Posted on 12/16/2007 7:57:27 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” today that he wept with relief when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Mormons, announced a 1978 revelation that the priesthood would no longer be denied to persons of African descent.
Romney’s eyes appeared to fill with tears as he discussed the emotional subject during a high-stakes appearance that he handled with no major blunders.
“I was anxious to see a change in my church,” said the Republican presidential candidate, appearing for the full hour just two weeks ahead of the crucial Iowa caucuses.
“I can remember when I heard about the change being made. I was driving home from – I think it was law school, but I was driving home – going through the Fresh Pond rotary in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I heard it on the radio and I pulled over and literally wept.
“Even to this day, it’s emotional,” Romney went on.
“And so it’s very deep and fundamental in my life and my most core beliefs that all people are children of God. My faith has always told me that. My faith has also always told me that in the eyes of God, every individual was merited the fullest degree of happiness in the hereafter and I had no question that African Americans and blacks generally would have every right and every benefit in the hereafter that anyone else had and that God is no respecter of persons.”
Moderator Tim Russert asked if “it was wrong for your faith to exclude them for as long as it did.”
“I told you exactly where I stand,” Romney said. “My view is that there’s no discrimination in the eyes of God. And I could not have been more pleased than to see the change that occurred.”
During the hour-long segment – Romney’s first appearance ever on “Meet the Press” – he also discussed his changed views on abortion, his stance on immigration (illegal immigrants should “go home eventually”) and defended charges of flip-flopping.
Rivals pounced on his assertion that a fee – some of which were raised when he was Massachusetts governor – is “different than a tax.”
“These were not broad-based fees,” Romney said. “If they are broad-based, they have a sense – a feeling like a tax. A fee is different than a tax in that it is for a purpose. We had fees that hadn’t been changed for decades.”
Romney said former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who has passed him in many polls in the GOP presidential race, should apologize for his statement in Foreign Affairs magazine that the Bush administration has an “arrogant bunker mentality.”
“That’s an insult to the president, and Mike Huckabee should apologize to the president,” Romney said.
As to whether he will beat Huckabee in Iowa, Romney replied: “I sure hope so – working hard.”
The conservative Romney of the campaign trail was dogged by the more moderate actions of Governor Romney and liberal statements of Senate-candidate Romney. Russert hammered him with videotapes showing a string of reversals and recalibrations, but Romney handled it coolly.
Asked if he could assure voters he would not flip back to positions he held in Massachusetts, Romney replied: “Of course.”
“Tim, if you’re looking for someone who’s never changed any position on any policy, then I’m not your guy,” Romney said. “I do learn from experience. If you want someone who doesn’t learn from experience, who stubbornly takes a position on a particular act and says, ‘Well, I’m never changing my view based on what I’ve learned,’ that doesn’t make sense to me.”
Regarding his flip-flop on abortion rights from the time he was running for office in Massachusetts, Romney said he thinks “almost everyone in this nation” opposes abortion.
“I was always personally opposed to abortion, as I think almost everyone in this nation is,” he said, adding that the question for him was “the role of government.”
Romney said he hopes the U.S. ultimately bans abortion but says the country is not to that point and he is not advocating that.
“The first step in my view is that [abortion rights decision] Roe v. Wade be overturned and ultimately, as an aspirational goal, I would love it if America came to a point, where we are not today, where the people of America would welcome a society that did not have abortion,” he said. “But that’s not where we are. And so I’m not promoting or fighting for a constitutional amendment to ban abortion in all 50 states. I am fighting for an overturning of Roe v. Wade.”
On stem cell research, he said: “I would allow private laboratories and private institutions—as we currently do, and as the president does as well – to use these so-called surplus, or embryos that would be discarded.”
Discussing a guest worker program for illegal immigrants, he said, “They should go home eventually.”
Romney said “of course not” when asked if he would favor a mandatory prison term for an employer who knowingly hired an illegal immigrant. He said he would favor substantial fines and “potentially worse if they were egregious … offenders.”
The former governor was asked about his decision to become a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association just before he ran for president. “I don’t line up 100 percent with the NRA,” he said. “I don’t see eye to eye with the NRA on every issue.”
Romney was appearing on a series called “Meet the Candidates 2008.” His late father, George W. Romney – auto executive, presidential candidate and Michigan governor – was a guest on “Meet the Press” several times.
Russert said that in 31 times in “Meet the Press” history, there has been a parent and a child on the broadcast – the Kennedys, the Fords, the Jacksons, the Gores. “The Romneys, now enshrined in ‘Meet the Press’ history.”
“Touches my heart – thanks, Tim,” Romney said at the end.
Early in the show, Romney referred to a view – held by many Mormons – that evangelical Christians are cool to them in part for competitive reasons.
It came up when Russert asked him how he could accept the endorsement of Bob Jones III, president of Bob Jones University, who issued a statement saying he supports Romney but that Mormons are not Christians – an assertion that is deeply offensive to church members.
“Well, you know, religions are in a competitive battle –they’re competing for souls and adherents,” he said. Later, he repeated: “As I indicated, there are competing faiths in this nation.”
Romney added that he was “delighted” to have the support of Jones. “The great thing, of course, is that our values are the same,” Romney added. “We have Christians and Jews, for instance. They don’t have the same faith, but we certainly have the same Judeo-Christian foundation.”
At one point, Romney said he had not made up his mind whether or not to run based on input from church authorities, and would make governing decisions independently of them.
“I believe very firmly in the principle of free agency – people making their own decisions,” he said.
Asked about the statement in his recent speech that “freedom requires religion,” Romney elaborated: “Long term, for America to remain a great nation, to lead the world, we must have a recognition of our religious faith. Now that’s, of course, not a particular denomination.”
Russert asked: “Can you be a moral person and be an atheist?”
Romney: “Oh, of course. Of course.”
Romney pledged he would have “no litmus test” about faith for nominees to the Supreme Court, or for such jobs as Secretary of Education.
“Of course not,” Romney said.
I wept when Seinfeld ended.
Unfortunately, he can weep all he wants, but there will still be ads run against him claiming he’s racist. Bush doesn’t have a racist bone in his body, yet he was still blamed for the dragging death of James Byrd.
If you believe him.
Russert asked: “Can you be a moral person and be an atheist?”
Romney: “Oh, of course. Of course.”
What would their morals be based on?
The homosexual crowd has morals, too. Their own.
Interesting take by Romney. I live here in Utah and I heard a more official church spin on this episode just yesterday. A commercial referred to this change as the Mormon (LDS) church “restoring” the priesthood to blacks. Sounds much better than “ending racism”.
I still weep when King Kong falls off the Empire State Building.
I call both frauds!
In 1978 the Mormans discriminated against Blacks? Good grief.
was anyone weeping for the blacks prior this “revelation”?
Does the revelation trump the earlier writings of the Mormon Church’s founders?
Or have those writings been “updated”
have a look-see at the writings of Joseph Smith.
Not sure how they manage to gloss over that.
"I'm not running as the Republican view
or a continuation of Republican values.
That's not what brings me to the race."
(Romney Video, accessed 9/19/07)
"I wasn't a Ronald Reagan conservative."
(Mitt Romney In Interview with Marc Ambinder,
"Romney Explains Himself," National Journal, 2/9/07)
I wept when Allison Williams was fired from her TV reporting job.
"No, you are imitating your real father.”Which to choose? The teachings of Mitt's faith or the testimony of Jesus? Since Joseph Smith and Brigham Young are still mouldering in the grave, I'll go with door number two, Jesus.
They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.”
42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
--John 8:41-44, emphasis added.
It’s amazing how many think the Mormons are Christians. Smith was a loon.
The truth shall set you free. I’m actually quite excited that such a light is being brought to the heresies Joseph Smith foisted upon the world. If Romney is elected, we’ll have at least four more years of such scrutiny. Cool!
Discrimination against blacks in the 1970s was bad wherever it existed. Timmy may have lived in an area at the time that still had racist real estate laws, and if he golfed, he may have used or joined clubs that still had racist charters. It was all wrong, and it was not Romney's fault.
[Mitt Romney said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” today that he wept with relief when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Mormons, announced a 1978 revelation that the priesthood would no longer be denied to persons of African descent.]
Oh my, and we thought Fred Thompson was the actor. How delightsome of Mitt to tear up on que.
Unfortunately, racism is embedded in the Book of Mormon and the beliefs about the Lamanites and Nephites - Mitt will be hammered on that. Polygamy is also embedded in Mormonism, multiple Spirit wives have not gone away.
I'm just glad they saved their "jump the shark" episode for the last one.
WHat I don’t understand is what was the justification for not admitting blacks, and why did it change? Either their official church policy was wrong then or it is wrong now. So which was it? And then explain to me how their church can be so wrong on something like this when their leader is a prophet in direct 2-way communication with god.
But I've heard enough blubbering coming out of Washington over the past few years that I could, yes, believe he did indeed cry.
Must be them crying chromosomes messing with them politician ego genes or something.
Yes, I remember presidential candidate Edmund Muskie -- I'm talking about the old days. Like in Truman.
Bill Clinton “wept” after just leaving Vince Foster’s funeral when he spotted a camera pointed at him. I find what Mitt Romney has to say about his “weeping moment” very hard to truly believe, but there’s no way to fully prove what really happened at that very moment.
“I wasn’t a Ronald Reagan conservative.”
(Mitt Romney In Interview with Marc Ambinder,
“Romney Explains Himself,” National Journal, 2/9/07)
And this is why I would prefer NOT to vote for him.
Certainly not trinitarian christians.
I wept when Jennifer Connelly became a hard-bodied angry anorexic overnight.
With this kind of compassion and stand up good looks this candidate will win a lot of the female votes for Republicans.
He wept when the church ended discrimination.
Yet he will not say it was wrong for them to do that.
So what in the hell were the tears for?
so was Brigham Young.
Here’s a link to Young’s statements on the matter...
http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/sermons_talks_interviews/brigham1852feb5_priesthoodandblacks.htm
Animal House in theaters Nationwide
Van Halen's First Album released
Mormons end practice of excluding blacks of African lineage from joining the priesthood for more than a century.
"According to Mormon doctrine, God continues to provide revelations on Earth. On June 9, 1978, then-church president Spencer Kimball, who is considered to be a prophet, announced the revelation.
Current church president Gordon Hinckley, who as a high church official in 1978 was present during the priesthood revelation, described the event in a 1988 magazine article: "No voice audible to our physical ears was heard. But the voice of the Spirit whispered with certainty into our minds and our very souls. & All of us knew that the time had come for a change and that the decision had come from the heavens."
Yea sure...
I wept when someone told me Anderson Cooper is gay.
I got over it because I don’t believe it.
:)
“The truth shall set you free. I’m actually quite excited that such a light is being brought to the heresies Joseph Smith foisted upon the world. If Romney is elected, we’ll have at least four more years of such scrutiny. Cool!”
What is interesting is that it is ex-mormons who are shining the light.
Would breaking news of LDS church policy actually have been announced on the radio in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1978?
Can someone explain to me why day after day, week after week, Republican Candidates are being questioned on their religious beliefs, but not a religious question in site, from the TV pundits, for the Democrats?
I wept when Slim Jims added soybean additive to their sausages, thus ruining what was once the PERFECT snack food.
I’m pretty sure his parents were active in the Civil Rights years. So was my dad and yes, I get weepy thinking about it.
I weep when I see a bunch of phonies leading the GOP polls.
Not quite as dramatic a revelation as when Peter received a revelation to end discrimination against the Gentiles.
Acts 10
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 ¶ On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,
18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 ¶ While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34 ¶ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 ¶ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
And they never ask Democrats about abortion. I think that I will sh@t if someone asked Hillary: Aren’t you disturbed by the number of late term abortions that happen in this country? Or “What is the difference between at late term abortion and a prematurely born baby?. For the Dems, abortion is off limits.
Anybody remember Corfam shoes? Not only would they not stretch but they would make your feet all sweaty because they didn't permit the shoes to "breath."
Best shoes I ever had were alligator skin leather.
so how does one reconcile the Church’s racist history?
This isn’t just about leaders being a bit racist...this is written as official church doctrine that blacks are carrying the mark of Cain, and because of that should never hold the priesthood.
Has the Church disavowed Brigham Young?
Really? Got pics?
They are NUTS! I can’t even finish reading it.
A relevant website:
http://www.blacklds.org/
He had hoped nobody would bring that one up.
I believe that was Ron Brown’s funeral. The shift from laughter to crocodile tears was hilarious and infuriating at the same time.
Michael Frazier
I’ve been picking away at a book about the life of Joseph Smith and the history of the mormons.
While I still agree with your NUTS opinion, it sure makes for fascinating reading.
In this case, real life truly is stranger than fiction.
Nothing has changed my mind about what a swindler Smith was, but I never knew how driven and creative he was.
What an imagination!
And his ability to create new towns, all-the-while he was working on his “translations”.
I’m not sure if I’ve developed respect for him, but I have to give him credit for his energy, ambition, and creativity.
I see alot of similarities with scientology.
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