Andrew Sullivan has raised the issue of Mitt Romney’s Mormon underwear. Sullivan, usually a very astute and articulate voice, goes a bit too far on this one.
Rabbi Grossman is right on this one. Who really cares what undergarments Romney wears or doesn’t wear?
I know this is a total overstatement, but what goes on inside someone’s heart, head, or pants is not my concern. I am not sure why it matters what Romney wears unless we have reason to suspect it will influence his voting record and public policy.
Personally, I would be more worried about a president wearing a kippah or burkha or cross out in public than someone wearing a tallit kattan with tzizizt (a Jewish undergarment that has fringes) tucked inside his pants or Mormon underwear. Does his underwear tell us that he is a zealot or a Mormon extremist? Maybe, but let’s first focus on his record.
Too Much Information?
Wednesday December 6, 2006
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About Virtual Talmud
This blog is no longer updated and is closed for comments. We welcome your comments about Judaism in our Judaism forums.
Brad Hirschfield currently blogs on Windows and Doors.
Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of You Don’t Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism. Listed as one of the nation’s 50 most influential rabbis in Newsweek, and a regular commentator on Court TV, he is the creator of the popular series, Building Bridges, airing on Bridges TV, and the co-host of the weekly radio show, Hirschfield and Kula.
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The Mormon "underwear" has to do with "magical" protection. However it is not right to mention it in this case. Even knowledgeable Christian missionaries to the Mormons advise not mentioning this topic- because it does not profit anyone. Thank you for your time.
I still remember when President Clinton went on MTV and was asked whether he wore briefs or boxers. For pete's sake can we get beyond underwear?
So underwear?!?!?! For me it's the same as what happens in other peoples bedrooms...If I'm not participating..IT'S NOT MY BUSINESS!!! I don't want to know or need to...NOR will I bow down, contribute or support in ANY WAY, ANY political partys, groups, or affiliations that describes itself by what goes on with genitilia!!! If you describe yourself by your SEX PRACTICES you need to GET A LIFE Outside Your Pants!!! So keep your underwear clean so the rest of us don't have to smell you...KEEP IT IN YOUR PANTS & KEEP YOU PANTS ON!!!!!
oh my, when is that 'magical protection' canard going to die? Mormon theology and practice says _nothing_ about temple garments being 'magical' or offering any 'magical protection'. They are, simply and only reminders of covenants of chastity, charity and devotion Mormons make in the temple. _Some_ Mormons ascribe 'magical' qualities to them (and what religious people hasn't (saint's icons...etc, etc, etc), but it's not official or even a majority of Mormons who believe that.