Posted on 08/14/2010 1:24:41 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
It is a truism of modern media that few subjects draw more attention than politics. If you're a savvy journalist or blogger looking to attract page views in today's 24-hour news cycle, the shortcut to success requires slapping some political "analysis" on to whatever story you're covering, like so:
"University releases groundbreaking cancer study: What does it mean for Obama?"
Of course, I've been guilty of this to some extent in my (young) journalism career. And having spent the past few months interning at a national news outlet with a website that has scores of competitors, I understand all too well the occasional need to quickly pick a unique angle and go with it. Which is why I was not all that surprised when the press began buzzing with an interesting conspiracy theory connected with a new LDS ad campaign.
The campaign in question consists of commercials airing in nine middle-America markets. Each ad zeroes in on the life of an interesting Latter-day Saint. Seems pretty benign, right? Not if you ask page view-hungry journalists.
On liberal website Salon.com, Alex Pareene writes, "But … are Mormons just trying to convince Americans that Mormons are 'normal,' so that in 2012 they'll consider voting for Mormon King Mitt Romney? (These ads are running in four or five potential swing states, after all.)" He goes on to quote a church spokesman who insists "this has nothing to do with Mitt at all," but of course, by raising the question, Pareene is clearly hinting that it's a legitimate concern.
And he's not the only one. The idea has been floated in several news outlets. I haven't been able to track this theory back to its root, but I suppose it was bound to come up.
The problem, of course, is that it's ludicrous. Even if you believe that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is sinister enough to claim political neutrality and then secretly coordinate PR efforts with a potential presidential candidate, how would such actions benefit Mormonism? As I've written before, a Romney presidency would open the church up to unrelenting attacks from the left and most likely alienate potential converts who happen to be Democrats. If Romney governed like a true social conservative, the church might gain favor among the Republican base, but it's doubtful that we'd see swarms of evangelicals suddenly endorsing LDS doctrine.
In reality, this ad campaign is about what PR ad campaigns are always about: improving public image. The church's central message to the public has become distorted in recent years, especially in the wake of Proposition 8, and these commercials are intended to remind people that Mormons aren't all crazy, self-righteous cultists.
So, what is the central message the church is trying to communicate? Our full-time proselyting missionaries might answer that question with an Article of Faith or a line from Preach My Gospel, but the people in these commercials are not missionaries, and I think one of them explains it very well:
"This is the bottom line to me. The Mormon church teaches good principles. … I think it makes people better. It'll take a bad person and make 'em good, and a good person and make 'em better."
That may not make for a sexy political story, but it has the advantage of being true.
*******
McKay Coppins is a journalism major at BYU. His weekly blog chronicles the Mormon twenty-something experience. McKay's column, "Mormon Twentysomething," appears Fridays on MormonTimes.com.
E-mail: mcoppins@desnews.com
If you could show me a conservative lds running for office, I might agree with you.
I think he still works there. He is not a conservative.
I should have said that they hate the Mormon religion more than Islam.
Post 20 gives an idea of why Christians would think that they are called to resist Mormon recruitment efforts here at FR, or anywhere else.
Maybe to you.
Their version of Christ may be the correct one and yours might be totally wrong...magritte
Yes to Christians only of course, God Bless the USA.
Against such blindness, you cannot expect to have a rational discussion. Leave ‘it’ be ...
Something that all the Christian churches seem to agree on, is that Mormonism is a different religion, that it isn’t a Christian denomination.
I guess I never understood the intense fear many Christians have when it comes to Christianity being on the open market of ideas. Saying that Mormons prosletyzing—something Christians have done for centuries—and all sorts of other exchanges of ideas, religious and philosophical, is a threat to your religion doesn’t say much for the power of that religion.
If you have God on your side, you should be completely fearless of all comers—and invite other religions to bring it on. Yet the emotion expressed by so many Christians these days is fear that other religions are threatening it when they use the very tactics Christianity has always used.
If you know Christianity is the true religion, what are you afraid of? You have God on your side—who can be against you?
I recognize a guy that probably tells people that he is an atheist, but really he is just anti-Christian.
I can recognize someone who can't argue simple, direct points--or show a single anti-Christian thing I've ever said--so he just whines "Anti-Christian"and runs in fear while claiming he believes in an Almighty God.
Way to have the courage of your convictions.
From what I can see, your only reason on this thread has been to defend Mormonism and attack the Christian culture of America.
Let me guess, this is one of your routines?
Please show ONE "attack" I've made on the Christian culture of America.
Oh--you mean saying Christians AND Mormons both prosletyze is an attack, don't you?
Nice way to completely avoid my very simple point, which I'll repeat--if your religion is THE religion, why do you fear other, false religions trying to gain supporters?
Your every post is making my point for me. Too bad you can't have a reasonable discussion and can only smear me. Isn't that what a certain someone did before the cock crowed?
BTW, to answer your “from what I can see” point, all you have to do is look at my first post on this thread, and there’s your answer.
You have to pretend I’m some kind of stealth threat to you to pose as the put-upon believer, but it’s dishonest—my posts are very honest and open. Sorry you’re not up to the challenge.
Your first post was a nice defense of Mormonism and a slight at the Christian culture of America, my guess is, that is a common way that an atheist would handle himself in the religion section.
Luckily, I don’t have to waste much time on militant, anti-Christian, atheists since there is nothing to be gained.
My first post never mentioned or even alluded to Christianity. It was a defense of Mormonism and religious freedom. Lying about my posts is more of a slight than anything I've said.
Luckily, I don’t have to waste much time on militant, anti-Christian, atheists since there is nothing to be gained.
That you simply pile on the lies and completely avoid my actual points is the only slight against Christianity going on here.
Run away, scared little victim.
LOL, why don’t you start a pro-Mormon thread from the atheist living in America point of view, it may relieve some of the tension.
What tension? I’m laughing at the fact that I’m an atheist who tells the truth, while you’re a Christian who has to lie to avoid the simplest questions. :)
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