Romney Calls Attacks on His Faith Un-American

Right Views USA ^ | November 17, 2007 | Keith Anders

[Nathan_Hale76]

Mitt Romney called attempts to undermine him by questioning his Mormon faith "un-American" as he spoke to reporters in Nevada yesterday. Romney was specifically responding to reported "push-poll" phone calls being made in Iowa and New Hampshire, in which the calls reportedly begin as opinion polls but turn into statements and questions designed to highlight and cast doubt on Romney's Mormon faith. Here is what Romney had to say.....(Video)

[Texas Mom]

Exactly! People play fast and loose with “unAmerican” and now we have a candidate paving the road. [shakes head]

They also play fast and loose with who is a Christian and who isn't. In the long run, the Lord is the only one who knows our hearts.

[greyfoxx39]

back atcha, ;)

[Cvengr]

You are mistaken in regards to the country being founded on the freedom of religion outside of Christianity. You might want to go back to some original documents in studying the issue.

In any event, national governance is for believer and unbeliever alike. There is nothing wrong with those considering who to vote for to consider the beliefs of the candidates.

Quite the opposite, attempts to prevent voters from considering their exercise of religion goes against the first amendment of the Constitution. Nothing here prevents Romney from exercising his freedom, but rejection of others in their consideration of it inhibits their exercise thereof.

[tantiboh]

~”Quite the opposite, attempts to prevent voters from considering their exercise of religion goes against the first amendment of the Constitution. Nothing here prevents Romney from exercising his freedom, but rejection of others in their consideration of it inhibits their exercise thereof.”~

Quite so. Bigotry is constitutionally protected, as is its condemnation.

[tabsternager]

If you don’t like Romneycare, then either you don’t understand it or you’re not a true conservative.

It’s interesting how similar the Christian right is to liberals: Liberals want religious tolerance for everyone but Christians and many on the Christian right want religious tolerance only for Christians.

[tantiboh]

~”Liberals want religious tolerance for everyone but Christians and many on the Christian right want religious tolerance only for Christians.”~

Good point. It remains an open question in my mind which is more effective at undermining the principles espoused by the nation’s founders.

[FastCoyote]

tantiboh: Oooh, that’s a new one for me! Congratulations, you’ve actually come up with an original polemic against Romney!

Well it is pretty freaky what happened. Remember, my analysis may be wrong, but I always have source material. Here’s a repost of stuff from Deseret News, along with my comments:

Romney, what a family guy. Let’s look to the role model Mitt provides for dating:

[They had first gotten to know each other at a mutual friend’s birthday party in the late winter of 1965, when he spotted the wholesome beauty with light brown hair from across the room. Mitt had just turned 18, Ann was 15 — almost exactly the same ages his parents had been when they met. Ann attended Cranbrook’s sister school, called Kingswood, on the other side of campus.]

What a guy, dating a 15 year old.

[In the fall of 1965, Mitt Romney left behind Cranbrook, with its varsity sweaters and hand-delivered courtship letters, and moved across the country to San Francisco’s Bay area, which was fast becoming the capital of the counterculture movement. By the time he settled into his freshman dorm at Stanford University, the nearby campus of the University of California-Berkeley had been fully radicalized by the antiauthority Free Speech Movement. In San Francisco, Haight-Ashbury was emerging as an LSD-fueled mecca for free-loving hippies in peasant skirts and dashikis.]

So, Mitt’s a Stanford man dating a 15 year old. Pretty impressive.

[Throughout the year at Stanford University, Mitt talked endlessly about Ann. He once drove nonstop from California to Michigan, showing up at Ann’s home a sweaty mess, diving into her pool fully clothed. During his second semester, Ann accompanied Mitt’s parents on a visit to see him.]

Then he gets his missionary deferrment.

[Mitt’s own draft status was secure for the next few years. Although his friends would continue to benefit from the deferment for college students, Mitt had decided to leave Stanford after his freshman year and go on a 30-month mission to spread the LDS faith overseas. It was the same path his father, and generations of LDS men before him, had taken upon turning 19. As a missionary, Mitt was declared “a minister of religion” by the church and, under an agreement with the Selective Service, granted an exemption from the draft.]

So now, how to induce now 16 year old Ann to fall in step:

[In 1966, as Mitt struggled to adapt to his grueling first year as a missionary in France, two events that would change his life were happening back in Michigan, out of his view.

First, his father made the decision to run for president in earnest. Second, when he wasn’t crisscrossing the country, George Romney was guiding Ann Davies through her conversion into the LDS faith.

With Mitt away, Ann told George she was interested in attending LDS services. The governor headed straight for the Davies home. He asked Ann’s parents for permission to send some U.S.-based missionaries to meet with Ann. Her mother was an easy sell. But getting clearance from Ann’s father, whose rejection of organized religion ran deep, would be a much tougher challenge.

Ultimately, Edward Davies and George Romney shook hands on an agreement: George could send the missionaries, provided Ann’s mother sat in on the discussions. Ann’s younger brother, Jim Davies, says their father relented based on the trust he had in his daughter and the admiration he had for George Romney. Besides, the governor outranked him. In addition to being a self-made businessman, Edward Davies was the part-time mayor of Bloomfield Hills.

The missionaries came for six straight sessions, sitting with Ann in the family room on the lower level of the Davies’ split-level home, taking her through the LDS conversion process. Besides her mother, Ann’s friend Cindy Burton sat in on the lessons. Cindy also was the girlfriend of Ann’s older brother, Rod, who was doing a study-abroad year in England. Little brother Jim wanted to sit in as well, but his parents decided he was too young. So Jim stood outside the family room window, listening in.]

Six straight sessions from friends of the Governor/Presidential candidate. Gee, I wish I’d had that much help to brainwash - um, I mean impress my first date.

Yup, family values at their best. Grab em dumb and young and indoctrinate them right away, a model for all America to follow. Source, Deseret News:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20070701/ai_n19342537/pg_7

tantiboh: Tell me, I’m a 28-year-old single Mormon man (Virgo), seeking single Mormon woman in her 20’s for romantic walks on the temple grounds. Do you think I can find a good woman to brainwash? You know, since it’s so easy (6 days) and all?

Maybe if she is a 15 year old and your daddy can brainwash her.

[FastCoyote]

“Quite so. Bigotry is constitutionally protected, as is its condemnation.”

And for good reason. I am bigoted against racism, for example. I am bigoted against child pornography. It is easy to throw the word bigot around.

[FastCoyote]

“If you don’t like Romneycare, then either you don’t understand it or you’re not a true conservative.”

Oh I understand it too damn well. You probably didn’t read todays article about how there is going to be a $150 million dollar overrun the first year. And larger overruns expected. I know what RINO covered socialism looks like quite well. And I know how Romney and the Mittbots will have to lie to cover up the disaster.

[Osage Orange]

Oh, I don’t think I am. You and your friends come in here and pounce on everyone and everybody. What do you expect? Maybe a true “discussion” next time rather than “hit posts” would be nicer.

Yeah, I roam around FR...with my "friends" and cause disruption. ROFLOL!!!

I gave you a realistic response...about real opinions by probably millions of Christians in this country.

And your response was..."GROW UP"

If that was "true discussion" on your part.....I must be a martian.

Ya all tie me in knots...laughing so much.

[Osage Orange]

Another interesting characteristic of the INTJ personality type is that we really don’t care what other people think about us.

Obviously.....

And some would call that a fault.

Maybe you should try and change....: )

[humblegunner]

We can't stop you from using your freedom of speech in whatever way we want you.

But WE have the freedom of speech to tell you and others that we think your speech is irrelevant and not appropriate.

You mention "we" a lot.

Is there really a "we" or is it just you?

'Fess up, spunky.

[Osage Orange]

Looks like you forgot Eisenhower was a Jehovah’s witness.

I didn't know that....and I'd expect 90% of the population at that time...didn't know either.

Times are much different now....As you know information flows much more freely these days. More people are informed...

Besides that...I never said Mr. Romney's mormonism is a great weight on his neck...I replied to the poster that said it shouldn't even be an issue.

It IS an issue...and I don't see how anyone can argue that it's not. The fact remains..that thousands/millions of American Christians question mormonism's roots. It's founders, and it's history. It's a fact.

[tantiboh]

~”Maybe you should try and change....: )”~

Nah. I like me. Thanks, though!

[humblegunner]

Tell me, I’m a 28-year-old single Mormon man (Virgo), seeking single Mormon woman in her 20’s for romantic walks on the temple grounds.

Are you wearing your magical protective Mormon underpants?

[Osage Orange]

It’s much better, I’ve found, to respond to such people with limitless reason, respect, and patience.

Your memory is short, my friend.

[tantiboh]

I love it. Mother’s present for the missionary discussions; Mitt is on another continent; Ann has the permission and trust of her parents; and you call the Mormon Missionaries “friends of the Governor/Presidential candidate.” When Ann makes the decision independently to join the LDS Church, you call it “brainwashing.”

You do realize that you’re making a fool out of yourself, right? And you do realize that I’m going to throw this in your face many times in the future? Don’t worry, I’ll ping you every time.

*****

Serious political discourse according to FastCoyote:
“I don’t agree with Romney on the moral issues. For example, Mitt was 18 when he met his 15 year old wife to-be Ann, then he had his powerful father brainwash her into Mormonism in a 6 day indoctrination. Now maybe you want to uphold family values like brainwashing, but I don’t.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1927350/posts?page=297#297

*****

I’ll be copy-pasting that wherever I see you for the next few weeks. Fair warning.

Have a good evening!

[Osage Orange]

Tant's #291 post:

It’s much better, I’ve found, to respond to such people with limitless reason, respect, and patience

Wow...it took you since post #291 to blow that respect part up, eh?

Quite so. Bigotry is constitutionally protected, as is its condemnation.

[Osage Orange]

Nah. I like me. Thanks, though!

I know you very much do....

You are welcome.

[GOP_Lady]

It’s not the best way to make a statement by first posting “ROFLMOF;” I only start out that way in posts when there clearly was a joke (and I’m not than thin-skinned). I apologize if I mistakenly placed you in another group here that I was thinking of. As soon as I saw them being PINGed I knew what was going to happen and that it would not be good. My point here is religious bigotry is unAmerican — our country was founded on religious freedom. These push polls are unacceptable, and I hope someone finds out who has done this.