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November 15, 2007
Sympathy for the Mormon?
Mitt Romney may have just been handed a way to deal with the "Mormon issue."
In an apparent push poll, a research firm has called Iowa Republicans this week praising John McCain and criticizing Mitt Romney and his Mormon faith.Allah wonders whether it's Giuliani, and there's evidence pointing to his campaign as a suspect. Rudy doesn't make sense, though, unless he's making a last-ditch effort to exceed expectations in that primary. I don't believe McCain is as squeaky clean as he pretends, but I don't see this originating from his campaign.An individual in Manchester, Iowa, contacted me on Wednesday night saying he received a call with information about McCain's military service and anti-spending record.
Then there were "lots of negatives on Romney," said the recepient of the call in an e-mail, including mentions of his "flip-flops," hiring illegal immigrants as landscapers and extensive discussion of Mormonism.
"Statements were on baptizing the dead, the Book of Mormon being on the level of the Bible, and one about equating it to a cult," said the Iowan, deeming them "common criticisms of Mormonism."
Still, I think this ploy will backfire no matter which campaign originated it and the Romney campaign will likely use it to begin the process of taking his faith off the table as a potential negative against him. Even voters who may have doubts about Romney based on his faith are not likely to look kindly on another candidate attacking him based on his Mormonism. This has the potential of giving Romney some sympathy, even among evangelicals who may not like Mormonism, but like faith-based attacks even less.
I don't agree with the tenets of the Mormon faith, but I don't particularly like to see a candidate's personal belief in God used against him. Mormonism may have some odd beliefs, but I'd like to see the campaigns focus on the issues, not who another candidate prays to on Sunday.
Posted by slublog at November 15, 2007 10:30 PM
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» Whodunit? from Rhymes With Right
Who is behind the anti-Mormon push polling in Iowa and New Hampshire? Residents in New Hampshire and Iowa have received phone calls raising questions about Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, his Mormon faith and the Vietnam War-era military d... [Read More]
Tracked on November 16, 2007 06:35 AM
» Whodunit? from Rhymes With Right
Who is behind the anti-Mormon push polling in Iowa and New Hampshire? Residents in New Hampshire and Iowa have received phone calls raising questions about Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, his Mormon faith and the Vietnam War-era military d... [Read More]
Tracked on November 16, 2007 08:03 PM
Comments
"As a Christian, I don't agree with the tenets of the Mormon faith, but I don't particularly like to see a candidate's personal belief in God used against him."
Out of curiousity... Would you apply this to a candidate who is a very religious Muslim, or a very religious "pagan" (in the sense of some type of pantheistic earth-worshipper)?
I'm interested in understanding the why or the why not, more than the end-result of whether you support a particular candidate... perhaps in a future post.
Thanks.
Posted by: softwareNerd at November 16, 2007 09:38 AM
Out of curiousity... Would you apply this to a candidate who is a very religious Muslim, or a very religious "pagan" (in the sense of some type of pantheistic earth-worshipper)?
Yes, because I don't think the specifics of one's faith is an appropriate yardstick to use when considering presidential candidates. I'm more interested that a presidential candidate show some leadership ability and share enough of my values, and that they be of a practical temperament. After all, I'm not electing a religious leader, I'm electing a political one.
As an example, I probably have much more in common - faith wise - with Mike Huckabee than with Mitt Romney. But politically, I think Huckabee would make a worse president than Romney because I think he mis-appropriates his faith to guide what I believe is bad public policy.
Posted by: Slublog at November 16, 2007 11:16 AM
Would the very religious person be better served in preparing for retirement by an investment advisor with a multi-decade track record of choosing stocks that appreciate, but who happens to be an atheist, or by the elder in his church who chooses stocks based on diligent study of the Scriptures?
Posted by: MainiacJoe at November 16, 2007 02:25 PM
It is an outright prevarication that Mitt's church is not Christian. It is more First Century Christian than any other denomination. Members of the church believe every word of the original Greek New Testament, and spend twice as much time studying the Bible as they do studying the Book of Mormon.
Teenagers display Christian characteristics more frequently than any other Christian denomination.
Check http://MormonsAreChristian.blogspot.com for details.
Posted by: Bot at November 17, 2007 07:21 AM