Posted on 12/17/2007 4:44:18 AM PST by billorites
While shedding a tear or two has proven disastrous for presidential hopefuls over the years, Mitt Romney may have helped his campaign yesterday when his eyes welled up discussing the full admission of blacks into his Mormon church.
“Even at this day it’s emotional,” Romney told Tim Russert on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” pausing to seemingly fight back tears, “and so it’s very deep and fundamental in my, in my life and my most core beliefs that all people are children of God.”
Some experts say a little emotion will actually help the 60-year-old Republican candidate known for his cool demeanor.
“For those who were watching, it will humanize him because he often comes across as an automaton,” said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.
“I don’t think it will hurt him. It could even help him a little.”
Professor Joseph Quin Monson, assistant director for the Center of the Study of Elections and Democracy at Brigham Young University, a Mormon school, said the 1978 decision was a “huge moment” for the church.
“It was something that many church members had hoped and prayed for and I think that is the category Mitt Romney falls under.
“When he had to catch his emotions with Tim Russert, it was real. He felt those emotions coming back. It was a window into his mind and soul,” he added.
But political analyst Michael Goldman believes Romney’s history of flip-flopping on major issues, not a show of emotion, will play a bigger part in the former Massachusetts’ governor’s future.
“He is not losing in Iowa because voters think he isn’t emotional enough, they are not supporting him because they don’t believe what he says,” said Goldman, a Democratic strategist and senior consultant for the Government Insight Group.
The article doesn’t say what Romeny, then 30, was doing, or saying, to oppose the LDS discrimination against blacks.
I’m sorry, but I can’t help but think of Clinton’s made up story about walking to the back of the bus in support of Rosa Parks.
Fred was right when he said that Romney is getting to be a
good actor. Or maybe he was all along. Wouldnt give him any Oscars yet though...too many see through his act.
I like my leaders stoic, not weepy. One more reason to hope Mitt doesn’t get the nod.
Who brought up the topic? Was the topic pre-approved by Mitt? Was the topic blacks, or blacks and the LDS Church?
Hopefully to Fred!
I still get choked up!
For a guy who supposedly doesn’t want us to think his religion is important, he certainly seems to be making a big show of his religion.
I thought he got hammered yesterday. The whole show was examples of his flip-flopping and him trying to refute every allegation. I don’t think he did a great job of that.
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.