James Carville: Romney’s Mormon religion still a problem [Mitt silent on bishop, gov roles]

Daily Caller.com ^ | July 6, 2012 | Jeff Poor

[Colofornian]

n an appearance on WWL radio in New Orleans earlier this week, James Carville surveyed the Romney campaign and said the presumptive GOP nominee still hasn’t overcome the issue of his Mormon religion.

According to Carville, who has a forthcoming book called “It’s the Middle Class, Stupid,” Romney’s reluctance to talk openly about that is keeping him from dominating the campaign against President Barack Obama.

“One of the problems that Romney has honestly is — the thing against him the most is his religion,” Carville said. “And he doesn’t understand the reasons. He doesn’t talk about that. He was a bishop in his church. And he doesn’t talk about the one public office that he held much and that was being the governor of Massachusetts. So, he talks about Bain, but that’s become sort of a big issue in the campaign. He’s got to, you know — if you look at the numbers, Romney should win this campaign.”

“So, I think Romney is going to come out — I think they’re going to recalibrate their strategy a little bit,” he said. “I think they’re going to have to. And he just going to have to be more aggressive talking about some of the things he has done and give people a window into as who he is.”

The best thing for Romney to do, Carville said, would be to highlight his ability to “fix things.”

“I would say, look people are looking for someone that can fix things,” Carville said. “And you got to tell them Romney is that guy. You know, you accomplished that with the Olympics. You actually accomplished that when you were governor of Massachusetts. And you actually accomplished that when you ran Bain.”

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/06/carville-romneys-religion-still-a-problem-with-his-presidential-candidacy/#ixzz202gM8gr0

[Tau Food]

Kalifornia will go Obama by such a large margin you have the freedom to stick with your principles.

Exactly. And, that was my point in post 88.

People need to understand that when Californians like rogue yam state that they're going to vote for Romney, you have to assume that they're voting for Romney and not merely voting against Obama because they know that their votes for Romney will not and cannot harm Obama's electoral chances. These folks are voting their principles; their votes for Romney are fully consistent with their philosophical views. Voting for Romney presents no conflict for them. They seem immune to any appeal to conscience by conservatives because they are in fact immune to any such appeal.

We must accept that there are many Republicans who look to Mitt Romney for leadership and they are fully prepared to enthusiastically follow him.

[Elsie]

“I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”

“I Will Be a Second Mohammed”

In the heat of the Missouri “Mormon War” of 1838, Joseph Smith made the following claim, “I will be to this generation a second Mohammed, whose motto in treating for peace was ‘the Alcoran [Koran] or the Sword.’ So shall it eventually be with us—‘Joseph Smith or the Sword!’ ”[1]

It is most interesting that a self-proclaimed Christian prophet would liken himself to Mohammed, the founder of Islam. His own comparison invites us to take a closer look as well. And when we do, we find some striking—and troubling—parallels. Consider the following.

• Mohammed and Joseph Smith both had humble beginnings. Neither had formal religious connections or upbringing, and both were relatively uneducated. Both founded new religions by creating their own scriptures. In fact, followers of both prophets claim these scriptures are miracles since their authors were the most simple and uneducated of men.[2]

• Both prophets claim of having angel visitations, and of receiving divine revelation to restore pure religion to the earth again. Mohammed was told that both Jews and Christians had long since corrupted their scriptures and religion. In like manner, Joseph Smith was told that all of Christianity had become corrupt, and that consequently the Bible itself was no longer reliable. In both cases, this corruption required a complete restoration of both scripture and religion. Nothing which preceded either prophet could be relied upon any longer. Both prophets claim they were used of God to restore eternal truths which once existed on earth, but had been lost due to human corruption.

• Both prophets created new scripture which borrowed heavily from the Bible, but with a substantially new “spin.” In his Koran, Mohammed appropriates a number of Biblical themes and characters—but he changes the complete sense of many passages, claiming to “correct” the Bible. In so doing he changes many doctrines, introducing his own in their place. In like manner, Joseph Smith created the Book of Mormon, much of which is plagiarized directly from the King James Bible. Interestingly, the Book of Mormon claims that this same Bible has been substantially corrupted and is therefore unreliable. In addition, Joseph Smith went so far as to actually create his own version of the Bible itself, the “Inspired Version,” in which he both adds and deletes significant portions of text, claiming he is “correcting” it. In so doing he also changes many doctrines, introducing his own in their place.

• As a part of their new scriptural “spin,” both prophets saw themselves as prophesied in scripture, and both saw themselves as a continuation of a long line of Biblical prophets. Mohammed saw himself as a continuation of the ministry of Moses and Jesus. Joseph Smith saw himself as a successor to Enoch, Melchizedek, Joseph and Moses. Joseph Smith actually wrote himself into his own version of the Bible—by name.

• Both prophets held up their own scripture as superior to the Bible. Mohammed claimed that the Koran was a perfect copy of the original which was in heaven. The Koran is therefore held to be absolutely perfect, far superior to the Bible and superceding it. In like manner, Joseph Smith also made the following claim. “I told the Brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding its precepts, than by any other book.”[3]

• Despite their claim that the Bible was corrupt, both prophets admonished their followers to adhere to its teachings. An obvious contradiction, this led to selective acceptance of some portions and wholesale rejection of others. As a result, the Bible is accepted by both groups of followers only to the extent that it agrees with their prophet’s own superior revelation.

• Both Mohammed and Joseph Smith taught that true salvation was to be found only in their respective religions. Those who would not accept their message were considered “infidels,” pagans or Gentiles. In so doing, both prophets became the enemy of genuine Christianity, and have led many people away from the Christ of the Bible.

• Both prophets encountered fierce opposition to their new religions and had to flee from town to town because of threats on their lives. Both retaliated to this opposition by forming their own militias. Both ultimately set up their own towns as model societies.

• Both Mohammed and Joseph Smith left unclear instructions about their successors. The majority of Mohammed’s followers, Sunni Muslims, believe they were to elect their new leader, whereas the minority, Shiite Muslims, look to Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib, whom they consider Divinely appointed, as the rightful successor to Muhammad, and the first imam. (Ali was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad). Similarly, the majority of Joseph Smith's followers, Mormons, believed their next prophet should have been the existing leader of their quorum of twelve apostles, whereas the minority, RLDS, believed Joseph Smith's own son should have been their next prophet. Differences on this issue, and many others, have created substantial tension between these rival groups of each prophet.

• Mohammed taught that Jesus was just another of a long line of human prophets, of which he was the last. He taught that he was superior to Christ and superceded Him. In comparison, Joseph Smith also made the following claim.

“I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him, but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.”[4] In light of these parallels, perhaps Joseph Smith's claim to be a second Mohammed unwittingly became his most genuine prophecy of all.

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[1] Joseph Smith made this statement at the conclusion of a speech in the public square at Far West, Missouri on October 14, 1838. This particular quote is documented in Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History, second edition, (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1971), p. 230–231. Fawn Brodie’s footnote regarding this speech contains valuable information, and follows. “Except where noted, all the details of this chapter [16] are taken from the History of the [Mormon] Church. This speech, however, was not recorded there, and the report given here is based upon the accounts of seven men. See the affidavits of T.B. Marsh, Orson Hyde, George M. Hinkle, John Corrill, W.W. Phelps, Samson Avard, and Reed Peck in Correspondence, Orders, etc., pp. 57–9, 97–129. The Marsh and Hyde account, which was made on October 24, is particularly important. Part of it was reproduced in History of the [Mormon] Church, Vol. III, p. 167. See also the Peck manuscript, p. 80. Joseph himself barely mentioned the speech in his history; see Vol. III, p. 162.”

[2] John Ankerberg & John Weldon, The Facts on Islam, (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1998), pp.8–9. Eric Johnson, Joseph Smith & Muhammed, (El Cajon, CA: Mormonism Research Ministry, 1998), pp. 6–7.

[3] Documentary History of the [Mormon] Church, vol.4, pp.461.

[4] Documentary History of the [Mormon] Church, vol.6, pp.408–409.

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Modern MORMONism snuggles up to ISLAM just slightly differently...

[Elsie]

Interesting to see the defacto Obama supporters in this thread. The dimoKKKRAT Trojan horses are in full stride.

Interesting to see the actual ANTI-christian supporters in this thread. The DEMONIC deception dimwits are in full blinder mode.

[svcw]

When Goldwater ran, abortion, homosexuality (even welfare was not) where non issues, so what is it you mean by social issues?
Why would anyone discuss Willkie, I am really confident he is not running.

[Elsie]

Uh...This was a COVER-ALL game.

Sit back down.

He's either a

DECIEVED Mormon, or a
DECIEVING one.

[Elsie]

I wil trust any Mormon over any Marxist !

I believe MORMON lies!

[RichInOC]

No, Jimmy. Mitt’s biggest problem is not that he’s a Mormon. Mitt’s biggest problem is that he’s a lame candidate. Now, whether Mormon teaching is a primary contributor to his lameness is a proposition we can argue. Personally, I think Mitt would be a lame candidate whatever religion he was in. He’s just a lame kind of guy. And let all the church say “Amen!” and “Amen!”

[Elsie]

The choice before us in November is between Romney and Obama.

DANG!!!

I've slept thru two MORE conventions!!

[Psalm 144]

After this election, I will change my registration to independent. With Reagan, “I’ll say, I didn’t leave my party, they left me.”

***************************

I will wait for the convention results. If things shape up as they appear to be headed, I too will change my registration, after more than 30 years of solid Republican support.

[Elsie]

Hey Yam, why do you keep ducking my question?

MORMON tactics...

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Professor Robert Millet        teaching at the Mission Prep Club in 2004  http://newsnet.byu.edu/video/18773/  <-- Complete and uneditted

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Timeline...    Subject...

 

0:59           "Anti-Mormons..."

1:16           "ATTACK the faith you have..."

2:02           "We really aren't obligated to answer everyone's questions..."

3:57           "You already know MORE about God and Christ and the plan of salvation than any who would ATTACK you."

[Elsie]

There are many FReepers who continue to embrace reason and truth-seeking.

I hear directly from them every day.

[Elsie]

I fear 2008 will come back to haunt us again.

IF my people; who are called by my name...

[Psalm 144]

IF my people; who are called by my name...

*****************

As usual, our last resort when it should have been our first.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“I will wait for the convention results. If things shape up as they appear to be headed, I too will change my registration, after more than 30 years of solid Republican support.”

I’ve done it all since Ford’s race. Grunt work, giving, yard signs, recruiting others, etc. Done with RINOs for good. I will continue to vote for conservatives - the only standard from now on.

Ford - RINO
Bush I - nice guy, RINO
Dole - RINO
McCain - RINO
RINOmney - Liberal, pro-gay, pro-abortion, pro-mandate, RINO Cultist. Now, it’s not enough for the GOPE to oppose my political and moral views, they are pushing a guy who opposes my God and Savior. No more.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Add one more into the Religious Bigot Club.

Isn't that what anyone who brings up the religion of a politician is engaging in?

I didn't bring it up.

[Elsie]

God already has a chosen nation, and it is not the United States.

SIN is a reproach to ANY Nation...

Are you still killing your unborn?

-- GOD

 

[Psalm 144]

I hear you. So down right now, but it is truth.

[svcw]

Isn't that what anyone who brings up the religion of a politician is engaging in?

Why?

Religion is part of who a candidate is, so why not talk about it.

[Psalm 144]

54,000,000 by recent estimate. That is Stalin and Mao territory.

There are more than a few who call themselves conservative, who silently agree with Margaret Sanger. Nevertheless, tophets then, or clinics now, the remnant will not go to or remain in such abattoirs.

[dragonblustar]

Don’t blame Him for some pygmy grunts from a blasphemously titled “Chief Justice” of a “Supreme Court”. The hubris in those titles underscores the corruption at the root.

No, it's not that. I've seen so many good people either die or suffer terribly while others who are just rotten to the core prosper and do well. I see evil triumph while the good suffer. I just gets to be too much after a while.