Romney Loses an Endorsement

By Mark Kilmer Posted in | | | Comments (75) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Last week, Team Romney made a lot of noise about the supposed endorsement of Mitt Romney by former South Carolina Baptist Convention President Pastor Don Wilton, calling it "another indication of Governor Romney's growing support among faith and values leaders in South Carolina and across the nation."

Today, Dr. Wilton said: NOT SO FAST.

"While I did give my consent to the local campaign to use my affirmation of the governor's stance on family values in my capacity as an individual citizen, I made the mistake of not realizing the extent to which it would be used on a national basis," Wilton told the news agency. "It was my personal error to agree to support Romney's campaign. Until this incident I had never endorsed any person running for any elected office, Democrat or Republican."

He called the endorsement, a "mistake."

So what did Dr. Wilton say that could have given the Romney peeps the idea that Wilton supporter the former governor of Massachusetts bid to become our next President?

Read On…

According to the piece on the Romney site, linked above:

"I am proud to stand alongside Governor Romney as he pursues our nation's highest office. His values are my values – protecting the sanctity of human life, defending marriage and strengthening the family. We need someone in Washington who will stand up for traditional families and Governor Romney is that person," said Dr. Wilton. "While we may not agree on theology, Governor Romney and I agree that this election is about our country heading in the right direction. Governor Romney is the best candidate to stand for conservative values in Washington."

You can see the hesitation, almost trepidation, in Wilton's words; if so, perhaps you can point it out to me. The man stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Mitt Romney, vouching for Romney's credentials as a social conservative. What would make the pastor back down like that, referring to his endorsement as a "mistake"? Romney is donating to all the right South Carolina SoCon groups, after all:

Harper’s magazine reported this week that a state political action committee Mr. Romney set up in South Carolina gave an unspecified sum to the Palmetto Family Council, the state affiliate of Focus on the Family; $5,000 to an organization that sponsored a ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage in the state constitution; $2,000 to a coalition of conservative Charleston school board candidates called the A-Team; $1,000 to the South Carolina Club for Growth; $1,000 to a school choice group called South Carolinians for Responsible Government; and $500 to the anti-abortion group South Carolina Citizens for Life.

The donations illustrate how Mr. Romney has invested his financial resources to build his credibility on the right.

Oh, that comes to use from the New York Times' .com, so we can take the allegation of Romney purchasing credibility with just the one grain of salt.

What of Dr. John Willke, Robert Taylor, and Bob Jones cubed?

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Romney Loses an Endorsement 75 Comments (0 topical, 75 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »

While I understand that Romney himself has only been married once, I fail to understand how religious conservatives like myself could ever justify voting for Romney. Mormons actually believe that Jesus Christ came to America, and only recently gave up the Practice of Polygamy.

I will Never, Never vote for Romney. Huckabee or McCain 08

...like the fact that he comes across as the ultimate BMW salesman (thank you, Vodkapundit)? We don't ban for that.

The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!

Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Note: I am not a Mormon but this type of stuff gets mt blood boiling.

"Suppose you were a congressman, and suppose you were an idiot. But I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

but I wasn't aware that they taught that Jesus was a polygamist and He only recently gave up the practice. Wow. What did he do with all of His wives. They must have been really pissed, because I'll bet he was a REALLY good husband. I'm pretty sure that Mrs908 would have dumped me in a heartbeat if she knew that Jesus was looking for wives.

Thanks for stopping by with that earth shattering information.
____
CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.

"Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first."
Ronald Reagan

are the reason that some of the rest of us don't get respect. Your use of Christianity to justify bigotry is unacceptable. Maybe you should take a quick read through your Bible and find out where it says that God and government should be best buds, because in my version, it doesn't have that.

Good riddance.

Vos can't ledo astrum si vos intentio pro clouds

Formerly known as ShowMeConservatism. For more common sense conservatism, visit the Show Me Conservatism blog.

It's been pretty obvious that Romney is trying to buy the election- $17 million of his personal funds in the campaign and counting. Heck, I'm not sure there's anyone left in Iowa that he hasn't put on his payroll.

integrity thing with me.
____
CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.

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Let's nominate the Nash Equilibrium for President.

____
CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.

Any Rombots who want to correct this obvious deficiency can use my account's contact form to get my email address to paypal the money over.

I can't promise any front page cover time obviously, but I can GUARANTEE words like "flame out on Super Tuesday" will VANISH from my vocabulary.

HTML Help Central for Red Staters
Let's nominate the Nash Equilibrium for President.

I know people don't like to hear or see this. But, the Mormon Church is not trusted in SC, especially in the Upstate which is the area where Dr. Wilton and Bob Jones are. I know Jones has caught a lot of flack for his endorsement and I would not be surprised is Dr. Wilton's congregation and other SC Baptist Convention members had some influence on this. Insider Advantage had a poll right after the Jones endorsement that said 45% of SC GOP voters are less likely to vote for a Mormon. Religion and politics are both blood sports in South Carolina.

He must have know that the LDS had issues in SC, if that be the case, and he did differentiate between theological matters and values, as Romney tried to do on CBS' Face the Nation last Sunday.

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

Perhaps he had a hit before he endorsed Romney?

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

Sorry - that was meant to be funny - not intended to get anyone upset.

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

I know Dr Wilton. Used to work out with him at the YMCA. I'm sure he simply did not realize what his words meant to a drive by media. He doesn't endorse. He simply wanted to make clear that he would not hold Mormonism as relevant in a political race and that sheared vales is what matters.

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

of his constituents. He may be able to make such a differentiation, but a lot of Evangelicals can't or won't. It's like the institutional anti-Catholicism of the denominations. There was a hugh well of distrust concerning the "real" agenda of Catholicism. It's lessened a lot. Evangelicals don't agree with Catholicism but the've learned to trust Catholics. Evangelical-LDS relations haven't moved.

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

I live about a mile away from Spartanburg First Baptist. Don Wilton is from South Africa and fairly moderate as evangelical preachers go in SC. But Mormanism is considered akin to a Satanic cult down here. I'm betting anything that his congregation (or assistant pastors) sat down and had a good long talk with him.

member or quit slandering my hometown and this good man.

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

and many of the people I know go to that church. And they sincerely believe that Mormonism is wrong. Just like they believe I'm going to hell for being Catholic. It doesn't mean they don't like me -- just that they are convinced that theologically Mormons and Catholics are on the wrong track.

I've learned to live with it, but I don't try to run for office around here either. Mitt should just write SC off.

Catholicism. I know mainstream Southern baptists. I am one and have been since age 13. I don't agree with Mormonism either, but that has nothing to do with qualifications for President. Its about values.

Catholic JFK won SC in 1960. Greenville had a jewish mayor for a decade. Mitt is rising in the polls in SC now.

Many Catholics have been elected in the Upstate.

Quit playing the victim and blaming your problems on people you slander.

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

the victim"? I could care less if Baptists think Catholics are going to hell. That doesn't change the fact that they do. I sincerely doubt that you are a Southern Baptist because you would know this.

Whether they be Baptist, Catholic or Mormon. Being a member of a particular church is not the ticket.

You use of the word "they" shows the shallowness of your arguments. Are you in college?

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

don't consider belief in Catholic doctrine and John 3:16 to be compatible. I really don't see how you can speak for all Baptists everywhere here. I've seen the question of whether the Catholic Church is a cult publicly debated.

I realize you're trying to defend tolerance, but this is the wrong way to do it. Religions disagree, period. Tolerance is the civil virtue of being friendly to practitioners you disagree with.

say that "Catholics" are going to hell.

Now, I am defending the confession of the Southern Baptist Convention not the Roman Catholic Church's. I know my church's confession of who and who is not going to Hell, and it has NOTHING to do with what church one belongs to. My church teaches, incredibly, what the Bible teaches, i.e. that any person can ask Jesus Christ to save them and he will.

Yes, many baptist theologians define the Mormon church as a cult based on its additions to the canon AND its radically divergent doctrines. Some may also refer to ther Catholic Church that way, but most put it in a different catagory given that despite additions to the canon, its teachings are quite the same on the fundamentals.

But none of that has anything to do with how Baptists say one is saved from Hell.

Moreover, there is no actual election evidence since JFK, that Baptists won't vote for a member of a cult.

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

the IRS coming and snooping around if the church was seen as engaging in political activity under his leadership.

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

but I still lean towards LDS-itis

that Bob Jones II has been catching a lot of flack for his endorsement, too. But he can stand the fire better.

http://mydryfly.wordpress.com/2007/10/23/romney-surges-in-sc-florida/

Has Romney's surge down south begun to rattle some of MANY Fredheads around here?

“.....women and minorities hardest hit”

"What most people really object to when they object to a free market is that it is so hard for them to shape it to their own will. At the bottom of many criticisms of the market economy is really lack of belief in freedom itself."

-- Milton Friedman

wrong, it seems, every time.

I am not a Fred Head. Romney is not making any significant gains in SC or elsewhere and has little chance of securing the nomination.

Romney lost an endorsement that seemed unequivocal and solid. This is news, as is why this might have happened.

is not significant than no one has had any significant kumps. The whole field has been staying retty constant with in a 3-4$ in nearly everypoll in every state.

The whole race has stalled. But just as Rudy sits strongly in 1s place in national polls due mostly to his length in the position, Romney could claim the same for IA and NH.

www.mymanmitt.com
www.race42008.com
www.illinoisreview.com

you may be right about this post. Don't know, don't care. What I do know, and predicted a year ago, was that as my people in SC got to know Mitt, his Mormonism would not ultimatley be held against him by SC evagelicals. The recent endorsments prove my point as does his poll numbers.

Now, he also has negatives and now faces Fred, so he may not win, but it won't be due to slanderous lie of non-southerners or the self loathing anecdotal losers in the south that my people are bigots and don't know the difference between faith belief and policies.

As to Wilton, I know him, and I know that what he meant o do was to send the message that he didn't hold Mormonism against him. He has never endoresed candidates and is a bit of a novice.

Wilton's calling is bigger than politics.

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

I'd have to agree with the sentiments to be a bigot. I'm a Catholic and went through the same thing when I moved here 27 years ago. If you live in Greenville then you know that the Mormon Church is not popular in SC. I'm not saying its right, just a statement of fact.

BTW, here's a theory. Romney is not well known in SC. He goes on the air before anyone else and the commercials only say what a great conservative he is. His poll numbers go up. Duh. What happens when the first commercial from an opponent goes up? Say it shows clips of Romney debating Kennedy on who can best protect gay rights or shows him pledging to protect abortion rights. Gamecock, how do you think the Upstate would react to that? And whether you like it or not, 45% of voters in SC say they are less likely to vote for a Mormon. Once his status as LDS gets more widely known, his numbers will drop. Again, its not right, but it is true. And you know how SC politics are. Remember 2000 and McCain?. BTW, McCain said he saw K-G-B when he looked at Putin. You know that there are people here who will work hard to make sure people see L-D-S when they look at Romney. Like I said, politics is a blood sport here and we tend to spill buckets. No bigotry, no secret agenda on my part. It just is what it is.

why? Because they are also finding otu what he stands for. You see SCSoxFan (btw, I hope the Rockies kick the sox ass and esp Manny when he raises his arms - the punk) Christians are aware of Chrisians like Bill Clinton that work against our values and have voted for many Mormons and Jews down here.

You are wrong.

Now, Mitt won't win SC. He is facing Fred and Huck, but he will do OK, and

I PREDICTED THE CURRENT WAVE OF ENDORSEMENTS ARGUING AGAINST PEOPLE LIKE YOU OVER 9 MONTHS AGO.

EAT IT

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

SCSox is simply reporting the political reality on the ground here in SC. Neither he or I are saying that people should or should not vote for Romney because he is a Mormon. We're just saying that people around here are very committed to their faith and it guides their voting.

Like I said earlier, they are also convinced that I'm going to hell because I'm a Catholic. (And I've had someone whose been one of my closest friends for ten years tell me that and tell me how she prays every day that I'll be saved.) I don't happen to think she is right, but it would be crazy for me to say that no anti-Catholic bigotry exists in the south.

I've had more than one Roman Catholic friend tell me I'm going to hell because I am not a member of the "one true church". I too don't agree with them, but I don't consider them to be "bigots". We have to be careful how we throw that word around. To believe in your own faith, and to try to convert others, does not make you a bigot.

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

where I called Baptists "bigots"? I said they believed in their faith and Mormonism is antithetical to that faith. It is just a fact. No judgements were being passed. I have lots of good friends that are Baptist. We don't see eye to eye on everything, but I don't think they are bad people.

I'm a Catholic who remembers the whole JFK Catholic thing. Yes. Pause. Roll your eyes. Sheesh. She's an antique. (I'll fight you on that one.)

Anyway, the JFK Catholic thing. I do remember that time. Darn the things that hit you in the face when you decide to get *involved* on a GREAT WEBSITE. (Just thought I'd cover that, too, RS.)

I was raised Catholic. I remember the crazy things said at the time Kennedy was running: "The Pope will run our country." "JFK will take directions from the Pope." It was unthinkable for a Catholic to be President. Scary stuff! Run for cover!

Now the same thing is being done with Romney. I had a GREAT neighbor who was Mormon. Two of my girls went to high school with Mormon girls. All I can say is you couldn't have known nicer, good people. In many ways, they put me to shame. So, evaluating Romney's business experience and his refreshing wholesome family life easily made him my first choice.

But back to the Book of Virtues: Self Discipline, Compassion, Responsibility, Friendship, Work, Courage, Perseverance, Honesty, Loyalty, Faith.

Bennett's point in writing this book in 1993 was to point out that there are common virtues that we can all work to promote. We have different faiths and believe different specific things, but there is a commonality of goodness that we can strive for and recognize in each other.

What I think we miss when we attack each other's faith is that faith instructs us to be better than our base nature. Reach to high ideals. We learn moral lessons by different paths. Why should we beat another's faith down when he's on a path to make him a better person as he sees it?

Yes, discuss religion. I did with my neighbor. She kept hers, I did mine.

Voting for a President doesn't mean you change your faith. That seems obvious to me. The President swears to uphold the Constitution. Freedom of religion means exactly that.
=====================

Life is not fair, but It's still a Wonderful Life!

IN DIXIE IN 1960, WHEN MOST EVANGELICALS THOUGHT CATHOLICS WEREN'T EVEN CHRISTIANS!!!

IT MAKES MY POINT.

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

you probably didn't need to shout at her...

"Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first."
Ronald Reagan

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

This is exactly why the Romney campaign has turned me against it. It's obsessed with style over substance.

I almost hate to make the comparison, because Romney is 100X more talented and smart then Con Edwards, but his campaign is the exact sort of way-too-slick magic show that Edwards is trying to run.

I was a marginal Romney supporter for a while, but his campaign for the past 6 months has been insulting to my intelligence. He's still a talented guy, I'd love to see him as Secretary of Health and Human Services or Commerce or Treasury, but he just doesn't have the stuff to be President. He doesn't understand what it takes.

Jindal/Palin '16

But it's my personal opinion that there are more people in America who will vote against a candidate because they're mormon than would vote against a candidate because they're black.

I realize this sounds bigotted on a lot of levels, and in today's PC environment I have to spend a couple of paragraphs bloviating to justify my opinion... so in order to fulfill these modern demands I'll say that I was born and raised in an Evangelical household, and taught from a very early age that the Mormon religion was a cult of the devil. I've since broken many of the more oppressive views of my religious upbringing. I don't think the devil is necessarily behind the Mormon religion... But I definitely think it's a cult.

Given the censorship mood of this board lately, I'm not sure if my opinions will be welcome. I'll just say that I think you have to be either brainwashed or gullible to believe that Jesus walked on the American contintent, teaching his message, based on the writings of some tablets that were translated by a man talking into a hat.

But to the meat and potatoes of the matter, whatever you think of my opinion (or newbie me), I have a hard time believing that Republican John Kerry is going to get anywhere with the Republican party. Count me in for Fred Thompson.

Normally you'd be gone for religious bigotry, but I like to get calibrated with the will of the site every so often. Rejoice at your good fortune.

Moe

The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!

I personally have no problem with Mormons, but reporting this guy is way out of line. He wasn't bombastic or disrespectful, he stated his belief, simply, that Mormonism is a cult.

While I have some serious concerns at how the upper echelons of the Mormon Church operates, I wouldn't define it as a cult. Furthermore, I think 99% of Mormons are excellent people, and most who enter public life do great things and are fine public servants.

That said, should someone be censored for having an opposite opinion? I certainly don't think so.

I think Islam is a very problematic religion. I don't damn all of it's followers, but I recognize some very real and recurring problems in it's history. Should I be banned for 'religious bigotry' for that? What about someone who goes further, and says "Islam is a death cult," as some of my colleagues on the right have said? Again, I don't agree with this opinion, but as long as they aren't being bombastic or attempting to offend for the sake of offending, I don't see why their opinions should be censored.

Jindal/Palin '16

I remember being taught, at a major Church denomination I shall not name, that being black was the mark of Cain. Now, even at 10 that seemed a bit racist to me, and I stopped attending that church. I'm not sure if they still believe that notion at that church, but I am pretty sure it is not the norm for the entire denomination. I'm pretty sure that anyone going to that church, holding that view, would not vote for a black man.

Now, there are other religions, and even some denominations of Christianity, who believe that women are inferior, or at the very least, they have no other purpose than taking care of the home for their husband. Those believers will probably not ever vote for a woman.

So, YOUR point would be?

Romney didn't "lose" and endorsment. He didn't take back the stuff about being the best canidated to promote the socon agenda, he simply clarified that he was speaking for himself.

I does sound like he caught off guard as to how his name would be used in the campaign. A little lack of communication on one or both parties, but not a "lose of endorsement" as the title suggest.

"I think the fence is least effective. But I'll build the god--d fence if they want it."--McCain
"I would rather have a clean government than one where quote First Amendment rights are being respected" --McCain

and now it is not. When Romney listed endorsements, he listed Dr. Wilton. Now, he cannot.

Romney lost the endorsement.

Whether it means anything, we'll see.

I had to leave last night before I could finish these thoughts. I hope I'm not too late for you to see this. Please get it out of your head that I am an anti-Mormon bigot. I'm a Catholic who has an uncle who converted to LDS when he married into an LDS family long before I was born. I am also married to a Pentecostal so I also get exposure to the Evangelical point of view, both in regard to Catholicism and Mormonism. I also look at politics with what I hope is an objective eye. I believe Romney has two problems in SC and they are both equally troublesome for him. First is his history of changing positions. As I said, if Thompson or McCain start running TV commercials showing Romney's debates with Kennedy or his promise on abortion rights during his gubernatorial race it WILL affect his support here. You should know as well as I do how Carolinians respond to what they perceive as insincere opportunism.

His Mormonism, whether you like or want to acknowledge it or not, is also a real issue here and throughout the South. Please look at these quotes from Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention. They came from a recent interview with Newsweek.

"I think that if he wants to gain the kind of support [from] evangelicals that he wants, he needs to give a JFK-type speech [in which Kennedy said he was "not the Catholic candidate for President," but rather a candidate "who happens also to be a Catholic."]. I have told him this... I would encourage him to say that "there was no higher percentage of Mormons in my administration than there were Mormons in the percentage of the population in Massachusetts." That is a concern that has been expressed to me by my constituents--that he would have a disproportionate number of Mormons in his administration.

What did Romney say [when you suggested that]?

He said he would consider it. [But] he has not given that speech. I've seen him go to South Carolina and say things like, you know, "Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior." Well, you know what, that ain't going to work in South Carolina."

A speech like that might work, and I read that he has one like that prepared. But, I'm not so sure. It's a double edged sword. He makes an appeal to reason and anti-bigotry. But to do so, he has to point out that he IS a Mormoon to a lot of people who don't know that. I keep pointing back to that Insider Advantage survey but I truly believe it represents feeling here in SC, especially the Upstate. A large plurality don't want to vote for a Mormon and his support in the poll dropped when the respondents learned he was LDS.

And as I said before, politics here ain't easy. I grew up in Chicago (BTW, you had the wrong Sox) and politics there was rough, too. There, if you opposed the Dem machine you just got steamrollered. Here, it's more of a knife fight. And Romney just has more potential cuts.

I was a dem party official and/or activist from 1980-1998 in Spartanburg. I was baptized in a Spartanburg Southern Baptist Church in the 70s. I lived there from Birth till 2000, and since then in Atlanta till 2006 and now in Charlotte.

I predicted that Mitt would eventually get endorsements and do well due to his values shared with us. He is getting them. He may not win SC, since he faces Fred and Huck, but his Mormonism will not be why.

Richard Land said he could support Mitt.

That one would prefer to vote for their kind, all things being equal is not bigotry.

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

SC many months ago. Many baptists incl Baptist preachers were there. Many said Mitt was a better baptist than most baptists..

I now lean to Fred, but this slander on Mitt and my people in SC will not go unanswered. Your kind said all this crap months ago. Well, now, as more in SC know Mitt is a Mormon and know his positions, his poll numbers are going up.

deal with it

and quit slandering my people without PROOF
'k?

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

I'm really not trying to start a war with you. I know your history here and I respect your knowledge of SC politics. I've told you I'm not anti-Mormon. I've told you I'm Catholic, not Evan. Christian (but am married to an Evangelical). I have no ax to grind with the LDS Church. Once again, I have an uncle back in Chicago who is LDS and I love him and my cousins to death. But I try to be OBJECTIVE in viewing politics, especially here. And how do you "prove" something like this? All I can go on is what I read (like interviews and polls) on statewide opinions and what I hear out of the mouths of other South Carolinians. I live in the Low Country and don't know a lot of Upstaters, but I assume that the opinions of SC Evangelicals and fundamentalist Christians are not that much different by region. There isn't hatred of Romney or a burning desire to destroy him. But there is a suspicion of him because of the Mormon thing. I know Richard Land said he can support Romney. I agree with him and don't doubt his word. But, this is another quote from his Newsweek interview:

"...the two most evangelistic groups in America are evangelicals and Mormons, and so evangelical pastors have taught their people what Mormonism believes because they want to inoculate them against [missionaries]. They know. I mean, they have had Sunday school classes, and they have had sermons preached on the beliefs of Mormonism."

You can't just push a lifetime of warnings about a group out of your mind during a presidential campaign. There will be an effect. That's all I'm saying. And I really don't think it's a slander against Romney or SC to say it and I'm not trying to slander SC. I live here for crying out loud, and I love this state. I consider myself more Carolinian than Chicagoan now.

You also don't seem to pick up on my other point, which is that Romney's changing of positions in the past few years will be AT LEAST as big a problem for him. I actually think it will be more of one.

Please don't call me a bigot, a slanderer, or refer to "my kind." There's no reason for it. We disagree on how strong an issue Mormonism will be. Fine, we disagree. I don't call you a polygamist-loving, whatever. Because I don't beleive that.

Finally, you can't insult me by insulting the Red Sox. As I wrote before, my Sox are a different color.

Now I wand you to take your eyes and go to the left side (that is <--- that way)

Now I want you to follow it down
!!!
!!!
!!!
!!!
\!/
.V
to the left bottom corner.

See the little
Reply To This??? Use it when answering someone! It makes it easier!

I was surprised it popped up as a separate comment and not as a reply. Sorry.

anti-morman bigotry. I am saying that I think you are falsely accusing and/or assuming anti-morman bigotry on the part of your fellow southern christians.

I do think I have also gone overboard a bit and apologize.

But let me get a bit more detailed as to what I mean.

1 - I agree with you that Mitt has problems totally unrelated to faith.

2 - Your anecdotal evidence has to be weighed against a lot of factors, most of which would evaporate if Mitt and a liberal dem wee the only two choices.

3 - SC voted for JFK when most protestants were much more hostile to catholics that they may be to mormons.

4 - Max Heller, a jew, was the mayor of Greenville forever.

Shared values will trump faith, all things being equal.

we cool now?

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

Also, I don't think I am assuming bigotry -- that's too harsh. More of a strong suspicion or questioning of intent, caused by a long history of theological disagreement. As I said in my original post, evangelicals and other fundamentalists used to disagree with and distrust us Catholics. JFK didn't clear the air. It took active conservative Catholic alignment with the Reagan coalition and the political/social goals of the evangelical movement to lessen the distrust (that, and the fact that we don't spend much time trying to convert Protestants to Catholicism). Now there's disagreement, but I don't see as much distrust, at least form the people I encounter.

even consider catholics to be Christian!
but I accept your explanation of motives and suspision accept that their is some of that.

god bless you
get the crying towel out

Rockies in 6

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

Absolutely, we cool. As I said, I know your history in this state and respect your opinion. I'd like to think that conservatives can disagree on something without being disagreable (I just made that one up).

BTW, I also hope that Manny and the Red Sox lose. I think it would be good for one of the new guys to win.

I hit the "reply to this" icon!

they won it, but now they have one. So go Rockies.
Braves in 08

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

Even when I say it, no one realizes we are here. My team is the Chicago White Sox. No one notices, but we actually won the World Series the year after Boston (but reverted to our suckfish ways again this year). People think the stinkin' Cubs are the only Chicago team, but there is actually Major League baseball there. It's just on the South Side!

May we meet each other next year in October.

great food though.. :P

" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln

But the politics are enough to make you sick. Illinois has gone deep blue. I love Chicago and all my family still live there, but I am much more politically and culturally like South Carolina now. To paraphase Ronaldus Magnus, I didn't leave Chicago, Chicago left me.

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson

 
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