Romney's Mormon Speech Gets Mixed Reviews With Iowa Evangelicals
The Des Moines Register gathered some reactions among Iowa evangelicals to Mitt Romney's speech yesterday — and not surprisingly, those who were for Romney gave it a good review, and anti-Mormon evangelicals didn't change their minds about him. As such, we'll have to wait and see if it really had any impact at all among the final caucus participants, if it can be measured at all.
"He was doing the Potomac two-step around the issues that concern many evangelicals," said Rev. Frank Cook of Des Moines, who then admitted that evangelical opposition to Romney has little or nothing to do with his stances on the issues, but is largely about his religion. "Most evangelicals, including myself and my church, agree with Governor Romney's stand on most moral issues in our country. Our objection with his candidacy is not so much with his public stance as it is with how the Mormon faith has tried to disguise the tenets of their faith."
So, no more code words, no more dog whistles. Between Romney and ol' Huck, Republicans really are just dropping all pretenses and coming right out as the party of God this year, aren't they? In Arabic, I believe that's pronounced "Hezballah."
(Some do say "Hizbullah" or "Hezbollah" though, so I guess there's some minor disagreement on that.)
December 7, 2007 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
It was a speech filled with cryptic themes, but that is how many would characterize Romneys "faith".
December 7, 2007 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Romney's utter lack of sincerity in pandering to a Christian conservative base is only surpassed in its obscenity by the mainstream media's complicity in perpetuating the absurd notion that it is somehow incumbent upon a candidate to proffer a comprehensive primer on the specifics of their religious doctrine.
We've been saturated by pollsters asking post-speech Iowans, "Was the candidate able to answer your questions regarding his faith?"
To which the media consumer has been treated to such lovely insights into the American electorate as, "I liked what he had to say about values, but I still don't think he answered questions I have about the Mormon church."
My recommendation to the befuddled voter, who's dissatisfied with the paltry meal they've been spoon-fed by the media regarding Mormonism: Look it up!
December 7, 2007 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely right. This whole line of "I'm just uncomforable with Mormons and I wish Romney would completely explain his religion" is a load of bologna. There are plenty of places to get that sort of information (both true and false) if people want it, and Mitt Romney is not the only source. He's one of 12 million members, as the one who's running for president, is uniquely unsuited really to act as spokesperson.
The "I wish he'd answer my questions" line is a thinly veiled way of saying "I'm not voting for a Mormon one way or the other. I just want him to falter and go to Hell." They don't get it. They really don't. Shared values is the point. All this mystique about the Mormons is just sexy journalism.
December 7, 2007 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
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December 8, 2007 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink