Romney's Challenge: Reader Emails Reveal Reservations About Mormonism

Fox news ^ | 11-13-07 | By Martin Frost

[Will88]

“You’re the one who made the statement that Mormons are Christian, not me.”

You’re the one who seems to have a very narrow definition of who is, or can be a Christian. So, give us your definition and whom it excludes.

[Zerodown]

....A self-made multi-millionaire... ????Check out George Romney .... American Motors, Nash Rambler, .... ring a bell? Definitely Mitt did not have to make that first million ... to his credit he seems to have taken the bread George left and added quite a bit of tasty jam.

[broncobilly]

I don’t know, but all the Mormon apostate websites have some weird stuff on Mormonism. And its consistent everywhere. I mean really weird stuff.

---

And the stuff is there, because Mormon-haters scour every nook and cranny of the Mormon past, every Mormon who has ever speculated and expressed his personal opinion (not official Church doctrine) and have published it from wall-to-wall in a distorted and exaggerated fashion in order to undermine Mormons. You could go to a Mormon Church for ten years and not hear much of anything that equates to what you read on these sites.

If you are a tolerant and intellectually honest person, you don’t go to an enemy to learn about someone. And you don’t compare the worst in one religion to the best in another, expecting to learn anything.

[padre35]

I could only Wish that Fred would campaign like Mitt Romney.

I’ve been taking a second look at McCain, and as much as intellectually I could support him, he just is not my cup of tea, he just comes up short on everything buy Heroic Military Service.

Stuff like Amnesty and the desire to end Gun Shows, and the fact that he would actually do those things makes him a non-starter to me at least.

Fred is just a mystery, I don’t “get” his style, I like his record but he is running the ball when we need to pass to play catch up for our Conservative Movement.

He released his Social Security Plan, sounded good, individual accounts are a good idea, but he didn’t even get any play here on FR for releasing it, he also released his plan to grow the Military once again...very little play even here, the new WalMart computer received more interest then his plans did here.

[bubbacluck]

“You’re the one who made the statement that Mormons are Christian, not me.” You’re the one who seems to have a very narrow definition of who is, or can be a Christian. So, give us your definition and whom it excludes.

Still waiting for your answer to my first question....

[Will88]

“Could an anti-Hunter person please explain to me why he hasn’t gotten more support?”

I’d support Hunter if he could ever have gotten any traction, but remaining around 1% is unlikely to attract more support at this stage.

I think name recognition is a big part of the problem. Members of the House are seldom well known nationally, and many voters probably think experience in the House is less qualifying than the Senate or a governorship. (And the Senate’s not the best resume for a presidential candidate.) When there are better known candidates, and if the media devotes most of their time to the better knowns, it’s just hard for a lesser known to break through. Something unusual has to catapult the unknown to national prominence, and it hasn’t happened for Hunter.

I can’t think of a member of the HofReps who became president, since maybe Lincoln?

[Sherman Logan]

Mr. Larson must have missed the Old Testament verses about “drawers of water and hewers of wood.”

I'm curious where you get the idea that these verses are associated with skin color.

[Will88]

“Still waiting for your answer to my first question....”

And I answered it many posts back: Romney states that Jesus Christ is his personal savior. Do you dispute what Romney professes?

[Will88]

“I’m curious where you get the idea that these verses are associated with skin color.”

I don’t associate them with anything, but many over the centuries have interpreting it to mean the dark skinned sons and daughters of Ham (?). Several groups have also considered themselves the new Israelites as they conquered new territory, or their new “Promised Land.”

[colorado tanker]

And draft dodging is a new one on me.

It's the Dan Rather rule. Any Republican who didn't serve in country in Vietnam is a draft dodger, even if he got a legitimate deferment.

[Gil4]

RE: “When a candidate clearly lives a very moral life, it seems foolish to dismiss him because of theology.”

I didn’t dismiss him as a candidate because of his theology - if his political positions on the major issues of the day were consistent with his theology (or just consistent, period) I would probably support him. I may end up supporting him anyway, although it will be a serious compromise if I do, because of political positions he has taken in the recent past.

RE: “Romney seems to live a more Christian life than any of the truer Christians.”

You mean like Giuliani? (LOL) He’s a RINO and a CINO, and I would have similar issues with Catholic doctrine anyway. (Not that it matters - I just wish he would agree with the pope on abortion, gay marriage, and other moral issues. As it stands, he’s running neck and neck with Ron Paul on my list, and that’s not a good thing.)

Does Fred pretend to be a Christian? Are Huckabee or Hunter divorced? I’m not sure who else you could be referring to other than Giuliani. I will add that there are plenty of atheists who live good, moral lives by our standards. Unfortunately, by God’s standards we all fall short. Do some non-Christians lead more moral lives than some true Christians? Yes, and shame on us that it’s the case.

[padre35]

Thanks, I thought it was meant to mean “Ran off to Canada to smoke pot and to protest” sort of draft dodger.

[Sherman Logan]

The Bible has been used to (attempt to) justify conquest, racism and slavery. That doesn’t mean using it this way is a valid interpretation.

It is just not possible to extract anything racist out of the actual Biblical text. Quite amazing, if one thinks the Bible was written by men, as men generally tend to think their own group is the best and all others are inferior.

[Hunterite]

“If you are a tolerant and intellectually honest person, you don’t go to an enemy to learn about someone.”

Are the Muslim apostate sites wrong? Conquer, murder, rape, pillage, tax all nonmuslims and enslave. Ultra-Tollerance will lead to intollerance.

[Will88]

“Does Fred pretend to be a Christian? Are Huckabee or Hunter divorced?”

Fred and McCain have been divorced. Fred did say he attended church in Tennessee but not DC, or some such. But since illegal immigration is my number one concern, then some of the social issues, I’m pretty much left with Romney and Thompson who have some chance of winning the nomination, and Thompson seems less likely by the day.

But I do think Romney seems to have lived closer to Christian beliefs than most of the other leading candidates. I still don’t think Huckabee has much of a chance, even if he does well in Iowa.

[colorado tanker]

Mitt got educational deferments and then a ministry deferment when he went on his Mormon mission overseas. If you know Mormons, you know how serious they are about the men going on mission, so it wasn't a ruse. When his mission was done he went into the new lottery system, but got a high number and so wasn't drafted.

'Course, what you'll never hear from the MSM is a about liberals like Gary Hart who got a deferment for going the Yale Divinity School. Or John Edwards who also got a high lottery number.

[Vigilanteman]

. . . many voters probably think experience in the House is less qualifying than the Senate or a governorship . . .

Legislative experience is centainly less worthwhile than a governorship in proving executive mettle, but I think Hunter's experience as an army ranger and former chairman of the House Armed Service's Committee more than makes up for it.

I'd also argue that it is a good deal more complicated to be an effective member of the house than the senate. For starters, you have to be able to influence a minimum of 217 other house members versus 50 other senators. You are also running for election constantly.

There are some pretty dim-witted members of the house. Pete Stark, Shelia Jackson-Lee and Cynthia McKinney come immediately to mind. But proportionwise, I'd be willing to bet the number of dim bulbs in the senate (Bin Murray, Boxer, Casey, Carper, the dim-bulb freshmen from Minnesota, Missouri and Ohio) is considerably higher.

I really wish Duncan Hunter would get some traction. If he doesn't, I'd strongly consider supporting the first candidate with the brains to muster him on board as Secretary of Defence.

[Wallace T.]

My statement applies to followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as I understand their religious beliefs. Certain religious or philosophical beliefs, such as Satanism or Marxism, are inherently hostile to our form of government as intended by the Founding Fathers. As for Islam, at least the more radical sects would represent a similar problem. I do not pretend to be entirely knowledgeable of all the factions of the Muslim religion.

[esarlls3]

Abstract theology is not as important as how that theology is meant to translate into public positions. For example:

1. Romney’s religion believes in God, and therefore that man’e sovereignty comes from God, not government.
2. Romney’s religion believes Christ is divine, and therefore believes that Christian values are not negotiable.
3. Romney’s religion believes that the Constitution was inspired by God, and therefore should in no way be subverted.
4. Romney’s religion believes that every child is a “child of God,” and therefore should be protected.
5. Romney’s religion believes in honoring and sustaining the law, when that law respects our freedom, and that where laws are unjust they should be changed by constitutional means.
6. Romney’s religion believes individuals should be self sufficient and not take government dole, but should help the unfortunate.
7. Romney’s religion believes in the importance of education.

And so on. . . .

Now whether or not Romney lives up to those ideals, that is another question. At least we know what direction Romney’s religion will be pushing him.

Well said.

[padre35]

Actually I’m a Dolphins fan..ahhem..and John Beck from BYU went on his mission so I have some idea how seriously that is taken by Mormons.

Does anyone have any idea what Romney’s positions are on maintaining the ultra successful Tax Cuts on investments and Income?