Comments about ‘What others say: Religious bigotry’

I'm much more interested in electing a President who can guide us out of the financial mess we are in, and not so much in electing a President because of his personal beliefs, if any, in God.

Gee, even the LA Times says "Twenty-seven percent of Democrats said they wouldn't support a Mormon for president, compared with 20 percent for Republicans"

I thought dems were supposed to be more tolerant and open-minded. I've always known that was not true.

Who ever wrote the title to this editorial got a little carried away with the headline "Religious Bigotry". You can't always gauge a person's motivation by the results of a poll. In a 2010 survey by Gallop, 90% of Mormons self described themselves as "very" or "moderately" conservative! This was the highest of any American religion asked. It is not surprising that Democrats wouldn't vote for a Mormon since LDS voters are so homogeneously Republican, that it is almost like asking Democrats, "Would you vote for a conservative?"

My whole argument here is that in our state one of the biggest litmus tests is whether or not someone is LDS, when it comes to voting for them. Should it? No, but it does. Should it at the national level? No, but it does. Does it come with the territory then that folks that are LDS (Mr. Romney and Mr. Huntsman) should address it? Yes. The scrutiny is unfair but it is what it is.

It would be interesting to see a poll of Mormons to see how willing this population would be to support a Scientologist for President. Does their tolerance extend to other less historically represented groups? Muslims? Buddhists? Or is this mostly just an issue of LDS looking to join the mainstream, getting into the "club" of accepted religions?

At this point I'll take a small government atheist for President. Anybody but what we have now. I'm appalled at how many people have made such a stink over Mitt Romney's religion. His religious beliefs are at the bottom of my "concern" list. I just want a boring but effective President, in 2012 I'll be voting with my wallet.

@10cc
Get out your pencil and I will start your poll: As a Mormon I will vote for the most qualified person given the needs of the country as I see them with no regard for his/her religion if any. ("it's the economy, stupid")

All those who lay all the countries problems at the feet of Obama are being very unfair. Obama doe not legislate. Congress does that. The president can suggest. Put forth ideas for bills. He does not pass bills. He does not raise taxes. Nor does he lower taxes.

Look at the record of the congress since Obama has been president. Have the Republicans even tried to support the president?? Which party has almost brought the country to the brink of default twice? Almost a third time?? Which party may also do the same in November then the continuing resolution needs to be approved??

In order for the country to progress the Congress and the President must work together. Compromise is the solution. The T Party and the republicans do not compromise. THAT is the problem!!

Re: 10CC | 8:04 a.m. Oct. 14, 2011

Why in the world would Mormons care if the president was Sentologist, Muslim or Buddhist? There is nothing in the US Constitution that suggests religious belief is a prerequisite to be a president.

What Mormons want is someone who understands the US Constitution and has some basic concept about how to balance a checkbook.

"What Mormons want is someone who understands the US Constitution and has some basic concept about how to balance a checkbook."

When have we ever had one of those?

Re; Well Read

All those who lay all the countries problems at the feet of Bush are being very unfair. Bush did not legislate. Congress does that. The president can suggest. Put forth ideas for bills. He does not pass bills. He does not raise taxes. Nor does he lower taxes.

Look at the record of the congress during the Bush administration. Did the Domocrats even try to support the president?? Which party has almost brought the country to its knees with an unsurmountable debt which resulted in a downgrading of our credit rating. Which party wants to ignore the warning signs and increase our spending and debt even more!?

In order for the country to progress the Congress and the President must work together. Fiscal responsibility is the solution. The far left and the democrats did not compromise with Bush and won't do it now. The Democrats (and to a much lessor extent, Republicans) have no fiscal conscience. THAT is the problem!!

@Rifleman | 9:46 a.m. Oct. 14, 2011

"What Mormons want is someone who understands the US Constitution and has some basic concept about how to balance a checkbook."

Mitt Romney will likely win 80 to 90% of the vote here in Utah. Is he the most likely to understand the US Constitution and balance the nation's checkbook? When asked if he would need Congressional authority to launch an attack against Iran, Mitt Romney stated he would have to "talk with (his) attorneys". Where does Romney find justification for bank bailouts in the Constitution? I've searched Romney's website for a reference to the Constitution and I couldn't find it. You might have better luck.

If we Mormons only wanted someone who "understands the Constitution and has some basic concept about how to balance a checkbook" we might see more support for Ron Paul, Champion of the Constitution and who has never voted for an unbalanced budget and pledges to balance our nation's budget. It is telling that we do not see such support here.

This is more about religion than we would like to admit.

Re: JoeBlow | 10:18 a.m. Oct. 14, 2011
"When have we ever had one of those?"

Not that I particularly favor Mitt Romney but he pulled Salt Lake City's fat out of the fire when the 2002 Winter Olympic Games were headed for financial disaster. Most people have forgotten the scandal that threatened it.

@lost in DC
"I thought dems were supposed to be more tolerant and open-minded."

Gallup polling shows Democrats are more willing to vote for blacks, women, jews, catholics, hispanics, atheists, homosexuals, people married three times...Republicans have Mormons and 72 year olds (the elderly one being the only one that conservatives had over liberals in 2007; yes even liberals in 2007 were more willing to vote for Mormons than conservatives... maybe Prop 8 caused the reversal).

Notice anything about the categoriees Democrats are more willing to vote for? Those are constituencies that are primarily Democratic. The Mormons and elderly... primarily Republican constituencies. I think a few of the respondants are treating the question as "that category tends to be the opposite politically as me... so I probably wouldn't vote for them".

Rifleman said: Not that I particularly favor Mitt Romney but he pulled Salt Lake City's fat out of the fire when the 2002 Winter Olympic Games were headed for financial disaster. Most people have forgotten the scandal that threatened it.

Not how I remember it, he just showed up for the credit and to save Governor Levitts from being brought in (rightfully) to the scandal that wasn't anything lobbyist do everyday at the capital there in our fair state.

But back to bigotry-poor perry's wife says they're being tortured by everyone because her husband is the "most" religious, even his own party is attacking him.

The right wing teahaudist have now excluded even there own whether it be mittens or perry or anyone else because of the mixed message of "manifest destiny" for the country.

@idablu
"Which party has almost brought the country to its knees with an unsurmountable debt which resulted in a downgrading of our credit rating."

The downgrade was due to three factors.
1. too much spending (give that to both parties since both are responsible for building debt, and the largest deficit deal on the table was the 4 trillion dollar one Obama was trying to get... but hey give that to democrats if you want)
2. too little taxation (republicans are blocking that)
3. too much partisanship and too high a risk of defaulting on the debt (Bachmann WANTED us to crash into the debt ceiling, that ones' on the tea party)

So 2 of the 3 biggest reasons for the debt downgrade are republican ones.

Oh, by the way, S&P ratings are junk. The next business day after the downgrade when the DOW lost 400 points... what were those people putting money into that day? US treasuries, the very thing that just got downgraded. Nobody cared that it got downgrded, they still wanted those now AA+ plus treasuries.

Idablu - I could have sworn this article was about religious bigtry, but since the DN montior totally rejected (didn't write me a nastigram) my comment addressing that subject but whole-heartedly printed your concern about President Bush's support from Democrats, let me comment on your question.

"Did the Democrats even try to support the president??" Why yes, yes they did. The following chart shows how:

Average Democratic Senate support for Bush: 45.5 percent.
Average Democratic House support for Bush: 36.8 percent.
Average combined Democratic support for Bush: 41.1 percent.
Average Republican Senate support for Obama: 8.8 percent.
Average Republican House support for Obama: 2.7 percent.
Average combined Republican support for Obama: 5.75 percent.

Much to my chagrin, much of George Bush's policies would not have been put in place without Democratic support in the House and Senate. I'm not happy about that but at least they're not obstructionsists. That label belongs to just one party.

2nd repost, of "The Real Truth", Re: "Religious bigotry".

LQQK, I'm now going to tell you the truth, and yes, the truth shall never be covered up, if you don't believe me, ask Utah's icon "poster boy" Glenn Beck. WHEN a Mormon, is running for a public Office, (in this case Romney and Huntsman), for The White House, they should never be pampered as if they are some sort of special Utah pampered poodle types, because they are LDS, they are open for public criticism, and if the heats to "HOT" for them, (as the Utah sympathizers puts it), then these runner's needs to quit right now, and, get out of the kitchen. If they are so sensitive now about a "cult" word, right now, then when a real conflict erupts while in Office, they'll never be able to handle it, and could get us all killed. Or this time, really crash America beyond any bandage quick fix that could last our lifetime. America's don't want RINO wimp's running the show in The White House, so the middleclass has to pay for their error's and mistakes.

I told ya'll I would tell you the truth. Are you scared?.

Yes, why are religious people so bigoted towards others? Would mormon voters support an openly gay candidate? Or would they say thier religion keeps them from doing that?

I think we know the answer.

atl 134,
the gallop poll you cite does not refute the fact that more dems will not support a mormon than repubs - it may explain it, but it still shows dems are more biased against mormons than repubs

ECR
the support numbers you post should not surprise anyone - bush was not conservative, so he would be more likely to garner dem support and BO was the most liberal senator when he was in the senate and he has not moved at all to the center, so of course he will garner very little repub support.

The fact BO garners very little repub suport is a good thing because the vast majority of BO's policies and his objectives are destructive to the American way of life. I'm GLAD the repubs are trying to obstruct BO destructive policies.