Daily Reading List – December 7, 2006 | Article VI Blog

Lowell starts off: Russ Smith, a fairly well-known conservative pundit writing in an alternative newspaper, seems to think The Question is an insurmountable obstacle for Romney. Smith's piece reflects a very shallow understanding of the issue, and concludes, "It's time for the GOP to practice pragmatic politics and rally around McCain, the most electable candidate in the party." A bit early for that, I think. John adds: The guy is also wrong if he thinks social conservative issues are dead. He neglects the overwhelming support for defense of marriage propositions, even in the great Democratic switch that was last month.

John continues with more stuff to read:

John McIntyre wonders if the economy won't be the driver for the '08 cycle. I am not sure Islamic terrorists will let us become quite that somnambulent, something's gonna happen. But if they don't McIntyre might be right. Now, name a candidate in either party with better economic credentials than Romney.

The President of Fuller Theological Seminary starts blogging. Dick Mouw is one of THE leading evangelical proponents of Mormon/Evangelical dialogue and understanding, and has taken quite a bit of heat for it. This ought to be interesting. Lowell: Here is the story of how Mouw upset many Evangelicals, and here is the text of his remarks. He responds here to Evangelicals who criticized him for his statement.

Interesting reading on religion and society.

Worst idea is columnist history:

Note to Romney: You might not want to hire this guy as your Karl Rove.

Hire who? - you ask. A BYU PoliSci prof. No, that wouldn't stoke the 'ol Mormon conspiracy fires at all. The media and left have cast Rove as the devil incarnate, what would they do with this idea?

More and more of this popping up. Frankly, with most Evangelicals those are the questions that will really need answering – not where he worships; they are true believers on political stance as much or more than religion. Lowell: I think it's telling that even I, a Mormon Romney supporter, am looking for answers to those questions.

NPR tackles the "The Question." No new information, just weird to hear them handle it…. The quote from the acting head of the National Assoication of Evangelicals sounds to me like it was taken out of context, I have seen nothing that indicates its stand on "The Question" has changed post-Haggard.

Late update from Lowell: Michael Graham writes in the Boston Globe about The Question. He begins with an intriguing question:

Does anyone ask Hillary Clinton to describe her underwear?

He concludes:

Yes, it’s true that most evangelicals do not consider Mormons Christians. Yes, many would even classify Mormonism as a cult.

But in America today, where religion and faith are under constant media assault, the question evangelical voters are asking isn’t “Christian vs. Jew” or “Methodist vs. Mormon,” but rather “God or no God?” For values voters, the battle is between people who value faith and those who either ignore it or are actively hostile toward it.

Romney is an ally to evangelicals not because he is or isn’t a Christian, but because he’s a conservative who believes in God and takes his faith seriously.

Mormonism also benefits from the positive behavior of its members. Mormon teachings . . . may strike evangelicals as a bit loony, but from a lifestyle standpoint, the only different between Mitt Romney and a southern Baptist is that Romney really will turn down a free drink.

Read the whole thing.

(Graham was interviewed on MSNBC earlier this week; we linked here.)