Comments about ‘Mitt dodges questions about LDS faith’

Mitt didn't dodge questions about his LDS faith, he refused to answer them. Big difference.

I read the article in Newsweek. A fine article except the last two paragraphs that say he doesn't know who he is. A devout Christain, former head of the SLC Olympics and former govenor and he doesn't know who he is??????? Why won't the media tell the story and let us decide? I think Mitt doesn't need to answer questions about the church unless he wants to. He is running for president of the US and is not a spokesman for the church. If he did answer questions about the church that is all he would get which would be nice but again, he is running for president of the US. I think he will do well.

Mitts favorite movie??? Dodge Ball!!

Does he really have to separate being Momon/American? His statement does not make sense. Yes, he's an American running for pres, but he's also a Mormon running for pres. Can he just "turn off" being Mormon when answering the media? He seems too fickle to be a president.

There are more than 50,000 young people wearing badges signifying they are official representatives of the LDS Church and all they do 24/7 is explaining this faith to people. Why don't the curious simply ask them? As far as why people are scared? Who knows? Maybe it is because they don't know the faith well enough. It is natural to fear the unknown. So in answer to Dr. Bernstein, the Church is actively engaged in overcoming that fear by continuously sending out missionaries and explaining our faith to people, and it is not Mr. Romney's job to do that.

People who know do not fear.

People outside of Utah view the LDS church as different and weird. Romney's faith may not be a concern in Salt Lake, but it is elsewhere. The issue isn't going away for him.

According to Mitt Romney, Mosiah 18:9 should be ammended to read "ye are willing to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, except when running for president of the United States."

Romney needs to answer the questions about his faith. Voters want to know and they're not going to vote for him if he doesn't. Plus he risks alienating members of the church as well. Just answer them once and then he can be done with those questions.

If he is running for the presidency of a secular government (and he is) he should adopt the stance of John F. Kennedy in 1960. Kennedy explicitly said that he believed in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute. Where is the candidate with that courage today?

All politicians these days, that have a chance of being elected, dodge actual questions. It would help if those asking the questions weren't bent on a sensational headline or soundbyte. The person asking the question was from Las Vegas, that place is crawling with Mormons, the City council, the mayor, heck the highest ranking elected Democrat in the Country is from that state and a Mormon. Are they scared of Mormons in Las Vegas, apparently not.

I'm sure a lot of us LDS would like Mitt to open up and 'set the record straight' on what we believe. I think he is answering what people really want to know and that is something entirely different. They want to know what HE thinks and how that makes him someone who would be a good president. And someone who represents everyone, not just those on the far right or even all who elected him (should he make it).

Having Harry Reid as a Mormon politician but on the opposite side of the spectrum is a good opportunity to illustrate how someone can be LDS, but follow widely varying policies.

So summarizing: Mitt is a Mormon, but one who would make more conservative policies. Just being a Mormon does not make you a political genius or great leader.

I do wish people would spend more time talking about more important issues such as how we would resolve the Iraq situation, how to improve relations wih Russia, Iran, Korea or Cuba (understanding that other parties have mis-behaved), how to improve our leadership in technology, education, etc., etc.

I don't think Mitt knows the answer to that question. I don't think anybody does. Why anyone would be "scared" of Mormons is simply amazing.

He supports abortion, and he doesn't want to talk about his religion? Weird.

The answer to the question is that local ministers have been engaged in spreading FUD (fear, uncertainty, & doubt) about Mormonism for decades. As a result their parishioners view Mormons with fear, loathing, and suspicion. How does on give that answer without alienating the very group of people one is trying to woo?

The media can't tell the story until Mitt does. If he doesn't hurry up and answer the questions the public wants answered, he will lose his chance. It is not enough to say "don't look here, look over there," like the Church does. His campaign won't last unless he gives same direct answers instead dodging reporters' questions.

Based on previous comments I saw posted on an msn.com blog about Romney, it (the fear of Romney) is either due to people's tendency to shy away from what they don't understand (many similarities between LDS theology and mainstream Christianity but also many differences) or their fear that the White House would really be run by directions from Church headquarters. Either one is unfounded. One lie being perpetuated is that LDS members are not Christians. WHAT?! Of all the myths and lies about my church, that's the only one that saddens me. The fact that we are Christians (I'm talking about the Church as a whole and our doctrine, etc so please, readers, don't write any posts about members you've known who didn't do what they were supposed to....) this is so blatantly obvious to anyone in the Church that anyone's claims to the contrary is pathetically sad. As to the 2nd fear; not gonna happen. Why? The Lord's prophet has been given authority to lead and guide His church, NOT the country. Personally, I wish Romney would explain the Church in more detail and clarity. If he wins, great. If not, he stood as a witness of truth.

Why should he be required to answer questions about his faith or religon. How many Americans know the religous affiliation of Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, etc..... We as citizens should be more concerned about national issues, such as: abortion, same sex marriage, our nation's debt, crime, war, etc. Is Mitt Romney or any other candidate the man/woman for the job?

How many of us could list the religions of the other presidential candidates? hummmm.....

Mitt Romneys statement says it all, "he's an American running for president, not a Mormon running for president." His religion matters not. His ability to see what needs to be done and lead does matter.

By not taking this opportunity to recite the Articles of Faith, Mitt seems weak and lends credence to the assertions of others that he lacks convictions and vacillates. If he won't stand firm for his faith, what will he stand firm for? Even if people don't like some of our doctrine, they will admire him for being strong which is just the medicine his campaign needs. Gird up you're loins Mitt and be whoever you are, for heavens sake.

Better questions:
"What is it about news reporters that makes them focus on little oddball questions rather than the important issues?"
"What is it about news editors that makes them write headlines that will stick in voters' minds rather than read and think about the whole article?

He changed his stand on 2 issues, then someone called him a flip-flopper, without asking why he changed. Now the parrot press mindlessly repeats the label. Most politicians change with the wind.

Come on, Morning News, you can do better.