Posted on 11/21/2006 10:10:33 AM PST by colorcountry
Probably the same percentage who said they wouldn't vote for a Catholic when JFK was elected. Media has to create their religious devisiveness.
First of all, a majority of Americans did NOT vote for a Catholic---JFK pulled less than 50% of the popular vote. We can speculate that he would have done better than 49% in 1964 vs. Goldwater, but Nixon was a stronger opponent than Goldwater as well.
Catholicism does not have secret oaths of loyalty to the central organization (to put the advancement of their church above all else), nor do Catholics swear to obey an infallible leader. The Pope's infallibility is strictly limited to matters of faith, and has been used only two times in the past 135+ years. My point is that if details of the temple ceremonies leak out, which may very well occur, there are more skeleton's hanging in Mitt's spiritual closet than there were in JFK's.
JFK skillfully difused the issue of his Catholicism. He stated his belief in an America where "no President, should he be a Catholic, would follow orders from the Pope, and where no Protestant minister would tell his congregation for whom to vote". He further promised to resign the office of President, should a unresolvable conflict occur between the duties of the office and his faith.
Um, maybe Mitt will surprise us, but I have a hard time imagining any true believing Mormon would publicly state that he does not take advice and counsel from the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Or that he would not accept input from the church president.
We already have a preview of what's to come in that Mitt, when asked questions about his religion, uses the "my faith is private and is my own business" cover-up and refuses to answer such questions. JFK confronted the issue head-on (even earlier than the Houston speech) and did not skirt the concerns of non-Catholic Americans that a Catholic President might have split loyalties.
It's not the same at all. Kennedy had a very real religious base to help overcome the anti-catholic vote. Mitt does not. Kennedy also addressed the primary concern people had, namely the pope running the white house.
People's concerns about Mormonism are much more diverse and unfocused. Without a clear issue to address, Romney is left with trying to explain Mormonism in general to voters, which opens the door wide for critics to sling real history and doctrine in his face. Which is why he won't address the issue and appears to have something to hide because of it.
You mean, like, Medicaid?
Because the American people continue to dumb down.
The remainder voted President Bush in though.
As long as an American President (or any politician, for that matter) stays away from my wallet, my gun collection, and my personal business/property in general and aggressively defends American sovereignty/culture by securing our borders, keeping out the hordes of unassimilable third-worlders, and fighting the violent criminal element (both foreign and domestic), we're cool.
Who would be a worst president? A Mormon, or a flaming anti-God radical secularlist (read: Hillary)?
I agree with the hold your nose and vote theory. But purists won't.
This is a bad poll.
There are a whole lot of people who would not vote for "fill in the blank" (democrat, republican, independent, evangelical, black, white, asian, etc.)
You need to have a poll that asks if you would not vote for christian, southern baptist, methodist, mormon, muslim, agnostic, etc.
Then if Mormon comes out way ahead of the others like evangelical, then Romney has a problem.
Frankly this is why GWB got elected with 32% of registered voters.
OTHERWISE, THIS POLL IS GARBAGE.
The Daily Rudy
Having to duke it out with Freepers every day about Giuliani for the next year and a half is going to get old real fast. At this moment, Rudy's my choice. Right now our strategy and vision on the War on Terror is sucking wind, and we’re on a path where the nation may just give up the fight. Giuliani’s the only one who can refocus and rally the nation again. IMHO, the WOT trumps everything else.
Are you LDS? With a handle like staytrue, I wonder,
I AM LDS. There are a lot of embarrassing secrets that will be revealed in a Presidential campaign. He'll be fighting a losing battle, IMHO. And my opinion is only bolstered by this poll.
So if it's between the Hildabeast and Romney, who WOULD they vote for?
Anyone who would not vote for Romney, simply because he is a Mormon, is an idiot.
As does Gingrich.
In the culture wars, we need to understand who our allies are. These include evangelical Christians, conservative Jews, traditional Catholics, and Mormons.
I have little use for the "purists."
Exactly, They said JFK couldn't win either.
I wouldn't vote for either one. My conscience would never allow me to vote for Romney. If Hillary should win because of that, then so be it. I would also NEVER vote for Hillary, I would have to pull the lever for the next viable candidate in line.
Tell me, why would Repubs want to run a candidate that already has that many strike against him. Do they WANT to lose?
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