Posted on 06/30/2007 11:32:18 AM PDT by Calpernia
GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, courting Iowa conservatives, found himself answering questions Saturday about the role his Mormon faith would play should he win the race.
Romney told one questioner "we have exactly the same values" and said there is no religious litmus test for candidates. The former Massachusetts governor dismissed suggestions of a conflict between his religion and his ability to govern. He also hastened to offer assurances of his faith.
"The Bible for me is the word of God," Romney said. "I also believe that Jesus Christ is my savior."
The questions arose as Romney prepared to join five other Republican candidates at a forum sponsored by two of the most important forces in Iowa Republican politics _ the Iowa Christian Alliance and Iowans for Tax Relief.
Many conservative Christians are quietly nervous about Romney's religion and the issue surfaced as Romney opened his campaigning at a forum in Pella, about 40 miles south of Des Moines.
Mary Van Steenis asked Romney how he would ponder important decisions as president and which source of inspiration he would seek.
"Where would the Bible be in that process?" she asked. "Would it be above the Book of Mormon or would it be beneath it?"
"I don't know that there's any conflict at all between the values of great faiths like mine, like yours, like other faiths, like Jews who don't believe in the New Testament," Romney said.
"People of faith have different doctrines and different beliefs on various topics of a theological nature. But in terms of what it is we are going to believe and also based on our values for our country, I think we come from the same place," Romney said.
The answer did not satisfy Van Steenis.
"I asked if you had to look to one source what would it be? He didn't really respond to that," she told reporters after the event. "This is serious to me."
Romney said he thinks that as people "look at me and my values and look at my family and myself they'll recognize that we have exactly the same values. This is a nation where people come from different faiths, different doctrines and different churches."
Romney aide Eric Fehrnstrom quickly issued a statement to reporters that said Romney took the oath of office as governor on his family Bible.
"He swore to follow the constitution and uphold the laws of the land," said Fehrnstrom. "That would continue to be his highest duty as president."
Some of Romney's critics says he has shifted his views on positions such as abortion and gay rights as he moves from governor to presidential contender.
Romney sought to assure activists of his hard-line views. He said the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in 1973 should be overturned and states should be allowed to decide the issue.
He also said he fought an overwhelmingly Democratic Legislature in Boston by pushing for the death sentence during his time in office.
Romney and his rivals _ minus top tier candidates Rudy Giuliani and John McCain _ were scheduled to appear at the forum. Joining Romney were Tommy Thompson, Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo and Jim Gilmore.
>>>Fine but you are anti LDS, so this thread will turn about religion about LDS
I STOPPED participating in the religion debate back at Post 15.
My question in Post 1 is relevant to the statement in the article that was MADE by Mitt Romney.
Like it or not, I want to know what he will do with the Holy See Executive order.
Not just my vote.
then whose vote?
Why should Mitt be doubted to not follow the executive order related to the Pope and the UN.
During his Governorship, Mitt gave a lot of effort for Catholic adoption agencies to maintain their policy excluding gay couples in the adoption process.
>>>Why should Mitt be doubted to not follow the executive order related to the Pope and the UN.
My question in post 1 was stated very clearly. Then I backed it up in post 7. I don’t need to clarify it further.
“No worse than...†-—damming with faint praise. I can’t see how Willard on his worse day could ever make more of a botch of his executive responsibilities..
Your question is rather ridiculous, considering the track record of Mitt and his dealings with the Catholic church. The answer to your question is pretty clear in Mitts track record and there is no need to doubt his motive on the executive order which you are referring to.
No worse than...” —damming with faint praise. I cant see how Willard on his worse day could ever make more of a botch of his executive responsibilities..
If it is so ridiculous; than why are you concerned? I just than look silly for posting it.
:)
You won`ty vote for Mitt. You won`t vote for Rudy? That`s your right, but are you going to vote in the 2008 election?
Excellent, excellent point. I've been thinking the same thing.
Concerned? not at all..just defending a decent man in a internet forum. :)
Mixing politics and religion ain`t a great idea. it`s more important to judge a candidate by other means. I agree with your points
I’ll vote for someone for President in 2008. But, it won’t be either of those two Leftists under any circumstances.
It took 5 minutes for the audience to regain it's composure from laughing.
__________________
Our First Dog - Seamus (by Ann Romney on the Five Brothers Blog)
Mitt and I love our dogs. Seamus was our first--an Irish setter. When I wasn't at home, Mitt let him sleep on the bed. And usually when he was riding in the car, his head was out the window. Seamus lived to a ripe old age, basking in the affection of a large family.
Surprise, surprise, the media didn't get the dog story right. Our dog Seamus rode in an ENCLOSED kennel, not in the open air. And he loved it. Every time he saw it, he jumped up on the tailgate, walked in, and lay down. It was just like the kennel he curled up in at home.
We are a dog family. Casey was our Bichon, McKenzie our Golden, and Marley our Weimaraner. Marley had 8 puppies, which Mitt delivered all night for her one summer.
When she died last year, she was in Mitt and our arms, and we all cried. Yes, we love our dogs.
Now horses, that's my love too. Mitt rides them--I love them. But that's another blog.
http://fivebrothers.mittromney.com/
Why should some extremist evilvangelical get to limit the question to only “...one source...”? Why should any candidate have only one source of direction or inspiration?
Despite your looney assertions to the contrary, the Bible and Book of Mormon are not contradictory.
I’m sure that Kerry (a traitor) or Gore (environmental conman and probable traitor) would have been instructive in that regard. Thank God that electorate didn’t make that choice.
I have a lot of issues with President Bush, but overall, he’s a good man. He says what he’ll do, and he does what he says. And he’s done a fair number of good things. Robertson, Alito and $13K Dow are a pretty good legacy...
And we KNEW his stance on immigration, before we elected him. We just had to hope we could stop him by legislative means - and we did!
How is that any different than what you say about his religion? Hypocrite.
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