It is so very difficult for me to feel badly that Mitt Romney is being beat up because of his religious affiliation. More than difficult. Impossible.
There are many voters out there who genuinely believe that they have to affiliate Republican because of their church's (inappropriate) affiliation with the party. Because I lived in Utah for many years, I simply must “bear my testimony” (that is Mormon speak for filling others in about something you “know”) that the Mormon church is all over having government make and enforce laws effecting all citizens. (Please Google LDS Church Proposition 8 for one example. )
Republicans woo the church led votes with (phony) family values rhetoric, staunch (unconstitutional) pro life positions, and (abhorrent) denial of civil rights to gay people.
Republicans do this because without those voters they are left with a strictly pro business base. There are simply not enough Americans to support their limited ideology. Too many Americans value social justice and believe our government has a responsibility to provide safety nets and regulations on behalf of the people of this country.
Voting for religious convictions often means these people are voting against the best interest of themselves and their families. They will still do it. With a cold clear understanding of these voters, Republicans make pledges and offer up bills that fly in the face of the First Amendment. They effectively force liberals and independents to fight to uphold the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Now the line has been drawn. The faithful vs. the faithless.
One of the right’s standby tactics for discrediting their opponents is to attack them as godless. They love to cast doubt on the sincerity of belief if and when the opponent does talk about their faith. I laughed out loud when the pastor who is most responsible for throwing the “Romney is not a Christian” charge out there told the press that he wasn’t a Jeremiah Johnston, the (vilified by the right) leader of a church attended by President Obama. Priceless.
No, Mitt. No outrage for you. You chose to lay down with these dogs; you should have expected to start itching.
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john guzlowski
Don Rich
Steve Kenny
Lynette Stark
OEsheepdog
Myriad
Salon.com
Comments
However, Mr. Mormon has to tread lightly on this question of religion, without any stuff about birtherism or Muslimism or Jeremiah Wright, because people might start to ask about magic underwear and having his own planet.
I'm a bit torn on this subject, because I think anyone who adheres in a big fat way to their religion (Kennedy seemed to be loose enough for that not to have affected him much) is problematic. Obama doesn't seem to be a big fat Christian in any worrisome way. Romney - dunno. He lies a lot, which Mormons aren't supposed to do...
Anyway, the race will be interesting, in a ghastly sort of way, whether or not religion gets brought up.
Don't you find it extraordinary the way the LDS Church is able to influence government? Even though I have seen it close up, I was still blown away by the proof that was presented in the documentary on Prop 8!
@Myriad,
I also feel strange taking a candidates religion into play regarding politics. In this case, the hypocrisy was just too much for me. I did not have a problem with Huntsman at all, but Romney is a different type. It should start getting more and more interesting...