Posted on 01/12/2011 11:32:22 AM PST by Colofornian
Buzz about the 2012 presidential election is already in full swing. But with no real Republican front-runner, really, anyone is game. We’ve been hearing Mitt Romney’s name tossed around as a potential for a while now, but two weeks ago we started hearing another familiar name: Jon Huntsman.
While Huntsman doesn’t have the same national profile as Romney, he has gained status as the ambassador to China and might become more of a threat in the upcoming year. Can you imagine—TWO Mormons (gasp) both running for president?
Now, I understand my next thought doesn’t apply to every Mormon, BUT, I know of a lot of members who vote for politicians based on the fact that they, too, are LDS. And honestly, I know that I’ve been unjustifiably biased toward LDS politicians for the sole reason that we share a religion.
But what if Romney and Huntsman go head to head in 2012? Who will the Mormons vote for?! If their only choice was Romney, I bet a fair number of Mormons wouldn’t really give the other candidates a second thought. But throw Huntsman into the picture and we might actually have to do more research on each candidate’s stances. If they both end up running, it will be interesting to see how members react to the situation over the next two years. Do I sense a hint of BYU vs. Utah-style rivalry in the air?
It is not right to say doctrine doesn't matter at all. Take Islam, for instance. It would be dangerously naive to assume, as American civil religion does, that all religions are pretty much the same. It's true that most religions share core ethical teachings, but orthodox Islam also teaches unambiguously that there is to be no separation of religion and state, that non-Muslims are to live subservient under law to Muslims, and in some sects that Allah commands a jihad or "holy war" be waged against non-Muslim "infidels". To the extent that a Muslim wishes to preside over our pluralist liberal democracy, he will have had to break radically from his faith's fundamentals.
Liberals who insist that religion has no place at all in American politics have to account for the Christian roots of many social reforms. Consider for example the abolitionism and the civil rights movement. When faced with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and other black clergymen explicitly appealing to Christian scripture against Jim Crow, Southern segregationists groused that religion had no business in politics. You can't praise religion's role in political discourse only when it advances causes of which you approve or is practiced by constituencies blacks, say, that vote Democratic.
If God doesn't exist, then by what standard do we decide right from wrong? If a society recognizes no independent, transcendent guardian of the moral order, will it not, over time, lose its self-discipline and decline into barbarism? The eminent sociologist Philip Rieff, who was not a believer, said that man would either live in fear of God or would be condemned to live in fear of the evil in himself.
In the past, prominent Mormons such as Mitt Romney have placed their Mormon faith under scrutiny. In his famous speech on Mormonism during the 2008 Presidential Election, Mitt said that a person should not be rejected . . . because of his faith. His supporters say it is akin to rejecting a Barack Obama because he is black. But Obama was born black; Romney is a Mormon because he accepts the beliefs of the Mormon faith. This permits us, therefore, to make inferences about his judgment and character, good or bad.
Mormons such as Romney and Huntsman have promised to fully obey Mormon teachings without hesitation and without question.
In his February 26, 1980 speech at BYU titled Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet, LDS President Ezra Taft Benson maintained the Mormon Church President spoke with inerrant authority on "any matter, temporal or spiritual " and was "not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time."Romney and Huntsman either intended to honor their promises to follow another man's instructions, or they lied. In the case of the former, we are entitled to know where these directives lead, and in the alternative, we should be concerned about these men's honesty.As a Temple Mormon, Mormon Bishop and Stake President, both Romney and Huntsman have sworn among other things, he recognizes the President of the LDS Church as a "prophet, seer and revelator," and will "obey the rules, laws, and commandments of the gospel" as proclaimed by Mormon Prophets.
These men made these solemn vows with the understanding they effect "time and all eternity."
Temple Mormons such as Romney and Huntsman have prayed for the overthrow of the US Government as punishment for 19th century Mormon Persecution. Although the Temple Ceremony has changed since these gentlemen made their solemn oaths, they have never renounced the promises they made before their Mormon god.
For these reasons, among others, I assert beliefs are indeed a legitimate issue for determining qualifications for elected public office, and I find that belief in the teachings of Mormonism is more than enough to disqualify an individual from consideration as a viable candidate.
Would a mormon vote for a jack mormon or an ex-mormon if that were their only choice?
It's an indicator of his judgment. It's an indicator of his values. Whether he promotes his religion at all, the president is still a role model, and needs to be an acceptable role model in all areas of his life, not just public policy decisions.
And Califorian makes some excellent points.
“Romney got about 94% of the vote in Utah.”
Do you have the statistics on what % of Mormons voted for Harry Reid in NV?
Not all Mormons voted for the RINO-Romney in 2008. I don’t give a damn what religion a candidate is, as long as they’re not a Muslim like our current alleged POTUS. I do think we’d be in a hell of a lot better shape if Romney were President instead of the Muslim Marxist we have now.
NO vote for Romney from me unless he is running against 0bama!!
Unless someone is subscripted to LDS Living or on a private forum that they are not invited too says lot!
I don’t care if a candidate is a Christian. If we don’t share the same values I won’t vote for them.
I wouldn’t vote for anyone who is member of a religion that is classified as a cult. Mormonism is a cult, period, end of story.
Indeed!
Temple Mormons such as Romney and Huntsman have prayed for the overthrow of the US Government as punishment for 19th century Mormon Persecution. Although the Temple Ceremony has changed since these gentlemen made their solemn oaths, they have never renounced the promises they made before their Mormon god.
Very good post overall -- except I have a question related to this part above.
I believe, if I'm not mistaken, that the temple oaths to which you are referencing here were removed by the Lds "prophet" around 1926 or 1927. Mitt Romney was born in 1948.
So while George Romney may have been alive when these oaths were taken -- and it is true that those who took them were to pass them down 2 or 3 generations (which would thereby include Mitt & Huntsman's generation), I'm not sure we can say these men made such solemn oaths...only that their grandfathers and great grandfathers did...and that their grandfathers & great grandfathers were under solemn obligation to pass them down to the generations of Mitt Romney and Huntsman.
Thanks Nana. It seems to me that Protestants in general are more heavily pro-life than Catholics.
From my small exposure to Mormons I would think they would be pro-life, but maybe they are content to simply live that way as opposed to being activist about it. They are certainly more insular than typical Christians, though I have some relatives who are fundamentalist Christians and they avoid most social contact with anyone “outside” of their church.
I guess I made that oath in 1960 and therefore hereby renounce it for all of Free Republic and the world to see! I hereby also advise others to do the same.
Did you read “writerbob’s” comment to the article at the link provided?
Are you “writerbob”? ;^)
I didnt
I’m not
I will
get back to you
Writerbob is an idiot.
In fact, if he were any dumber we’d have to water him. Even then he would need someone to count cadence so he’d know when to breathe.
Yes, most Mormons are pro-life, even if there are not any Mormon politicians currently taking a strong position on the issue. Although I didn’t find a direct survey of Mormons on this, SurveyUSA did conduct a poll (http://www.surveyusa.com/50state2005/50StateAbortion0805SortedbyProLife.htm) of all the states, and heavily Mormon Utah was highest on the list, with 61% Pro-Life, 33% Pro-Choice. Unsurprisingly, Vermont was last on the list, with 25% Pro-life, 70% Pro-Choice.
Then they wouldn't really be able to complain if some voters didn't vote for Romney because he's Mormon.
Not to worry I’m wearing my flame proof undies.
LOL! He’d need plant food as well. Sheesh!
I just noticed that your comment was “similar” to his, that’s why I was busting on you a little bit. ;^)
Voting FOR someone because of religion or race is just as bad as voting AGAINST someone because of religion or race.
I’m part of the 6% (actually 10%—Romney got 90% in Utah). I’m LDS, can’t stand Romney. I was a Fredhead, but he faded too soon. I wouldn’t vote for Harry Reid if my life depended on it. I never understood why so many Utah Mormons were ga-ga over the Mittster.
Yes, most Mormons are pro-life, even if there are not any Mormon politicians currently taking a strong position on the issue.
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You dont know for certain about most Mormons”
Most Mormons voted for Mormon Bishop Williard Mitt Romney, a well known lifetime PRO-ABORTION activist in the 2008 primary...
of the Utah Mormons who voted in the GOP primary, 90% and more voted for the abortion pushing Romney...
and I didnt mention politicians...
Randall Terry is not a politician...
The Catholic lady who started Birthright all over the US and Canada to provide homes to unmarried pregnant girls in the 1970s and 1980s so they would not feel “forced” to have an abortion was not a politician
as far as I know there have not been any mormons actively against abortion...
Mormons are not wallflowers when it comes to social issues...
for whatever reason, they spent $Millions and were verbally outspoken on Prop 8 in 2008...
However when it comes to abortion the mormons are deathly quiet...
But Mormon Bishop Williard Mitt Romney did say in January 2008 that many mormons in leadership were Democrats and FOR abortion...
So after his much repeated declaration, what are we left with ???
As for mormon politicians...both the highest achiever in the US Senate, Harry Reid, awarded Mormon of the Year in Utah,
and the governor of a state, Bishop Williard Mitt Romney
have both been lifetime activists FOR abortion...
and have never acted or voted AGAINST abortion...
Both Harry Reid and Romney have run for office on a platform FOR abortion and supported others who were PRO-abortion in their campaigns...
I dont know about Reid but Romney has written personal checks to Planned Parenthood...
Mormons are PRO-Life ???
Tell me, as a pro-lifer would you vote for some who was not and had never been pro-life just because he was the same religion as you ???
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