Posted on 05/16/2012 8:26:24 AM PDT by greyfoxx39
Democrats are weaving together a string of anecdotes about Mitt Romney to argue he lacks compassion, and the former Massachusetts governor might have to fight back using something he doesn’t like to talk about— his Mormon religion.
The tales about Romney range from the trivial to the traumatic, from the political to the personal. But the Obama campaign’s hope is that they create a synergistic, decidedly negative portrait of a candidate who is still largely unknown to many voters.
Romney’s sins, according to Democrats: He once strapped his dog, Seamus, to the roof of his car during a family vacation; he reportedly bullied a fellow high school student who was gay; and he helped ship jobs overseas while working at the investment firm Bain Capital.
They’ve also pointed to various Romney statements, such as that he “likes to fire people” and he’s “not concerned about the very poor,” to suggest a political myopia for a man who wants to be president.
The veracity of the stories and statements has been debated but, whatever their merit, all are intended to buttress the notion that Romney is missing a compassion gene.
Will it work?
So far, it looks like Democrats are barking up the right tree.
An AP poll this month showed that voters thought President Obama understood their problems better than Romney, 51 percent to 33. The most recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll showed Obama beating Romney by 30 points on “caring about average people” and 29 points on “being compassionate enough to understand average people.”
And in Quinnipiac’s most recent poll, only 44 percent said Romney cared about the problems and needs of people like them, while 57 percent said the same about Obama.
So the evidence is clear: A compassion gap exists, and Romney needs to figure out how to cut into it.
There’s no shortage of anecdotes about Romney’s compassion and kindness on a personal level — many of them recounted in Michael Kranish and Scott Helman’s biography, The Real Romney. But there’s a distinct danger in regaling voters with these stories. Many of Romney’s acts of kindness were toward Mormon families, and so any discussion about those tales also raises the prospect of a less welcome discussion of Romney’s religion.
Romney himself has made it clear that he’s not interested in veering into theological discussions during the campaign, and it’s not hard to see why. Mormon doctrine remains a mystery to many Americans, and the Romney campaign would rather litigate Obama’s record, not Joseph Smith’s.
Thus, it’s easy to see why the campaign might be reluctant to talk about Romney’s many acts of kindness. That hesitation seems to be born nearly entirely of religion and not a sense of personal modesty, as the following story suggests.
In 1996, the teenage daughter of one of Romney’s co-workers at Bain Capital went missing for three days. When the police struggled to find her, Romney temporarily shut down his Boston-based company and flew both himself and his employees to New York City to help find the girl, who was eventually located.
It’s a moving tale of compassion, but also politically instructive. When he ran for president in 2008, Romney cut a TV ad telling the story, and then four years later, a super-PAC supporting him, Restore Our Future, released a nearly identical version of the spot. As for Romney himself, The Associated Press notes that, although he hasn’t mentioned it frequently on the campaign trail, he has occasionally recounted the story.
What’s particularly noteworthy is why Romney and his allies would choose to focus on this particular tale of compassion over others, and the answer might very well be that it wasn’t related to Romney’s religion.
That’s not the only time Romney’s campaign has chosen to highlight a non-religious example of his compassion. After the allegation of Romney’s high-school bullying broke, one of his advisers went on TV to defend Romney as “deeply compassionate” and, oddly, pointed to a presidential debate during which Romney tried to help a stumbling Rick Perry collect his thoughts.
It was striking that the campaign chose to trot out that moment to defend the candidate’s “kind impulses,” and not the myriad stories detailing his charitable work with the Mormon Church.
Since delivering an address on Mormonism in his 2008 run, Romney has assiduously avoided a deeper personal discussion of his faith. Some pundits have suggested that he open up about the subject, and although that carries risks, it also brings opportunities. If Romney and his campaign were more comfortable talking about faith, they could also stress the compassionate anecdotes.
So far, it doesn’t look like Romney’s interested in indulging in a deeper look at either his faith or his role in the church, but the compassion gap between him and Obama is massive, and, at some point, Romney might put voters’ sympathy for religious tolerance to the test.
Does any rational person believe that will change if/when he holds the power of the presidency?
Remember, Mitt (along with many other mormon men), has made this vow in the mormon temple: "You and each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar, that you do accept the Law of Consecration as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, in that you do consecrate yourselves, your time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he may bless you, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of Zion."
When you are faced with the cries on FR to "Vote ABO", keep in mind that the power that Obama is usurping could also be placed in the hands of the mormon church, whose population in the US is around 2% of the population.
I stand with Jim Robinson..my vote will not go to Romney.
“Does any rational person believe that will change if/when he holds the power of the presidency?”
No rational person prefers the marxist kenyan over Romney.
The leftwingtards imagine they can defend a dog eater with this stuff.
Good, someone will find the original account of the “missing girl” and finally set it straight. Romney was part of the story not the whole of the story.
Yep, his “compassion” will be investigated and will be found mostly towards mormons.
mormonism is being laid bare, that’s why Romney doesn’t want to discuss it.
No rational person does not get Romney and BHO are the same - liberal.
No rational person does not get they both have records - liberal.
I prefer a conservative, I am no longer voting for liberals “just to get someone in office who has an R stamped on their forehead”.
IMO until they investigate and reveal the “Political Agenda” of LDS Leaderships, of which Romney is about. The religious aspect alone will not deter those who believe so called religion should not be an issue.
Romney's Oaths to the Leadership of the LDS Organization will surely supersede his Oath of Office as President...that's pretty much a given to those who understand the seriousness of the LDS Oaths. The Leadership of LDS will assuredly use Romney's position to advance and assist in the LDS Agenda, both Political and otherwise. No one should doubt that.
I have very serious issues with LDS Leadership calling shots for this country. The public is not informed of who they are nor their operations National and Internationally....and are completely unaccountable to any other than within their tight knit group. They operate in the dark and cover their tracks very well. So too will they do so should Romney win the Presidency.
IMO A vote for Romney will support the LDS Leadership and their political agenda for this nation and all are Globalists, with tentacles worldwide....and they have those in Powerful positions on all fronts to pull it off.
What the hell is a “compassion gap”?
Seriously. What the hell is a “compassion gap”?
It's in the article, plain as day.
**Romney’s faith could fix compassion gap**
LOL!
Mormons in the church government (as Romney was) have no compassion — they go by strict rules.
A Catholic friend of mine could not attend her daughter’s wedding because she was a Gentile.
Also, evidently the ceremony is secret.
Willard, we don’t want your “lack of compassion” or your “secrets.”
Counting down to the “Oh look its the bigots...” bigots...
Then the writer pulled it out of his rear end.
There is no governmental “compassion.”
Stupid writer.
Google Executive Joins CVLC (BYU press announcement)
"CPMS is pleased to introduce Danny Young as the newest member of the College Volunteer Leadership Council (CVLC) — a group of accomplished friends and alumni of the college who work with the college administration to support mentored learning, assist in outreach, facilitate fundraising and prepare students for the industry or graduate school.
Currently, Young is the director of business operations and strategy at Google Inc.. In his present role, he leads project teams in addressing strategic opportunities and designing efficient business processes for the company.
The article does NOT indicate that Young is leaving Google for this position. Imagine "designing efficient business processes for Google! Crony Capitalism...meet crony power-wielding.
AND...Romney and His Money
"In an interview with C-Span in March 2006, Mr. Romney said that upon the death of his father, George, the former chief executive of American Motors, he received an inheritance. But he quickly donated the money to Brigham Young University, he said. (The younger Mr. Romney and his wife, Ann, attended the college, which is tied to the Mormon Church.)"
And THAT will be his undoing!
"Compassion", like "fairness", is undefinable but the leftists genuinely believe that they alone know it when they see it.
When leftists speak of a "compassion gap" what they mean is "Shut up!"
Yeah, he’s gonna go to the Mormon prophet for every decision he makes, just like he did as Governor of Massachusetts.
Oh wait. Maybe he should have done more of that.
Get a grip.
Many of Romney’s acts of kindness were toward Mormon families, and so any discussion about those tales also raises the prospect of a less welcome discussion of Romney’s religion.
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Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Any RomneyBots know of an instance where Willie Mitty helped a Christian family ???
Any non-Mormon family ???
Eh ???
Elsie, would that violate that pesty article ???
Just helping ???
There was that case once where that Mormon bishop just drove passed a woman with small children..
Her car had broken down but he refused to stop to help her..
Seems Mormon men are not allowed to help women...even Mormon women..or children...
gf do you have that story ???
What’s particularly noteworthy is why Romney and his allies would choose to focus on this particular tale of compassion over others, and the answer might very well be that it wasn’t related to Romney’s religion.
_______________________________________________
Except it was...
The girl was a Mormon...
Her father was and is high up in the Mormon leadership...
One of the CEOs of the Mormon business...
not a sense of personal modesty,
_______________________________________
We have yet to see this attribute in Wee Willie Mitty...
Hes not a shy boy about how greater than he thinks he is...
a dog eater
_________________________________
How old was Barry when he ate dog meat in Indonesia ???
By age 10 he was back in the US living with his mothers parents in Hawaii...
That means he was just a child eating what was put in front of him by adults...
Romney’s high-school bullying
___________________________________
as a victim of bullying myself, I think Willard was dispictable...
It goes far beyond a prank by a stupid school boy...
For anyone to excuse this assault on another student is beyond me...
How would you like someone to do that to you ???
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