Mormon Inquiry

Why I like Harry Reid

Monday March 9, 2009

Categories: Politics

See "The paradox of Harry Reid's position" at the LA Times. It's not his tax and spend (and spend and spend) politics that I like. It's the fact that, as a Mormon and highly visible Democratic leader of the U.S. Senate, he effectively dispels the stereotype that Mormons are all Republilcans who support conservative policies across the board (as well as the even sillier notion that LDS leaders somehow dictate required political views to the membership of the LDS Church). As with most other demographics, LDS views cover the entire spectrum. As a missionary in France, I knew Mormon socialists.

Here's the article's short summary of Reid and his politics.

Reid hails from a heavily rural state with a strong conservative bent. A teetotaling Mormon still wed to his high school girlfriend, Reid, 69, is a relative moderate compared with many fellow Democrats. He opposes legal abortion and most gun control measures, sponsored a constitutional amendment to ban flag-burning, and voted for both wars in Iraq. (He has since become a fierce critic of the second.) But his leadership role in Washington -- mainly as one of President George W. Bush's chief antagonists -- cast Reid in a far more liberal light than his voting record might suggest.

Interestingly, that's the only mention in the article of Reid's LDS affiliation. Somehow the Mormon factor was generally a central and mildly negative item in the media's coverage and discussion of Mitt Romney. It would seem like those who insist on making Mormonism a factor when dismissing Romney should be consistent and give Mormonism some credit when praising Reid (and I'm not thinking specifically of the linked article here). Or else just leave religion out of the discussion.

For a much more entertaining and personal account, go read "Faith, Family, and Public Service," Harry Reid's address delivered at BYU in 2007. Regardless of your politics, I'm sure the speech will give you a few reasons to like Reid.

Advertisement
Comments
Mormon Democrat
March 17, 2009 12:45 PM

I admire Harry Reid. I find it paradoxical that so many Mormons are Republicans, especially after the last Republican Administration. Their disregard for the Constitution, US law, and international law, not to mention their disregard for the truth and their commitment to torture seem indefensible from a Mormon standpoint, and from a greater Christian standpoint.

aBadReid
March 21, 2009 12:48 AM
http://abadreid.com

You can see for yourself just how bad Harry Reid is for Nevada at aBadReid.com

http://aBadReid.com

Bad Reid
Bad Senator

Brian Goulding
June 13, 2009 10:26 PM

We Mormons are different; We all know that. As a missionary, I heard a thousand times words like these from non-members: "It doesn't matter to God what people believe specifically. Just be a good person. There are many pathways that lead to God." But we Mormons knew something else: There is a clearly defined path to God, and it is the restored gospel. We seem to be the only people who understand that our goal on Earth is to believe as God believes. And this explains why EVERY Mormon I know in the world thinks as I do on every important topic there is. It's what I love about the Church... we are consistent!

Which is why I am baffled by Harry Reid (and any other Mormon who claims to be liberal). Here's the bottom line: a TRUE Mormon CANNOT be a TRUE and modern liberal/socialist/progressive. It is not possibe. Every stake president and bishop I have every had would agree. A liberal Mormon is an oxi-moron.

So, either Harry Reid fails to understand the restored gospel of Jesus Christ... or I do!!! I would love to receive an email from anyone who can explain to me why both of us can "believe as God believes" and not both be conservative (And note that I did not say, Republican).

BlueEyedDevil
July 5, 2009 5:19 PM
http://www.codexalimentarious.com/

Reid and Pelosi jointly wield the congressional wrecking ball that Obama slams once or twice every month into the Constitution and the American economy. As a direct result of his efforts to pass the biggest scam-based ripoff in human history, the Crap and Tax bill, our family's home will soon be history. My social security check, along with the money I receive fom a couple of roomers is right now just barely sufficient to take care of my mortgage and all basic expenses.

The CBO's ridiculously low, self-serving and self-justifying inflation estimates to the contrary (on the basis of which Social Security Cost Of Living Adjustments are now to be eliminated), this bill is going to add around $600 dollars PER MONTH to the expenses of every household in the country. Before changing his story, Obama himself admitted early in 2008 that Cap and Trade would make energy prices SKYROCKET.

Because of Harry Reid's treasonous activities, I'm destined to die living in trailer, if I'm lucky, and my children and grandchildren will be living in the equivalent of a miserable third world country. Can you understand why I hate this traitor so much.

Your Name
July 15, 2009 8:22 PM

Harry Reid is no more a Mormon than the Pope.

His attaching of the Hate Crimes bill as an amendment to the Defense Bill and filing cloture is just another sad, sad example of his hypocrisy and paving the way for furthering the spiritual and moral decay of the land choice above all others. The bill he has just fast tracked is an attack on faith and family while granting special rights based on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity," terms which are not even clearly defined in the bill while the bill can be used to stop or intimidate free speech where the word of the Lord can not be spoken over the pulpit.

It is "Brother" Harry that is fast tracking this Bill and not permiting it to come forward on its own, to stand on its own merit. Completely agree with Brian Goulding, though I am no republican either. There is little difference between either party.

Read All Comments

Post a Comment

By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.



Please type the text you see in the box below to verify your post and help us prevent spam. You have a limited time to type - you may wish to compose your comment in a separate document and paste it here upon completion.

Type the characters you see in the picture above.

Advertisement

About Mormon Inquiry

This blog is no longer updated and is closed for comments. We welcome your comments about Mormonism in our Latter-day Saints forums.

David Banack is an attorney living in Jackson Hole. He joined the LDS Church at age 15 and later served a two-year LDS mission to France and Switzerland. He has lived up and down the West Coast, as well as in Fiji, Samoa, Sweden, Utah, and now Wyoming. Dave has been running the Mormon Inquiry site discussing LDS and Christian issues since 2003. He is a website editor for Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought and also participates at the LDS weblog Times and Seasons. The views expressed on this blog are his own.

Search This Blog

Advertisement

Advertisement


About Beliefnet

Our mission is to help people like you find, and walk, a spiritual path that will bring comfort, hope, clarity, strength, and happiness. More about Beliefnet.

Legal

Copyright © Beliefnet, Inc. and/or its licensors. All rights reserved. Use of this site is subject to Terms of Service and to our Privacy Policy. Constructed by Beliefnet.

Advertisement

Report as Inappropriate

You are reporting this content because it violates the Terms of Service.

All reported content is logged for investigation.