Comments on: Does The Question mean it would be a mistake for McCain to pick Romney? http://www.article6blog.com/2008/07/28/does-the-question-mean-it-would-be-a-mistake-for-mccain-to-pick-romney/ "Religion, Politics, the Presidency: Commentary by an Evangelical Christian and A Mormon" Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:32:07 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Doug King http://www.article6blog.com/2008/07/28/does-the-question-mean-it-would-be-a-mistake-for-mccain-to-pick-romney/comment-page-1/#comment-12698 Doug King Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:13:47 +0000 http://www.article6blog.com/2008/07/28/does-the-question-mean-it-would-be-a-mistake-for-mccain-to-pick-romney/#comment-12698 My apologies for commenting late on this post. Even if novelist Orson Scott Card correctly predicts that large numbers of Bible Belt evangelicals will not vote for a Mormon-as-VP ticket, he misses the bigger question which is: what does the 2008 Republican Party stand for? Indeed, what does America stand for? The very title of this post ("would it be a mistake ... to pick Romney?") focuses on tactical expediency (what does McCain need to do to win?) versus what is the right thing to do. If Lincoln had changed his position on slavery in order to avoid a "mistake" that might cost him the election, would America be the great country it is today? McCain is often quoted as saying he would rather lose an election than lose a war. His military record suggests he has the capacity to make hard decisions based on what he thinks is right, as opposed to what appears to be expedient. I hope McCain chooses a running mate based on what is good for America versus fear of offending bigots. My apologies for commenting late on this post. Even if novelist Orson Scott Card correctly predicts that large numbers of Bible Belt evangelicals will not vote for a Mormon-as-VP ticket, he misses the bigger question which is: what does the 2008 Republican Party stand for? Indeed, what does America stand for? The very title of this post (”would it be a mistake … to pick Romney?”) focuses on tactical expediency (what does McCain need to do to win?) versus what is the right thing to do. If Lincoln had changed his position on slavery in order to avoid a “mistake” that might cost him the election, would America be the great country it is today?

McCain is often quoted as saying he would rather lose an election than lose a war. His military record suggests he has the capacity to make hard decisions based on what he thinks is right, as opposed to what appears to be expedient. I hope McCain chooses a running mate based on what is good for America versus fear of offending bigots.

]]> By: Rick 1 http://www.article6blog.com/2008/07/28/does-the-question-mean-it-would-be-a-mistake-for-mccain-to-pick-romney/comment-page-1/#comment-12695 Rick 1 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:18:08 +0000 http://www.article6blog.com/2008/07/28/does-the-question-mean-it-would-be-a-mistake-for-mccain-to-pick-romney/#comment-12695 Never heard of either one. Couldn't be too prominent. Also, it notes one is a Huckabee supporter. I wouldn't expect anything less from one of his supporters than to try and threaten McCain if he doesn't choose the "right" person as VP. This is nothing but hot air from a couple of bigotted windbags who are too full of themselves. Never heard of either one. Couldn’t be too prominent. Also, it notes one is a Huckabee supporter. I wouldn’t expect anything less from one of his supporters than to try and threaten McCain if he doesn’t choose the “right” person as VP. This is nothing but hot air from a couple of bigotted windbags who are too full of themselves.

]]> By: gringogary http://www.article6blog.com/2008/07/28/does-the-question-mean-it-would-be-a-mistake-for-mccain-to-pick-romney/comment-page-1/#comment-12694 gringogary Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:52:34 +0000 http://www.article6blog.com/2008/07/28/does-the-question-mean-it-would-be-a-mistake-for-mccain-to-pick-romney/#comment-12694 Orson Card makes some interesting points but I think it's worth pointing out that he IS a Democrat. He's not a leftist loon dem, but still... I'm inclined to think that there at least as many racists who won't vote for a black as there are religious bigots who won't vote for a Mormon. I just think they are less likely to admit it. It's not PC to be a racist but it OK to hate Mormons. Orson Card makes some interesting points but I think it’s worth pointing out that he IS a Democrat. He’s not a leftist loon dem, but still… I’m inclined to think that there at least as many racists who won’t vote for a black as there are religious bigots who won’t vote for a Mormon. I just think they are less likely to admit it. It’s not PC to be a racist but it OK to hate Mormons.

]]> By: bfwebster http://www.article6blog.com/2008/07/28/does-the-question-mean-it-would-be-a-mistake-for-mccain-to-pick-romney/comment-page-1/#comment-12691 bfwebster Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:26:43 +0000 http://www.article6blog.com/2008/07/28/does-the-question-mean-it-would-be-a-mistake-for-mccain-to-pick-romney/#comment-12691 Well, you may have dismissed the issue a day too soon; here's one of this morning's headlines at the Washington Times: "<a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/29/evangelicals-warn-against-mccain-romney-ticket/" rel="nofollow">Evangelicals warn against McCain-Romney ticket</a>" And here's the story's lede: <blockquote>Prominent evangelical leaders are warning Sen. John McCain against picking former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as his running mate, saying their troops will abandon the Republican ticket on Election Day if that happens. They say Mr. Romney lacks trust on issues such as outlawing abortion and opposing same-sex marriage and because he is a Mormon. Opposition is particularly powerful among those who supported former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the Republican presidential primaries earlier this year. "McCain and Romney would be like oil and water," said evangelical novelist Tim LaHaye, who supported Mr. Huckabee. "We aren't against Mormonism, but Romney is not a thoroughgoing evangelical and his flip-flopping on issues is understandable in a liberal state like Massachusetts, but our people won't understand that." The Rev. Rob McCoy, pastor of Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks, Calif., who speaks at evangelical events across the country, told The Washington Times, "I will vote for McCain unless he does one thing. You know what that is? If he puts Romney on the ticket as veep. "It will alienate the entire evangelical community - 62 million self-professing evangelicals in this country, half of them registered to vote, are going to be deeply saddened," Mr. McCoy added. </blockquote> I happen to agree with Card -- I think that Romney on the ticket would be a setback. Sad, but true. ..bruce.. Well, you may have dismissed the issue a day too soon; here’s one of this morning’s headlines at the Washington Times:

“Evangelicals warn against McCain-Romney ticket”

And here’s the story’s lede:

Prominent evangelical leaders are warning Sen. John McCain against picking former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as his running mate, saying their troops will abandon the Republican ticket on Election Day if that happens.

They say Mr. Romney lacks trust on issues such as outlawing abortion and opposing same-sex marriage and because he is a Mormon. Opposition is particularly powerful among those who supported former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the Republican presidential primaries earlier this year.

“McCain and Romney would be like oil and water,” said evangelical novelist Tim LaHaye, who supported Mr. Huckabee. “We aren’t against Mormonism, but Romney is not a thoroughgoing evangelical and his flip-flopping on issues is understandable in a liberal state like Massachusetts, but our people won’t understand that.”

The Rev. Rob McCoy, pastor of Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks, Calif., who speaks at evangelical events across the country, told The Washington Times, “I will vote for McCain unless he does one thing. You know what that is? If he puts Romney on the ticket as veep.

“It will alienate the entire evangelical community – 62 million self-professing evangelicals in this country, half of them registered to vote, are going to be deeply saddened,” Mr. McCoy added.

I happen to agree with Card — I think that Romney on the ticket would be a setback. Sad, but true. ..bruce..

]]> By: Rick 1 http://www.article6blog.com/2008/07/28/does-the-question-mean-it-would-be-a-mistake-for-mccain-to-pick-romney/comment-page-1/#comment-12690 Rick 1 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:18:30 +0000 http://www.article6blog.com/2008/07/28/does-the-question-mean-it-would-be-a-mistake-for-mccain-to-pick-romney/#comment-12690 ParisParamus: You make excellent points. I would only add that with the democrat senate majority leader, Harry Reid, being a Mormon also, criticism of Romney's religion will be muted, I suspect, from the party. ParisParamus: You make excellent points. I would only add that with the democrat senate majority leader, Harry Reid, being a Mormon also, criticism of Romney’s religion will be muted, I suspect, from the party.

]]> By: ParisParamus http://www.article6blog.com/2008/07/28/does-the-question-mean-it-would-be-a-mistake-for-mccain-to-pick-romney/comment-page-1/#comment-12689 ParisParamus Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:17:01 +0000 http://www.article6blog.com/2008/07/28/does-the-question-mean-it-would-be-a-mistake-for-mccain-to-pick-romney/#comment-12689 I enjoyed reading your post on Mitt Romney's purported Mormon problem. Any sober analysis of his potential VP candidacy needs to assume that some fraction of McCain voters will not vote for a Mormon, but how large is this that fraction, and in how many states is that fraction likely to be meaningful in Electoral College Land? Some thoughts: --Perhaps this is too rational, but I suspect the set of people opposed to a Mormon VP is a least a bit smaller than one opposed to a Mormon President. --I suspect the set of voters that will vote for McCain because of Romney's LDS background is underestimated: it shows that McCain is open-minded and tolerant; non-Christians and non-Mormon independent and center-left voters may view this as meaning that McCain will not be pandering so much to the "Christian Right," or that religious background isn't primary with McCain (c.f. President Bush; trying to imagine I'm a Democrat and/or independent voter; well, I am Jewish...) --I guess anyone who cares that Romney is a Mormon will have found that out by November, but Obama's "church problem" will severely limit the media's desire to focus on Romney's background: one opens the door to the other, and the MSM isn't going to be harping on Obama's church. So the Mormon issue won't be very prominent. Thanks for your blog ParisParamus, aka BrooklynCouch aka StevenInBrooklyn. I enjoyed reading your post on Mitt Romney’s purported Mormon problem.

Any sober analysis of his potential VP candidacy needs to assume that some fraction of McCain voters will not vote for a Mormon, but how large is this that fraction, and in how many states is that fraction likely to be meaningful in Electoral College Land? Some thoughts:

–Perhaps this is too rational, but I suspect the set of people opposed to a Mormon VP is a least a bit smaller than one opposed to a Mormon President.

–I suspect the set of voters that will vote for McCain because of Romney’s LDS background is underestimated: it shows that McCain is open-minded and tolerant; non-Christians and non-Mormon independent and center-left voters may view this as meaning that McCain will not be pandering so much to the “Christian Right,” or that religious background isn’t primary with McCain (c.f. President Bush; trying to imagine I’m a Democrat and/or independent voter; well, I am Jewish…)

–I guess anyone who cares that Romney is a Mormon will have found that out by November, but Obama’s “church problem” will severely limit the media’s desire to focus on Romney’s background: one opens the door to the other, and the MSM isn’t going to be harping on Obama’s church. So the Mormon issue won’t be very prominent.

Thanks for your blog
ParisParamus, aka BrooklynCouch aka StevenInBrooklyn.

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