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Romney's speech champions 'Symphony of faith'
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Jim Duffin
I am a volunteer for Mitt here in NH and last night I was working a phone bank polling NH residents and it was incredible how excited most of them were over Mitts speech. Things here seem to still be looking up for Mitt.
Several respondents to this column in the paper have complained that Mitt is only saying what he thinks the people want to hear. NOTHING could be further from the truth. I have known Mitt for quite a few years and I have attended numerous town meetings that he spoke at during this campaign and I tell you as a friend that what he says is the truth, which is what most voters want to hear.
The bulk of the founding Fathers, including Jefferson and Washington, even referred to themselves as "Deists," not Christians per se.' The Constitution is not based on Biblical precedent per se,' but on the Articles of Confederation which were decidedly based on the Iriquois Confederation (a pact held among Native Americans). This is not to say that Biblical and 'Christian' principles played no role, but to only say that the role was not as primary and overriding as claimed by contemporary Christians. In fact, the founding Fathers wanted nothing to do with institutional Religions having sway over the affairs of State, AND VISA VERSA! The operating principle here being fairness and equity, which is why the separation clause was added to the constitution, which interestingly was insisted on by the South Carolina delegation, who named Christian ministers among their group. Protecting personal religious freedom was the overriding intent, separating institutional religion from state affairs to protect both from each other was the underlying intent.
In the last 24 hours I've watched analysts on CNN, MSNBC, FoxNews, NBC, ABC, CBS discuss it, and have read about it all over the Internet.
The two most intelligent and insightful commentaries I've seen so far were those from the Wall Street Journal, and Pat Buchanan of all people.
The truth is, whether you are a rabid soccer mom, an atheist, an anti-Mormon, a Mormon, or a CTR wearing trash talker ...
Sadly, most people see ONLY what they predispose themselves to see, and attack that which threatens them.
Before the speech I wrote that the speech won't matter -- bigots will still be bigots and supporters will still be supporters -- but I was wrong.
Regardless Romney's political fate, his speech yesterday will live on. It will be studied, quoted, and referred to in years to come. It is already an "instant classic" in the library of American religious freedom.
However, it seems to me that Romney's religion is not the real issue - it's his changing stances - and that is what will ultimately doom his presidential candidacy.
Buh bye Mitt!
But I believe Rose is making the claim that Christians are persecuted in America. No Rose, we non-Christians are simply trying to protect our own rights.
I should point out that the Germans complained about persecution by the Jews.
The Framers believed in a Diety, w/o any religious affiliation. Freedom and Religion do go hand in hand, and Romney was well within boundries with this assertion.
HATRED OF RELIGION WAS imbedded in Marxism-Leninism. Marx had called religion "the opiate of the masses" and said that "Communism begins where atheism begins." His chief disciple agreed: "There can be nothing more abominable than religion," wrote Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Soviet state, in a letter to Maxim Gorky in January 1913. Religion, howled Lenin, was "a necrophilia," akin to a virulent form of venereal disease.
The Framers were Christians, and did not model the Constitution after the Articles of Confederation.
The Articles of Confederation DID NOT WORK, so they threw them out and started ove.
There is way too much false information on these boards.
And you have never changed your mind on an issue; PLEASE - there is nothing wrong with evaluating various issues and re-evaluating as you gain addition knowledge and insight. Name just one Politician who has not changed their mind on a particular issue!! Let me count the ways with Hillary~
So you wish the next President of the United States of America to be a person with the character of Rocky Anderson?
The point is not to elect a MORMON, it is to elect the best American.
The past few elections it has been difficult getting excited about any American. I hope this election is different.
(There is an Establishment Clause and a Free Exercise Clause, but neither create any "separation". -- 1st Ammendment)
Where do you people get your "facts"????????????
All of you write in and argue about the one thing in this world that you can't win an argument about..Religion!
Watch the debates and realize that no canidate wants to answer questions about his/her religion, but since mitt romney is a strong believer in Jesus Christ and the mormon faith he gets targeted. Mormons can believe what they want, protestants, catholics etc. athiests, muslims, jews...etc etc etc. but when it all comes down to it this country was founded on people wanting to believe what they personally hold dear to them. What they feel inside. Respect that. And realize that your personal beliefs are as weird as another persons.
You can't prove religion. That's why its so amazing. Its between you and what you believe and no one else.
All i want is an honest president...So far Mitt fits that description best.
The whole point is that this nation was founded on the principle on a belief in a God. Atheists don't believe in God. And that's OK. But if enough of us were atheists the country would cease to exist as a nation that our founding forefathers envisioned.
This statement is so patently false that it scarcely deserves refutation. If Romney has studied the bloody history of his own church, then he knows that the religious fervor of its adversaries drove them to deprive the Mormons not only of their freedom but their lives, and that the Mormons reacted in kind. If he has studied the bloody history of the world's older religions, then he knows that the most devout Christians of all sects have not hesitated to suppress, torture and murder "heretics" throughout history. Only the strictest separation of church and state has permitted the establishment of societies where freedom of conscience prevails -- and those freedoms are firmly rooted in societies where organized religion has long been in decline.
�I bear testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ � the foundation for the blessings we now enjoy laid by the young boy and assassinated Prophet Joseph Smith and with certainty, I testify of Gordon B. Hinckley as our modern day prophet.
�It is finally my plea and prayer that we will follow the teachings that we know to be true, and in so doing create a better world.�
This closing, a public testimony and benediction in front of every news camera and reporter of significance in Utah, coming from Romney could never happen because he is a Republican. It could and did happen coming from Reid because he is a Democrat.
Democrats have many issues. Some of the most pressing and historically significant involve Sen. Reid because of his position. But his faith and his expression of it are not on the list.
Ministers won't need to pick up where Mitt left off. The have been non-stop brutal for the past 160 years... Since Smith's death and before. The big question to answer is, or should be, "why the fanatical, rabid bigotry and abject, despicable unrelenting, obnoxious, vile hatred of Mormons?"
We need to remember how America became the great country it has become. Understanding history is essential.
(which is sadly what it might come down to with the ever-sinking GOP) Romney would be the "one of ours" favorite in Utah and Huckabee would get the nod because he's more likeable and from a mainstream religion.
It was the Founding Fathers' abhorrence of any kind of Theocracy.
�We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
�We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.� (Articles of Faith 1:11 - 12)
�And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me. Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land;�
(Doctrine and Covenants 98:5 - 6)
I could also point out dozens of Mormon scriptures which make it amply clear that freedom of choice is one of the most sacred and fundamental doctrines of the church. The freedom to disbelieve is just as sacred as the freedom to believe.
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic which it defines. One nation, indivisible, with liberty, justice, and full rights for all.
I care about the constitution, not the flag. The phrase "under God" in our current pledge was added by Eisenhower in the 1950s, it is not an artifact or cornerstone from the early times of our country.
Likewise the motto on our currency "in God we trust" was added during the 20th century as well. While I admit I like the signs which say: "In God we trust, all others pay cash!" I find it odd that *anyone* thinks associating God with the value of the currency isn't an insult to God.
I feel a lot better teaching my children about my beliefs than having some right wing Christian fundamentalist attempt to do it through a government back door.
I was disappointed in Romney's speech in that he did not address how he proposes to integrate God into his decisions, but not into the government's formal functions.
In an Iowa poll just this afternoon:
Huckabee - 39%
Romney 17%
If Romney is going to attack humanists and secularists as "wrong," then let him explain why they were so far ahead of his church on the greatest moral issues of the past half-century.
There is no need . Doctrine is for those who believe ! My opinion is that it should not matter to those who do not believe . The important question arises how does one treat his neighbor .
That really counts as far as I am concerned .
Good point. Some presidents even meet with religious leaders... such as Billy Graham.
Here's the short version and I hope they will post this-
Romney will not win the primary and he will not win the general election. What issue can we get worked up about next?
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And the GOP nominee is:
Whomever comes across as "the holiest."