Mitt Romney's Evangelical Problem

Washington Monthly ^ | September 2005 | Amy Sullivan

[txzman]

Good Article. Romney is a Non-Starter, in my view as a Christian. The only thing my friends would tell his supporters is 'go away'.

[JohnnyZ]

Mitt Romney's Liberal Problem

He comes from noble moderate Republican lineage

Pro-abortion

Pro-gay

Anti-gun

Case closed.

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

He is not the first LDS to run for President. Joseph Smith was the first. That was one of the big reasons he was murdered.

[flashbunny]

Yep. His problem isn't that he's a mormon, it's that he's an all-fluff, no substance rino. He's the anchorman. Nothing but packaging..

[NHResident]

To object to his religious beliefs is ridiculous, given the behavior of so-called 'Christian's' like Kennedy, Kerry, Pelosi, et al while in office.

The REAL Romney problem is that he is completely a MEDIA-driven candidate whose appeal is only to those who don't give a whit about actually ACCOMPLISHING anything. Simple numerical fact makes him totally ineffectual in accomplishing not blessed by the Democrat majority in mASSachusetts. Instead, he could have very constructively focused on building the Republican party in the state - he didn't even do that. He just collected his salary, posed a couple of times, and waved a 'bloody shirt' a few times to inspire the weak-in-the-knees 'Republican' faithful. Bored with being the governor, when he leaves office - his reasonable successor is a female, north-shore, Country club Republican whose name even Mitt has a hard time remembering.

[Pondman88]

Mitt is a good water skier, decidely anti gay marriage, pro life, good looking, lotsa $$$......

A Romney/Rice ticket would really bring out all the prejudices!!!!

[Lunatic Fringe]

Romney is a Non-Starter, in my view as a Christian.

Yes sadly, right-wing Christians won't vote for someone who does not share their beliefs.

[JohnnyZ]

ROFL .....

[Renfield]

Not only that, but he doesn't have the stature to run for national office. No one south of the Mason-Dixon line knows who he is, and even after he tells them, they still won't care. He is a non-entity.

I don't see ANYONE from the Northeast winning the presidency anytime in the foreseeable future. My guess is that our next president will be either George Allen or Mark Warner.

[cripplecreek]

My problem with Romney is due to his stance on the issue, but I'm not a religious biggot.

[JohnnyZ]

Pong

[marron]

I feel differently. I want to know if he is a limited government conservative, a constitutionalist. I want to know, too, if he's the kind that will boldly and outspokenly defend those principles, instead of trying to soft-pedal them. I want to know if, in war-time, he's the kind that will boldly take the fight to the enemy.

If he is, he's head-and-shoulders ahead of most anyone else out there.

If he's not, then his religious affiliation doesn't matter. I'll keep looking.

[mlc9852]

Most people would prefer someone with their beliefs. I don't see a problem with that.

[madprof98]

There's only one problem.

WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! He has many problems, chiefly the problem that he has demonstrated contempt for socially conservative positions in order to advance his career in Kennedyland. I certainly would not vote for him any more than I would vote for John Kerry.

[JohnnyZ]

Mitt is a good water skier, decidely anti gay marriage, pro life, good looking, lotsa $$$

Are you sure he's not twins with John Kerry?

Good water skier -- CHECK

Anti gay marriage but supports "gay rights" -- CHECK

Has a 30-year record of supporting legal abortion but calls himself "pro-life" -- CHECK

Good looking -- uh, pass on this one

lotsa $$$ -- CHECK

[bahblahbah]

Romney is a Mormon from Massachusetts. He doesn't have a chance to win the primary and would lose against Hillary if she runs.

[TChris]

The debate over religious differences between evangelical Christians and Latter-day Saints is irrelevant to the pertinent question. The real question is, would Mitt be a good choice for the Republican presidential nominee?

Nobody is trying to convince you to invite Mitt to preach in your sanctuary on Sunday or teach Bible School. Ask yourself if he is a good, effective, honest, fair and conservative leader?

[twigs]

Most Christians I know are delighted to have someone in the office now who shares their religious beliefs. But I believe almost all of them would vote for a conservative with shared values, Christian or no. But there would not be that extra sense of identification we have now. I believe much more important issues, as has been stated above, are issues like abortion, gay marriage and gun control (for some, not all). The religious questions is moot anyway if he, or she, doesn't share those values.

[Pondman88]

The case for Mitt---

He brings the Northeast and Rust Belt into the fold.
He ACTIVELY opposed gay marriage in Mass while supporting civil unions. Strong family man. Pro life--he said he would not look to change Mass law (which constitutionally protects abortion). Salvaged the Utah Olympics. Became Governor in a crazy liberal state. Supports enhanced scrutiny of Islamic schools in the US.

The case against--He is a Mormon. Freepers don't like him.