Leave it to The Salt Lake Tribune, the Church of Latter-day Saints’ hometown paper, to keep insisting that Mitt Romney’s Mormonism is a drag on his candidacy. As God-o-Meter sees it, the only problem with these stories–and there have been one or two a week for months on end now–is that they never cite hard evidence. Now, God-o-Meter realizes this doesn’t mean that anti-Mormon sentiment isn’t real. It is. But if the Tribune needs only find yet one more religion scholar who says evangelicals won’t vote for a Mormon–for reasons we all know by now–to justify the latest Mitt-can’t-beat-his-Mormonism piece, God-o-Meter thinks the paper is setting the bar too low.
Take this morning’s Tribune piece: Evangelical fears: Romney struggles to shift attention from his religion. It opens with an anecdote of a woman who tells Romney she’s dubious about his faith at a forum in New Hampshire. Since that woman is won over to Romney’s side by story’s end, however, the Trib hangs its entire Mormon-can’t-win story on a quote from a single scholar:
“It’s virtually impossible for Romney to calm the religious fears of evangelicals,” says Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University.
“There’s a limit to what he can do with religion at this point. [And] it’s only going to get worse after New Hampshire.”
The piece cites the outcome of the Iowa caucuses as proof positive of Romney’s ongoing struggle to get evangelicals to accept him despite his faith:
…Iowa made clear his religion is a hurdle he has yet to overcome. Romney finished a fairly distant second to Huckabee and managed to attract only about one of every five evangelical
voters.
God-o-Meter can’t argue with those stats. And the Romney team itself, privately, cites anti-Mormonism as a factor for its weak showing among Iowa evangelicals. But God-o-Meter just wants to remind everyone that Romney was vying with a Baptist preacher for evangelical votes in Iowa, and that Romney’s record on so-called values issues like abortion and gay rights has been about as consistent as Hillary Clinton’s hairdos. So while Romney’s Mormonism continues to be a stumbling block, it’s by no means his biggest hurdle. Particularly not in New Hampshire. The Tribune should find some new angles for its Romney coverage.
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posted January 7, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Any reporter who is on the ball would realize that the Salt Lake Tribune is no friend of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Of course there is a lot of anti-Mormon sentiment among Evangelicals!! It all has to do with religous competition and political clout. James Dobson’s wife had the nerve to refuse Mormons from participating in the National Day of Prayer because Mormons don’t believe in the extra-bibilcal beliefs of the Nicene creed. The downfall of this country will be the loss of unity and the fighting between the religious tribes in American. And we feel we are better off than the Middle East. We have got to follow the teachings of Christ by working together for what is best for America and not for what is best for this or that religious tribe.
posted January 7, 2008 at 11:21 pm
“…Romney’s record on so-called values issues like abortion and gay rights has been about as consistent as Hillary Clinton’s hairdos.” That is what folks out here (Alaska, a diverse bunch we are, with lots of LDS–which I am not) have been talking about, the “flip-flop”, and which Romney we would actually ultimately get. (Same about Giuliani, strong 9-11 leader but with very negative weight of his personal conduct. Romney’s personal life and family are spoken of respectfully.) Huckabee, McCain are way more consistent…and no conduct questions. Huckabee seems his own man, a very Alaskan thing, and McCain a military man who served with distinction, and pressed the Iraqi Surge before it was popular.
posted January 8, 2008 at 12:19 am
mike
I agree. I see that we are in some scary times and this arrogance by some religions will be part of our downfall. Watching this begin to show it’s head is what got me all hot and bothered about this election. I am female and I am mormon. I wouldn’t vote for Hillary bcs she’s a woman any more than I would Mitt bcs he’s mormon. I feel it’s our obligation as Americans to research the candidates that align with your economic and moral concerns.
Anti-mormonism is alive and well and will continue. Period. I honestly cringe at the thought of Romney moving forward bcs it will bring on more undeserved attention. In 35 years I have never heard a negative word spoken about another religion at church. They are all respected. If only others acted accordingly. I have evangelical neighbors who will not speak to me bcs they “found out” that I’m mormon. Some of my husbands family (evangelicals), while in my home, at a party with people from my company, “confronted me” bcs they found out I’m mormon. They will not speak to me. Why?? The exact words were “they can’t tolerate a mormon who shares their last name.”
My ancestors were forced from their homes, some slaughtered, some starved to flee religious prosecution. They traveled thousands of miles to find a place to worship in peace. Yet almost 200 years later I get on websites and see hatred spewd bcs someone doesn’t agree with mormon doctrine. I have seen a whole lot of hate on this site I might ad… I think the latest one likened voting for Romney as dancing with the devil. Are you kidding me?? Has our country really advanced so little? How are these people any different than people in the middle east? Hate is hate. But hate, hiding behind the precept of “I’m a Christian and they’re not” is a whole new level.
I respect others and I respect their beliefs. But in this day and age of families that are deteriorating, schools that are disfunctional, healthcare that costs me $1000 per month, I can’t afford to not pay attention to who we put in office.. Sure, I would prefer to have this wonderful Christian in office. But guess what? If he comes with a record that says he’s going to take more food off my table (taxes) so I have to work harder and have less time to spend with my family, do a half ass job of securing our borders. No thank you.
posted January 8, 2008 at 9:32 am
donny has once again so eloquently proved my point.
posted January 9, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Lets leave religon out of politices shall we.
That is what the Fist Amendment talks about! Fredom of religon and the separation of Church and State. Leave your Religious hat at the door when taking office. And stop bashing others religon. It won’t win my Vote!
I’m more concerned with heath care,the economy,and helping the victims of Katriana who are still waiting for our Gov. to do the right thing!
And the War, can’t for get that, when and how do our trops come home?
posted January 11, 2008 at 5:58 am
You put that badly. You made it sound as if the SL trib has something to do with the LDS Church. It doesn’t. Neither does the Deseret News anymore, it is also owned by the SL trib.
I presume the SL trib prints this sort of stuff because they believe it will sell papers. However, it turns plenty of people off as well, including, and perhaps particularly, LDS folks. (Just like the declining morals on TV have turned many people off across the country. Same idea, smaller audience.)
I am LDS, and I certainly don’t read the SL trib. If I want to know what the LDS Church’s official position is I go to LDS.org and look under “Gospel Topics” or the “A to Z Index.” If I want to find out how LDS people are viewing currant topics I have a list of internet magazines I read, I certainly don’t get any of my information from the SL trib.