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Romney speech a hit on blogs, talk radio
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Having said this, I make the following point to those who would insist on raising a religious litmus test(however unconstitutional it may be) to measure the candidacy of any candidate; while they may find it convenient to do so now while they in many ways enjoy control over many facets of the republican primary election process, the widespread use of such a test may in the long term come back to haunt them, with respect to many in the party or in the country who are appalled by the arrogance of such a litmus test. It can mean failure to win a general election, or even the loss of influence in the party they seek to direct, in the long term, as the shortsightedness of such a strategy becomes apparent.
We, as LDS, should not be fooled so easily. This speech was given to woo Evangelicals (who consider Mormonism a CULT), not to show dedication to his faith.
We need to admit this, and realize we need not support such an ethically challenged, and dishonest candidate, simply because he is LDS. There will be better representatives of our faith in the future, and there are better candidate choices for President right now in the present.
This blindness (and my what a cherry-picked collection of blog, radio, and editorial reaction to the speech) is a disservice to our faith and our state and our country.
I think most mormons favor Romney because they have the same political views as he has.
I dont think Harry Reid would every win Utah if he ran for president.
It's all very intersting how religion effects politics, I find this race very interesting
I am extremely saddened that not even a fellow LDS candidate can stand for such a basic of all Christian beliefs. If we have come to this, then we are truly staring down the abyss. I really, really wish he could be the man that could bring back the moral standing that America should uphold. I wish, but he clearly isn't.
Perhaps if faced with the anguished cries of those tortured and mutilated, he would choose what's right? At least, that's what I hope. But my hopes are steadily vanishing.
I think it's silly he had to give that speech at all, but if he had to, he did it well.
Ronald Reagan was once a Democrat, but then flipped to the Republican side. Some called him a flip flopper as well, but he only flipped sides once also.
The true flip flopper was President Clinton, who espoused liberal ideals, but some how implemented a more centralist and even conservative fiscal policy without the liberals raising a big fuss and still the conservatives screamed for his head. Hence one of the reasons for his nick names, "Teflon Bill" or "Slick Willie". (Don't take me wrong, he also had a very liberal social agenda, but he didn't push for its funding that hard, because he knew his conservative funding policy couldn't actually pay for it. Still it endeared him to the Democrats appeased the independents.)
Only if Gov. Romney flops back during the generals would he be a flip flopper.
I like Romney not because he is LDS but because he, unlike most of the career politicians running in both parties, understands business, economics, and how to run an organization in an efficient and responsible manner. Romney spent the bulk of his career in the private sector learning how to manage money and be fiscally responsible.
Our country is on the path to bankruptcy and insolvency due to irresponsible spending from both the Bush Administration and our Congress. Both Democratics candidates are career politicians with little to no practical real world experience. They want to expand the federal government with a myriad of social and entitlement programs. To fund such programs, taxes in this country would likely skyrocket. No thanks. Give me someone that actually is fiscally responsible and has real world experienc in both the private and public sectors.
REALLY? While I don't totally disagree with you about Hatch and Bennett or even 'politicians' in general, one cannot get or stay in politics without trying to appear at least not distasteful to enough special interests.
But, Romney did an excellent job on the speech.
While the comments the DesNews picked were largely laudatory, I have read comments of all sorts on the internet, and have found that everyone heard a different speech according to their own preconceived notions.
Not knowing for certain what 'Non-believer' finds about LDS being "incapable of being realistic", I can only suppose that he/she feels that he/she is realistic. 'Non-believer', what are YOU 'realistic' about?
I want a president who will lead in what is right. He definitely showed that here.
But, I do not like his stand on Immigration. Sounds as if he wants to send all illegals home. This after quoting the Lord, take in the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the poor. Then in the same speech saying, the POOR, HUNGRY, SICK, should all be deported. I'm counfused Mitt.
Which doctrine do you truly believe? Feed the hungry, or send them packing?
Clothe the naked, or deport them?
Take in the sick, or put 'em on the first plane outta Dodge?
Please Mitt, stand up, be Christian, there is moderation on this issue. There are case by case situations that need to be considered.
I want to vote for you, but on this issue, we are truly at odds.
Which leads me to this question . . .
Why are Mormons so overwhelmingly committed to a party that consists of members who display bigotry of the worst possible kind? Why support a party that excludes members of your faith from positions of leadership? I think that an appropriate response to the vicious attacks of the far-evangelical right is to move en masse to the Democratic Party, a Party who will not let such politically incidental matters as religion foreclose opportunities to serve.
Mitt is a good man, true to his convictions, and that makes a good President! He speech was wonderful and I am voting for Mitt for it truely convensed me he is well qualified knowing Economics to run our Country honestly which we need!
Ironically, Huntsman has become moderate to liberal in his policies. He has signed a global warming pledge, worked with the UEA and given them just about everything they want, and has not radically changed the income tax like he promised to conservative voters. Would there really a difference between Huntsman and Matheson? It doesn't appear like there is at this point.
Would there be a difference between Huckabee and Romeny?
I remember running into Mitt Romney and his wife the summer before the Olympics. And do you know where? These multi-millionaires were at the dollar theaters in Sugarhouse. He earned my respect at that time, a time when the world wasn't watching his every move.
"Why are Mormons so overwhelmingly committed to a party that consists (primarily?) of members who display bigotry of the worst possible kind?"
"Why support a party that excludes members of your faith from positions of leadership?"
I have grown very frustrated with the Republican party as they have moved further and further to the left and further and further away from Constitutional principles. This time around I will really anger the Republican party by casting my vote for Dr. Ron Paul. He is the ONLY candidate in either party that truly believes in the Constitution of the United States and has a track record that says so!
Will Huckabee talk about the peculiar tenants of the Baptist faith? Will Dodd or Biden address the ongoing problems and controversies of the Catholic faith?
Speaking of Huckabee; I would love it if an interviewer would ask him if Mormons are Christians (in his opinion) and really make him answer. That would offer volumns about him and the subtle way he is using this issue in Iowa.
I suppose i'm just a little tired of the media squaking about Romney's religion being a liability. i don't see huckabee getting any flak for HIS religion. nor did he have to give a speech. the media is scared of romney because he's the real deal. they see he's a man of true convictions, and that runs against everything the media promotes and stands for. oh and dare i say it...because some americans are prejudiced against mormons. instead lets focus on why romney is the most suited canidate to run the country.
for those who are at odds with romney quoting the bible about service and mercy to others coupled with his near-zero tolerance stance on illegal immigration, let me quench your confusion.
first let's agree that illegal immigration is ILLEGAL immigration. is romney a hypocrite for standing up for our nations laws and our economy's welfare? second, in order to find a solution, we need a leader who will take a strong stance against the problem, not someone who seeks to appease both sides.
In today's world, you think any Conservative in their right mind would elect that anti-war nut. Extremeists all over the world are working on obtaining nukes as we speak
America needs to decide: Romney, Huckabee, Guiliani, Thompson, all formidable candidates. Paul, rather, is an absolute loon that was recently invited on the Bill Maher show. Let's just say it was scary how much those 2 agreed
Just for the record: Mormons in the middle states of America are Republicans, and I have yet to find a LDS Republican from any other part of the world than the US.
As a matter of fact, in Britain where I reside at the moment, you wouldn't find a LDS Republican no matter how hard you try.
No offense, I just thought it might be good to think about.
Regards, Marcus
For example the only reason Reid gets elected in Nevada is because of the many Liberal Californians who have taken over the state trying to get away from the mess they made in CA, only to recreate it in Nevada. Reid may be LDS but he is far from the views and hearts of most LDS people, even in Nevada. But Democrats in that state do vote for him, even LDS ones.
PS I know Harry Reid, he was in my Grandfathers Scout Troop as a kid and I still would not vote for him even if I still lived in Nevada (Currently live in Georgia).
I agree with the Illegal Immigration - they are here ILLEGALLY, no matter how desperate their reason for being here. My husband came LEGALLY with his family from Costa Rica; my sister-in-law's husband was deported back to Mexico and it took him almost 2 years to come back LEGALLY, but he's here now, LEGALLY. He has to pay fees for the almost 9 years he was here illegally. The system works, it CAN work - but there are so many who are here illegally (I'm in Southern California - it's rampant) and on our welfare system because they can't get work because they don't have a green card (how in the heck are they on our WELFARE system????)
We need Mitt or anyone in there who will address this!
For example, I support McCain and will continue to do so because I feel he's a strong leader, takes on tough issues and does not duck them, has the experience to get things done, and is the most electable general election Republican candidate in the field (check the latest polls). I think Mitt is too slick and does not have enough Washington experience or clout to get difficult things done. My wife disagrees. But at least we are talking about politics and issues, not a bias relegated to one candidate. I just hope this will lead to voters voting for politics, not religion.
Amen, From Europe, religion and it's belifs are something that transcends politics. Or at least it should. A good history lesson should remind Utah that they were a VERY Democratic state 35-50 years ago. Political parties change, faith does not.
If you are tired of the lies and distortions from political candidates (and some of their supporters)who will say anything to get elected and then immediately forget who they work for then cast your vote for true freedom. If you love and want to preserve the Constitution then Dr. Ron Paul is your only choice.
And the defense that Romney's waffling on the issues is okay because he has flipped, but not flopped, is ludicrously absurd. It's not so much the notion that Romney has changed his views that people object to--they object to it because he changes his mind when it's politically convenient.
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I found his speech stirring and inspiring. At least Americans have a better glimpse into the heart of a man who doesn't abondon his convictions for the sake of political gain--a character trait that most politicians don't seem to posess these days.