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Mitt Romney - The Christianist Candidate
Andrew Sullivan - Times blog ^ | 11-21-2006 | Andrew Sullivan

Posted on 11/22/2006 10:11:01 AM PST by Deut28

The Christianist Candidate

In case you were unaware, it's Mitt Romney. As with most Christianists, the idea of allowing different states to try different solutions to the same problem is dispensable when moral absolutes are involved. In other words, the fundamentalists have no interest in federalism. If federalism means that California can have marriage equality and medical marijuana, today's GOP base wants none of it. Here's Romney's discussion of John McCain's approach:

Romney was less charitable to McCain, who on Sunday told ABC News: 'I believe that the issue of gay marriage should be decided by the states.' McCain also said, 'I believe that gay marriage should not be legal.' Romney seized on the remarks. 'That's his position, and in my opinion, it's disingenuous,' he said. 'Look, if somebody says they're in favor of gay marriage, I respect that view. If someone says — like I do — that I oppose same–sex marriage, I respect that view. But those who try and pretend to have it both ways, I find it to be disingenuous.'

It's now disingenuous to have a position on a matter but believe it should be decided by indidividual states rather than by federal control? Disingenuous? Of course, Romney knows better. He's smart, he's aware of the important principle of federalism - but he's going for the Christianist wing, the wing that only supports states' rights when states support Christianist policy prescriptions. And so another conservative principle gets inverted by the allegedly "conservative" candidate.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: andrewsullivan; christianist; cult; electionpresident; religion; romney; sullivan
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To: Blackirish
We used to be able to be able to deride the dims for calling the constitution a "living breathing document".Not any more.

Baloney. A "living breathing document" is one that never needs amended. A fixed, static one, where words mean what they say, is one that requires amendments from time to time.

21 posted on 11/22/2006 11:00:00 AM PST by NeoCaveman (Have you thanked the rich person who subsidized your share of taxation today?)
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To: Deut28

Better a christianist than a butt-piratist, Andy.


22 posted on 11/22/2006 11:01:40 AM PST by Antoninus (I refuse to vote for a liberal--regardless of party.)
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To: zbigreddogz
I don't mean to make a large deal about it. But as long as people apply label to themselves, it's up to us to come to our own conclusions about what these labels mean.

so let's just let God figure it out.

In my opinion, one of the reasons we are here on this Earth is to try to figure it out ourselves.

23 posted on 11/22/2006 11:02:45 AM PST by DManA
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To: RobRoy
Correct, Romney is not technically a Christian.

But since the LDS teach traditional morality, he is considered as bad as an actual Christian by Sullivan and his ilk.

24 posted on 11/22/2006 11:03:07 AM PST by wideawake ("The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten." - Calvin Coolidge)
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To: NeoCaveman
Where do I get my Romney bumperstickers?

Same table next to the Brady Campaign/VPC stickers.

25 posted on 11/22/2006 11:03:39 AM PST by Dead Corpse (Anyone who needs to be persuaded to be free, doesn't deserve to be.)
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To: Deut28

It doesn't take a Christian to be disgusted by sexual deviancy and the high cost of medical support required by the deviants. Even the Muslims find this behavior reprehensible, not to mention a myriad of others.


26 posted on 11/22/2006 11:04:13 AM PST by Neoliberalnot
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To: NeoCaveman

NeoCaveman - I get your position, and that's why I'm open to handling it in D.C.

But I'm sure you're aware that states currently issue licenses and regulations that are handled federally in many other areas than marriage.

As for the IRS, Bill Clinton has already handled that issue through DOMA. Many, many states have already taken those steps as well through legislation and constitutional (state) amendments.


27 posted on 11/22/2006 11:05:21 AM PST by Deut28 (Cursed be he who perverts the justice)
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To: NeoCaveman
How on earth do you handle this issue federally? Let me explain the problems with doing this one on a state by state issue:

1. People move. If two guys get married in Vermont and later move to Oklahoma are they still married?

2. The IRS. Does the Vermont couple file jointly as married and the Oklahoma couple not?

3. That 14th Ammendment. Yes, we don't care for it, but it'll mean the courts will decided this on a one size fits all matter.

1. Federal protection of marriage act answers this question.

2. Yes, because they are not married in the eyes of Oaklahoma.

3. That's not necessarily true. We don't know that yet, we'll only know when it actually comes up before the court.

I understand the problems with handling it at a state level, and if it doesn't work, i.e. if the courts mandate it, then I would support a Constitutional Amendment. Preferably, I would amend the Constitution to specifically make it a states issue, but if banning it federally were the only step available, I would take it.

I respect the side that says we need to act first, it's a respectable position and I understand their reasons, but I would rather wait till we know for sure that is our only out. Federalism has bent and broken enough on pressure from the left, it doesn't need pressure from the right unless absolutely necessary.

28 posted on 11/22/2006 11:05:35 AM PST by zbigreddogz
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To: Deut28

Andrew Sullivan is a Homosexualist.


29 posted on 11/22/2006 11:06:20 AM PST by Argus
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To: BonnieJ

"Why such bigotry now?"

Recognize this truth -- The bigotry is fueled by the Old Media, the homos, and the ACLU.


30 posted on 11/22/2006 11:06:55 AM PST by Neoliberalnot
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To: DManA
In my opinion, one of the reasons we are here on this Earth is to try to figure it out ourselves.

Uhh...that's pretty much counter to every part of the Bible I know of.

Makes it pretty clear, it seems to me, that we aren't to judge who goes to heaven and who doesn't.

Makes it pretty clear, it seems to me, that we won't ever be able to 'figure it out ourselves' too. God's too big for that. We are kind of like an ant trying to understand an elephant.

31 posted on 11/22/2006 11:07:51 AM PST by zbigreddogz
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To: Argus

Argus - I find that turn of phrase more palatable than the 'buttpiratist' someone tossed out earlier!


32 posted on 11/22/2006 11:08:17 AM PST by Deut28 (Cursed be he who perverts the justice)
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To: Eva
John McCain has made a deal with the radical gay activists to support gay marriage.

OH GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK.

Saying Marriage should be a states issue is hardly 'supporting gay marriage.'

Under that definition, are you also going to say that all of those who think Abortion should be a states issue are 'supporting abortion'?

33 posted on 11/22/2006 11:09:51 AM PST by zbigreddogz
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To: zbigreddogz
I understand the problems with handling it at a state level, and if it doesn't work, i.e. if the courts mandate it, then I would support a Constitutional Amendment.

We are just going to disagree tacticly. I think that once the courts rule, the horse is out of the barn and isn't going back in. I probably would be loathe to support a Constitutional Amendment at that point knowing it would be far too late. You'd have sympathetic "married" couples to sway public opinion and then the issue would be do churches who not perform gay weddings lose their tax exempt status.

I'm for playing shut down defense NOW and not needing a Hail Mary pass in the fourth quarter.

34 posted on 11/22/2006 11:10:03 AM PST by NeoCaveman (Have you thanked the rich person who subsidized your share of taxation today?)
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To: Deut28

I think John Derbyshire coined the term, for the political tendency to advance the gay agenda by any means necessary. Sort of like "Islamist" for the jihadis.


35 posted on 11/22/2006 11:10:23 AM PST by Argus
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To: Pietro

Gee, maybe we should make all laws national laws just in case the SC invalidates them!


36 posted on 11/22/2006 11:11:02 AM PST by zbigreddogz
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To: NeoCaveman

I have trouble beliving that would be the case. Gay Marriage bans have passed in every single state they have been on the ballot, including blue states.

Frankly, if you ARE right, then I don't see what the point of trying to pass a Constitutional Amendment is anyway, before or after, because it won't pass. They can and would use the same tactics as they would to keep it from passing before hand then afterwards.


37 posted on 11/22/2006 11:13:17 AM PST by zbigreddogz
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To: wideawake

I really do not like being lumped in with mormonism as "christian" as much as I don't like Christianity being lumped in with islam as "religion".

It's like lumping Ted Bundy and Mother Teresa together as "human".


38 posted on 11/22/2006 11:13:49 AM PST by RobRoy
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To: Deut28

Worthy points.

But seems like we'd end up leaving all this up to Anthony M. Kennedy writing for the 5-4 majority....


39 posted on 11/22/2006 11:14:45 AM PST by NeoCaveman (Have you thanked the rich person who subsidized your share of taxation today?)
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To: Deut28
Apparently Sullivan has expanded his definition of Christianist, and continues to slip down the slope towards insanity.

Towards insanity? Hell, he beat me there by at least a country mile!

Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change.

40 posted on 11/22/2006 11:16:27 AM PST by BeHoldAPaleHorse (Republicans are told to court "the base," which translates to Arabic as "al-Qaeda.")
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