Comments about ‘Religion's role in the Iowa caucus results’

I like Santorum very much and will continue to do so unless enough different/varied media outlets find skeletons in his closet. However, make no mistake about it: the anti-Mormom sentiment in Iowa was rather large no matter what mainstream-Christians in Iowa admit to in a poll.

No, I'm not saying that every non-LDS person in Iowa despises LDS members and/or the LDS faith but I am saying that there are a lot of them who have TONS of incorrect info in their brain about the members, history and teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Are LDS members Christians?

Do Mormons believe the Bible?

Do Mormons worship Jesus Christ or Joseph Smith?

Isn't the Book of Mormon simply a Mormon version of the Bible?

What is the main claim of the LDS church?

When a Mormon says that Jesus's church was "restored" what does that mean?

Don't Mormons still practice polygamy?

Isn't the "LDS" and "FLDS" church the same thing?

It isn't being paranoid to claim that there is still much misinformation out there about the LDS church; it is simply admitting reality.

'But she noted that evangelical Christian voters "never coalesced around a single candidate this time, as they did with (Mike) Huckabee in 2008." - Aritlce

As echoed by:

*'GOP race narrows, but there's still no front runner' - By Steven Thomma, McClatchy Newspapers - Published by DSNews - 08/14/11

*Poll: Obama leads all potential GOP 2012 nominees By David Lightman McClatchy Newspapers Published by DSNews 06/28/11

But remember!

Religion is NOT an issue!

*'Fox News host: Romney not Christian' - By Hal Boyd, Deseret News - 07/17/11

*'Rick Perry backer decries Mitt Romney, Mormons' - By Jamshid Ghazi Askar, Deseret News - 10/08/11

*Cult of Mormon comment leads Newt Gingrichs Iowa political director, Craig Bergman, to resign - By Tad Walch Deseret News 12/14/11

*'Trump on Obama's Birth Certificate: 'Maybe It Says He's a Muslim' - Fox Nation - 03/30/11

Reality:

*Obama, family attend Christmas church services By Julie Pace AP Pulibshed by DSNews 12/25/11

Both Romney and Obama are Christian.

And it factually does NOT affect, my vote.

Santorum seems like a decent enough of a guy, but it seems rather convenient that he surfaces after the debates, just in time to benefit from his evangelical backers in Iowa.
I will look forward to studying his record and history.

So far, for some reason, the religious discussion hasn't surfaced as it did in the Iowa caucus 4 years ago. Talk show hosts avoid it and most pundits avoid it for now but with Newt Gingrich's comments yesterday, it almost sounded like a threat to bring out anything to combat Governor Romney using Rick Santorum as a pugile stick. With the negative campaign that Newt launched today in the newspaper in New Hampshire that despises Mitt Romney, it will be interesting how much visceral verbiage comes out in the next 5 days. South Carolina will be full of rhetoric with Newt.

'With the negative campaign that Newt launched today in the newspaper in New Hampshire that despises Mitt Romney, it will be interesting how much visceral verbiage comes out in the next 5 days.' - JWB | 3:50 p.m. Jan. 4, 2012

I agree.

It's interesting to watch the Republican far right fringe go into hyper drive to claim that 'x' person is so far from 'us'. They are the 'other.' (Mormon, black, gay, etc.)

And yet, the Deseret News published stories about people from the LEFT and Romney's faith. Making accusations...

*'President Obama's campaign plan: Destroy Romney' - By Hal Boyd, Deseret News - 08/09/11

*'President Obama's purported 'weird'-Mormon strategy against Mitt Romney will backfire, pundits say' - By Hal Boyd, Deseret News - 08/10/11

Which has NOT been supported by the facts, to this day.

This strikes me as working, to be the victim.

While pandering, to people who do not like you.

It makes no sense.

Religion is EXACTLY why Rick Santorum scored in the last inning. I wonder why Ministers feel an obligation to tell their followers who to vote for and even make endorsements. Why don't they trust that their followers can make good decisions on their own? Why don't they expect their followers to us their own brains and conscience to select a candidate? One of the ministers mentioned had even gone so far to ask Michelle Bachman to bow out of the race so more votes could go to Rick. The audacity of it all!

I love the statement made by Joseph Smith "Teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves." I am so grateful that I belong to a church that let's me govern my behavior and my thoughts and my voting conscience.

I never cease to be amazed why active LDS cling to the Republican Party when many Republicans trash the LDS Church.

Ok. Last post.

I enjoy how the article questions religions role in caucus results...

and HOW many stories about Mitt Romney does the DSNews post?

Cause:

*'Romneys donates $647,500 to charity in 2010' - By Jordan Burke, Deseret News - 11/16/11

'About $145,000 went to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sic)
including at least $525,000 to Brigham Young University in Provo.'

Effect:

*'Mitt Romney celebrates GOP win; 2 rivals flounder' - By Kasie Hunt - AP - Published by DSNews - 01/04/12

While...

*'Romney, Santorum take on NH after virtual tie' - By Steve Peoples - AP - Published by DSnews - 01/04/12

Romney stories on the DSNews:

-Perception of Mitt Romney election to presidency would be similar to that of John F. Kennedy, scholar says
-Coverage of Mormonism in campaigns sometimes unfair to evangelicals too
-Fox News host: Romney not Christian
-'Mormons Rock!' says Newsweek cover story about LDS Church, Mitt Romney
-Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman Jr. compete in Mormon primary
-Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman Jr. mull Mormon dilemma
-Romney's religion unknown to most

The Romney strategy has always been survive the South, win the North, and work like crazy to get the West. The Evangelical's may well be faced with either supporting Romney or staying home on one hand, and allowing Santorum (the Evangelical choice) to win and potentially get trounced by Obama on the other.

Here is the thought process.

The Northern U.S. does not hold to the same rigid religious ideology as defined by their Southern neighbors. States west of Ohio also do not fall into ideological lockstep with the South. Remember the North prefers a more moderate approach. The West and the Coast are at an opposite end of the spectrum in relation to the South. The real interesting part about this cycle is this; if religion is a deal breaker for the Republican nomination then will Obama win a second term riding the coattails of religious bigotry?

Personally, I am supporting the candidate that fits the Reagan model; religion is secondary however, a Christian would be nice since the United States in my personal view is a Christian Nation.

Religion is the biggest problem in our politics today. It provides a megaphone and a sheen of invulnerability to anyone who successfully attaches it to their agenda, people who otherwise would have to find proof or reasoning for their views.

It's hard to ignore the part of religion when you read articles printed in a supposedly consevative paper:
"Rev. Wildmon Urges Christians to Back Newt Gingrich, Says Election
Most Critical
The Rev. Donald E. Wildmon is making an urgent plea to Christian
voters in Iowa to vote for Newt Gingrich in their caucuses on Tuesday
in what he describes as the "most critical" election in American
history. Wildmon also warns that voting for other "good" conservative
candidates will ensure Mitt Romney's victory. Wildmon, founder of the
American Family Association, is one of the nation's most respected
Christian leaders and has been at the forefront for decades in
fighting for traditional values against a rising tide of secularism."

It's amazing he was the gov of the most liberal state and you hear nothing about Romney trying to convert anyone in his state or conferring with Salt Lake before a decision.

President Ronald Reagan's administration was full of members of the LDS Church. Three served on his personal White House staff - David Fischer, Gregory Newell, and Stephen M. Studdert (Special Assistant to President Reagan). Ted Bell served as Secretary of Education, Angela Buchanan was Treasurer. Rex Lee was Solicitor General. His White House included Roger Porter, Brent Scowcroft, Richard Beal, Blake Parish, Jon Huntsman Jr., Dodie Borup and Rocky Kuonen, and there were many other Latter-day Saints throughout his Administration. President Thomas S. Monson served on a Presidential Commission on Volunteerism. Others were ambassadors. LDS senators and representatives were held in special regard, and the Tabernacle Choir was his special inaugural guest.

I wonder how President Reagan would feel about Republicans who dont want to support Romney because he is a Mormon. How do these anti Mormons justify their opposition to Romneys Mormonism when the most respected Republican in decades seemed to have no problem at all with Mormons.

Everyone who thinks they can't trust Romney cause he's Mormon, by the same mentality shouldn't trust Obama because he's black, Biden because he's catholic, or any other political figure. The only one a prejudicial person can trust is themselves... and even then, I'd hardly qualify their own judgement as trustworthy if they don't but blink before judging someone else. Why? Because in my experience those who are quickest to pass judgement are usually the same who do little to clean up their own doorstep first.

In the end, all this says to me is that someone's religion should have nothing to do with whether I vote for them. While I like Romney's position on a few things, not on some others, and so on... I'd probably like some smaller candidates more whom most of us haven't heard of.

In my opinion, religion is a national news issue. While I personally would rather hear about smaller candidates (no, not Ron Paul). Hopefully the Deseret News will address the smaller candidates more in the future.

Cambodia Girl says: "I love the statement made by Joseph Smith "Teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves." I am so grateful that I belong to a church that let's me govern my behavior and my thoughts and my voting conscience."

---

I would imaging that teaching correct principles and governing one's self extends far beyond "voting" one's conscience; like for instance choosing whom one will marry. Oops, can't allow that much self governance now, can we.

Religion & government; two entities that tend to corrupt one another.

I was listening to Enid Greene last week as she substituted for Doug Wright on KSL AM. She told a story about a male GOP official who stated that the Priesthood would be the one to save the country, not the Relief Society.

Now, that brought me to a pause, I dont doubt that this was not stated from a such a gentlemen. But, statements such as this are going to come out during the elections.

Utah, you are a peculiar people.

Sigh...
How glad I am to be a member of a Church (LDS) that does not endorse candidates and that leaves the voting up to the individual conscience of each member.

I could vote for an Evangelical if I felt he or she was the right person for the job because I've taken the time to get to know Evangelicals. I've been in their homes. I've heard the sincerity of their prayers. I've seen how they love their families, and been strengthened by their faith. I could vote for any person of any faith, or no faith at all, who demonstrated honesty, dilligence and leadership, coupled with a firm commitment to the things that I value about this country.

If only those Evangelicals who feel they could never vote for a Mormon would look instead to the heart of the individual and get to know the people whose faith they malign, they might be surprised by the values and desires they have in comon with their Mormon brothers and sisters. How much more could we accomplish united by those common goals?

I didn't know Santorum was Catholic until the Des News just brought it up.

Really doesn't matter.

@Cambodia Girl
"I am so grateful that I belong to a church that let's me govern my behavior and my thoughts and my voting conscience"

If only some of the members thought that. While I left the church over doctrinal differences, I certainly could've done without the condemnation from members for my liberal political positions that sometimes made church a thing to dread. I'd need two hands the count the number of people who to my face said I needed to repent or speak to a bishop or said that I was going against the prophet.

Rick Santorum is a good enough candidate, but don't kid yourself about the evangelical vote. I have lived in the midwest and many of the evangelical ministers teach that Mormons are a non-christian people. Some even consider them children of the Devil. Catholics they consider to be Christians and are ok, but a Mormon is not. Many evangelicals would rather vote for an agnostic.

Santoum's "serge" could have had much to do with the support of evangelical ministers. New Hampshire is a different ballgame. Those folks are secularists and could care less about your religion. Santorum's evangelical support will be meaningless there. It will be helpful in South Carolina, but not so much in Florida.

@Brer Rabbit
" Catholics they consider to be Christians and are ok"

Surprisingly a sizeable percentage of evangelicals think Catholics aren't Christian. The "catholics worship saints" attack is a fairly common one. After all, someone has to oppose catholics for them to have only had 1 president (Kennedy) and 1 vice president (Biden) in this nations history despite America being about 20% catholic.