Deseret News | Reader comments: Pundit bashes Mitt, Mormons

Reader comments
Scott D. Pierce: Pundit bashes Mitt, Mormons

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Brandon | 5:04 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Let the fool make a spectacle of himself. I hope this get's plenty of coverage and he gets fired.

John in Texas | 5:30 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

I really feel sorry for Mr. O'Donnell. He is one miserable and pathetic human being. He is going to be surprized someday to find out he was off the mark several hundred yards. He is not only attacking LDS he is attacking a higher power.

Michael R. Loveridge, J.D. | 6:57 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

You have to question McLaughlin's (and MSNBC's) judgment and sanity for allowing this "pitbull" to be a part of their show.

Comments continue below

Halwrite | 7:27 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Interesting how members of one religion overlook their own tradition's particular absurdities while they heep scorn on the faith of others. How people live their lives in indicative of the value of their religion. Not the idioscyncracies of one scripture versus another. There are horrific messages in all scripture. Look at the people. How they live today. How they relate to others today. What they have accomplished. I'm not a member of the LDS Church, but I wouldn't hesitate to vote for Governor Rmoney merely because he is a Latter Day Saint.

Insane | 7:37 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Its insane that this moron will not get fired! Its okat to trash Mormons on TV because we are not " TRADITIONAL NICEAN CREED CHRISTIANS".

Aghast | 8:05 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

What a bigot and a hypocrite! Had he said this about any other faith, there would have been a firestorm. But liberals can say whatever they want with impunity. What is so sad is that this 'journalist' was wrong on every count about the church and its history, particularly on the slavery issue.
If you saw the episode, you saw an unabashed hater.

Rob | 8:05 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

To be proactive how can we contact MSNBC and let them know we will not put up with the kind of behavior of O'Donnell Can someone post that on here and then we can e-mail that address to everyone in our address books. Who was it that was fired because they said something bad about black people. That was an offensive comment. I would be this bothered if he was attacking other peoples religion. We all have friends of other religions and this would bother me if someone said all that about their religion. You were right on when you said he was hysterical. I was absolutely shocked by his behavior. But I was thinking how many people will now check out the LDS Church because of this. How many people will come to understand our religion even more. It may just backfire on this guy.

Mike | 8:08 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

It would be real easy (and natural) for Latter-day Saints to want to see O'Donnell fired, or worse, for his bigoted rant. He is obviously not a Christian himself, or so it seems, because of his hatred for his fellow man.

Jesus taught us to love one another as he has loved us. He also taught us to forgive one another of all trespasses, so I will strive to forgive O'Donnell for being an ignorant bigot.

Hermie | 8:12 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

I gather that O'Donnell wouldn't hesitate to confront Mormons who might work at MSNBC, The Washington Post, his local fire department,Harry Reid, etc, and accuse them of being racists as well.

O'Donnell is a coward and bully, plain and simple. He knows that Mormons would not retaliate against him in any violent way, or even stoop to his level.

Ed | 8:21 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

I say what Yul Brynner's Rameses said in "The Ten Commandments"...

"Let him rave on, that men shall know him mad."

John | 8:22 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Are the readers of the Deseret News as quick to condemn their favorite conservative commentators when they make bigoted statements?

LM | 8:27 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

His comments confirm the saying ï¿½It is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.ï¿½

Write In won't help | 8:29 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

I wrote in to the McLaughlin Group and told them that I was disappointed that they would allow this type of bigoted, uninformed rant without some sort of apology.

They wrote back and basically said that this is the type of exciting opinionated forum that they want in their show, and that it was just Mr. O'Donnell's opinion.

So basically they ignored what he said. A write-in probably wouldn't make a difference at MSNBC either, so don't waste your time.

Keith, California | 8:30 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Why is anyone surprised? I would say these words were a bit "excessive" for PBS and the main-stream media. But this is typical of what those people think of Conservatives. It has been this way for years. The real racists in this country are the politicians who want to keep blacks dependent on government rather than give them economic opportunity with real jobs from the free enterprise system.

Proactive LDS | 8:32 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

In reply to Rob:

Steve Capus, President
NBC News
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

I couldn't find his e-mail address, so I took the time to write a letter. I demanded that he take some action against O'Donnell, and I ended the letter with "Imus was fired for less."

Rob, I hope you and everyone who reads this will take a few minutes to fire off something to Mr. Capus.

Bob in Texas | 8:33 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

What do LDS members expect at this point? Joseph Smith admitting in court to defrauding people by using seer stones to find buried treasures.

Four years later, Smith used seer stones to find Moroni's golden plates.

The claims by Smith are laughable, and as information about Smith is spread through the internet, the LDS church is sure to fade away (in my opinion).

Bill, Tooele | 8:35 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

To Mike: That's a very nice, Christian sentiment. However, I would like to point out that while I might forgive O'Donnell's bigoted outburst, I certainly won't forget.

liberal larry | 8:36 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

I'm not LDS, but there is no room in our public discussion for this type of bigotry. Ever since Reagan did away with the Fairness Doctrine we have been besieged with one sided rants by the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Michael Moore.

Bryce | 8:39 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Wow... the bigots are really starting to come out of the fray now!

Chad | 8:40 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

It is no suprise they wanted him on this show. One, EVERY tv show is about entertainment, and this was entertaining at the lest.

Two, Romney could be a serious threat for the presidency, and the extremes (the Right, but particularly the Left) can't have a serious moderate candidate. They will do all in their power to win, including historically lying, defaming, slandering, what have you. When there is a candidate like Romney, with a ready-made attack point, they will attack relentlessly until his hopes for the presidency are shattered. They are not interested in debate around the actual issues, and will blow all the smoke available until the real strengths and weaknesses are so obscured that everyone is voting in the fog. Much better opportunity for the dems to steal another election without anyone ever actually critically thinking about the issues, because if they did then sure the Dems would never get voted in, and most of the Reps should not either.

Hey Bob in Texas | 8:48 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

I forgive you for your ignorance. I'm sorry you don't know much about LDS History. If you are trying to make Joseph Smith and the LDS Church look bad I forgive you because I am a Christian.

Anonymous | 8:50 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Bob in Texas:

Your claims about Joseph Smith are laughable! Where are you getting your information about him? Everything you wrote about him is way off the mark and just plain wrong!

Re: Write in Won't Help | 8:55 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Thanks for taking the time to do that. I think it's interesting that the McLaughlin Group defended O'Donnell by saying "it's his opinion." Actually, when he's spouting off completely inaccurate "facts" such as when he said that Joseph Smith was pro-slavery and that blacks weren't allowed to be members until 1978, it moves away from being his opinion and turns into slander.

Anonymous | 8:56 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

You are a wrong! You can libel secularist like Mitt does in public. Blame secularist! What will be your final solution to your problem with secularism?

Wow | 9:15 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

I just watched "the rant" on youtube. Since when is it okay to go on national tv and slander a religion? Being a mormon, I wasn't offended by what he said. I heard much worse on my mission in Missouri. The only thing that bothers me is that he will probably suffer no consequences, no repercussions. I don't think it's okay to attack millions of mormons in america by calling their religion "ridiculous" and "racist." You could see the hatred in his eyes as his hands were shaking while pointing his finger rumbling off "facts" about Joseph Smith. Luckily the rational people in ALL religions will see that this guy was not being objective AT ALL and will take his comments with a grain of salt.

JRM | 9:15 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

If you want to have an effect on MSNBC, then write those who finance it (the advertisers). Quoting an NPR story about Don Imus on April 11th:

"MSNBC has announced it will no longer simulcast Don Imus' radio show . . . Earlier today, several major advertisers announced that they are pulling their ads from Don Imus' show. Among them were General Motors, GlaxoSmithKline and Procter & Gamble."

Follow the money, since that is all its about. A write-in campaign to Proctor and Gamble, cc:d to NBC, will be much more effective.

KBYU | 9:17 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Perhaps it is finally time for BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to let go of its affiliation with PBS, which carries this show.

HUGH BRENNAN | 9:25 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

I'm an Irish-Catholic from New York who was absolutely astounded by the violence and venom of O'Donnell's attack on the LDS church. It was wrong on several levels and the in's and out's of LDS doctrine or history are beside the point. It was vindictive hate speech directed toward the religion of 6 million fellow Americans, and as such I stand with them in their outrage.
NBC should be deluged with protest, yet I hear not a wimper. I guess the show has low ratings, but if O'Donnell's remarks had been directed against Islam, he'd have been fired and living in hiding under a death fatwa!
The fact is most people are adherents of the religion they are born into- the "faith of their fathers", so why do they have the responsibility of explaining/defending it in their public lives? Romney's speech on that point was perfectly aligned with fundamental American civil doctrine. O'Donnell's comments were, in that light, deeply un-American.
And, looking at the facts on the ground, most Mormons lives their lives as good, productive citizens. What business is it then of either O'Donnell's or mine what the validity of LDS doctrine? (all this from a Rudy supporter!).

Dutchman | 9:26 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Bob in Texas: If you are serious about studying Joseph Smith and not just a loon that hangs around hateful websites a good read on Smith is "Rough Stone Rolling" by Bushman, emeritus professor of Columbia University. Bushman is LDS but he is not an apologist and his book has received high critical acclaim. Please do some serious study before you rant.

RT | 9:27 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

You can send comments and ask for Larry O'Donnell to be Fired to:
comments@mclaughlin.com

Re: Wow | 9:33 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

O'Donnell did get a few facts wrong and his tone was indeed inappropriate but why don't some of you rabid LDS apologists please address his main point? The LDS church, prior to 1978, held a ridiculous and dispicable racist doctrine and still attempts to place the origin on those decidedly bigoted ideas with God. I agree Romney shouldn't have to answer for his religion's past but please people, trying to shift the focus completely away from the issue at hand is completely disingenuous.

Arizonan | 9:35 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

I think that it is ridiculous how media are able to debase LDS and have no repercussions. It is the fad to be anti-LDS in the media. I hope all that read this article and comments will email or send letters to the McLaughlin group and to MSNBC.

Henry Drummond | 9:38 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Larry needs to realize that if you turn the clock back far enough, nobody is going to look good.

Nobody seems to be jumping on Mike Huckabee for being a Southern Baptist. People forget that the whole reason the Southern Baptists broke off from the national Baptist movement was because of slavery.

You will also find that even some of the most beloved presidents like Ronald Reagan at one time belonged to country clubs that banned Jews, and Catholics and African Americans.

Larry likes to paint Joseph Smith as a criminal. If by that you mean somebody who was arrested for whatever reason then you are going to have to include Martin Luther King Jr. in that company too.

And then their is the charge that Joseph Smith was "pro-slavery". The irony of that charge is that Mormons were driven from Independence Missouri mostly because slave-holding neighbors thought the Mormons were Abolitionists trying to start a slave revolt.

Larry doesn't seem to see that it doesn't matter whether the hatred is directed at Gays, African-Americans, Jews, or Mormons. Its still hatred, its still bigotry, and its still sick.

Two Cents Worth | 9:40 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

It's so sad that the world will most likely believe Mr. O'Donnell (non-LDS, and obviously anti-LDS), rather going to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and asking if these things he said are true.
Kind of like not asking a professor of Chemistry your chemistry question, but asking the kid who works as a janitor in another building at another university that doesn't even believe in Chemistry.

When will people learn to go to the source to learn about something?!!

Occam | 9:40 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

When members of the LDS Church make the type of claims that they make, that theirs' is the only true church on the face of the earth, and that only their belief system is the belief system acceptable to God, then their belief system should be subject to scrutiny. The fact is, the LDS Church favored white people over black people until the mid-seventies. I disagree with the way in which O'Donnell presented his message, but was right when he said the LDS Church was a racist Church until recently. And he was right when he stated that Joseph Smith was a fraud, since he was indeed convicted of that crime. All religions have their problems and their historical scandals, but those of the LDS Church are right up there with the best of them.

Illinois Cougar | 9:43 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Amen to "KBYU"! With the huge number of cable stations that carry similar programming, it is a complete waste of tax payer dollars to fund a network that is becoming irrelevant. Infact, there are several programs that have switched from PBS to commercial programming in the last three or four years.

BTW: Isn't the McLaughlin Group often used in fictional drama or science fiction movies when the scene involves tv news? That says a lot about the show it self. Fiction.

minnesota | 9:54 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

As a jewish american I find O'Donnells rant scary. Those who do not know history are bound to repeat it. Yelling and telling half truths to make a hate speech was common place in Germany and we know where that led to. Thank goodness that most Americans are loving good people so that men like this can never get in power. I have had mormon friends and found them to be good honest people. I pray that people like this will never be able to say these things without being challenged and corrected with the truth.

Educated Literate | 9:55 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Well, Dale Carnegie said it best : "Any Fool can condemn, criticize and complain...and most Fools do"

Occam that is not true | 9:58 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Mormons claim their church to be the most correct church not the only true church. If you believe it to be wrong fine. I respect that. Just do not go on tv and tell half truths and blame this small church for slavery in hte united states when it was founded in 1830. You should look and see when the first slave was brought to the US. This man bared false witness against his neighbor that is all I need to know about him

Ron | 9:59 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

The united States supported slavery till the civil war. So is the constitution also totally wrong because it was drafted and passed by those who both bought abd sold blacks. Are we still a racist nation? Where's Porter Rockwell and the avenging angels when you need them!

MoJules | 10:01 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

If I were non-Mormon, I would raise my eyebrows about pre-1978, as a Mormon, I will never forget the joy I felt on that day of 1978, the same as I felt for Elizabeth Smart being found. But here is a fact that I do not believe any other church can claim, 100% of all men in the LDS church over the age of 12 are able to have the priesthood. That was not always the case, but today it is, before everyone spouts off about the past, please let me know how many men carry the priesthood in your churches? I do not care about Obama using drugs back in about what, 1978, that is not important now, if he uses now, I would have issues. I feel very strongly about the idea of children who are not baptized are condemned, I do not agree with it, but I would not hate a religion for that. There are so many things that I admire and respect in that religion, but I don't turn to hatred for those things that I do not agree with. Maybe it is Harry Read that brings out this anti-Mormon anger. :)

ken | 10:04 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

I dont understand why so many people are bad mouthing the mormon church. I live in a small southern town that has one mormon church. All of the mormons I know are fine people. nuf said

Anonymous | 10:05 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

In case anyone would like to write the Mclaughline group I have included their email address. I gave Mr O'Donnell a fairly stern critique on the tone and message of bigotry toward the LDS church.

comments@mclaughlin.com

I love the Joseph Smith was a racist comments. Shows absolute ignorance of truth. Some things topics are worthy of debate and I do not have a problem with that; but others are so clear cut or shall I say black and white. Part of JS's platform for president was to end slavery and the saints were kicked out of Missouri(a slave state) because they oppossed the practice. Hardly sounds racist to me.

Interesting | 10:06 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Interesting that the author is an admitted Catholic. A religion which did not allow Black priests until the late 1800's and would not publicly say that racial discrimination was wrong until 1958.

Aghast | 10:13 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Occam,

Wrong as usual. Read a little history. While Joseph Smith had many charges brought against him in his lifetime, most of which where trumped up by enemies and 'ministers', he was never, I repeat, never convicted of anything.
Stop listening to the uninformed. You remind me of a Monty Python quote, "He's been mercifully spared the ravages of intelligence".

Kaysville | 10:13 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

I have to say O'Donnel is right. How can people argue with him. He plays a mormon on tv he . He has to be right, if we can not trust our TV people who an we trust. I hope he is or else my heart surgery next week that Dr. McDreamy is going to perform may not go well.

Dutchman | 10:14 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

To Wow: The Mormon Church allowed blacks to be baptised and join the church prior to 1978. How racist is a doctrine that says all chilren (including blacks and all colors) who die before the age of accountability (proclaimed as 8 years of age) are received into the Celestial Kingdom of God as Mormon Doctrine does. Most creedal christian churches teach that unbaptised children who die cannot be saved. Think of the millions of children that have died with no baptism. How racist and unChrist like is that?

Bashing | 10:20 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

LDS bashing is a pathetic little sideline. If you want bashing, take a look at all the people who bash atheists.

Of course, that hateful group of bashers INCLUDES many mormons.

JB | 10:21 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Occam's comment is ill-considered. Every serious religious faith claims to be a vessel of divine truth - and that is as it should be. Otherwise, what sustainable reason would the various faiths have for existing?

And although the LDS may have barred African-Americans from its priesthood until 1978, the entire USA countenanced racial segregation and second class citizenship until only 10-15 years before that. Should we shut down the entire American enterprise on that account?

We need to stop beating the racial drum and evaluate people as individuals. As an earlier poster said, if you turn back the clock far enough no one looks good. Whether you support Romney for president or not, judge the man on the basis of who HE is, the life HE'S lead and what HE stands for.

Former Missionary in Brazil | 10:22 a.m. Dec. 14, 2007

While it is true that until 1978 the LDS faith did not allow black members to hold the priesthood, most other faiths only allow the priesthood to be held by a select few ministers. The LDS faith ordains the priesthood on every worthy male member beginnng at the age of twelve. From 1970 to 1972 I served as an LDS missionary in Brazil. In every branch where I served in Brazil, there were black members. They served as Sunday School teachers and leaders and Relief Society teachers and leaders. They bore their testimonies of their belief in Christ and the Church on fast Sundays even though they knew at that time they could not hold the Priesthood. I loved them and admired their faith and testimonies. I shouted for joy when I learn in 1978 that these faithful saints would be given the Priesthood. It was given for them, not the World. In the Old Testiment of the twelve tribes of Israel, God allowed only the Levites to hold the Priesthood. I feel sorry for Mr. O'Donnell, his own hatred will condemn him and bring him dishoner. If only we could all have the faith of these Brazilian Saints?

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