"I think he did a little too much LDS."
Posted on 01/11/2010 8:04:06 PM PST by delacoert
The staff of a popular Mormon blog announced Monday it has chosen embattled Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as the 2009 Mormon of the Year, even as several top Republicans called for his resignation.
During the past year, Reid was the "most visible and influential Mormon politician in the world," Kent Larsen III, organizer of the annual conference at timesandseasons.org, said in a phone interview. "What most made Harry Reid Mormon of the Year was his overall presence in the news and issues that affect peoples lives."
While Reid's faith is not always discussed as much as that of other Mormon politicians, he remains an active member of his LDS congregation, Larsen noted. In recent years Reid has helped The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on some crucial issues, including helping broker a compromise between the church and the BLM over access to Martin's Cove. A fixture in Nevada politics who has dedicated his life to public service for decades, Reid has long advocated that one can consistently be a Democrat and a Mormon.
A firestorm erupted in recent weeks, however, over Reid's 2008 description of then-candidate Barack Obama as a "light-skinned" African-American "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."
Reid, D-Nev., apologized to Obama on Saturday, the Associated Press reported, and the president issued a statement accepting the apology and saying the matter was closed. That didn't stop GOP Chairman Michael Steele and other Republicans from demanding that Reid step down as majority leader.
Nor did it alter the outcome of timesandseasons' choice.
"The Mormon of the Year designation is a recognition of the effect that the person or group of persons has had during the past year. It is not a prize or award, so nothing of value is being given to anyone as a result of this designation," Larsen said. He did caution, however, that "this recognition should not be seen as an endorsement of his political positions or aspirations."
As in previous years, the blog's 12 staff members made the selection, though they did invite readers to offer their own opinions. This year's contest attracted nearly 2,000 votes, Larsen said, with the top slots going to Fox talk show host Glenn Beck, former Utah governor and now U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman Jr., and Reed Cowen, a filmmaker who documented the LDS Church's involvement in California's Proposition 8, which defined marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman.
"Reed [Cowen] won the popular vote, but we didn't choose him because his film is just getting out," said Larsen, a New York City book publisher and one of a dozen timesandseasons permabloggers. "It has not had much of an effect yet."
Other nominees included: Twilight author Stephenie Meyer, songwriting Sen. Orrin Hatch, kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart, and frontman for the rock band The Killers, Brandon Flowers,
The contest rules purposely excluded the LDS Church's First Presidency (including the prophet) and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles because, Larsen said, "their overwhelming influence would guarantee their selection every year."
For complete contest results, go to http://timesandseasons.org
"I think he did a little too much LDS."
Thanks for the ping!
Why not Glenn Beck? He is one of the three witnesses of Revelation. I’m convinced. Too many people hate him for speaking truth.
Hi Girl, long time no see. I’m just passing through on my way to bed. God bless.
Hi there, WVNan! It’s great to “see” you, too. May God bless you and yours this new year!
And the same for you, Girl.
Donnie & Marie are crushed!
CRUSHED I say!
Yes; it will...
They are. It's a proven fact. But that doesn't keep a Latter-day Saint who runs a blog from expressing his individual opinions.
It's hardly equal to the Church endorsing him or something.
And I, for one, disagree with the choice, or at least the wording. I suppose he is probably the most influential LDS member, outside of Church leadership. If that's the only criteria, then he should be named "most influential Mormon" or something.
Mormon of the Year? *shudder*
LOL Rip I'll agree with you on this one. ;P
MONK nowww I know how Bill Shatner really feel
I wonder if Rod Serling was still alive would he ask Harry Reid to appear on that remake of episode
PROBABLY MOST LIKELY LOL!
MONK nowww I know how Bill Shatner really feel
I wonder if Rod Serling was still alive would he ask Harry Reid to appear on that remake of episode
PROBABLY MOST LIKELY LOL!
Mitt is CRUSHED!
It could have been worse!
Now that funny ROFL
I think Jospeh Smith would be Man in the cave that episode with James Corburn LOL!
That scary LOL!
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