Comment

Comment by Jonathan Chang on September 6, 2012 at 3:32am

I'm not concerned about Romney's religion for the same reason that I'm not concerned about Obama's religion -- the President of the USA should not be judged by what God he believes, but his policies; the public persona, if you will. In an ideal world, we would leave all the character assassinations and ugliness out of politics.

Comment by Lillie on September 3, 2012 at 10:07am

In the Bill Maher video where attendees at the Republican Convention were enterviewed, one woman said Romney is a christian.  I think most of his christian supporters really think that.  He is not a christian in any shape, form or fashion.  The only protestant christian in the race is Barack Obama. And I don't think his religion would get in the way of any important decision.  (In fact, I think he is too smart to be religious at all and they call him a muslim.) 

Comment by Pat on September 3, 2012 at 7:28am

Don't know that I'm that concerned about his Mormonism, per se. Yes, it's a batshit cult. No argument there. Then again, so is the cult that his VP candidate, Ryan, belongs to. Ryan's "infallible" leader, a former member of the Hitler Youth, lives in the Vatican, while Romney's guru, fakir, grand supreme poobah, swami, or whatever the f$&k he is, lives in Salt Lake City. Magic underwear vs. virgin birth, baptizing the dead vs. transubstantiation, etc., etc. Ignorant superstition by any other name. What does bother me is the idea of "personal revelations" from god that Mormons embrace. It is frighteningly reminiscent of George W. Bush being told by Jesus what to do.

What bothers me most about him, though, is the ability to switch positions, involving conscience, so easily - his amorality. Pro health care, pro stem cell research, anti-assault weapons, and many more, that shifts to the polar opposite depending on his pandering to a particular voting base. If he thought there was a group of cannibals who were registered to vote, he would be in favor of explorers in a stew pot. 

Comment by Loren Miller on September 3, 2012 at 6:25am

Magic Underwear?  Some deity on ANOTHER PLANET?!?  Eternal Marriage???  The Garden of Eden in MISSOURI?????

I'd say there is PLENTY to be concerned about, and if by some misfortune ol' Mitt should get in, I mean to watch him like a hawk!

Comment by ChrisC on September 3, 2012 at 4:04am

As someone who doesn't even live in the US, yes I'm concerned about Romney. For now, America is on of the superpowers in the world, and I'd like to think that the person with his finger on that red button is someone who doesn't hold such crazy beliefs.

If only religions had physical manifestations in their believers - Obama is judged on the colour of his skin, why is it fair that Romney gets to keep his beliefs out of his supporters' minds?

Comment by Diane on September 3, 2012 at 1:55am

Yes, among other issues, the mormon thing itself does scare me. Maybe its because I have experience growing up in Seventh-day Adventism, another apparently mainstreamed but truly separatist cult like LDS. I think people who didn't grow up as we did cannot really understand that being an Adventist or a Mormon is not at all like being Episcopalian, Baptist or even Nazarene. We didn't just go to a certain kind of church, we lived in a separate subculture.

I would not want an SDA either because I think people who live in a bubble where dissent is NOT ALLOWED are a threat to the country because they are not likely to listen to a variety of viewpoints before making a decision. I think that to govern well, a president must do that.

You mentioned another issue that also concerns me. If I have been correctly informed, the central virtue in the LDS is obedience. Obedience to church leaders. If Romney is elected and is obedient won't we have an unelected and secret president pulling Romney's strings? As a lesbian living in California, I have good reason to be aware of the extensive semi-coerced funding and labor the LDS gave to the prop 8 campaign. Fortunately my wife and I got married before prop 8 took effect, but others haven't been so fortunate. If LDS leaders, including the currently accepted prophet are actually able to tell Romney what to do and have him obey, I tremble to think what evil may be done on a national level. I also worry that the threat to the LGBT community is only the tip of the iceberg. As a person with insider knowledge, what other issues are you concerned about if Romney is elected?
My only hope about him is that his gigantic arrogant ego would stop him from being obedient. What are the chances of that, do you think?

I hope I have not been too harsh about mormonism for you. I have tried to be tactful by realistically link it to adventism. I've got family members that I love very much who are still deeply embedded in Adventist culture. Some kinds of criticism of can bother me just because of how I feel about my peeps. I don't know why, but I can sometimes find myself offended when people think Adventists are the same as Jehovahs Wittnesses. That's really odd because most of Adventism is awful to me now.

Comment by Nerdlass on September 3, 2012 at 12:14am

It WAS when he was running against other republicans for the nomination. He outspent them all, AND there wasn't any viable candidate to run against him (which is SAD, if you think about it). For some, it is an "anyone but Obama" ticket.

Comment by Sarah on September 2, 2012 at 11:58pm

Oh, I can't stand the guy on ANY level. I guess I'm just baffled that the Mormon issue isn't bigger among his supporters. 

Comment by Nerdlass on September 2, 2012 at 11:55pm

I'm more concerned with his lack of ethics and empathy than what religion he ascribes to. The man mistreated his dog. He was a bully in COLLEGE (some never grow up). He's torn down businesses for profit. Why on earth would anyone want him running a school club, much less the US government? Politics aside, I dislike the man.