Posted on 11/29/2006 11:28:09 AM PST by Omega Man II
Time To Talk Mormon, Mitt
Romney needs to get past the faith issue, fast.
By John Dickerson
Posted Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006, at 7:11 PM ET
Mitt Romney. Click image to expand.Mitt Romney Mitt Romney has said that if his Mormon faith becomes an issue in his race for the presidency, he will address it at length in a speech. Does he have space on his calendar tomorrow?
The press is writing about his religion. Pollsters are asking about it, and GOP voters inevitably bring it up in any discussion of the 2008 candidates. Will his faith affect how he governs? Will it hurt his chances at winning the nomination? A debate in the blogosphere rages over Andrew Sullivan's posting of a picture of the undergarment worn by some Mormons, an act that some of the faithful have found offensive.
When they're talking about your bloomers, it's time to clear a few things up. It's not that Romney should come clean about his clean laundry—he should please stay quiet about that—but now is the time to improve on his current approach, which has largely been to make fun of misconceptions about Mormonism. ("Take my wives, please" kinds of jokes.) If he doesn't define what his religion means to him, others will do it for him—focusing on the most loopy aspects. Constant questions and endless press coverage will get in the way of his larger task of pitching himself as the only "true conservative" in the GOP race.
(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...
I don't think it would be that big of an issue. I heard Glenn Beck ask Jerry Falwell (during an interview on Beck's TV show) if he could vote for a Mormon for President.
Falwell's answer was excellent, and he said he would not impose any "religious" litmus test on a candidate, his stand on issues and morality would be what he judged a candidate by.
The issue is framed by the press, and by bashers everywhere. Here on the F.R. I have read many misinterpretations of the Mormon belief. I know something about it as I have relatives involved in the church. And they are very admirable, regard themselves as Christians, are more family, community and charity oriented than most, and have very high conservative values. They are amongst the best people we know.
I wonder of Mormons are prepared for the deluge of Big Media stories about gold plates and talking animals is Romney became the candidate?
25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
Numbers 22:25-30
He shouldn't waste time on this issue. He should lay out his political positions, loudly and boldly, and keep pounding away at them until he is either elected or defeated.
His enemies are trying to draw him into a cul-de-sac, forcing him to waste time proving he's not weird. Ignore them. His potential friends want to know where he stands politically, and if he has the grit to stick by his guns when it all hits the fan. I have my doubts on the latter, and his challenge is to prove he's tough enough to take the pounding. Letting the enemy define the battlespace will only work against him.
The beauty of Romney is they have nothing to vilify except his religion. They can't call a Harvard Law grad stupid. They can't say he is fat, bald, short or ugly. They can't call a MA Governor a right wing kook. Thay can't call him corrupt or a Bushbot. They can't call him mean. This must frighten them terribly.
So that only leaves his religion. The same as their Senate Majority Leader's, who is (?)4th in line for the Presidency. Should Reid resign?
Because Mormons are so very very touchy, I think the press coverage of their religion would drive them right up the wall.
They can't call a Harvard Law grad stupid.
"the only "true conservative" in the GOP race"
Is Mitt really a conservative? I would not vote for him. The Newt-ster yes, this guy, no.
But hey, that's what makes America great!
You do not have a religious litmus test yet your name is Trust and Verify??
You mean the "blue dress Pages". LOL
I doubt the left is hitting him on this. I believe they are hoping for his nomination because they know, as I suspect, he can't win the general.
Whether right or wrong, enough of the evangelical base will reject him to prevent him winning.
imho.
Probably jealosy. They're so sexy.
:)
(Like I can talk; I still frequently wear undergarmets with Tzitzis.)
"I certainly do not have a religious litmus test."
Sure you do, just a broad one.
I strongly suspect you would not vote for a devout Shia muslim, for example.
Or a Satanist.
Or a Baal (or whomever) worshiper.
Religion tells a lot about a person.
They get away with it, because Harvard Business School circa 1973 wasn't super selective. Law schools were much harder to get into than business schools. For example, Bush had applied unsuccessfully to University of Texas Law School.
Romney's academic record crushes any stupid charge to powder.
--Started at Stanford University.
--Graduated as valedictorian from Brigham Young University in 1971.
--In 1975 was awarded an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was named a Baker Scholar (The top academic honor at Harvard Business School is the Baker Scholar designation (High Distinction), given to the top 5% of the graduating MBA class).
--JD cum laude from Harvard Law School.
Calling anyone with an academic bio like that stupid is like calling Ann Coulter fat.
LOL.
You know, (here's a scoop for the media) Joseph Smith once said that the moon was made of green cheese. He was kidding, of course, but for generations after, opponents of the church used that statement to "prove" he was a false prophet. They knew it was a joke and yet they presented it as truth.
If you go to these "critics" websites, you will find quotations from church leaders. Some are footnoted, others are not. Some just have a name attributed and nothing else and we are left to believe that they were church leaders to. I looked up a number of those names and discovered that they were actually critics of the church not leaders. No wonder their credentials were left to inference.
Many quotes are judiciously edited to contain only the words and phrases the "critics" want their audience to read. The use of "..." is wide spread. Frequently, if you look up one of the "damning" quotes, you will find that if you read the surrounding paragraphs and the words that the "..." cut out, the quote has a totally different meaning than what the "critics" led the reader to believe.
So yes, there will be Mormons who cannot take the criticisms. Some do not have as strong a testimony as others. We are all at different maturity levels. But it must also be understood that much, if not the majority, of the criticism the church draws results from ignorance or willful misinterpretations and that wears on even those of us who don't normally respond to this junk.
Judaism is close to 4,000 years old, and is accepted as the pre-curser of Christianity by all Christians.
Mormonism is not quite 180 years old, and is seen as a very odd cult built on ridiculous fabricated evidence, by an oversexed fraud.
BIG DIFFERENCE!
Personally I would be highly suspect of anyone who really believes the tenents of the LDS--and I wouldn't want a President so gullible.
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