Thursday, October 04, 2007
"Romney's Religion"
In his latest TownHall.com column, Robert Novak gives us his take on Mitt Romney's religious beliefs. A sample:
"Although disagreement remains within the Romney camp, the consensus is that he must address the Mormon question with a speech deploring bias. According to campaign sources, a speech has been written, though 90 percent of it could still be changed. It is not yet determined exactly what he will say or at what point he will deliver a speech that could determine the political outcome of 2008.
"Romney would seem the near perfect Republican candidate: articulate, handsome, able to raise funds and write his own checks. He has become sufficiently conservative on social issues where he once strayed leftward. He is the only Republican candidate unequivocally opposed to gay marriage and the only one who signed the no tax increase pledge. He is acceptable enough to non-Republicans to have been elected governor of very 'blue' Massachusetts and then, unlike three GOP predecessors, actually governed as a Republican.
"But last year I began to hear from loyal Republicans that they could never vote for Romney because of his religion. When I asked Romney about this in April 2006, he was in denial. I subsequently wrote on April 27, 2006, that Romney must make 'a stronger response than he now envisions' -- a declaration that 'the imposition of a religious test on U.S. politics is unfair, unreasonable and un-American.' That was disputed by e-mails sent to me by self-professed Republicans who insisted Mormonism is a cult."
In my estimation, any voter who chooses to dismiss Mitt Romney because he's a Mormon is a fool. I mean, if large numbers of Americans were so very eager to give props to lyin', philanderin' Bill Clinton, whose single religious conviction was to make himself available for photo ops whilst walking into D.C.-area churches, why can't they appreciate someone who has a deep commitment to his faith and family like Mitt Romney?
If you think I'm cynical, well, I am ...
"Although disagreement remains within the Romney camp, the consensus is that he must address the Mormon question with a speech deploring bias. According to campaign sources, a speech has been written, though 90 percent of it could still be changed. It is not yet determined exactly what he will say or at what point he will deliver a speech that could determine the political outcome of 2008.
"Romney would seem the near perfect Republican candidate: articulate, handsome, able to raise funds and write his own checks. He has become sufficiently conservative on social issues where he once strayed leftward. He is the only Republican candidate unequivocally opposed to gay marriage and the only one who signed the no tax increase pledge. He is acceptable enough to non-Republicans to have been elected governor of very 'blue' Massachusetts and then, unlike three GOP predecessors, actually governed as a Republican.
"But last year I began to hear from loyal Republicans that they could never vote for Romney because of his religion. When I asked Romney about this in April 2006, he was in denial. I subsequently wrote on April 27, 2006, that Romney must make 'a stronger response than he now envisions' -- a declaration that 'the imposition of a religious test on U.S. politics is unfair, unreasonable and un-American.' That was disputed by e-mails sent to me by self-professed Republicans who insisted Mormonism is a cult."
In my estimation, any voter who chooses to dismiss Mitt Romney because he's a Mormon is a fool. I mean, if large numbers of Americans were so very eager to give props to lyin', philanderin' Bill Clinton, whose single religious conviction was to make himself available for photo ops whilst walking into D.C.-area churches, why can't they appreciate someone who has a deep commitment to his faith and family like Mitt Romney?
If you think I'm cynical, well, I am ...
# posted by Joltin' Django @ Thursday, October 04, 2007 
