Monday, October 23, 2006

President Romney

I don’t know how much of this is getting out around the US:

Report Says LDS Church Leaders Knew of Meeting With Romney

Romney pal takes blame for dust-up

“In the e-mails, Don Stirling, a paid consultant for Romney's political action committee, told Sheri Dew, the chief executive officer of LDS Church-owned Deseret Book Co., that church President Gordon B. Hinckley and a top lieutenant, James E. Faust, were aware of the effort and raised no objections - a claim strongly denied by the LDS Church.”
It would be bad if this were true but it’s he said they said for now. But it's something to keep an eye on, as it will be used to eat at his chances, and not by the left (primarily :-)).

Regardless, I’ve thought it could be best for some religions to just start paying taxes, and gain the legal ability to endorse whoever they think is best for their religious ethics. On top of matching ethics, a President Romney would undoubtedly be a great boon for the LDS church. It would give them credibility and normalize what the rest of the world sees as quite odd ;-). I doubt an endorsement will be forthcoming, but bet many LDS fingers are crossed, for good reason.

While admittedly I’d not want him to win (not because he's LDS, to be sure, but because of his politics), it will be interesting to see how Romney’s candidacy progresses. Being LDS and being gay are nearer to the same sin in some parts. It seems Gallup shows about 37% of the population would not vote for a Mormon (surprisingly, about what it is for atheists). I could only find that 59% would vote for a homosexual, no mention of how many would not.

I found this on evangelical pastor opinions alone, though:

"The results indicate a heavy bias against Mormons. While 63% of those surveyed said they would vote for a Jew and 64% said they would vote for a Catholic, when asked about a Mormon candidate, their feelings were opposite: 76% said they would not vote for a Mormon, nearly as many as the 86% who said they would not vote for a homosexual."

5 comments:

Loyalist (with defects) said...

Even if Romney was "The Genuine" Mormon I hope all of us are, politically speaking he doesn't have a snowflakes chance in Arizona in becoming the next US President.

However, he did win the blue state MA as governor which is more than I thought possible.

My personal choice is Presidential candidate Obama. He's moderate and seemingly sensible to the magnitude and complexity of issues being raised. I've noticed that the Political Machine has begun cranking out the "He's too young" or "What right does he have as a 1st year Senator" propaganda. He is about the Democrats only chance.

Scot said...

I’m surprised you think that of Romney’s chances. Sure, I think them slim, but I do see it as as a possibility. If, IF they can see past their notions of the LDS faith, he's there with the so-called values-voters, he has that political congeniality, and little of that Legislative aftertaste. Eh, we'll see.

On Obama, I agree. He seems like the best choice for now, but I’m nervous Clinton will take the nomination, regardless. Also, now that he seems more like a willing candidate, it'll be interesting to see what skeletons are paraded out.

Loyalist (with defects) said...

My reasoning that Romney will not do well is that James Dobson and a great deal of the evangelicals have already stated their opposition. Mormon's aren't Christian from what I hear is the basic lament.

BUT there has been a recent split the with evangelicals regarding environment so I am still unsure as to how strong their central core is to sway their grassroots.

The recent fiasco in the newspapers regarding Romney and LDS HQ is not going to help matters either.

Scot said...

“James Dobson and a great deal of the evangelicals have already stated their opposition.”

I did not know that. To me it had seemed the evangelical leaders were playing it close to the vest and being ostensibly open-minded.

Here it is:

Dr. Dobson: Christians Won’t Vote for Romney

But that’s some annoying phrasing. “Christians” won’t vote for Mormons…

Thanks, for pointing that out; I’m already getting obsessed with the 2008 election.

Loyalist (with defects) said...

Politics is my life - My wife suggests a new hobby (I have a tendancy to rant, rave, and yell at the TV, Radio, Newspapers, and my father-in-law). :-)