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Mitt's 'JFK speech' called 'wild gamble'
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should be seperate issues not to co-mingle.
However, this is not a perfect world.
I agree that one's faith should not matter!!but in this case it matters very much.
Mitt is LDS, I rememer the days when the LDS were against the ERA amendment and gambling. These issues were discussed in every church meeting.
I believe these and other matters are of personal choice. I deeply believe Mitt will make decisions based on his faith and not what is best or what the majority of the great USA pop. wants.
I loved the Headline "Mitt's speach wild gamble".
Gamble? I loved it.
Anyway, Mitt's 'coming out' party should be an interesting exercise in obfuscation. It's wrong to call it a 'jfk' speech, however. He, along with his fellow candiates, is not anywhere near the inspirational speaker that kennedy was.
Regardless of the outcome of this election, I think Romney would always regret not giving the speech. I hope this speech will detail the need to keep religion out of politics. Separation of church and state. No candidate should play up or down their own religion or the religion of another candidate, and this is what is happening in the race now.
The Presidency is over-rated due to the quagmire that congress is in and the internal fighting that is partisan to the core. Until the country can unite behind good men and women who are elected to be our leaders, it won't work. The money it takes and the power it breeds is simply too overwhelming for people to see clearly anymore. I wish Mitt Romney the best but simply do not see him being elected based on blind biases that run too strong. Sad but true.
This fuss about Mormonism will likely resolve itself as the Salt Lake Olympics (led by Romney) did. Recall the whining that it was going to be the "Mormon Olympics." Cynics complained in advance of the absence of alcohol, Mormon missionaries attacking people on every corner, obsessive control from "the Church" and a puritanical, anti-party atmosphere.
Instead, visitors were astounded at the organization, and surprised with the most friendly greeting from the friendliest, most dedicated volunteer workers ever. Naysayers ate their words when Salt Lake hosted the most successful Olympics ever, which brings us to the real reason people oppose Mitt and Mormonism: Success.
People feel threatened by Mitt Romney's record of accomplishment, and the growth of Mormonism, so they resort to whisper campaigns to incite fear and suspicion rather than civil discussion of issues and beliefs.
Romney's speech will not vaporize criticism, but it will put common sense back into the discussion.
People who are anti-Mormon (and therefore anti-Romney) will not likely change their deep seated bigotry after one speech.
For the LDS church, though, where else could it get such widely covered, high profile publicity putting the record straight about some of the things its enemies harp on the most?
Ultimately, Huckabee has evangelical Christians in his back pocket, and they won't be leaving him unless and until it is apparent that Huckabee won't survive the primaries, at which point these people will consider Romney as a more conservative alternative to Rudy.
But it'll be good theater. I'm making popcorn.
Romney should then be interviewed and reprimanded by his bishop for gambling, not to mention �wildly�!
Oh and by the way, the word is �tenets� - not �tenants� (�...specific theological tenants or doctrines....�). Thanks.
Personlly, I think it is a waste of time. I think that he made a fundamental political mistake in trying to align himself with evangelicals. Guiliani is doing well without doing so. He should instead emphasize the principal of the Seperation of Church and State, a consititutional principal that I believe evangelicals are increasingly coming to despise.
what is the keystone to the mormon faith-
the book of mormon- romney must stress the divinity of this book or he is hiding what he proclaimed as a bishop and stake president-
what seperates mormons and mainline christians is this book! if mitt truly beleives the book of mormon to be the most pure and undefiled scripture oon the earth today- he should let all know in his speech that this is why others question mormomism-
it is tangible evidence of the roots of the mormon faith! i hope romney addresses the real issues of mormonism- if he truly beleives- he will!
we will see thursday?
Simple truthts that will surely clear up the confusion for the Christian public.
1. The Book of Mormon
2. Joseph Smith
3. The atonement
4. Restoration
5. Latter-day prophets and apostles
It would take a man, I believe more bold and unwavering than Mitt Romney to demonstrate that he is not ashamed of the gospel he professes to be true. Saul of Tarsus a.k.a. Paul and the rest of us will be watching. We are about to hear one of the most wishy washy protestant political messages on record, and the voters will turn away disappointed and unimpressed. Mitt's true colors and convictions will be truly manifest Thursday evening, and I suggest his comments will side with Cesar.
The same people who currently are or in the future will be against Romney because of their religious biggotry against Mormons will be against him whether he clarifies this subject or if he hides it.
I think the earlier he talks about it the better. It keeps coming up, so why not talk about it, get everything out in the open, and if it turns some people off, I think learning that early is better than getting some early interest and then loosing it later when the people who make their political decisions based on religion figure out that his faith is a problem for them.
What I'm saying is... If it's going to be a problem it's going to be a problem. Romney can try to educate people and calm their fears, but in the end, Romney can't control this, only the voters can overcome their individual prejudices. Getting correct information out there is all Romney can do. He can't control what individual people do with that information, but I still think more information is better than less.
I find demeaning, discourteous, and insulting the suggestion that Mitt Romney�s political speech somehow defines or has the potential to define what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is or who Latter-day Saints are.
Mitt Romney DOES NOT represent Mormonism. He represents himself � that�s it. He is an INDIVIDUAL member of the Church. Mitt Romney�s �faith�, if �faith� it can be called, has never been an issue in the GOP Primary. No Evangelical, Pentecostal, Fundamentalist, or Southern grit-eating Christian cares what religion Mitt Romney is.
Mitt Romney does not represent the Church, and I don�t believe, given his liberal record in his liberal state, he represents the interests of the Republican Party.
Mitt Romney raised the capital gains tax.
Mitt Romney legislated gun control.
Mitt Romney legalized gay civil unions.
George Romney was a liberal.
Lenore Romney was a liberal.
The Romney family are a pack of LIBERALS � with or without a CTR Ring.
Somehow, Mitt Romney is special that he needs define his faith?
Republicans WILL NOT give Mitt Romney the GOP ticket - not because he is a Mormon, but because he is a liberal. "Mormonism" is simply Romney's excuse as to why he cannot get elected. Such an excuse has no merit.
As one individual Mormon, I cannot vote for Mitt Romney in good conscience. His liberal record to me is insulting. Mitt Romney is a liberal.
"Ask not what your country can do for you --
ask what YOU can do for your country."
Mitt Romney:
"But Mormons ARE Christians! Really, they are!"
(to put these two names together in the same phrase, sort of makes me ill)
I really don't think much of Harry Reid or Orrin Hatch, but at least they never used their faith as a campaign prop.
I remember when Gore and Lieberman ran against Bush in 2000, and all we heard about was how Hadasa Lieberman's father was a Holocaust survivor. I think that's great, but it has nothing to do with the issue or issues at hand. The more Gore and Lieberman talked about Joe Lieberman's faith, the more repulsed I became with the candidates (not that I would vote for Gore anyways).
The point is, is that Mitt Romney's religion is not the determining factor in the votes he does not receive. His politics is.
Mitt Romney is a liberal candidate. I will not vote for a liberal.
This isn't the general election. This is the GOP Primary. Mitt Romney is not wanted in the GOP - pure and simple.
Am I the only one who has grown weary from:
"But he's LDS! He must be a great man?"
Some day the dictionary will read:
deluded - See (The State of Utah)
Mitt raised the capital gains tax in his state. That, too, is something I sympathize with. Hedge fund managers pay a tax rate 15% on their income, while the rest of us pay 35%. There needs to be an extra measure of fairness figured into that discrepancy.
Lastly, I approve of social programs that work and that help LEGAL citizens of our country who sincerely need the aid.
But I'll either vote for Romney or McCain.
If so, there is still hope left for Mormons.
We are all liberal by nature. Minds have just been contaminated with divisive thinking.
- Mike Huckabee
Funny, how Mitt declares the opposite...
I knew there was something about the guy I was beginning to like.
But MY definition of liberal is the original live-and-let-live ideology.
Not the wacky Limbaugh neocon's.
Best of Luck to Mitt!
Romney's discussing his religion only means he's running scared.
Unless the caucus gets moved to Utah, Romney will be in the ackward position of asking that sentiment be put ahead of self interest.
Hey, check the records Hatch takes money from alcohol and tobacco companies. What a LDS! At least as I know Mitt does not. He is such a good LDS.
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While wanting to support his candidacy, I have not found him to be a compelling or convincing speaker or writer. If he wants to move off his current base of support, he needs to hit a home run.