Posted on 10/10/2011 2:00:54 PM PDT by rzman21
Mitt Romney has enjoyed a long hiatus from “the Mormon thing.” But now it’s back with a vengeance after the recent Rev. Jeffress comments urging Christians to support Perry over Romney because the latter is a Mormon.
The “Mormon things” always makes for good political theater. The question is whether or not it will matter to Romney’s candidacy.
It most likely won’t. While unexpected events could always turn public opinion against him on account of his faith, there’s simply not enough evidence at this point that enough evangelical Christians will sit at home rather than vote for Romney if they conclude he is the candidate most likely to beat Obama. For the same reason that Mormonism fades into the background when other important matters are at stake in the case of other Mormons, Romney should emerge from this okay.
For example:
I’m sure a lot of Americans didn’t realize Rulon Gardner was a Mormon when he stunned everyone in the 2000 Olympics by beating Alexander Kerelin. But if they had, would they have cheered less? Maybe some would have, but overall, people’s enthusiasm for an unexpected American victory in the Olympics would have dampened their views on Mormonism.
Or do people boycott Amy Adams movies because she still thinks fondly of her Mormon upbringing (she reportedly doesn’t practice now)? Or would they admire Haloti Ngata less when he blows open holes for Baltimore Ravens running backs because he’s a Mormon?
Some will argue that being President is simply different – and they're right. Religious views can shape the actions of a public official in a way that affects all of us, while a Ngata block won't affect me (unless I'm unfortunate enough to be a down lineman opposite him). But the important lesson from the sports and entertainment arena is that other important objectives – winning a contest, enjoying a movie’s plot – matter more than the religious faith of the people on the field or screen.
The prospect of another Obama term will drive his critics in the populace to the polls even if they are uncomfortable with his faith. Sure, some will stay at home. But in general, voters are not single-issue voters in this regard. The thought of more job losses, higher taxes, skyrocketing health care costs – all of these things and more will make Romney a more appealing alternative if he continues to keep and grow his frontrunner status.
The other factor the media often overlooks when it covers this issue is that it’s Democrats – not Republicans or independents – who have the most misgivings about voting for Mormons.
Gallup found over the summer that 27% of Democrats said they wouldn’t vote for a Mormon, compared to 19% of independents and 18% of Republicans. So the “Mormon thing” doesn’t even pose a huge general election problem for Romney in so far as it’s not a turn-off for independents.
Still, 22% of Americans oppose a Mormon President, which is no insignificant barrier. However, as Gallup notes in its write-up on Mormonism, opposition to a Catholic for President fell from 25% in 1959, before John F. Kennedy was elected, to 13% in 1961, and eventually down to 8% a few years after that. The same thing will happen if Romney can persuade enough of America that he will make a better President than anyone running. That - not defending his faith - is his biggest challenge right now.
I honestly have a real dilemma with Mormonism. From what I have heard and seen, it is a truly weird religion.
On the other hand, every single Mormon I have known has been a really decent person and that includes one relative.
My apologies to publicity hungry retards for lumping you in with Rev. Jeffress.
N00b! IBTZ
Now keep in mind, Obama voters/supporters didn’t have any concern over whatever religion Obama was (and till this day,no one really knows) but we all did know that Obama went to that “Anti-White” church for 20 years.
Romney may have not been the top choice for most republicans/conservatives over the last four years,but being Christie,and Mitch Daniels aren’t running,we will support Romney and Cain to the very end and will support either version of a Romney/Cain/Rubio ticket.
This keeps up, I'm gonna have to write the exposure of Milt for readers to contemplate. Mormonism is not Christian or Christianity. But from a religion perspective, Milt being a Mormon is not his biggest problem.
Speak for yourself Noob, no good conservative wants Romney, so quit using the term “we” when you post your opinions!
How out of the loop are you, Rubio??? Ok, now you can go back to DU!
I wouldn’t support Romney for anything, and I have worked for virtually every GOP candidate for the last 20 years, even when I thought they were total losers and even when I actively disliked them (McCain). I did this because I thought that even if they weren’t very good and were way too old for the job (Dole, McCain), they were such losers that somebody else would manage them and they might make good Supreme Court appointments or other things that didn’t require a lot of energy.
However, Romney is an active RINO, the only 100% RINO candidate we have, and he’s the only one I would simply not work for, nor would I vote for him. He he would be just a white version of Obama, even if Cain runs interference for him to get blacks to vote for him.
And the fact that he’s a Mormon, member of a flaky theocratic cult that had to be suppressed by the US Army so it wouldn’t keep on killing people, sure doesn’t endear him to me either. I doubt that anybody who knows anything about Mormonism would vote for a Mormon.
romney’s mormonism isn’t a problem for the dems or the GOP right now. however should he be the nominee I guarantee he’ll be hit with it in such a vile manner that would make the treatment given to Sarah Palin pale in comparison.
Can you imagine that if Mittens is the nominee and the state-run media runs a media blitz on Mormonism just before the election. Most independents and a large percentage of evangelicals don’t know that Mittens expects to become a “god” with his own planet where people will worship him. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of the blasphemy, heresy and apostasy of Mormonism. The dims are salivating at the prospect of a Romney nomination. The stupid party will fall for the trap and pull defeat out of the jaws of victory. Beam me up, Scotty.
These are pretty big rocks ahead if the GOP establishment continues on this path, enough rocks to get Obama re-elected.
So a question for Mitt is if he would accept blood transfusions if as President he needed them in a life saving situation.
Choose between Obama and Romney.
Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t accept blood transfusions, Mormons do.
I could never vote for Romney but it has nothing to do with his being a Mormon.
Romney isn’t even a good Mormon if you look at his stand on abortion and then think of it in terms of eternal progression in Mormonism. How can Mittens reconcile it? How do Mormons that support him reconcile it? It must be money to the LDS Church that gains him favor.
When I look at Mittens, Dingy Harry and Huntsman my vision of the conservative Mormon flies out the window.
I don’t care about his “Mormonism” it’s his confusion about the Bill of Rights that troubles me!
Of all the reasons to dislike Romney, mormonism is not even on my list, to be honest.
Mormons don't believe in blood transfusions? I thought that was the Jehovah's Witnesses. I guess it could be both.
I'm guessing he would. But I don't know. Don't care. I think his policies are the issue and those what we should focus our attention on. Everything else is a distraction. In this case, the distraction serves a dual purpose. To divide Republicans but also make us look like bigots.
Liberals have no qualms about standing up for Christian values when it serves their purpose. And, trust me, if they can tarnish us by saying Romney lost the nomination because of our religious bigotry, you better bet your bottom dollar they would shout that from the mountaintops.
Hallelujah! Can I get an Amen!?
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