Posted on 10/23/2006 5:53:17 AM PDT by Utah Binger
Romney pal takes blame for dust-up LDS Church denies claim it backs Mitt
A longtime friend and major campaign contributor of Mitt Romney took the blame Sunday for a politically damaging controversy about the Massachusetts governor reportedly seeking LDS Church help setting up a nationwide network of Mormons to advance his expected 2008 presidential bid. "I'm to blame for this whole mess," Romney confidant Kem Gardner told The Salt Lake Tribune, saying characterizations of what were "innocent" discussions between the governor, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and church officials were "unfortunate."
The Boston Globe printed e-mails Sunday from a Romney political adviser, recounting a meeting with Gardner and Romney's son, Josh, about efforts to garner church support for a program to organize Mormons in support of a Romney campaign. In the e-mails, Don Stirling, a paid consultant for Romney's political action committee, told Sheri Dew, the chief executive officer of LDS Church-owned Deseret Book Co., that church President Gordon B. Hinckley and a top lieutenant, James E. Faust, were aware of the effort and raised no objections - a claim strongly denied by the LDS Church.
(Excerpt) Read more at sltrib.com ...
Oh, and were you in attendance?
How do you know this to be true? Lots of Mormons in Nevada did not support or vote for Reid for the Senate and he's a Mormon (although a weird one, to be sure)..
Oh, and what's it to you Mr. bigshot?
Just trying to figure out how you know what happens in Mormon meetings, that's all, but I'm not a "big shot" yet.
I have a brain, and I am very well acqainted with Utah politics and the LDS Chruch.
The LDS Church is scrupulously and thoroughly neutral on political candidacies.
Individual members of the LDS Church are another matter. They are overwhelmingly Republican and will likely support Romney by margins of 9 to 1--not because he is LDS but because he honestly reflects their values.
They supported the non-LDS George W. Bush by similar margins and for similar reasons.
Only Democrats would dare to imply that's a crime against nature.
Really? I'm in one of the most politically attuned and well-connected stakes and wards in the entire LDS Church and absolutely nothing of a political nature was brought up in priesthood meeting in our ward yesterday.
Guess you had to be there.
My Parents and Grand Parents thought that FDR had the Mark of the Beast.
They are not going to help him behind the scenes.
I've been involved in enough political campaigns in Utah to know first-hand that the LDS Church does NOT assist partisan candidates whether directly or indirectly.
RINO? No question, but better for us than Hitlery.
Is he a conservative who talked like RINO in order to get elected in Massachusetts? Or is he a RINO talking like a conservative to get elected President?
I think that's an open question.
But I still am unenthusiastic about his candidacy because I don't think he will win, and he will draw all kinds of fire to the church while he is making the attempt.
I thought the church wanted the attention and pride of such, although I must admit they do not appear to take pride in Harry Reid.
Of course the church likes good press. But this series of articles is an example of the kind of garbage that will surface in the course of Mitt candidacy -- trying to make the church look like some kind of dark, political conspiracy.
It's my guess the church will not take public "ownership" of any politician, in the sense of saying "Look at him. He's a Mormon. He represents us." People are too fallible, and any stumble will then reflect on the church.
You mean the "brainwashed" George Romney?
Or when Orrin Hatch writes and records corny songs.
LOL
I have never heard his name or any other candidate's name in a meeting, but admittedly I haven't attended every Ward's meetings and somewhere, sometime someone may have mentioned his name. Your are right--we do not need another Clinton or Southener in the WH!
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