Mitt's Evangelical Breakthrough

The American Spectator ^ | 8/25/06 | W. James Antle III

[Jeff Fuller]

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=10274

Things are looking up for Mitt Romney. Not only has the outgoing Massachusetts governor been getting reasonably favorable press from usually hostile places but, courtesy of George Allen's Macaca moment, his position in the 2008 Republican presidential field suddenly looks more secure -- the most viable candidate to the right of front-runners John McCain and Rudy Giuliani.

Romney appears to sense the opportunity . . . (READ ON at the link above)

[teenyelliott]

Well, since you were so pleasant about it, perhaps I will.

[Jeff Fuller]

Yep, I'm Mormon.

Why is it weird for a Mormon to support a Mormon? If an Evangelical supported an Evangelical shold I be "leery"? I don't even view it that way. I didn't support Orrin Hatch one bit. I have strong distaste for fellow-Mormon Harry Reid. Utah Gov. and Mormon, Huntsman, signed on with McCain's PAC. There will not be a Mormon "block vote" for Romney.

I actually have wished that Romney wasn't Mormon so that the "leeriness" that you bring up wouldn't be an issue. I would be supporting him regardless of his religion . . . though it would have probably taken me longer to get "on board." I actually feel more "kinship" with Romney because he's a fellow BYU graduate than because he's a Mormon (a lot of Mormons would hate that statement . . . but it's true). If someone from your college or high school was a frontrunner for POTUS then you'd probably show some early interest too.

The early excitement that comes from Mormons largely stems from the fact that many of us have watched his career and been exposed to him with his leadership in the Olympics in Salt Lake.

Mormon effort cannot and will not get Romney elected. However, I disagree with you that "Mitt's biggest supporters are fellow Mormons". Take a look at his Iowa (50) and and Michigan (75) supporters.

http://www.thecommonwealthpac.com/news/pr_060617.htm
http://www.thecommonwealthpac.com/news/pr_060823.htm

very few Mormons on those lists. Take a look at his financial backers http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/08/mitt_the_money_man.html
I dont' think a single one of them is Mormon.

The common theme is that these are the people who have actually taken the time or had the opportunity to get to know Romney and/or see him up close. I'm convinced that the more people that get exposed to him the more widespread the support will be.

[Jeff Fuller]

I've followed stuff here at FR in the past . . . just never contributed. I still read other stuff here too but I do visit mostly to inform folks about Romney. Given the vast amount of misinformation and knee-jerk reaction that goes on here, I think that is appropriate.

[JRochelle]

I think a lot of Mormons are supporting Mitt because he is Mormon.

Anyway my candidate is Jeff Sessions! Is he running?

My definite no's are in this order, Rudy, McCain, Mitt and Newt.
Romney is just too liberal for me. Although he does get points for being pretty handsome. But that will not sway me!

[onyx]

You needn't apologize or explain your support for Mitt Romney. GOOD to have you here. I am sorry that his religion will be an issue with some folks.

[onyx]

Sessions is almost perfect, but he is not running. Yet.

You already have definite no's, so I guess you can be relegated to the stay home or vote third party columns.

[speekinout]

I'm not Mormon (I'm Catholic), and Romney is my clear favorite in the 2008 Presidential race so far. He doesn't have the "baggage" of messy divorces that Newt, Giuliani and McCain do. And, honestly, after the clintoons, I'm tired of talking about messy personal lives.

But my most favorable impressions of him come from the Olympics (no one thought those could be saved, but he did it); getting elected as gov. of MA; being popular in a blue state!; getting that health care plan shaped as a Conservative plan (it could have been a Liberal nightmare); and managing to finally get control over the Big Dig, when the Dems have been determined for years that he shouldn't/couldn't.

He looks like an able executive who has positions that mostly agree with mine (no one agrees with me on everything, and even if they do, it wouldn't always be possible to get the legislation enacted).

So keep on advocating for him. More people need to read/hear about his record.

[uncbob]

got a source on that?

ME

I remember it well and it really POed me

The early double digit lead in the polls went to his head and he showed himself as the typical Hack Politician he is

Absoultely no reason for that stupid statement

[Panerai]

"I don't believe an evangelical would allow theological disagreements to get in the way of backing a pro-family candidate on account of that candidate being a Mormon." What about a Scientology candidate, are about as legitimate as Mormons, without the magic underwear. Romney now says that he is pro-life, not like Mormons are known to lie.

[Jeff Fuller]

I appreiciate your analytical and logical responses. They are too few and far between here.

I agree that Romney could and should have handled this issue better . . . but the real record that counts is his 100% pro-life legislative record (more so than what he's said about the political land mine issue of aboriton).

I think that Romney can and will convince of his change on the issue. This video is where Romney discusses his stance on Abortion and how it's changed. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4362623183954478320&q=tvshow%3ACharlie_Rose
Romney is the first 25 minutes of the video and the abortion theme is about 15 minutes into it (can scroll ahead).

[Jeff Fuller]

I love Jeff Sessions! He was my senator when I lived in Bama. Don't think he's running though.

I think Republicans are supporing Bush because he's Republican. ;)

[JohnnyZ]

Come forward and explain why someone who apparently has never met or been governed by Romney (you live in N.C.?) has such a strong passion against him.

I found that a lot of FReepers such as yourself were lying about Romney, trying to pretend he was a conservative. Pukin Dog even accused me of lying, even though all of my assertions are backed up with articles and quotes.

As a conservative, I wish to set the record straight about Mitt's long record of liberal positions and his subsequent attempts to windsurf his way to respectability.

With most candidates it's clear that they're anti-conservative "mavericks" (McCain, Hagel) or proud liberals (Rudy), but slimy stealth candidates like Romney, who will tell anyone whatever they want to hear, need to be taken to task and have their own statements thrown back at them.

[sitetest]

Dear Jeff Fuller,

Thanks for the compliments.

I like Gov. Romney, but unfortunately, at this time, I wouldn't be able to vote for him.

At this time, his record on the question of abortion smacks of little but opportunism.

"...but the real record that counts is his 100% pro-life legislative record."

No, the real record that counts is whether he really believes that abortion is really a "right," or not. The real record that counts is whether he believes that no matter how opposed he is to abortion, it should still remain legal.

I won't vote for someone to be President of the United States that I don't really trust will try to nominate Supreme Court justices who will vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. I would very much PREFER a candidate for president who is robustly, on-the-record, and unambiguously pro-life. Life is a non-negotiable issue for me.

At this point, I just don't see it in Gov. Romney. Even when he made his "switch," some of the quotes of him that I read were just all wrong. He was talking about the "choice" folks. Real pro-lifers don't talk that way. We call folks for what they are: pro-aborts.

As well, some years ago, I vaguely recall him talking about a relative who died of an illegal abortion, and how that influenced his view. If that's true, it makes it more difficult for me to believe that he has all of the sudden become a true pro-lifer.

However, he certainly has less distance to travel on this issue than Mr. Giuliani.

As well, I'm somewhat concerned about Mr. Romney's views toward gun control. I'm agin it. I'm none too sure about Mr. Romney.

It is virtually impossible that I would pull the lever for Mr. Giuliani in 2008. It is merely improbable that I would vote for Gov. Romney.

If I have time, I'll try to view your link.


sitetest

[sitetest]

Dear JohnnyZ,

I'd be interested if you could post what you believe are more of Gov. Romney's liberal stances.

I'm aware of what he passed in Massachusetts regarding health care, and frankly, I'm not sure that it isn't conservative by some definitions.

Jeff - I'd appreciate it if you could post any rebuttals.

I'd like to learn more about Gov. Romney.

Points accrue for good manners. ;-)


sitetest

[JohnnyZ]

"Mitt has been consistently pro-abortion, right through his campaign for governor in 2002,.."

Sorry FRiend, but that is a complete falsehood!

Oh really? Considering my statements are backed up by a long string of Romney's own statements, and your accusation is backed up by .... nothing .... maybe you ought to consider reading the facts and stop making things up?

Mitt Romney told NARAL he supports legal abortion in 2002.

Mitt Romney said in 1994 that he has supported legal abortion since even before Roe v Wade.

That's over THIRTY-FIVE YEARS of consistently supporting legal abortion.

[Richard Kimball]

I think you're a little out of touch. Of course, if you classify everyone that opposes abortion as a nutjob, we probably disagree on a lot of things. I haven't looked at the numbers for a couple of years, but the last time I checked, abortion was a make or break position for close to fifty percent of the electorate. Something like 20 percent would not vote for a pro-life candidate, and 26 percent wouldn't vote for a pro-abortion candidate. Besides that, Rudy's got a bunch of skeleton's in his closet. I think he did a great job on 9/11, but his associates as mayor made "GoodFellas" look like a tea party. Rudy will be popular until he's running against a Rat. Then, you can bet the photos of him in drag, the extramarital affairs, etc., will all get very heavy air play.

[zarf]

I think the Baptists will be happier with Hillary than Mitt.

Baptist have time to vote? I thought most of them spent the majority of their time in therapy dealing with consequences of their sexual hangups?

[Tennessean4Bush]

massive amounts of fundamentalist Baptists and near-Baptists will sit out this election rather than vote for a Mormon

I know where you are coming from, but I don't think it will be as big an issue as you think.

[JohnnyZ]

I'd be interested if you could post what you believe are more of Gov. Romney's liberal stances.

GUNS - Signed Massachusetts "Assault Weapons Ban", supported federal AWB

GAYS - supports gay in the Boy Scouts, promised that domestic partner benefits would be a "hallmark of my leadership as governor." Salt Lake City games were the "first to open its arms to the gay community". Mitt supported civil unions before he opposed them. He said every child has a right to a mother and a father, then refused to back allowing Catholic Charities to not do gay adoptions, then made an empty promise to suppose legislation that would never pass, and said gays had a "legitimate interest" in adopting. Supports gay anti-discrimination laws. Nominated gay marriage activists as judges.

[sitetest]

Thanks.