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.”
As far as I am concerned, Romney is more Christian than someone like Teddy Kennedy.
the Mormon Church teaches that Adam’s sin was "a necessary step in the plan of life and a great blessing to all of us" (Gospel Principles, p. 33; Book of Mormon — 2 Nephi 2:25; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 114-115).
Mormon Church teaches that the purpose of the atonement was to bring resurrection and immortality to all people, regardless of whether they receive Christ by faith. Christ’s atonement is only a partial basis for worthiness and eternal life, which also requires obedience to all the commands of the Mormon church, including exclusive Mormon temple rituals (Gospel Principles, pp. 74-75; Mormon Doctrine, p. 669).
Mormon Church teaches that the Bible has been corrupted, is missing many "plain and precious parts" and does not contain the fullness of the Gospel (Book of Mormon — 1 Nephi 13:26-29; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, pp. 190-191).
Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers and we were all born as siblings in heaven to them both, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163; Gospel Through the Ages, p. 15.)
Jesus' sacrifice was not able to cleanse us from all our sins, (murder and repeated adultery are exceptions), (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p. 247, 1856.)
"Therefore we know that both the Father and the Son are in form and stature perfect men; each of them possesses a tangible body . . . of flesh and bones." (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 38).
"The birth of the Saviour was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood - was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 8: p. 115).
"Christ was begotten by an Immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers" (Mormon Doctrine," by Bruce McConkie, p. 547).
"Christ Not Begotten of Holy Ghost ...Christ was begotten of God. He was not born without the aid of Man, and that Man was God!" (Doctrines of Salvation, Joseph Fielding Smith, 1954, 1:18).
"Elohim is literally the Father of the spirit of Jesus Christ and also of the body in which Jesus Christ performed His mission in the flesh ..." (First Presidency and Council of the Twelve, 1916, God the Father, compiled by Gordon Allred, pg. 150).
Read your profile. You and your fellow heros are always in my prayers. Thank you for serving our nation. KNOW IT'S OFF TOPIC. But thank you so very much anyway. May God bless you always. Your post made me smile. You are a fighter!!!
Mormon Underwear: Mormons who have been through the endowment ritual are required afterwards always to wear special white underwear (the "garment") with Masonic markings. They believe that this protects them from physical harm and from Satan.
Actually, no. But there are certainly a group of religious views that would disqualify them for my vote. And I suspect millions of others.
I didn't think you had anything of substance to discuss. Beyond insults, you have added nothing. That, of course, is your right here.
Better a mormon than a moron.
MH,
Christ will judge the world. He will "judge" believers as described in Corinthians - but not to determine salvation. Only to determine rewards.
If salvation depends on anything in addition to Christ's sacrifice, you are adding something.
best,
ampu
Mormons have some very odd beliefs and dogmas. Some are not very Biblical. No, I could not vote for a Mormon for president.
Lucy Martin..smart smart smart....smart smart smart smart smart.
Mormonism, unlike any other Christian denomination, Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox, reject many of the basic tenents Christians everywhere else have held for 2000 years. Most Mormons would disagree with that statement, or say yes, we are right and everyone else is wrong, but Christians of all stripes agree on the nature of the Trinity, the virgin conception and birth, the spiritual nature of God, and the reliability and authority of the biblical canon, with it's 66 books (and no more)(yes I know, the Catholics kept a few more in the Old Testament, the deuterocanonicals...which don't contradict the rest) among many (many) other basic beliefs.
How some of those things work (imputed verses infused righteousness, for example, the traditional key difference between Protestant and Roman Catholic theology) are haggled over. Any conservative theologian however in any of the denominations will not call Mormonism a Christian denomination.
Of course people are fully free to believe what they want...this IS America, and I might consider a Mormon candidate...BUT NOT THIS ONE.
The 16th Century Refomer, Martin Luther, had some good advice on this:
"Better ruled by a wise Turk*, than a foolish Christian." *(meaning in his day and age, a heathen...)
Of course best to be ruled by someone wise in all areas of life, in my opinion!
That's silly. The Constitution puts limits on THE GOVERNMENT, not on the the consciences of the Citizens. You can base your decision to vote for someone on his hair, his family, or his brand of toothpaste if you want...that's what FREEDOM is all about. Of course any of those things would be silly. Religion though, is at the core (or should be) of who one is as a person--so heck yeah, I'll take a man's religion into account for my vote! I wouldn't want the government to, as they still do in the UK, make a 'religious test' (for example the monarch of England cannot be a Roman Catholic), and that is what that clause is about...it puts NO burden whatsoever, either in letter or spirit on individual citizens.
**How about a lapsed Catholic? Or a once-a-year Protestant? A Muslim? A Buddist?**
Why not? Constantinople after Constantine had an apostate, several Arians and Paulicians. They still lasted over a thousand years before falling to the Mohammedan horde!
Apropos our discussion of cults, here's an article from today's paper regarding Scientology and Tom Cruise. Some interesting details:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-scientology18dec18,0,2963052.story?coll=la-home-headlines
We are discussing a US presidential candidate's religion.
Mormons also serve their government in many callings such as Senators, members of Congress, govenors and the judiciary.
They also work hard to provide humanitarian aid anywhere it is needed, including places where Mormonism does not exist. Most of this humanitarian work is never publicized.
They provide for educational opportunities for people in less-developed countries. They take care of the indigent and those in need through Church welfare and family services. They help their neighbors regardless of their religion. They strongly support their families and marriage between men and women, and despise abortion. They are are for crime control for the safety of the nation. They live longer than most by preserving their health by avoiding known health hazards. They read their scriptures all the time, including the Bible. In other words, they act much like Christians are supposed to act.
Many are staunch Republicans and vote that way. What state had the highest Republican vote for Bush in the last election? That's right, it was Utah.
I would vote for Mitt Romney any day over any RAT.
The scriptures teach that Jesus was never less than God in all of eternity. He was born as a man and from that point is fully God and fully man.
This is the opposite fo what mormons teach.
Coolidge was governor of Massachusetts. He was the vice preidential candidate in 1920, became president when Harding died in 1923, and was the Republican candidate when he was re-elected in 1924.
Poor reporting is there any other kind?
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