Are Mormons Keeping Mitt Romney Afloat?

The Atlantic ^ | March 15, 2012 | Timothy Stanley

[C19fan]

There are six kids in white shirts and black ties standing in a line. One steps forward and dances around the others, hissing and sneering like a bobcat. He moves to the front on the chorus and the boys start slapping their thighs in a steady one-two-three, one-two-three rhythm. The leader cries, "Grab the book from your pants!" They pull out a black book -- one-two-three. "Slap the book on your chest!" They slap away -- one-two-three. "Read the book, read the book, pray, pray!" One-two-three. "We've got the gospel, you get it, you get it?" Then they step towards the camera and wave their hands. "You come walk in the waters with meeee!" The boys fall to the floor in a fit of giggles. It's one of the odder sights on YouTube.

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Romney's victories owed something to the Pacific islands' large population of Mormons. In fact, local members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may have proved crucial to winning each of these caucuses. It wouldn't be the first case of Mormons bailing out Romney this campaign season. They've also helped his candidacy in two critical Western states -- demonstrating that Mormons aren't just a great fundraising network, but a surprisingly powerful demographic force within the world of low-turnout GOP primaries and caucuses.

[WVNan]

After listening to Glenn Beck for a long time and then finding out about the Mormon prophesy, I thought he believed he was the “one” to save the Constitution. Is that the reason he is supporting Santorum instead of Romney? Maybe he doesn’t want the competition. :o)

[Vigilanteman]

There is an option #3 which probably makes more sense than either:

Work to nominate the most conservative or trustworthy candidate which you can possibly get. Even if you have strong opinions which may clash with the preceptions of others on the pro-America team.

Failing that, vote for the most viable though imperfect candidate running against Barack Obama because you know he represents pure evil.

BTW, I certainly agree that your option (2) probably makes more sense than option (1) if, for no other reason, that Mormons do not have their own little sub-group of religious zealots who maintain the false illusion that they can silence or drive away anyone who disagrees with their theology.

A certain very vocal minority among the fundamentalists, unfortunately, still cling to that illusion as evidenced by the fact that they can call in their fellow travelers and immediately swamp any thread on this forum with their useless cut and paste garbage if they want to.

I actually confess to having a soft spot for any sect which is a target of that type of bullying. Maybe it is because of my Native American heritage.

[sanjuanbob]

It’s practically undeniable that many Mormons are voting for Romney because he is a Mormon.

And the blacks vote for the black.

And why does everyone tout Rubio as a VP selection?

[douginthearmy]

Except that there is no Evangelical running, so logically they take the most expressly religious option that most closely matches their own. Does noone remember 2008 and Mike Huckabee? Certain individuals obviously will vote along their policy beliefs, however, as a large voting block, evangelicals tend to vote for the religious choice. To then come out and complain that Mormons vote for a Mormon is very ironic in my objective opinion, given that I am not Mormon, nor Protestant, nor Catholic nor supporting Romney nor Santorum. I find the whole thing very humorous, like a bunch of kettles in a circle.

[dfwgator]

Does the Pope .... in the woods?

[RecoveringPaulisto]

Obviously Santorum is playing the Huckabee of 2012. He’s weaker in some areas, stronger in others (electorally speaking), but in large measure, Huckabee’s strongest supporters are now Santorum’s strongest supporters.

What you have to consider with Evangelicals is that our policy beliefs are strongly influenced by our religious beliefs. That’s why Evangelicals vote as a bloc for the most part. Trying to put up a bifurcation between “religion” and “politics” in the way many do simply does not make sense in the majority of Evangelical minds. It’s not because they have an additional “religion test” that candidates must pass. We vote for Santorum, not on religious grounds, but on policy grounds. Huckabee got the vote on policy grounds as well, he just had the added benefit of being a Baptist pastor at one point.

[troy McClure]

Mormons are a CULT plain and Simple, no different than Scientology.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/episodes/s07e12-all-about-mormons

[troy McClure]

Mormons are a CULT plain and Simple, no different than Scientology.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/episodes/s07e12-all-about-mormons