Romney: Campaign Is Advising Against A "JFK Speech"
Appearing over the weekend at a house party in New Hampshire, Mitt Romney revealed that his advisors have been discouraging him from making a "JFK speech" that might directly address any concerns about his Latter-Day Saints religion.
"Is there going to be a special speech? Perhaps, at some point," Romney said. "I sort of like the idea myself. The political advisers tell me no, no, no — it's not a good idea. It draws too much attention to that issue alone."
Such a speech might deal with evangelical discomfort regarding the Mormon Church, but it might not be necessary — he's already been working hard to unite conservative Christians behind his campaign and against Rudy Giuliani, based instead on the issues.
Comments (7)
Jake D wrote on November 12, 2007 12:33 PM:It's not necessary from my point of view.
gqmartinez wrote on November 12, 2007 12:36 PM:Sorry, but I almost spit my coffee on my computer as I laughed. Given Romney's penchant to do/say anything to win, I have a hard time not believing that that statement is exactly what his advisers told him to say.
Michael wrote on November 12, 2007 1:04 PM:He couldn't pull off a "JFK Speech" if his life depended on it. It would be laughable. He is better off just ignoring the issue and to keep flip flopping all over the place, promising to wipe out any civil liberties we have left, doubling the size of gitmo and trying to start another war the minute he takes office. Any more red meat for repubs that I forgot? Mitt the flip in 08.
Daniel wrote on November 12, 2007 1:18 PM:Given that Romney is rising everywhere including in the latest poll of Florida where he was typically weak, he might not need such a speech anyway.
dwashington wrote on November 12, 2007 1:44 PM:Why is Romney never asked about the Mormon church and its attitude towards blacks?
Up until recently blacks weren't allowed to have any rights in the church.
Where was Mitt and his very prominent family on this subject?
Carl Nyberg wrote on November 12, 2007 2:24 PM:"When my father was duped into supporting the Vietnam War by a political hack general, the general didn't ask if my father was a Mormon.
"And when my father came to his senses and opposed the Vietnam War, the media didn't ridicule him for being a Mormon.
"Fools and opportunists are allowed to be Mormons too.
"And what would American politics be without fools and opportunists?
"So to make American politics work, we need fools and opportunists. And the Church of Latter Day Saints does not discriminate against fools and opportunists.
"Therefore, I am asking the American voters to give me a chance to show that I can be the fool or opportunist of this generation without there being a litmus test about my faith."
Colin Jensen wrote on November 14, 2007 5:18 AM:>>Why is Romney never asked about the Mormon church and its attitude towards blacks?
Uh, is he ever asked about anything else? That's the point of the article--normally everywhere he goes, someone puts in some ignorant swipe about his religion--even during the debates when they allowed the otherwise neutral man with the mic to say "how many first ladies are we going to have?" The article is saying that stuff is finally dying off, so Romney probably shouldn't give a speech explaining overtly for the 50th time that he believes that Jesus Christ is his Savior and died for his sins.
P.S. In many religions up 'til 50 years ago, people of African descent (white or black) weren't allowed to hold positions of authority; but Mormonism was not one that denied them salvation or anything along those lines. Mormonism was the first religion in history to have a black preacher presiding over a white congregation, and had some black leaders as early as 1840. Most historians think Joseph Smith's strong support of abolition was a major reason for his murder.
