Posted on 02/08/2008 5:41:05 AM PST by Brilliant
Mitt Romney's campaign for the presidency brought more attention to the Mormon Church than it has had in years. What the church discovered was not heartening.
Critics of its doctrines and culture launched frequent public attacks. Polling data showed that far more Americans say they'd never vote for a Mormon than those who admitted they wouldn't choose a woman or an African-American.
A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll in late January revealed that 50% of Americans said they would have reservations or be "very uncomfortable" about a Mormon as president...
The Mormon religion "was the silent factor in a lot of the decision making by evangelicals and others," says Democratic pollster Peter Hart...
"I don't think that any of us had any idea how much anti-Mormon stuff was out there," said Armand Mauss, a Mormon sociologist... "The Romney campaign has given the church a wake-up call. There is the equivalent of anti-Semitism still out there."...
There were many other factors that may have contributed to his failed campaign... Opponents attacked him, saying he changed his moderate stances to more conservative ones...
Nevertheless, Mr. Romney's campaign exposed a surprisingly virulent strain of anti-Mormonism that had been largely hidden to the general public.
In December, political pundit and actor Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. unleashed a tirade on the "McLaughlin Group" television talk show, tearing into the Mormon Church and Mr. Romney's faith. "Romney comes from a religion founded by a criminal who was anti-American, pro-slavery, and a rapist. And he comes from that lineage and says, 'I respect this religion fully.'...He's got to answer."
Mormons were outraged. Hundreds complained ...
Mr. O'Donnell, a former MSNBC commentator who plays a lawyer for polygamists on the HBO drama "Big Love," says he has nothing to apologize for. "Everything I said was true," he says...
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
jut read this on Moms4Mitt.com:
“I was so proud of Mitt yesterday! He showed Americans what he’s truly about, and that is America!! He did not drop out. He’s just not going to spend any more of our money. He will still be on the ballots, and in Ohio, I will still be working for him like crazy. He needed to show all the “Christians” how wrong they were for not supporting him because he is a mormon. That is why he didn’t win, because he is a mormon. But, now people will get their eyes opened, and he will still save this nation. I have no doubt that God prepared Mitt for such a time as this. He has been prepared by God to help this country. And he will. Dont’ give up faith. This is coming from someone who originally was not going to vote for Mitt. I just had to study it out, and I became a daily supporter of the Man who will make all the difference in the United States of America!! If we must let McCain have the nomination, it wont be because we didnt’ fight our hearts out for the Man that will make all the difference! I know he will..... I just don’t know when or how... but God knows, and he is in charge.”
Granted, he came more on line when he and his handlers realized what conservatives were being turned off about re liberals like McCain, he moved in the conservative direction.
In the end, had he been conservative since after college or shortly thereafter (never appealing in MA as governer, however) lots of people, even those that "had trouble with Mormonism" would have climbed on board, especially realizing who and what we are up against.
It's hidden no more. Apparently it's not politically incorrect to be an anti-Mormon bigot.
Some of this backlash, I suspect, is due to the fact that Romney was considered such a threat.
A less competent and effective candidate may not have been subject to such a virulent and ugly attack as he has been on account of his religion.
I bet Romney was as Mormon as Kerry or JFK were Catholic.
We lived in Michigan also when his father was governor. It never was an issue. What gets me is in a country that believes in separation of church and state that religion can become such a major issue. I’m not Mormon myself because I don’t believe in everything they do but it should not have been made an issue in the race. What people should look at is the track record of the individual. If his positions on the issues are the same as yours then his religion should not make a difference. In fact I’ve met a lot of Mormons and my wife is a Mormon. I find that those I’ve met are very decent people and they’ve gone out of their way to help others. I’m more leery of some of those running who claim their from mainstream religions and yet spew some of the criticisms that were heard like from Huckabee. He should be ashamed of himself.
“Everyone knew he was a Mormon, but it was just an interesting trivia fact that no one paid any attention to.”
Whether people want to admit it or not, there were a number of people that wouldn’t vote for Romney because of his faith. Huckabee’s snide comments about Romney’s religion showed his true colors.
Good assessment.
I would have voted for Romney, because I did not immediately see how his Mormonism did anything that would effect his presidency except give him strong family values and a somewhat conservative perspective. However, I did have concerns that electing a President who was Mormon would normalize that religion in the eyes of a nation that seems to be open to any quirky spirituality out there. In my opinion, Mormonism is no form of Christianity but a cult. Furthermore, what we DON’T know about them, their “secrecies”, scare me when it comes to electing a President who is Mormon. Romney’s religion appears to be operative in his life and decision making. Like I said, I would have voted for him, but there were those concerned about Bush’s and Huckabee’s “born again” Christianity, when it had no mysterious, secret aspects to it. I just have a nagging question about the Mormon issue, not enough to vote McCain, but something to think about.
Yeah, like Harry, the Mormon, Reid. Then it's a non issue.
Regards
I think the MSM played on this big time. They knew the divisive theme would get picked up by some dupe and it was. Check those early debates where Romney always go the Mormon question. Then Huckabee came along and picked up the MSM lead to help divide “spiritual” people by running specifically as a Christian. This identity politics lured folks into more divisive debates about whether Mormons were really Christians or not and much like the search for a “real” conservative many were duped into the search for the “real” Christian. Then Huckabee really drove the issue home with his very obvious divisive statements to the NY Times writer about Mormons. Huckabee either did it on purpose to stir up fears about Mormonism or he’s just a dupe who was used. Either way, spiritual folk have been had.
Actually, the Mormons were more worried. Mormon practices don’t play well outside the church, whether it be secret rituals or garments or storing food or compulsary mission work or forbidding non-Mormon families from weddings. Mormons don’t really realize how strange it looks to people outside the church.
As to the spotlight on the church...I have no problem with that whatsoever. There are people who are anti-Catholic, anti-Evangelical, anti-Methodist, anti-Mormon, etc. ...even just plain anti-Christian. Always have been. The spotlight will not make much difference to those people set in their ways and blinded by pre-concieved notions or by misundertsanding. But it will, and has, made a positive difference for those with open minds who look at the Church (or any of those others for that matter) and the good that it does accomplish and the typpes of individuals and families it produces for those who subscribe to its tennants and are true to it.
Such attention and notice is always welcome.
I get the impression that Mormonism is operative in his life.
“Actually, the Mormons were more worried. Mormon practices don’t play well outside the church, whether it be secret rituals or garments or storing food or compulsary mission work or forbidding non-Mormon families from weddings. Mormons don’t really realize how strange it looks to people outside the church.”
Do you get your information from the guy in Colorado who does live exorcisms on his talk radio show or the guy down south who said a vote for Romney is a vote for Satan and that Oprah seemed to look as if she might be the anti-Christ?
I bet Romney was as Mormon as Kerry or JFK were Catholic.
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Romney was a bishop in the Mormon church. I hope conservatives wake up enough to not line up behind Romney again in a Presidential run. It was a loser this year against a weak field of candidates and it will be loser again — and divide the party again if people are foolish enough to support him. Romney’s money simply spoiled the campaigns of men like Thompson that would have ultimately been a lot better as the alternative to McCain. Romney is not the man except to divide the party.
News bulletin: Evangelicals don't realize how strange they look to people outside their church either. That don't make it right.
Nor for a Mormon to be bigoted against every other Christian faith. Bigotry against other faiths is part of the Mormon belief system. Don't believe me. Ask a Mormon how he would feel if his daughter or son married and became a Methodist. How would the church feel about that?
All these traits are ones that most other Americans find appealing.
bookmark
Really, How do they look strange?
And you wonder how we ended up with McCain?
Identity Politics hurts EVERYONE, including YOU.
The only thing about his Mormonism that bothered me was that I figured it would be a liability on election day. And I am a Southern Baptist. As long as he doesn’t preach from the Oval Office, there is no reason it should have any influence over your vote. And if history is a clue, then it appears that Romney would be very unlikely to make Mormonism an issue in his administration. Unfortunately, I don’t get the same comfort from Huckabee. He seems determined to use his position as a pulpit. Personally, I don’t think that is good for the country or for Christianity. Even Bush’s bumbling has harmed the Christian cause, and Bush isn’t even a preacher. Put a preacher in the Oval Office, and the Church would get the blame every time he makes a mistake.
The only thing about his Mormonism that bothered me was that I figured it would be a liability on election day. And I am a Southern Baptist. As long as he doesn’t preach from the Oval Office, there is no reason it should have any influence over your vote. And if history is a clue, then it appears that Romney would be very unlikely to make Mormonism an issue in his administration. Unfortunately, I don’t get the same comfort from Huckabee. He seems determined to use his position as a pulpit. Personally, I don’t think that is good for the country or for Christianity. Even Bush’s bumbling has harmed the Christian cause, and Bush isn’t even a preacher. Put a preacher in the Oval Office, and the Church would get the blame every time he makes a mistake.
Mitt was unnacceptable for social conservatives on the basis of his record as well. FReepers didn’t discuss his $50 copay for abortions in his universal health care program in Mass. enough . . . but he’s not the man for conservatives to support.
Do you really want to go down this road with your double standards? I just read you state above..."Bigotry against other faiths is part of the Mormon belief system." Geeze, you just know this because religious people don't like marrying out of their faith... like that's restricted to Mormons. Huge double standard on your part. And that's only one thing that looks strange.
I believe anti-Mormonism was the main reason why Mitt did not succeed
The GOP may not have always been a conservative party....but has always been the party that was pro-business.
In Romney you had an excellent candidate that fit the pro-business mantra. Sharp business man
Now, with the economically ignorant McCain....you have arguably the weakest candidate regarding economics. A professional Govt employee...who even chided Romney for “making profits”
You bet anti-Mormonism was the issue. Mitt may have not been as conservative as we like....but no one tops him on economic issues.
The GOP is toast if the economy keeps slipping
I think his religion would hurt him. I think the exposure would hurt the church. Look here on FR. The Mormons get very antsy when people start exposing the secrets of the church. Imagine what would happen if CNN and the NYT started doing it. Imagine Geraldo sneaking into a Temple and videotaping the rituals.
Mormons were hurt by all this big time.
They showed it in a big way by voting 90 percent for Romney in the Utah Primary Tuesday.
That’s the kind of vote Obama would get in South Central LA.
Identity Politics big time.
Mitt may have not been as conservative as we like....but no one tops him on economic issues.
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Ack! Mitt put universal compulsory healthcare in place for every Mass. citizen. It hasn’t worked and it is $400 million over estimated costs already. Mitt’s not the man for the future of the party.
I think Romney scored in Michigan talking sincerely about his father and the values he instilled in his children. It was very appealing and helped to "humanize" him a lot. If he had done more of that in Iowa he might not have lost his lead to Huckabee and the whole campaign might have turned out a lot differently. I think he can do more of that in 2012 without necessarily bringing the discussion back to his religion. It probably is not very comfortable for him, but he is going to have to do it.
I think it would hurt him, too, though mainly because of the reaction of the evangelicals. It did not appreciably hurt him in Massachusetts, nor did it hurt his father much in Michigan. The evangelical reaction was in my view pretty bone-headed. But I guess evangelicals are not very astute politically in a lot of instances. They have power in numbers, but don’t use it very wisely, often squandering it.
Mitt was the third or fourth choice of most conservatives. The pretense that he was conservative at all is wearing thin. Can’t we put it to rest? Just look at his Mass. compulsory health care plan and come back and tell me that the Clinton/Kennedy/Romney type plan is conservative.
I don’t care if my daughter marries a Baptist or a Presbyterian or any other kind of Protestant. I used to be a Presbyterian. Even a Catholic would be OK. I don’t get your point.
If your issue with Romney is his religion you are a complete religious bigot with a despicable thought process.
Romney spent $40 million of his own money because he wanted to give back to the country. Most politicians come into politics as a career and have never run anything. Romney is the most accomplished leader to come into politics in a long time with a track record of success in multiple areas of life.
Why is a baptist minister ok but a Mormon is not. Huckabee wears his religion on a sleeve and Romney does not. On a personal life basis, Romney has an impeccable personal life and several so called Christians have multiple skeletons in their closet.
Now that Romney is out, what is your purpose for existing anymore since your life was defined by trashing Romney.
Romney did not try to convince you that the Mormon’s religious doctrines were correct, though. He was just trying to convince you that he could run the country better than his opponents.
My point and purpose is to get FReepers off this “Romney was conservative” nonsense. He put in place $50 copays for abortion in a mandatory universal healthcare plan. That is THE big next step for the left, to nationalize completely 25% of our economy. Mitt was part of that in Massachusetts. He bowed to the pro-abortion groups in implementing the plan and Kennedy was at the signing. All that his money did in this race was drive out better conservatives than himself and leave McCain standing after conservatives and social conservatives split their votes among multiple candidates.
That's mighty white of you... How about a Jew, how about a Mormon, how about a Muslim, how about a Hindu, how about an Atheist? Any objections? If so, by your own words, bigotry must be a part of your belief system. Your logic is what I'm questioning. Sorry you just don't get it. I suggest taking some time, re-reading what you wrote and practicing some spiritual contemplation.
“Unfortunately, I don’t get the same comfort from Huckabee. He seems determined to use his position as a pulpit. Personally, I don’t think that is good for the country or for Christianity. Even Bush’s bumbling has harmed the Christian cause, and Bush isn’t even a preacher. Put a preacher in the Oval Office, and the Church would get the blame every time he makes a mistake.”
Bush can’t think and talk at the same time, no comparison. I could have done far better in the Kerry debates un-prepped. Huck’s problems come from the fact that he simply hasn’t been exposed to a forum outside of Arkansas. “preachin’” in Arkansas works. It works in the South where the Super Tuesday primaries were being held. I think you will see him come up the learning curve in a hurry. He is smarter than Bush. I don’t think he has much chance against McCain, but I think you are missing his strategy when you dismiss him as treating the presidency as a pulpit.
That is as bad as a white person not voting for a black candidate only because they are black.
And it ends up saddling with a liberal in our party. He may have the right “religion” but his views are heresy to real conservatives.
For me other than a Muslim candidate who would be unacceptable, all other religions are ok as long as the candidate is qualified in the areas that matter and Romney was clearly the best candidate that we had left.
Well, anti-Semitism is as much racial as religious. This is more along the lines of Big Cult resenting Smaller Cult over differences in their Rulebooks. Typical "Die, Heretic!" stuff. And I guess it's to be expected in a country that isn't nearly as open to free religious expression as it claims to be.
You are dead wrong. This was mandated by the Liberal Mass Supreme court and besides abortions are covered by all other health plans so why is this worse.
Romney opposed the $50 abortion co-pay but the Liberal Supreme Court and the next communist Governor Deval Patrick ensured that it was passed.
What I see is the people have the lowest ratings in many years for both our Congress and Prez. Yet who are they voting to elect? Yup, the same old, tired corrupt people. Both new candidates are out. McCain and Clinton will be your deal.
So the fact is, the voters are flip floppers, liberal, nanny state lovers and in some cases prejudiced against Mormons.
Even though I was ready to vote for Romney, I was still uneasy about two things: 1. Did he really believe some of the “far-fetched” beliefs of Mormonism. If so, I had to question his judgment; and 2. If he professed that religion but didn’t believe those things, I had to question his honesty.
I think Romney did an excellent job in telling people where he stood. But many simply did not listen.
Wrong, do the google — $50 copay, abortion, Massachusetts.
...wnat they should do is emphasize the positive aspects of the LDS: the importance in the LDS religion of sobriety, marital fidelity, family life, hard work and enterprise.
Good Point...
unfortunately, negative news is usually more popular than positive news. There is a point from this WSJ article showing that a video on YouTube supporting LDS beliefs recieved 25,000 hits versus 910,000 hits for another video mocking LDS beliefs.
If you call a war hero “A professional Govt employee” I can see your point, similar to Eisenhower, Dole, et al. When he refused to come home as a VC gesture to his father’s rank, that proved something about the man that just doesn’t seem bureaucratic to me. I’m not a McCain fan, but let’s be fair. That he approached Kerry about being his VP disgusts me. I do not understand his thought processes. But he is not “A professional Govt employee” .
Romney and Schwarzenegger have done nothing more than provide the Sheeple with what the Major Media, and a concentrated PROPOGANDA CAMPAIGN have convinced them they want...
The Mass. nightmare may end up being the BEST thing Mitt could have done for Conservatives, in the end, as the Sheeple begin to realize that “Free” or mandated healthcare really isn’t free...
But you would be ok with the serial adulterer Guliani.
There are plenty of so called Christians who have beliefs that would shock you if you knew them. Romney has no actions in his personal life that would cause a mainstream religious American any concern. This whole thought process of my way of worshipping is better than yours is absurd.
What makes your approach to God the only one that is acceptable to all Americans ?
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