Posted on 11/20/2006 8:24:45 AM PST by areafiftyone
Mitt Romney (R) begins the 2008 campaign season in fourth place among those seeking the GOP Presidential nomination, trailing Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Condoleezza Rice. While many Republican insiders believe the Massachusetts Governor could become an attractive candidate to the party's social conservatives, a Rasmussen Reports survey finds that Romney's faith may initially be more of a hindrance than a help.
Forty-three percent (43%) of American voters say they would never even consider voting for a Mormon Presidential candidate. Only 38% say they would consider casting such a vote while 19% are not sure. Half (53%) of all Evangelical Christians say that they would not consider voting for a Mormon candidate.
Overall, 29% of Likely Voters have a favorable opinion of Romney while 30% hold an unfavorable view. Most of those opinions are less than firmly held. Ten percent (10%) hold a very favorable opinion while 11% have a very unfavorable assessment. Among the 41% with no opinion of Romney, just 27% say they would consider voting for a Mormon.
It is possible, of course, that these perceptions might change as Romney becomes better known and his faith is considered in the context of his campaign. Currently, just 19% of Likely Voters are able to identify Romney as the Mormon candidate from a list of six potential Presidential candidates.
The response to a theoretical Mormon candidate is far less negative than the response to a Muslim candidate or an atheist. Sixty-one percent (61%) of Likely Voters say they would never consider voting for a Muslim Presidential candidate. Sixty percent (60%) say the same about an atheist.
The Rasmussen Reports survey found that 35% say that a candidate's faith and religious beliefs are very important in their voting decision. Another 27% say faith and religious beliefs are somewhat important. Ninety-two percent (92%) of Evangelical Christian voters consider a candidate's faith and beliefs important.
On the partisan front, 78% of Republicans say that a candidate's faith is an important consideration, a view shared by 55% of Democrats. However, there is also a significant divide on this topic within the Democratic Party. Among minority Democrats, 71% consider faith and religious beliefs an important consideration for voting. Just 44% of white Democrats agree.
The national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports November 16-17, 2006. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
They do not have baptism of the dead. They don't baptise dead people. They practice "Proxy Ritual" where you are go through a baptism ritual in place of someone who is dead.
Baptism of the dead was practiced in the early infancy of the church in some places. It is mentioned by Paul.
I knew that this would be the case, I said so when people on FreeRepublic were suggesting an Obama/Romney match up. I said that Obama would win because he's not out of the closet as far as being a Muslim is concerned, and Mitch Romney is very open about his religious affiliation. So, the country would elect a Muslim over a Mormon.
From an American Motors history website: http://www.amxfiles.com/amc/romney.html
"A lifelong member and former bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mr. Romney spent two years as a Mormon missionary in England and Scotland during the 1920s. Friends said there was an evangelical strain about many of his undertakings later in life as well."
I knew that about him but, as I said, I don't remembering his religion being an issue back then.
So I guess these evangelicals wouldn't vote for a Jew, either?
I could care less what religion he chooses, so long as he's a good man. Refusing to vote for a good, decent man solely because of his faith is as shortsighted as it is bigoted.
And before you start giving me the hooey about that referring only to the different Christian denominations, you should go back and read the actual debates about the clause. The founders were quite clear that even 'Mohametans' and 'Gintoos' were eligible for public office.
So you expect us to read your PR department's version of what Mormons believe?
Forgot her (Waldholz). Wasn't a scandal the reason for her exit?
Okay. . .perhaps they would rather vote for Barack Obama. . .
From George W. Romney's 1995 obituary:
"A lifelong member and former bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mr. Romney spent two years as a Mormon missionary in England and Scotland during the 1920s."
You're missing the point --- the fact of the theological dispute is real --- I have no interest in the merits of the same, any more than I want to figure out how many angels dance on the head of a pin.
Groups as widespread as the Methodists and the Roman Catholics don't consider Mormons Christians.
This belief --- for right or wrong --- will be a real detriment in any election.
Period.
I do not consider the teachings of the LDS to be Christian teachings. Not wanting to get into specifics on this thread, I just don't. I am a Pentecostal and very evangelical in my beliefs and style.
That being said, I do not care that Romney is or is not a Mormon any more than I would have cared that Kennedy was a Catholic or Jefferson was a Deist. If I vote for Mitt or not will have nothing to do with him being a Mormon.
Of course, a lot of people in 1980 were saying that the Christian base would not vote for Reagan because he had been divorced (I believe that Reagan was the only President we have had that had been divorced). We all know how much that prediction held true.
Could you please give me a list of his liberal record, things he has actually done as governor that are liberal? I'd really like to know.
And it's idiotic if it hands the country over to the Democrats, who are militantly anti-religious unless that religion is Wahhabist Islam...
"We are electing him to be President, not to be our kids' Sunday school teacher."
While you can seperate Church and State, most cannot.
Hence why Bill Clinton lugs out his unread photo-opportunity Bible at all solemn events.
I have a feeling..someone will come out of the pack...
later, rather than sooner....Sanford, Gov. S. Carolina,
may be possible...none excite the party at this stage
of the game...need positive candidate..there is enough
negativity on the other side..we should let them
destroy each other...stay abve the fray..Jake
Even liberal Christian churches don't consider them Christians.
Running a Mormon would cost us 2008.
Again, I like Romney.
But, I would have difficulty voting for him simply because of his religion. I ultimately WOULD do so because it would be the best thing to do, and I would base my decision on his political beliefs.
But, many evangelicals would not do such.
Wrong on all three....i gave you the scriptual reference....try reading the source material for a change.
Cute. They did no want it to be something the govt. enforced.
It was something the voters should consider, not something mandated by the govt.
Hatch is a Mormon.
Ted Kennedy is a Catholic. His beliefs are strange. I think Kerry claimed to be one, too.
Lieberman is Jewish. Shumer "the putze" is Jewish.
The Clinton's are....whatever black church they're in at any given moment.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.