Here is a copy of an email that I sent to Mark:
“One aspect that bother’s me about Romney’s Mormon religion is not its doctrine. It is the LDS style.
What I mean is the way I see Mormons is that I don’t see them.
They are a clique that seems to have disdain for outsiders. They tend to do business with each other first and only others if there is no other way. At least that’s the way it has always been in my community. I think more than a few voters feel this way.
The issue is not so much what Mormons believe but how they behave, I would like to see him address that. Could you ask him?”
We don’t have “disdain” for non-Mormons. There are two things that, in my opinion, make us seem cliquish, or invisible, or whatever you want to call it.
First, we don’t drink. That means we don’t hang out and socialize in the same way that most people do. In my experience, our non-drinking is probably the biggest obstacle. There have been several instances when I have found myself in bars for business reasons, drinking something non-alcoholic and enjoying the company of my colleagues. Someone invariably brings up religion, and it isn’t me. It seems to make people uncomfortable in social situations, being in the company of a non-imbiber — at least one that doesn’t drink for religious reasons.
The second reason is that we are a lay church, meaning that we run our local wards, and everyone who is active spends a lot of time taking care of their responsibilities. That means we are socializing with each other a lot, but not non-members.
All other things being equal, you tend to do business with those you know the best, and we know each other the best.
Mormons aren't the only ones who do this. Why would this be an issue for you? Do you have the same problem with every other group of people who prefer to do business with their own when they can?