An Ugly Attack on Mormons

article.nationalreview.com ^ | December 3, 2008 | Jonah Goldberg

[Publius804]

An Ugly Attack on Mormons

The easiest targets for an organized campaign against religious freedom of conscience.

By Jonah Goldberg

Did you catch the political ad in which two Jews ring the doorbell of a nice working-class family? They barge in and rifle through the wife’s purse and then the man’s wallet for any cash. Cackling, they smash the daughter’s piggy bank and pinch every penny. “We need it for the Wall Street bailout!” they exclaim.

No? Maybe you saw the one with the two swarthy Muslims who knock on the door of a nice Jewish family and then blow themselves up?

No? Well, then surely you saw the TV ad in which two smarmy Mormon missionaries knock on the door of an attractive lesbian couple. “Hi, we’re from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!” says the blond one with a toothy smile. “We’re here to take away your rights.” The Mormon zealots yank the couple’s wedding rings from their fingers and then tear up their marriage license.

As the thugs leave, one says to the other, “That was too easy.” His smirking comrade replies, “Yeah, what should we ban next?” The voice-over implores viewers: “Say no to a church taking over your government.”

Obviously, the first two ads are fictional because no one would dare run such anti-Semitic or anti-Muslim attacks.

The third ad, however, was real. It was broadcast throughout California on Election Day as part of the effort to rally opposition to Proposition 8, the initiative that successfully repealed the right to same-sex marriage in the state.

What was the reaction to the ad? Widespread condemnation? Scorn? Rebuke? Tepid criticism?

Nope.

The Los Angeles Times, a principled opponent of Proposition 8, ran an editorial lamenting that the “hard-hitting commercial” was too little, too late.

[gundog]

The Mormons have been pushed as far as they’re gonna go. Look at their cities. They’re fortresses.

[GVnana]

I’ve been witness to plenty of Mormon bashers here on FR, and they sould be ashamed of themselves.

[samtheman]

The title makes it seem that Goldberg is the one making an ugly attack on Mormons.

[NonValueAdded]

Why would Jonah do that? Oh wait, you changed the title.

[wintertime]

The Mormons have been pushed as far as they’re gonna go. Look at their cities. They’re fortresses.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Where are these fortified Mormon cities? Perhaps if I knock they will let me and my family in and give us protection from the atheistic mobs that are now forming.

[rightwinggoth]

the main difference is that the first two ads reflect reality.

[Deb]

Your headline blows.

[rhombus]

The Mormons have been pushed as far as they’re gonna go. Look at their cities. They’re fortresses.

Salt Lake City? Are there other fortresses I'm missing or are they camouflaged so I can't see them?

[Admin Moderator]

Removed ‘By Jonah Goldberg’ from title to avoid confusion

[Don W]

Accidentally omitting a punctuation mark is NOT changing the title.

Relax, Francis.

[Publius804]

Wow...I didn’t realize the headline would cause such controversy. Next time I’ll make sure to watch my punctuation. Sorry for causing such outrage. :-)

[Cathy]

Don’t ever call me Francis, or I’ll kill you.

[Arguendo]

Stating that Mormons are not real Christians is not the same thing as Mormon bashing, though there was some real Mormon bashing during the primaries.

[MeanWestTexan]

Theological disputes are appropriate and expected in a free society.

This is simply hate.

[henkster]

Hate and fear. Staples of the left.

[NonValueAdded]

Don’t be the south end of Francis, Richard.

[ccmay]

The Mormons have been pushed as far as they’re gonna go. Look at their cities. They’re fortresses.

I'm not sure what you're talking about. Several of my partners are Mormon, and I know they keep emergency supplies of food on hand (as should we all). And I think they are all gun owners or at least sympathetic.

But none of them live in a fortress, nor does any "Mormon city" I've ever seen look like a fortress. And I think there is a long ways to go before their good-natured tolerance is all used up.

Salt Lake City, by the way, is majority non-Mormon nowadays, with a really stupid and obnoxious liberal Dem for a mayor.

-ccm

[netmilsmom]

>>I’ve been witness to plenty of Mormon bashers here on FR, and they sould be ashamed of themselves.<<

I’m Catholic and I have too.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Stating that Mormons are not real Christians is not the same thing as Mormon bashing

Let's try it a different way, see how it looks:

"Stating that MormonsCatholics are not real Christians is not the same thing as MormonCatholic bashing..."

Or how 'bout:

"Stating that MormonsBaptists are not real Christians is not the same thing as MormonBaptist bashing..."

Ummmm... yeah it is. It is the same thing. And it is ugly and unbecoming of Christians. I think we ought to leave it to God to decide who is/isn't "Christian" and focus instead on working out our own Salvation with trembling and fear.

We each of us aren't that righteous...