Posted on 01/19/2008 12:27:37 PM PST by Reaganesque
Bias against Mitt Romneys religion is one of the reasons that the tag flip-flopper sticks with the former Massachusetts governor but not his Republican opponents, according to Vanderbilt political scientist John Geer. There is no question that Romney has changed his positions on some issues, but so have some of the other candidates, Geer said. Why does the label stick to Romney but not his opponents? At least some of the answer lies in Romneys Mormon beliefs.
Geer and colleagues Brett Benson of Vanderbilt and Jennifer Merolla of Claremont Graduate University designed an Internet survey to assess bias against Mormons, how best to combat it and its potential impact on the nomination process and general election campaign.
We find that of those who accuse Romney of flip-flopping, many admit it is Romneys Mormonism and not his flip-flopping that is the real issue, Benson said. Our survey shows that 26 percent of those who accuse Romney of flip-flopping also indicate that Mormonism, not flip-flopping, is their problem with Romney. Benson noted that the pattern is especially strong for conservative Evangelicals. According to the poll, 57 percent of them have a bias against Mormons.
The poll, which was conducted by Polimetrix, included an oversample of Southern Evangelicals that Geer said measured bias with far more precision than previous efforts. The survey shows that 50 percent of conservative Evangelicals evaluate a moderate Christian candidate more positively than a conservative Mormon candidate.
The studys findings suggest that criticizing Romney for flip-flopping is an effective campaign strategy because it sticks with two different groups: those who are genuinely concerned about Romneys shifts on certain issues and those who use the label as cover for the fact that they do not want to vote for a Mormon for president.
As the campaign continues to unfold, these data become increasingly relevant as the Republicans choose a presidential nominee, Geer said.
Yeah, technically you're right.
But Romney is infinitely younger in spirit, looks, energy, enthusiasm, and health -- with health being a very important factor.
Not to be crude, but it matters that McCains face looks like it is bulging with those lymph problems he's continually had.
Fred (love the guy) looks very gaunt and skeletal, and tired .... always.
Huckabee looks full of vigor, but he is waaay over the line in violating the establishment clause in the Constitution, and voters would reject him in droves.
Romney is the healthy adult with brains, temperament, and is proudly promoting conservative values.
These Romney haters put more stock in a few out-of-context verbal utterances from 15 years ago than they do in Romney’s lifetime of integrity, family respect, business honesty, and a lifetime of church-based faith faith.
It is almost useless to try and point out the man’s exemplary life, (although I continue to try as well).
Not only don’t they have a candidate to support, their minds are so filled with rage against Romney they can’t see straight anymore.
Romney is a 60 yo grandfather...Hardly a buck
Yeah, technically you’re right.
But Romney is infinitely younger in spirit, looks, energy, enthusiasm, and health — with health being a very important factor.
Not to be crude, but it matters that McCains face looks like it is bulging with those lymph problems he’s continually had.
Fred (love the guy) looks very gaunt and skeletal, and tired .... always.
Huckabee looks full of vigor, but he is waaay over the line in violating the establishment clause in the Constitution, and voters would reject him in droves.
Romney is the healthy adult with brains, temperament, and is proudly promoting conservative values.
_______________________________________________________
Sounds like you would be more comfortable voting for Barak Obama...
Might want to go for the Gold and pick the “(youngest) in spirit, looks, energy, enthusiasm, and health — with health being a very important factor” just to be sure....
And, after all Obama is a healthy adult with brains, temperament, and proudly promotes much the same values that Romney does...abortion, gay rights, easy path to citizenship for illegal aliens, contempt for the military, universal health care...
Bomb-o Brack-A is waaay too anti-business and waaay too anti-American strength and prestige -- despite his youthful vigor.
Romney, on the other hand, has youthful vigor AND is a very smart faith-based family values and conservative supporting leader.
Romney will project American strength and decency to the world once elected as POTUS.
Those few pandering PC statements Romney made 15 years ago will be long forgotten -- except perhaps by a few suicidal conservatives who refuse to believe that people like Romney can and do change their rhetoric over the years.
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