Is America ready to elect a Mormon as its President?

[emad]

By Tim Reid
Saviour of the Salt Lake City Olympics has greater ambitions



HE MADE millions as a businessman, saved the scandal-plagued 2002 Winter Olympics, appeals to social conservatives, is liked by moderates, boasts chiselled good looks and has been a successful Republican governor in one of America’s most liberal states.

In Mitt Romney, the Massachusetts Governor who all but threw his hat into the 2008 presidential race yesterday, Republicans have the almost perfect candidate. Except for one potential problem: Mr Romney is a Mormon.

After announcing that he would not be seeking a second term as Massachusetts governor, a widely anticipated move that clears the way for a 2008 White House bid, Mr Romney implicitly posed a fascinating political question: can a Mormon win enough votes to become President of the United States?

Mr Romney, whom analysts on both sides of the political divide say will be a serious contender in 2008, was elected governor of Massachusetts — one of the bluest of Democrat blue states — as a social moderate. In the past year, however, he has changed his stance on social issues important to religious conservatives, the base of the Republican Party that wields enormous influence in the Republican primary race. Mr Romney once said that abortion should be “safe and legal”, but now opposes it. He denounced the decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Court to legalise gay marriage. Calling himself a “red speck in a blue state”, he has emphasised socially conservative positions on the death penalty, stem-cell research and birth control.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-1934123,00.html

[crikkett]

1. not really whether he's a mormon, but whether

he respects women as equals
"...Mr Romney once said that abortion should be “safe and legal”, but now opposes it. "

[emad]

3. Mormon = another moron?

UK's Private Eye satirical magazine calls Dumbass the rev Dubya of the Church of Latter Day Morons....

[Nay]

2. it sounds to me like he changes his views to cozy up to whomever

he wants votes from. I don't care if he is a Mormon (although that is a red flag to me -- Mormons aren't known for their liberal views), but if he is going to pander to the right, he's just as bad as the rest of these bastards.

[ToeBot]

9. Worse, just imagine a better looking version of Orrin Hatch...

and you have Mitt Romney. Both are inveterate liars and both are spoken of in hushed and reverent tones by Mormons. (At least the Mormons I still talk too.)

[dutchdemocrat]

4. Another link same article from earlier....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5616591

[CTLawGuy]

5. I don't think the republicans are ready to nominate a mormon,

at least not one from Massachusetts.

[SkiGuy]

6. Not this Mormon

[win_in_06]

7. No. But I love the Osmonds.

[MADem]

8. Mitt the shitt is a LOUSY, tone-deaf, HATED governor

Mark my words, he may say he is running for Prez, but he is running for VP. What he brings to the table is access to CASH. That bastard does not actually want to WORK for a living!!!

He has to move on from the State House "cornah office," because if he ran again, he'd lose against any candidate not charged with a major crime of perversion. He is lousy, smarmy, ineffective, CRUEL, has cut benefits, screwed the poor, gone back on promises....and last but not least, he is UGLY. That skeletor head, with the greasy hair--all he needs is a checked jacket and he could be out there selling flood damaged cars. A BUM of the First Order!!!!!!!

[DrDan]

10. had me scared - thought you were referring to

Orrin Hatch

[Nimrod2005]

11. No because the religious right and Mormons HATE each other

Falwell, Dobson, and Robertson will campaign against this guy...We will have our own religious war right here in America!

It will be the child molesters against the polygamists!!!

[AzDar]

12. Sorry, but as a person who married into a Mormon family...ANYONE

who believes the misogynistic,hypocritical,chameleonic teachings of that 'church', is not to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, this includes Harry Reid, whom I still cannot believe subscribes to it.

[Solo_in_MD]

14. Mormons and their church are scary once you get a good look at them

Their seminal views on blacks and women are just starters.

In many small Utah towns the public schools and related services are minimal. The church does all the after school activities, and who needs daycare, since the wives are home raising and making babies. Not a Mormon? Good luck, including finding a job.

An active Mormon in the White House, Joesph Smith forbid!

[Spinzonner]

13. Can we get multiple first ladies ?

:hide:

[Evergreen Emerald]

15. Romney is one scary man

He was only too happy to assist in the Congressional hearings awhile back when they put forth the constitutional amendment on the "sanctity of marriage."

He is a hypocrite who do anything for power. I cannot understand the voters' attraction to him.

[Godai Kyoko]

16. What's not to like?

Several first ladies instead of just one. Imagine the drama when they quarrel

[PurityOfEssence]

17. Cain slew Abel, and god made him a negro as punishment, sayeth the fold

Most major religions are sick, but this one is racist, sexist and virulently dangerous.

The only good thing that could come from him running is the nationwide exposure of this fantasy cult of white male domination. Mercifully, the other wacky death-cults are also jockeying for power. May they mutually strangle each other.

Religion shouldn't be "off limits" when dealing with a candidate, it should be front and center. Rarely does a human indulge in moral ugliness in the full light of day without hiding behind some belief system that is demanded to be held above reproach.

Oh, and don't forget to wear the weird underwear.

[Arugula Latte]

18. No.

Mitt is a piece of s@#$.