Romney bid was a crucible for Mormons

Associated Press ^ | February 9, 2008 | Rachael Zoll

[Zakeet]

Mitt Romney isn't the only casualty in his failed presidential bid. The Mormon church, yearning for broad acceptance, also took a beating.

Extremists denounced Romney's campaign as a Mormon plot to take over the country. Some Evangelicals feared that a Mormon in the White House would draw more converts to his faith.

Mormon practices were picked apart, even ones that had been abandoned long ago such as polygamy. Romney tried to focus on politics, but was often asked about sacred Mormon undergarments.

"It is prejudice," said Richard Bushman, an emeritus professor at Columbia University, who is a leading historian and devout Mormon. "Underlying all these questions is that these beliefs are basically crazy so you've got to explain them to us."

[Snip]

"I was surprised at the level of intensity and sometimes flat out animosity," said Lowell C. Brown, a Los Angeles attorney who is Mormon. "I had no idea. I'm in my 50s, I've been a Mormon all my life, I've lived in L.A. for 25 years, and it floored me."

Many Christians said they were raising legitimate theological concerns, not Mormon-bashing.

The news service of the Southern Baptist Convention, which considers the LDS church a cult, ran a six-part series through December explaining why they don't consider Mormonism to be Christian.

[Snip]

Mormons were especially outraged when GOP presidential contender Mike Huckabee, a Southern Baptist pastor, asked whether Mormons consider Jesus and the devil brothers. Latter-day Saints say Huckabee's question is usually raised by those who wish to smear the Mormon faith rather than clarify doctrine.

[MARTIAL MONK]

It does exist, I don't know how it affects the total scheme of things. Some people will hide behind other issues to conceal the real reasons and in the mix of issues it is an underlying prejudice rather than an overriding concern.

Hopefully, with Mitt being such an impressive candidate, the barrier has been broken.

In 1976 Mo Udall was very competative with Jimmy Carter. In the Michigan primary Carter had Coleman Young attack Udall over the LDS position on Blacks in the Church. Udall had broken with his faith over this issue and had suspended his Church membership. It didn't matter. Blacks broke heavily for Carter and Udall lost. History could have been very different but for this issue.

[Salvation]

Catholics and Catholicism also take a beating during elections.

Let’s face it, the world doesn’t like faith in God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

[svcw]

As a born again Christian not an evangelical Christian (whatever that is),

if everything were equal between the Republican candidates -

everything equal, I may not voted for MR because he is LDS.

But everything was not equal so it never became an issue.

[txlurker]

That’s ok...you know exactly what I meant.

[adc]

Agree.

I honestly believe Romney lost because the MSM didn’t want him to win. They knew it would be close between he and McCain, and they wanted McCain. What they want is what they get. And most people just follow along. Sad state of affairs in this country, when most voters vote based on media opinion. But they do.

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>[Evangelical Christians are bigots alert]<<<

Well, some of ‘em are. And some of ‘em even post here...

[morkfork]

In some people’s case, it was the “human experience”, in others, it was out and out bigotry. To think otherwise, is pollyanish.

The connotations of the word bigot are pretty extensive. Be careful how you paint with that brush.

The great thing in this country is we have the right to be a bigot if we want to do so. It was Romney's job to address it as best he could and convince those he could he wasn't "the boogey man." He did some. Given more time and name exposure, he can allay those fears some. And try to win in 2012.

At least we can think as we want until the reeducation camps begin under a soon to occur liberal president, from whatever party they belong.

[Always Right]

Actually I supported Romney as soon as Fred was out. If he was still running, I would have voted for him.

[NoGrayZone]

I find it disgusting, however, I’m not the one people should be fearful of when their time arrives.

[Utah Binger]

Mitt needs to be honest about his deep thoughts. Hey Mitt, have you ever thought JS was a fake? Tell the truth now Mitty. Didn’t you ever have thoughts about the jillions of people in Africa and China that needed to be taught and baptized for the dead? Seems impossible does it not?

I will not answer apologists.

[Rider on the Rain]

No, it was a real reason, esp in the south among the baptists who tend to be bigoted.

I'm in the South, and was a Baptist, now an independent evangelical, and find your accusation extremely offensive. So, duh, thank you very much, Jane, but it just ain't so. I'm not crazy about John, but I believe we need a wartime leader. Mitt, albeit a supreme business leader, is not up to that job. Just MO.

[dowcaet]

Sadly, religous bigotry is alive and well in the GOP, especially in the south. Maybe religion wasn’t the biggest reason Romney is out of the race, but don’t tell me it wasn’t on the mind of our some our “Christian” friends south of the Mason Dixon line when they went to the polls.

[JaneNC]

And that is why Huckleberry does well among the baps.....

I live in the south too....and I have seen hate sermons on TV....every week by bap preachers......

It is a reality...like it or not and Huckleberry fed it.

[Hattie]

No, it was a real reason, esp in the south among the baptists who tend to be bigoted.

Yes. I live in the south.

[Rider on the Rain]

but don’t tell me it wasn’t on the mind

What's on my mind is you're a troll. Hang it in your ear.

[seoul62]

Well, hello what planet are these people living on? Yes, Mormons are accepted into the mainstream of American Society - have achieved the heights in Business: Mariott Hotel Chain, Jet Blue and Politics: Mitt Romney and Harry Reid but the Presidency as I have stated before is a White-Male-Protestant-*(with the exception of President John F. Kennedy-Catholic)* Club. Will this trend change? Only time will tell./Just Asking - seoul62......

[Hattie]

You have to wonder how Utah is going to vote in the general this year after all this.

[Minn. 4 Bush]

“The connotations of the word bigot are pretty extensive. Be careful how you paint with that brush.”

Well, if you have the time to look thru threads over the last months, I don’t believe you could dispute that some of what was said about Romney and his religion on these threads would fall under the definition “bigot”. I have been really surprised at some of the vitriol that has come out of some Freepers re: his religion.

You are correct, in this country you can be a bigot and in this country, I can call you one.

I also agree that more than likely, we will be talking about a President Clinton or Obama. For crying out loud, if these threads are any indication, we are a party split into many pieces.

[Boiler Plate]

esp in the south among the baptists who tend to be bigoted.

Bigots, such as yourself, are found pretty much everywhere and are certainly not limited to any particular race, color, creed, nationality, theology or lack thereof.

[Diogenesis]

Welcome Newbie. But it ain’t true.

Sadly, there are posters here like you,
who are more interested in smearing good people than being
honest. Sort of like Romney, himself.