Posted on 01/21/2012 6:16:43 PM PST by delacoert
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Does Mitt Romney’s Mormonism matter in South Carolina, a state with a large evangelical population? The consensus seems to be that it’s not a particularly big factor. Tony Perkins, President of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, said Thursday after the debate that he had not heard a lot about it since coming to South Carolina. But two of the first people The Daily Caller spoke to at an event at Tommy’s Hamhouse in Greenville, where both Romney and Newt Gingrich made appearances Saturday morning, brought it up, and not as a positive.
For Chuck Hofstra, Romney’s religion is flat out a “deal killer.”
“I like a lot about Romney, I get a lot of positives … but you know, his faith of Mormonism … I mean, they do not believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, that he is the son of God. And if you take away the deity of the son of God, who died for our sins to forgive us of our sins, all he is is just a mere historical figure then,” said Hofstra.
“That is a huge difference between somebody who believes he’s Jesus Christ, the son of God, co-creator of the world, the Trinity, versus somebody who just thinks, ‘well he was a good man, a good prophet who walked here on earth, a historical figure, he’s a great man, but that’s the end of it.’ And see it’s just hard for me to vote for somebody who just doesn’t see the deity of Jesus Christ,” he said.
Hofstra, who said he probably wouldn’t end up voting in the primary because there was no one for whom he could vote “and be true to my own conscience and heart and beliefs,” said it was less about what particular denomination of Christianity he was, and more about his “personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.”
Hofstra brought up Romney’s religion up without any prompting.
Eley Vann, another attendee of the event, also brought it up unprompted.
Vann was undecided as of this morning, but said his decision would be between Gingrich and Romney.
He liked Romney, “even though I disagree with his — I’m not a Mormon. I’m a Christian and I think Mormonism is a cult.”
But, Vann went on to say, Romney’s religion was not a part of his decision.
“I like many principles of Mormonism. Mormonism is very pro-American, and you know, I would not hold his religion against him. I am looking for someone to help preserve this country, not a religious leader,” Vann said.
Of course, this is an utterly unscientific or conclusive study, and it would be inappropriate to draw conclusions from two discussions. But the fact that it came up unbidden is interesting, at the very least.
Let me provide some clarification Mormonism is not his primary problem at this time as many folks do not know the wacky false theology they have, however if he got the nomination it would become an issue which Obuggery or the MSM would exploit in the general. And as you state in your post those things would be disasterous.
His Mormon faith is irrelevant. [Newzjunkey]
(Try telling that, Newzjunkey, to 60% of South Carolina voters today who disagree with you!]
Source: EXIT POLLS: South Carolina
Details: "Religious Beliefs of Candidates Matter... Great Deal/Somewhat (60%) Not Much/Not at All (40%)"
Two-fifths of the "Not Much/Not at All" Crowd voted pro-Romney -- compared to less than one-third of them voting for Gingrich & less than 1 in 8 for Paul and less than 1 in 16 for Santorum.
BUT...of the "Great Deal/Somewhat" Voting bloc...Romney couldn't even beat Santorum...(20-22%)...while 46% of them voted for Gingrich!
80% of SC voters were Protestants. Their vote was 42% Gingrich; 27% Romney; 17% Santorum; 12% Paul.
13% of SC voters were RC. Their vote was 37% Gingrich; 29% Romney; 15% Santorum; 10% Paul.
When you split out the Evangelicals/born agains within the Protestant vote, they voted 44% Gingrich; 22% Romney; 21% Santorum; 13% Paul.
For every Evangelical voting for Romney, one was voting for Santorum...and more than two were voting for Gingrich.
Romney and Ron Paul are both toast in the highly Evangelical South.
It's time for them to bow out, especially since Santorum was declared the winner in Iowa.
I stand corrected and you are right about Roach Paul and Remulak in the South.
I stand corrected and you are right about Roach Paul and Remulak in the South.
Isn’t Mitt slated to become a God? If so, how long after death is that supposed to happen?
I have been telling people that Mitt expects to become a God in roughly 20 years, is why I’m asking.
I don't remember if I have seen the answer to this question - What do Mormons believe about how it all started in the first place? Do they eventually get back to a single entity/deity that always existed before time began?
I am relieved that Romney lost in SC and I pray that he continues to fall further behind. I also think Newt would be a really good president and it will be wonderful having an articulate, intelligent, America-loving and Christian (real) leader at the White House that can start turning the sinking ship of America around and back to the great country she is. He would CREAM Obama in debates - something I had no confidence Romney, Cain, Bachmann, Perry, Paul or, maybe even, Santorum could pull off. I'll be surprised if Obama agrees to one debate much less seven.
Nope. Romney’s mormonISM allows him to be who he is.
Romney is a temple mormon, only 15% make that TR, which means he adherers to ALL rules and regulations of lds teachings and oaths.
By the way Garry Reid is also a temple mormon, just saying.
As a side note you might to learn what those “mormonISM principles” actually are”.
To be fair the summary Chuck Hofstra gave of Mormonism is actually the beliefs of the JWs.
Mormons believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, but they believe he was created (not eternal), EARNED HIS GODHOOD, and just one of 3 gods FOR THIS WORLD and one of millions of gods and millions of ‘saviors’ that have/do exist(ed).
There is enough to criticize Mormonism on without making things up.
Two of the mitbot zottings you attended this evening were Mormon (Saundra Duffy and Restornu). You don’t think there is a connection between his liberalism and his Mormonism?
If he even had Mormon principles it would be a great improvement.
- - - - -
The problem is Romney DOES have ‘Mormon principles’.
From a few Mormons I know at work I would say yes there is no connection between Mormonism and Liberalism as they are very conservative and are not supporters of Romney. They like Newt. Duffy and Restornu are Mitt supporters and that is why they got zotted.
There is no timeline on exaltation/progression however most LDS do not believe it will even start until after the Millennial reign of Christ from Missouri and the final judgement.
Right now, good Mormons go to ‘paradise’ and preach to the spirits (all non-temple Mormons) in ‘prison’. Their version of purgatory kinda.
Are you sure they are telling you the truth? There are some who don’t support Romney but the vast majority of them do (Utah went 85% for Mitt last time and 94% among LDS).
Mormons are NOT as conservative as most people think on things like abortion, gay rights, and illegal immigration.
I can source that if you would like. Romney is right in line with LDS beliefs.
Yes former military 20+ years and very conservative. I don’t doubt your stats but these guys must be in the minority.
The fact that your LDS friends were in the military makes them the minority - big time.
Interesting. You are assuming that they are telling you the truth.
lds voted 95% for Romney last time around.
My lds family is huge and every last one of them is voting for Romney. It does not matter at all what his record is, they tell you straight out “because he is lds”.
You will have to show me how mormons are very conservative. They really are not who they appear to be and what the SLC PR machine presents them as.
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