Evangelicals will vote for Mormon Mitt Romney, says Southern Baptist leader

Daily Caller ^ | 4/11/2012 | Carolline May

[svxdave]

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will have little trouble courting the evangelical vote, Southern Baptist Convention leader Richard Land told The Daily Caller during a Wednesday interview.

“I don’t think Romney will have any kind of a problem — unless he picks a non-social conservative running mate — he should be okay,” Land, president of Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee, said about concerns that Romney’s Mormon faith could turn off evangelicals.

According to Land, evangelicals are extremely concerned about the possibility of a second Obama term and are energized to vote against him.

Land cited Obama’s hot mic moment with outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, in which Obama said he would have “more flexibility” after the election to discuss issues like missile defense, as one reason for evangelical anti-Obama sentiment.

“I cannot tell you how important that Russia comment was because it feeds into the fears that evangelicals have that there is a radical inside Obama that is straining to get out and once he doesn’t have to ever face the voters again — the day after the election they are going to be confronted with a Jekyll and Hyde situation,” he said. “Whatever concerns they have about Romney pale in comparison to their worries about a second Obama term.”

While evangelicals might be okay with voting for a Mormon, Land said that the media will likely make a big deal out of Romney’s faith to draw independents away from the former governor.

“[The Media] are going to trot out every exotic belief of Mormonism you can find. Baptism of the dead, etc., in the hopes that the strangeness of it will drive independents away from Romney,” he said.

Ads by Google In Defense of Mormons Connect With Other Mormons Online. Photos, Testimonials, Email & More! www.LDSsingles.com Land explained that most evangelicals are already well aware of Mormon teachings — pastors often teach about the Book of Mormon as an inoculation against door-to-door Mormon missionaries. Independents, he said, are likely not as aware of certain unorthodox beliefs.

When asked if he believes evangelicals will have a problem voting for Romney, Land responded, “I don’t.” He added, however, that if Romney picks a pro-choice, non-social conservative running mate he will face more difficulties courting that vote.

The potential vice presidential candidate that would give Romney the biggest boost, according to Land, would be noted pro-life Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

Land also mentioned Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, former GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as acceptable running mate options.

Land asserted that a person’s faith does play a role in their decision-making process and that he anticipates Romney’s Mormon faith will inform his decisions if elected. To Land that’s not a problem.

“Most the Mormons I know are decent, God-fearing, honest people,” he said. “I think that Romney, as a serious Mormon is far less likely to have any sexual scandals than a person who wasn’t a person of faith. He is far more likely to keep his word. Far more likely to be a role model than were he a person of no faith. I think most Americans like having a president who is aware and acknowledges he is accountable to a higher authority than himself.”

“If his Mormonism informs his policies he will be pro-life, he’s going to be pro-family, pro-traditional marriage, so far what’s the problem?” Land said.

Land does not endorse political candidates.

[SoConPubbie]

Funny How Romney was the “conservative” in 2008 against McCain. How he is liberal?

Hopefully the following will help the scales fall off of your eyes:

[bkaycee]

ALl the Born Again Christians I know will be voting against Obama!

We do not share the same faith, but we share the same support for religous freedom, we share the same sentiment that the president should not be making secret plans with the Russians, we share a fondness for capitalism and fiscal policies that do not bankrupt the country.

[SoConPubbie]

I recall reading this over and over while Romney was running against Newt, Paul, Santorum, Cain, Perry, and Bachman.

We need to come up with a few predictions that will prove true. Here is a prediction we might use: Romney will take out Obama just as he did with all of the other Republican contenders.

Romney has no chance because of his lying, left-wing, Progressive Record.

Obama and the Media will waste no time if God frowns on us and gives us Romney as the nominee, at using his own record to absolutely destroy his candidacy by hitting him over the head with it 24/7 until his candidacy is a bloody pulp and his poll numbers are in the toilet.

Our side actually cares about morals, ethics, and principles, the Media and Obama will simply use Romney's horrendous record to prove what a liar he is and how unethical, immoral, and unprincipled he is to be calling himself a Republican, much less a conservative.

The end result will be depressing the voter turnout for the GOP base to levels never seen before.

Romney's loss will make McCain's loss in 2008 to Obama look like a win, just like Romney, with his lying Left-wing, Progressive Liberal record makes John McCain look like a conservative.

Romney's record:

[SoConPubbie]

Then I doubt that they either know Romney's record, or if they do, then I doubt the are Born Again.

No true Born-Again Christian will ever vote for the Father of Gay Marriage who is still lying about this and has refused to back down from his support for the Gay Agenda.

Furthermore, no Born-Again Christian would ever vote for someone who practiced, and still practices, bearing false witness against the actual conservatives in the race to win the race.

[bkaycee]

half truths, read Ann Coulter

[Raider Sam]

Because life cant go on without an enemy.

[SoConPubbie]

half truths, read Ann Coulter

Not half truths, researched and posted with supporting evidence on FreeRepublic multiple times.

Will continued to be posted on FreeRepublic until Romney is finally defeated.

Ann Coulter is a liar and a political whore.

[SoConPubbie]

half truths, read Ann Coulter

BTW, are you a mormon?

[Waryone]

I hate that Romney is a socialist.

[Raider Sam]

No true Scotsman...

[Colonel_Flagg]

Not in a million years.

[bkaycee]

No, Not Mormon, Reformed Baptist? You?

[SoConPubbie]

ALl the Born Again Christians I know will be voting against Obama!

Then I doubt that they either know Romney's record, or if they do, then I doubt the are Born Again.

No true Born-Again Christian will ever vote for the Father of Gay Marriage who is still lying about this and has refused to back down from his support for the Gay Agenda.

Furthermore, no Born-Again Christian would ever vote for someone who practiced, and still practices, bearing false witness against the actual conservatives in the race to win the race.

[SoConPubbie]

No, Not Mormon, Reformed Baptist? You?

Born-again Christian.

[bkaycee]

And are you voting for the White/Black wannabe dictator?

If not who else that can win?

[Kansas58]

I wanted Cain.
Then I wanted Newt.
Then I wanted Santorum.

No, I am not happy, but Romney does not hate my country.
Obama DOES hate my country.

It is not a hard choice.
Our backs are against the wall and our country can not survive another 4 years of Obama!

I do notice that the radical anti-Romney voices tend to be concentrated in FR.

I suggest that Freepers who can not make peace with Romney try to understand that the House is in Jeopardy, and we can not win the Senate, if they continue to run Romney down.

Don't let your egos get in the way of strategy.

[RIghtwardHo]

Add another “not this one” to that growing list.

[SoConPubbie]

And are you voting for the White/Black wannabe dictator?

If not who else that can win?

What's amazing is that someone who purports to be a Born-Again Christian can make such a statement.

Both as to the flagrant, underhanded meanness of such a statement, but more importantly, the principle behind the idea you are presenting.

Millions of Christians have died rather than give up their faith, and yet you, and the other Romney supporters, are suggesting that we compromise our very faith and support someone who routinely breaks at least one of the Ten Commandments (Not bearing false witness against your neighbor) and who still supports the Gay Agenda (see his refusal to reinstate DADT, and his lying about Implementing Gay Marriage in MA, even after being confronted on the matter by conservatives and conservative Christians). Couple that with his false conversion to Pro-Life (Since after making that statement he went ahead and nominated an Avid and Complete Abortion proponent for a judgeship and continued to support in various ways various components of the Abortion agenda).

So when did compromising with Evil (and Sin) on some of the most common and base Christian Principles allow you to continue to call your-self a Born-Again Christian?

[muawiyah]

Romney tolerates cheating in elections. Land thinks Romney is acceptable.

DId he forget that election cheats go straight to HEll!

[muawiyah]

$9.00 a gallon gasoline ought to give us the House and the Senate all wrapped up in pretty ribbons.

I"m sure President Biden will spent his remaining few months in office searching endlessly for Obama ~