Posted on 12/17/2005 8:39:05 AM PST by Mr. Blonde
HE MADE millions as a businessman, saved the scandal-plagued 2002 Winter Olympics, appeals to social conservatives, is liked by moderates, boasts chiselled good looks and has been a successful Republican governor in one of America’s most liberal states. In Mitt Romney, the Massachusetts Governor who all but threw his hat into the 2008 presidential race yesterday, Republicans have the almost perfect candidate. Except for one potential problem: Mr Romney is a Mormon.
After announcing that he would not be seeking a second term as Massachusetts governor, a widely anticipated move that clears the way for a 2008 White House bid, Mr Romney implicitly posed a fascinating political question: can a Mormon win enough votes to become President of the United States?
Mr Romney, whom analysts on both sides of the political divide say will be a serious contender in 2008, was elected governor of Massachusetts — one of the bluest of Democrat blue states — as a social moderate. In the past year, however, he has changed his stance on social issues important to religious conservatives, the base of the Republican Party that wields enormous influence in the Republican primary race. Mr Romney once said that abortion should be “safe and legal”, but now opposes it. He denounced the decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Court to legalise gay marriage. Calling himself a “red speck in a blue state”, he has emphasised socially conservative positions on the death penalty, stem-cell research and birth control.
But Manuel Miranda, head of the Third Branch Conference, an alliance of conservative groups, said that many evangelicals view Mormonism — the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints — as a cult. Mr Miranda said that in 2000 he worked for Orrin Hatch, the Utah senator and a Mormon, during his unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination. “Hatch had a poll done. He found that over 60 per cent of Americans would not vote for a Mormon.”
Richard Cizik, of the National Association of Evangelicals, said that Mormons were not Christians, and that profound doctrinal divisions would shape reactions to Mr Romney as a candidate for the White House. The view among evangelicals might change if Mr Romney’s main opponent is Rudy Giuliani, the former New York Mayor, who is socially moderate and supports abortion.
Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster, believes that Mr Romney’s religion will not be a significant issue. His biggest problem, Mr Luntz said, is that he comes from Massachusetts. Although he balanced the state’s budget, lowered taxes and improved education, “the last time Massachusetts produced a Republican candidate was never”.
Mr Romney may also face the charge of being a “flip-flopper” — an accusation that did so much damage to the last presidential candidate from Massachusetts with impossibly thick hair: John Kerry.
The last president to come from Massachusetts was John Kennedy, who successfully overcame concerns about being the first Roman Catholic in the White House.
Mr Romney can also take encouragement from the experience of his Mormon father, George Romney, who was Governor of Michigan. His 1968 presidential bid imploded after he said that he had been “brainwashed” into supporting the Vietnam War. “But until then,” Steve Hess, of the Brookings Institution, said, “there was no question he could have been elected.”
Is that for real? This is the first time I'm hearing about the magical underpants. Anybody know anything about it? Honestly, it's a serious inquiry. All this time, I've been laboring under the delusion that my string bikinis were quite magical.
As you know, there is a body of Christians who do not view Catholicism as a valid expression of Christianity as well, so I suppose this might be the reaction one would get from many Catholics. But that is off subject...:)
No. And we've shown a marked dislike for Mass politicians, having defeated two in presidential elections since 1970 (Kerry and Dukakis) and several more in Presidential primaries (Tsongas, Kennedy, etc.).
The Republicans, whose polical base is in the South and West would be foolish to nominate a Mass resident, who would be unlikely to even carry his own state in the general election and would likely alienate the base by being too sympathetic to the lefist and socialist policies of his home state.
No. They have not. They have all sorts of beliefs that are at odds with traditional, orthodox and mainstream Christianity.
LOL...I know they have the thing with the white suits and shoes, how more unusual can special underpants be? Are they made special by BVD?
Really? Why?
Jack Black, if you are comparing Romney to Kerry, Dukakis, Kennedy or Tsongas, you need to research the subject. Not the same thing. Apples and oranges, they are on DIRECTLY opposite ends of the political spectrum.
You are correct though, if he runs for president, he is unlikely to carry his home state.
I's rather live in a community of Mormons than a community of Christians like you.
White suits too?! Geez! I live with a Mormon apostate (and a cousin of Mitt!). We're going to have to have a little chat when he gets home.
I would be interested in why you think a jew as president would be problematic. Would it make muslims hate us more? More than they did on 9/11?
IMHO it's hard to understand how anyone who claims to have read the Bible can't see that it is mainstream "Christianity" that is the cult--they are all apostate from the Church found in the New Testament--especially the Evilvangelicals.
Well lets check our history, shall we. While some Jews argued for the death of Christ, many others argued against it. Most of his closest supporters were Jews.
In fact the group that killed Jesus was the Government of the day, the Roman Empire. The order for the murder was given by Pontious Pilate, who had the power to set him free and chose not to. The order was carried out by the Roman Legionaires, acting in the role of police. It is much more say that Christ was killed by a thoughtless Federal big government unconcerned with truth or fairness than by "everybody". At the time my distant anscestors were living as illiterate tribes in far nothern Europe. They had (historicly speaking) no involvment with his death, nor did the Chinese, Indians, American Indians, pre-Moslem Arab tribes, Africans or many others.
Rome did the deed.
Wasn't it Jackie Mason who joked about Goldwater in 1964 "even the first Jewish president will be an Episcopalian"
That's only if we elected his good friend Ted Kennedy....
Men have to wear a white suit and shoes when worshiping in the temple. They have extensive lockeer facilities for storing them there, and they have a rental service onsite as well.
Dear rlmorel,
My position vis-a-vis abortion is not so absolute that I wouldn't consider someone who was merely, say, anti-Roe, like Sen. George Allen.
However, something like 40% of the Republican base is pretty hardcore pro-life (nearly 20% of voters in general elections vote first and foremost pro-life - and about 10% vote first and foremost pro-death). A lot of us will give a little wiggle room. If Ms. Rice were to move from "mildly pro-choice" to "mildly pro-life" (i.e., come out foresquare for overturning Roe, one way or other, and then leave the issue to the political branches), a lot of us pro-lifers could support her, some even enthusiastically.
Sen. Allen is on record as believing that abortion should be legal at least some of the time. But his position clearly contradicts the current Roe/Doe legal regime, and most of us can accept that.
However, Mr. Romney is going from a pretty blue, pretty much pro-abort position ("safe and legal," "a woman's choice," all the other ususal pro-death crap) to an alleged pro-life position.
I'll (and I suspect, the vast majority of pro-lifers will) need convincing.
sitetest
He appears to be a social moderate (whatever that implies) as compared to conservative Republicans, not Massachusetts Democratic voters or politicians.
I think that is what that comment meant.
News to me! I met a Mormon when we were at a meeting together. He was a sweet a funny guy with uncharitable things to say only about John Kerry.
The Mormon's home. Gotta go.
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