Well, the tie 'tween Catholics & "bigotry" inadvertently makes my point -- as follows:
"Bigot" is etymologically tied to "Beguines." It was used abusively in French for the Beguines, members of a Roman Catholic lay sisterhood, with the meaning of attaching "excessive devotion" to this sisterhood...(yeah, the devoted do get slapped around a bit).
So, “bigot” in its original usage was tied to perceived intolerance. (I don’t know if the Beguines were actually intolerant or not). The Beguines were probably at least perceived as practicing "spiritual one-upsmanship"--and others didn't like it--they felt looked down upon. Perhaps they felt scorned because such sisterhoods tended to isolate themselves more and because of that, the Beguines perhaps were perceived as being spiritually snooty ("we don't like how excessively devoted they are").
But to wind this back to what I said. "Bigot" is originally tied to "excessive devotion." I suppose it's possible that the Beguines were indeed "excessively devoted." (It's also just as possible that the other Catholics' perception was largely wrong...but once a reputation develops...). But let's just say they were excessively devoted. If that's the name-slinging you wish to engage in, KittenClaws, I'll just recommend others the high road and claim a historical context.
But if you want to insist on a contemporary usage of that term -- that "bigot" means "intolerant" -- then you need to answer this Q. Because aren't you showing religious intolerance toward critics of Mormons? On what grounds is your "intolerance" so "allowable" and therefore comes as across as "elitist," whereas anyone else's perceived religious "intolerance" is called into question?
Is questioning intolerance - intolerance? Is showing a bigots own bigotry - bigotry?
If you feel I am an "elitist", I say you have the right to your own opinion - it does not affect mine. Your reaction tells me all I need to know.
By all means, vote for Obama and be done with the Mormon! (I tried to copy ansell2, but he/she does not register on auto-preview)