Mormon Life - Politics tag

Mitt Romney called 'Governor Mormon'

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:21:00 -0700

source: MormonTimes.com

Mormon Life says: Oops. How preoccupied are political news reporters with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney 's membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

This preoccupied: During Saturday night's coverage of the Nevada caucus voting, CNN's John King dropped the whole Romney thing and instead referred to the GOP frontrunner as "Governor Mormon."

Mormons and Politics at Columbia

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:10:00 -0700

source: juvenileinstructor.org

On the fifteenth floor in a Columbia University building overlooking a majestic New York City skyline, some of the most well known scholars of Mormonism (–and me–) gathered to present papers on the role of Mormonism and American politics during this so-called “Mormon Moment.” Professors and students from Columbia and other NYC-area universities, a handful of LDS missionaries (including a JIer’s parents!) and reps from local and international news outlets, braved unreliable elevators to bring the large lecture hall to capacity on both days of the conference.

The ultimate Mormon male

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:02:00 -0700

source: salon.com

Mormon Life says: Using Romney as the example, this author explains how and what makes the ideal Mormon man, in his opinion. If there is one single impediment to Mitt Romney’s campaign, it is his utter inscrutability, his perplexing failure to schmooze with voters. Romney is seen by many as hollow, robotic, as stiff as his hair-sprayed coiffure.

But to me, Mitt Romney isn’t stiff. He’s just a Mormon.

I know, because I grew up in Ogden, Utah, a city of about 83,000 people, 60 percent of whom are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (I’m not one.)

New York Times forum raises questions about Mormonism

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:14:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: Writers invited by the New York Times to write for a debate forum this week titled "What is it about Mormons?" are using the forum to "bash" the LDS Church. Too much money, too perfect, too happy, too disconnected with the real world.

Is it Mitt Romney people are bothered with, or the Mormon Church?

Despite Romney's attempts to persuade the American public to vote for him on record and not religion, voters in South Carolina showed how skeptical some people still are to accept the Mormon candidate. According to exit polls charted by Christianity Today, Romney especially struggled among born-again/evangelical Christians who threw most of their support behind a thrice-married Catholic rather than back Romney, even though he earlier got more than 50 percent of the same voters in New Hampshire.

Mitt Romney’s Mormon advantage

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:42:00 -0700

source: washingtonpost.com

Mormon Life says: "Because Mormons vote in unison and because they turn out in large numbers, a state like Nevada is virtually impossible for any of Romney’s opponents to win." Mitt Romney’s opponents really never had much of a chance in Nevada.

And it’s largely because of Romney’s Mormon religion.

While Romney’s faith has rightly been described as a liability in previous states — most notably Iowa and South Carolina, where evangelical Christians have balked at supporting Romney — it’s hard to call it anything but a trump card in Nevada (so to speak).

Readers' forum: Politics and religion

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:24:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

I was very heartened by the Christlike attitude shown by Pasor Joel Osteen of the Lake Wood Church, Houston, Texas.

During an interview on CBS he stated that Mitt Romney in his view, is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and although there exists differences between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and mainstream Christianity, those issues were not a problem for him.

The Mormon moment

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:53:00 -0700

source: politico.com

Mormon Life says: 10 different Mormons from the D.C. area give their take on the "Mormon Moment." As Mitt Romney solidifies his frontrunner status with a double-digit win this week in the Florida Republican primary, Mormons are embracing a unique moment in their political history that has been dubbed the “Mormon moment” — but not without concerns about what the increasing prominence could mean for their community.

In extensive interviews with 10 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who live and work in the D.C.-area, POLITICO discovered a close-knit community that is enjoying, granted with some reservations, the national spotlight that Romney’s second White House bid is helping to shine on Mormons across the country.

One of the best articles I have ever read debunking the supposed Mormon conspiracy

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:09:00 -0700

source: millennialstar.org

Take a gander at this great, concise article by Nate Oman.

Here are the key graphs:

"In 1902, Utah elected Reed Smoot to be its U.S. senator...."

The Mormon plot that wasn’t

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:45:00 -0700

source: http://www.nydailynews.com/

Mormon Life says: This article explains that fears that a Romney presidency might empower the LDS are baseless. Mitt Romney’s Mormonism will be an issue in the general election, if he gets there as widely expected. The media have focused on skepticism among conservative evangelicals, who regard Mormonism as a cult, but secularists also have worries, fearing that Romney is the tool of Mormon theocracy.

Such concerns, however, misunderstand the lessons of Mormon history — mistaking century-old church conflicts for modern Mormon beliefs.

Ron Paul courts Mormon voters in Nevada

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:49:00 -0700

source: thestatecolumn.com

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is courting Mormon voters in the heavily Mormon populated state of Nevada, as the candidates prepare to shift their focus from Florida to Nevada, which holds its caucus voting on Saturday.

Mr. Paul’s ability to win over Mormon voters will be essential in Nevada, where in 2008, 25 percent of the caucus voters were Mormons, according to a U.S. News and World Report article published Monday.

On call with conservatives, Romney speaks to Mormon beliefs

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:22:00 -0700

source: cnn.com

In a recent conference call with conservatives across the country, Mitt Romney expounded upon subjects he usually doesn’t talk much about: Jesus and eternity.

Asked on the call how his faith had shaped his success as a businessman and his political career, the presidential candidate spoke about “a conviction that life is eternal, that your family is your greatest prize, that ultimately what we accomplish in life is of little significance compared to the interests of the savior Jesus Christ and his purposes.”

'Anti-Mormon slime machine' kicks into gear

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:03:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: Another look at the LDS Church in the media spotlight. "Brace yourself for the anti-Mormon slime machine!"

That's the warning from Kyle-Anne Shiver, a frequent contributor to the American Thinker blog, who speculates that "Mitt Romney's religious faith is likely to be mocked, sensationalized, disparaged and dragged through the media gutters" in the event of an election race between Romney and President Barack Obama.

It is difficult to imagine that running against President Obama will draw out any more anti-Mormon rhetoric than the current Republican campaign has drawn.

LDS Republicans and Democrats meet at BYU

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:53:00 -0700

source: universe.byu.edu

While the valley of dissent between Republicans and Democrats seems to be getting deeper nationally, there was an interesting gathering in a mid-sized room at the Wilkinson Student Center on Tuesday.

The BYU Political Science Department hosted a panel, “Is Partisanship a Problem: Perspectives for America and Latter-day Saints,” on Jan. 24. Six distinguished speakers active in politics and their LDS faith were invited, including a former Utah governor and former Senate candidates. The room was full of students and local community members.

Why Mitt Romney can't be the Mormon JFK

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:43:00 -0700

source: huffingtonpost.com

Mormon Life says: I'm not sure if I agree with the author on this one. Mitt Romney's sudden downgrade from Republican frontrunner to potential also-ran coincided with a massive shift of conservative Christians voters in South Carolina to Newt Gingrich's camp.

Why? Many observers trace it to lingering suspicion among evangelicals -- a key Republican constituency -- about Romney's Mormon faith. And that has led some to suggest that Romney needs to make a speech about his Mormonism along the lines of John F. Kennedy's defense of his Catholicism to Protestant leaders during the 1960 campaign.

So could Romney pull a Kennedy? Should he?

Washington Post: Romney paid 42 percent of 2011 income in taxes and charity

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:33:00 -0700

source: washingtonpost.com

Mormon Life says: Yes, Romney is much wealthier than most people, but he also pays his fair share and more. Mitt Romney gave a lot of money away to charity. Phil Klein explains

Typically, liberal rhetoric on taxes makes it seem as if the wealthy are getting a free ride on the backs of middle and lower-income Americans who are doing all the work and are really paying the taxes. But to put things on perspective, here’s what $3.2 million in federal taxes — Romney’s estimated 2011 burden — pays for:

Can Mormons cheer for Mitt Romney without voting for him?

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:15:00 -0700

source: MormonTimes.com

This year has brought some lively discussions around the dinner table. A lot of them revolve around, “Hey, Mom, is that Mormon guy still winning?”

Of course, they’re talking about Mitt Romney, and our answer is usually, "Well, sort of.” Which always leads to a discussion about politics in general. We are a politically divided family. My 9-year-old is firmly aligned with the Democrats. (“The Republicans remind me of old Mr. Potter from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’” he announced the other day.) My 8-year-old is a Republican. The 6-year-old is undecided and the 2-year-old isn’t potty trained, so he isn’t allowed to vote in the Lewis family election.

My husband and I are… Well, I’m not telling, but I will say this: I’m not a Romney supporter. I am a Romney fan, in the way we Mormons like to see those of our faith win. We are Team Mormon. Go Jimmer Fredette! Go David Archuleta! Go Dawn Meehan on “Survivor!” Go Mitt Romney!

USA Today: Many Americans uninformed but still wary of Mormon beliefs

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:05:00 -0700

source: usatoday.com

Mormon Life says: There are a few technical details they got wrong, but in all, it's a pretty fair, well-balanced article. When Mormons proudly call themselves "a peculiar people," they mean it in the biblical sense — set aside by God, chosen.But many Americans call them peculiar in Webster's way — strange, odd. Now Mormons, followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are in a spotlight even more glaring than when the 2002 Olympics were held in their Salt Lake City stronghold. One of their own, Mitt Romney, is contending hard for the Republican nomination for the November presidential election.

Suddenly, America's abuzz about "gold plates and magic underwear," says Terryl Givens, a professor of religion at the University of Richmond in Virginia and a Mormon himself.

Mitt Romney hopes millions he tithes to LDS Church isn't politicized

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:11:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: The public has clearly misunderstood tithing payment, turning his faith-based donations into a political problem. It's too bad. With the release of Mitt Romney's tax records on Tuesday, the world now knows what was previously known only by a select few: Mitt and Ann Romney pay 10 percent of their income in tithing to their faith.

Traditionally, tithing records are viewed as a confidential matter between members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the lay leader of their church congregation, but for the Romneys in the midst of a presidential campaign, those donations are now a matter of public record.

And a matter for possible misunderstanding. The Romneys, as is common among LDS Church members and in all kinds of American charitable giving, made many of their donations to their faith through appreciated stock, according to the tax return for 2010 Romney released today and his estimated taxes for 2011.

Rick Santorum-backing pastor plays the 'Mormon cult' card

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:18:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: Again, seriously? An evangelical pastor supporting a rival Republican presidential candidate is attacking Mitt Romney by calling The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a "cult."

And this time neither Robert Jeffress nor Rick Perry are involved.

"I know there have been many people who said they'd hold their nose and vote for Romney if he gets the nomination, but I'm not [one of them], I won't vote for him," Rev. Huey Mills, head of the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools, told The Hill blog site.

Mike Huckabee: Mitt Romney needs to address his Mormon faith

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:57:00 -0700

source: huffingtonpost.com

Newt Gingrich, the winner in the Palmetto State's GOP primary, may have benefited from South Carolinians' uneasiness with Mitt Romney's Mormon faith.

Exit polls show that 43 percent of voters who said that the candidates' religious beliefs mattered "a great deal" went for Gingrich. Only 9 percent went for Romney -- a lower percentage than he netted overall, where he is running in second. In contrast, of voters who said the religious beliefs of candidates didn't matter to them at all, Romney won 42 percent.