God-o-Meter is relieved that somebody finally said it. Amid all the clamoring by pundits–and some religious conservatives–for Mitt Romney to deliver a “Mormon” speech in the vein of JFK’s 1960 address about his Catholicism, a glaring discrepancy between the two politicians’ challenges has been ignored. The thrust of Kennedy’s speech was that his faith and his church wouldn’t influence his administration; Romney has to prove to the GOP’s conservative Christian base that his faith is a deep influence on his politics–even while avoiding the more eccentric particulars of his religious tradition.
E.J. Dionne lays out the predicament at the heart of Romney’s presidential bid in this morning’s Washington Post:
Recall that Kennedy said his professed religious beliefs would have nothing to do with how he governed. “I believe in a president whose views on religion are his own private affair,” Kennedy said. But the religious conservative movement believes, on principle, that religious faith cannot be a “private affair,” that faith necessarily shapes a politician’s views on public issues.
To win votes from the religious right while pushing the Mormon issue aside, Romney therefore has to say that religion matters a great deal — and also that it doesn’t. Any wonder why this is such a tough matter for him to discuss?
One thing’s clear to God-o-Meter: at the moment, Romney is more or less ignoring the situation. Here’s the single line on his Mormonism from last weekend’s speech at the Values Voter Summit in Washington:
By the way, I imagine that one or two of you may have heard that I’m Mormon. I understand that some people think that they couldn’t support someone of my faith, but I think that’s just because they’ve listened to Harry Reid.
Good for a laugh, but it won’t make the problem go away.
6
posted October 23, 2007 at 5:46 pm
God-o-meter: take a look at this and decide for yourselves if there’s anything Godly or conservative or theocrat or Presidential or even American about Mitt Romney’s despicable character.
Mitt Romney is going to talk about Osama Bin Laden. He’s about to say (correctly) Osama. But then he changes it and says Barack Obama. This is the second time Mitt Romney is involved in character assassination. It’s a disgrace to our Christian values and it reinforces our dissatisfaction with the current Republican candidates. Iraq aside, I prefer George W. Bush anytime. Here’s what Mitt Romney said:
“Actually, just look at what Osam — Barack Obama — said just yesterday. Barack Obama, calling on radicals, jihadists of all different types, to come together in Iraq. That is the battlefield. … It’s almost as if the Democratic contenders for president are living in fantasyland. Their idea for jihad is to retreat, and their idea for the economy is to also retreat. And in my view, both efforts are wrongheaded.”
Do you believe he misspoke? Do you believe it was slip of the tongue? This is the second time he’s involved in an attack comparing a United States Senator to a wanted terrorist. This is all over the place and it’s shameful for a man who wants to be President of these United States and running on a conservative ticket.
FoxNews:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,304417,00.html
Boston.com:
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/10/romney_mixes_up.html
DailyKos:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/23/125521/64
posted October 23, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Wow! I can’t believe that E. J. Dionne has actually made a point that I would agree with.
I’ve notice that a number of candidates duck tough questions with a humorous response or an obvious deflection. I’m getting a little tired of the sound bite aspect of this race.
posted October 24, 2007 at 9:05 pm
An encounter with a mormon. This is probably the most interesting video I’ve seen this month. Honestly!
The Bible says in Luke 21:15:
“For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.”
Watch this:
http://thecomforter.info/main/index.php?option=com_xevgfx&func=detail&id=2
Very interesting!
posted November 17, 2007 at 1:43 am
Interesting that you linked to that video, Diamond. Did you notice that that man believes he is “The Comforter,” the “Apostle and Chief High Priest” of “God’s chosen people”? What kind of a source on Mormons is a man who believes he is Christ’s mouthpiece whether he is mocking others or preaching down to them?