liberal State with no Political history
...For starters
Welcom back to FR retread.
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