Full disclosure, I am a Mormon.
Now that we have gotten that out of the way, let me ask the question, that so many will be asking come the 2012 election. "Can a Mormon win the White House?"
Mitt Romney looks to be the front runner, and probable nominee for the Republican Party. I am saying this on April the 25th. He hasn't even taken the nomination officially, but compared to the rest of Presidential hopeful's, he is the only one that makes sense.
Sarah Palin. NOT going to happen.
Donald Trump. Great for ratings, but really, you think he has a shot?
Haley Barber. Just dropped out.
Ron Paul. Ya right.
Let's all look at the facts here.
If, and when Mitt Romney wins the nomination, he will be attacked. Let me rewind. He is going to be getting attacked long before it, but not nearly as bad as he will when its Obama and Romney Mono e Mono. Why? Because he is Mormon.
The Mormon Church hasn't had it very easy these last couple of years. With the passage of prop 8 in California, and the subsequent appeals, and calls of bigotry against the Church, it is going to be hard for Romney to escape those charges. Add on the fact that the Church prevented Black members from recieving the priesthood, and you have all the makeings of a Race vs. Religion political fight.
Picture it now, because I can.
Protests in front of Mormon Temples. Vandalisim. Death threats. Articles in the New York Times, about "Who's running the Country? Mitt Romney or Thomas S. Monson?" (current president of the LDS Church). Will there be secret meetings inside the Mormon Temples? Will Romney allow black people to serve in his administration? Will the White House stop serving coffee?
These questions and more. It's going to happen. Because that is how the left plays politics.
Instead of focusing on the issues, the left is going to attack a man's religious beliefs. They are going to call him a racist. A bigot. A member of a cult. All because he belongs to a church that is pro-life, and pro family. Something the left cannot stand.
Let's not play politics, lets ask the real question here. Does it really matter if Romney is Mormon? Why?
My response. WHO CARES??!?!?!
I remember not to long ago being told that there was "no way, no way in hell", that a "black man" would ever be president, and this was told to me by a black democrat.
Why does skin color matter?
Why does a candidates religion matter?
When did we stop looking at the policy's and records of a candidate, and start focusing on things that are, well, none of our business?
If a president does or dosn't believe in God, it shouldn't matter.
What matters to me, is that he or she, is going to protect the constitution. That they will serve with honor. That they will protect this country, not only from terrorism, and foreign armys, but also from economic decline, and destruction from within. Where in that entire equation does it say that a "Mormon need not apply" Where in the constitution does it set the requirements for president, as "Christian only."
Oh, and point of fact, Romney IS a Christian.
But does it really matter?
Fighting Aces!
-JP
2 comments:
I think that equating the possibility of having a black president to that of having a Mormon one is a bit fallacious. Being black doesn't inherently tell you anything about the person, except their genes are ever so slightly different than those of a white person. Being the member of a religion does have with it a set of beliefs, values, morals and a lifestyle. I do think a person's religion is an important factor... not because the person you vote for should worship God the same way you do, of course, but because it can shed light on how the person approaches life, and how their life history MAY shape the future decisions they make.
We, as Mormons, know that Mitt Romney isn't a racist, etc. That doesn't mean it isn't an important question to ask. So, the issue, for me, isn't whether or not religion should be a factor--because I think it should be--but whether or not we, as voters, have the right understanding of, and accurate information about any given politician's religion... which most people do not have when it comes to Latter-day Saints.
As for making this better my idea would be to make an honest objective comparison of all the candidates. If Romney is the best choice, why is he the best choice? You know what I mean?
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