Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Hang-ups over Mormonism proved Romney's undoing
The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 02/10/2008 | Thomas Burr

Posted on 02/10/2008 9:37:21 AM PST by Utah Binger

WASHINGTON - The day after Mitt Romney formally announced he was seeking the White House, a USA Today headline blared "Will Mormon faith hurt bid for White House?" Anchors on the major networks asked the same question and a stream of pundits predicted Romney's Mormon religion would be a significant hurdle. Almost one year later, on Thursday, Romney withdrew from the race after suffering several big losses and facing an insurmountable challenge to beat Republican rival John McCain. The degree to which his faith contributed to that defeat may never be fully known. It's clear, however, that Romney's belief in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cost him in his presidential quest. Romney himself acknowledged that had he been a Baptist, for example, he may not have lost the Iowa caucuses - a devastating setback to his early surge strategy.

(Excerpt) Read more at sltrib.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; cult; deist; mitt; mormon; mormonism; romney
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140141-154 next last
To: Utah Binger
"...when you have God in your life, election choices become simple: 'I let the pastor do it.'"

See:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1967827/posts

The Mormonphobes obey the orders of their grand mullahs ...'er ... pastors.

101 posted on 02/10/2008 12:15:56 PM PST by EverOnward
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Utah Binger

Yeah a good salesman, by the time they get the person’s interest in the product or service they’re selling, just a couple features or attributes mentioned or demonstrated, and the person is hooked on it, even if its the most expensive (initial price-wise) item of that type...

Mitt had to many negative attributes—religion considered suspect, past liberal positions on critical social issues, contributing to democrats (even if it was in furtherance of pressing business interests at the time), claiming the mantle of the Reagan revolution while he was an INDEPENDENT during Reagan’s presidency.. Religion alone, or past liberal positions on social issues by itself, he might have pulled it off, but he couldn’t with the combination of negatives.

That being said, however the Evangelical/Christian Coalition bible thumping Protestant types need to get a life, and stop letting perfect be the enemy of the good (with Romney’s negatives, he was better than McLame), or do you really want to see four years of Hussein or Hildabeast.

its not over yet, lets muddy the waters to convention.. make it impossible for him to get the nomination without Fred as veep or maybe put him in a stroke-causing fit...


102 posted on 02/10/2008 12:21:30 PM PST by Schwaeky (The Republic--Shall be reorganized into the first American EMPIRE, for a safe and secure Society!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: pissant
"Now how did those Mormon voters vote?"

Well, because Mormons aren't told how to vote from the pulpit (unlike many churches -- see my previous post), my best guess is we'll be voting our own conscience as has been the case in all past elections. Of course in my case, I need to polish up the old horns and channel Satan according to Huckabee and his FR followers.

103 posted on 02/10/2008 12:23:40 PM PST by EverOnward
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Michael Knight

he probably didn’t want to scare off the Schwan man or the vaccum cleaner salesman. just didn’t want people selling their view of salvation on him...


104 posted on 02/10/2008 12:24:05 PM PST by Schwaeky (The Republic--Shall be reorganized into the first American EMPIRE, for a safe and secure Society!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

“It’s a fact”

In your opinion.


105 posted on 02/10/2008 12:24:14 PM PST by Grunthor (Juan McAmnesty - The End of America; Comitted to Mexico and 100 *&**& years!!??)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: Clintonfatigued
"Romney’s undoing was the flip-flopping and campaigning as something that his record contradicted."

Hopefully McCain won't flip flop from all his previous flip flops so that he can remain the Democratic kiss-up he's always been. Then you'll have a candidate to be proud of.

106 posted on 02/10/2008 12:26:14 PM PST by EverOnward
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: EverOnward

They may not be told how to vote, but from the numbers I’ve seen to date, they sure like their Mormon candidate Mitt.


107 posted on 02/10/2008 12:28:06 PM PST by pissant (Time for a CONSERVATIVE party)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 103 | View Replies]

To: ardara
"The Evangelicals said from the beginning that they would stop Romney.And they did starting in Iowa."

And they were so cleverly used by McCain and his pet pastor Huckabee to ensure their grand success. They all must be grinning from ear to ear. Oh happy day. We can thank them for the next 4 years of Socialist bliss.

108 posted on 02/10/2008 12:30:14 PM PST by EverOnward
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Michael Knight
If I had to pick a single issue to vote on, it would be the right to bear arms.

Yep. There again, like so many vital issues, it is committment to limited government that ensures the Right answer. Limited Government applied to gun rights equates to upholding RKBR. It would ensure abolition of Roe v Wade. Limited government with regard to employers as well as employees ensures that individuals determine how each deals morally with people who parade their homosexuality socially and publicly. Limited government would ensure PROTECTION from intrusive "global warming" regulation.

The candidates who embrace the principle of limited government therefore embrace the right stands on the issues that are most important to me. Principle precludes cherry-picking.

109 posted on 02/10/2008 12:33:10 PM PST by Finny (Limited Government is Christian Morality's Best Friend -- The horse that pulls the cart.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: Colofornian

I believe you misunderstood my post.


110 posted on 02/10/2008 12:40:22 PM PST by DoughtyOne (That's right McStain, you'll get my vote when you peel it from my cold dead fingers.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: Schwaeky
stroke-causing fit...

LOL He always has that look on his face.

111 posted on 02/10/2008 12:44:20 PM PST by Utah Binger (Statesmanship requires having no religious hangups; being owned by no one)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 102 | View Replies]

To: Finny
Oh, horsepoop! Romney’s Mormonism was not why I rejected him from the start.

+++++++++++++++++++

There was so much anti-Mormon noise that folks like us were drowned out.

112 posted on 02/10/2008 1:58:05 PM PST by fproy2222 (Watch the difference between those who want to teach us and those who just want to put us down.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: BibChr

Well, heretic, I hope someday you can understand the definition of a cult.

Maybe your preacher can tell you.


113 posted on 02/10/2008 2:01:51 PM PST by Old Mountain man (Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Utah Binger
I don't know what role religion might have played, but I thought it was very strange when he said that he had come to the conclusion that his campaign was aiding the terrorists.

Actually, I thought he quit because the prospects were getting dim and it was costing him a ton of money to keep playing.

114 posted on 02/10/2008 2:04:37 PM PST by tear gas (Because of the 22nd Amendment, we are losing President. Bush. Can we afford to lose him now?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeaHawkFan; Utah Binger; colorcountry
One thing is for sure, Mormons did not open their wallets to support Romney. If they had, Romney would not have had to put in $35 million of his own money.

Guess you didn't read the article in the Trib: But Romney's Mormon faith also gave him a boost. In fundraising, in drafting volunteers, in votes, Romney was able to reach out to a base of Mormons who responded in droves.

"It was a benefit organizationally and financially. He drew a lot of volunteers, a lot of money out of Utah, a lot of Mormons around the country," says Quin Monson, assistant director of the Brigham Young University Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy. "But it was a weakness in the voting booth, especially in Iowa.

Last year, Romney pulled $5.2 million out of Utah, his second largest state for contributions and a state where more than 60 percent of residents are Mormon. Much of that money came from donors who had never given to a candidate, and it set a new state record for donations to a single candidate in that amount of time. The campaign set up call centers in Utah to phone potential voters in the early states, and many Utahns hit the road to campaign for Romney as well. Several Mormons from the Washington, D.C., area crammed into a van and went to help Romney in New Hampshire.

Bear in mind, the LDS church officially is neutral in politics.

115 posted on 02/10/2008 2:13:59 PM PST by greyfoxx39 (Bill Richardson: Billions for boondoggles; Not one red cent for Jenny Craig.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: tear gas

As my daddy always told me: “Don’t go throwin’ that there good money after bad”.


116 posted on 02/10/2008 2:14:06 PM PST by Utah Binger (Statesmanship requires having no religious hangups; being owned by no one)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 114 | View Replies]

To: pissant
They may not be told how to vote, but from the numbers I’ve seen to date, they sure like their Mormon candidate Mitt.

Most LDS members I've discussed the primary with started with 3-4 people above Mitt on their lists. Mitt rose to the top as more conservative candidates dropped out. By the time it came to Utah, only Romney, McCain, and Huckabee remained. None of these are conservative so, other things being equal, most voted for someone with shared religious values.

For me, my vote is going back to Hunter, which is where it started. There is nobody left in the race worth voting for.

117 posted on 02/10/2008 2:15:47 PM PST by esarlls3
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 107 | View Replies]

To: esarlls3

I’m going with Hunter as well.


118 posted on 02/10/2008 2:18:02 PM PST by pissant (Time for a CONSERVATIVE party)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 117 | View Replies]

To: Utah Binger

I think Mormonism is part of it. Some of the “antis” are identity voters that would not vote for a Joooo, black, Yankee, or different gender or age group or veteran of a different branch of service or what ever.

I also think there are populists that just hate successful people. There is also a group that are detached from reality what any President can do about abortion and there are definite fears about a Constitutional implementation of the Second Amendment. And there are people that just refuse to accept converts.

That said I think Romney is a near shoe-in to be the next Republican to be elected President. There are hard cases here but in four years Romney vs. an incumbent Obama will be the dream candidate for nearly all Republicans, independents, and RR democrats. My prediction. Meanwhile 2008 - read my tagline.


119 posted on 02/10/2008 2:20:43 PM PST by Sunnyflorida (Drill in the Gulf of Mexico/Anwar & we can join OPEC!!! || Write in Thomas Sowell for President.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: greyfoxx39
I personally know one individual that gave him over 1 million. He's really saddened as he had already bought the white horse. Even had him all saddled up.

No not me. Thompson got a minuscule amount from me. Damn quitter! What a waste of money that was.

Are political donations tax deductible?

120 posted on 02/10/2008 2:24:44 PM PST by Utah Binger (Statesmanship requires having no religious hangups; being owned by no one)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 115 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140141-154 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson