Bet You Didn’t Know Romney Chalked Up Another Win Yesterday
Yep – Wyoming. Beauty Contest? Sure, but so were Santorum’s supposed “big three” wins of a couple of weeks ago. Santorum’s beauty wins were “news” – this took a little digging. No, no press bias here. Press bias is hardly unexpected, but it sure is making strange bedfellows.
Some of it has to do with Santorum’s willingness to engage in some pretty over-the-top rhetoric. But as Ann Coulter points out, in the middle of his bombast he is often self-contradictory, misrepresentative, and clearly does not argue effectively for conservative principles.
Santorum can’t be the one arguing for our side.
Even when he’s asked to defend his own blindingly obvious point, Santorum manages to blow it. A few weeks ago, George Snuffalupagus asked Santorum about a perfectly reasonable quote from his book “It Takes a Family,” where he suggested “that a lot of women feel pressure to work outside the home because of radical feminism.”
Santorum disavowed the quote and gallantly blamed it on his wife: “Well, that section of the book was co-written, if you want to be honest about it, by my wife, who is a nurse and a lawyer.”
Mrs. Santorum is neither listed as a co-author nor thanked in the acknowledgments of the book. (Rick should read his book! It’s probably chock full of interesting quotes like that.)
Then, when asked about another criticism of radical feminists from his own book, he said: “I don’t know — that’s a new quote for me.”
My imaginary beagle could have defended Santorum’s book better.
But the story line that keeps creeping up is the “divide” between Romney and Evangelicals and the GOP and Evangelicals. Of course, preachers trying to capitalize on the headlines is almost non-news that makes news because the press wants it – goes around begging for it really. The more interesting stuff is the exit poll analysis from places like NPR and the fact that there, over on the sidelines – the Rubio religious attacks continue. (Talk about a preemptive strike!)
All of this is to pretty much be expected. The press loves Obama and Romney is the best chance to unseat him. What I do not understand for the life of me is why so many of my coreligionists – people with the same public interest I have – want to aid them in the matter. As Jim Geraghty pointed out yesterday, as Jay Cost pointed out yesterday, as Hugh Hewitt pointed out yesterday, as we pointed out yesterday the race may not be over but the race IS decided. That’s the point in every race where the rhetoric shifts. It’s the point in the race where you stop throwing hammers and start rebuilding the coalition for the big fight ahead.
It should be the time where religious leaders like Richard Land and Franklin Graham find a way to embrace Romney’s faith. Newsmax was all over their most recent declarations that Mormonism is not Christian yesterday. Newsmax’ behavior is unsurprising, but Land and Graham have got to get smart and get smart fast. They are making “the Santorum mistake,” making their point in the wrong circumstance in the wrong way.
Look, I have little doubt that if Romney is elected president many of the religiously unwashed will come to view Mormonism as just another branch of mainstream American religion which is considered vaguely “Christian.” I know that is incredibly important to some people. But it is also a discussion for the mission field, not the political one. When I invite people to my Presbyterian church I often get Pentecostal objections thrown in my face. I am sure when Land asks people to his Baptist church he hears about Catholicism. Well guess what people, maybe now we’ll have to work a little harder to distinguish ourselves – maybe, but frankly here in the Jello Belt I find “the confusion” pretty prevalent already.
But one thing is for sure at this particular juncture - The very public rhetoric of Land and Graham aids Obama’s reelection chances. It’s as simple as that. Now remember – that means that by making sure everyone knows “Mormons are not Christian” they help reelect the President that would FORCE a church to act against its religiously formed conscience.
Right now I do not want to argue the point with these guys, I just want them to understand that they have to find a different way to talk about it – at least until the election is over. Let’s try this on for size “Well, that’s an interesting question and one that deserves an answer far more complex than I can give in this setting – but what I will tell you is this; it’s vitally important for religious freedom and conscience that Obama not be reelected.”
Once Romney is elected, there’s going to be panels and coverage galore. Can you imagine the amount of words that will flow simply about how the inauguration might or might not be different for a Mormon. There will be plenty of opportunity to make your point after November. But for now, let’s keep our powder dry.
Anything else and you find yourself in bed with the Obama loving MSM. Not where I think you want to be.
Posted in News Media Bias, Reading List, Religious Freedom | 5 Comments » | 
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JLF9999 on 01 Mar 2012 at 8:53 am #
“…the religiously unwashed…”
That is an interesting phrase. It implies religious training hardens a believer rather than softening them.
HaroldHutchison on 01 Mar 2012 at 1:57 pm #
Seriously… if this gets Obama re-elected, there needs to be a reckoning.
JLF9999 on 01 Mar 2012 at 2:09 pm #
I came across this today which I think is interesting. Writer Robert Butler who describes himself as a former Charismatic Episcopalian, suggests the posthumous baptism of Daniel Pearl and the Holocaust proxy baptism stink is too much a one-sided complaint against Mormons considering Jews have some controversial practices when it comes to non-Jews. Dragging Mitt Romney into it makes the thing seem contrived and political. Butler is by no means jumping on the Mitt For President bandwagon but it is clear he thinks fair is fair. The site masthead describes itself as The Latino Voice for Libertarian Politics.
JLF9999 on 03 Mar 2012 at 11:54 am #
Mitt Romney has a tin ear? Maybe, but the Romney campaign staff can not be said to resemble the Keystone Cops as do the Santorum and Gingrich crews. Santorum’s failure to meet MQs in multiple Ohio districts wasted dozens of delegates which proves my point. Add to that the failure by Santorum and Gingrich to even get on the Virginia ballot makes both men look positively Gleason-esque, for those who recall Jackie’s Poor Soul, the guy who just couldn’t get a break. If anything, this campaign has proved who has the training, discipline and organizational skills to do what this nation needs. There is no doubt that Mitt Romney has no equals in this campaign.
Phil T. on 07 Mar 2012 at 12:18 am #
I sent the following to Franklin Graham and Richard Land today. It was titled: Is there a Mormon apology pending? *
Dear Rev. Graham/Dr. Land:
A song entitled “Building Bridges to the Heart” was sung at church on Sunday. The second half follows.
… “When your own life finds sorrow there, when it seems more than you can bear, and you pray to Him for strength to help you through,
You may hear the spirit say as it leads you ‘cross the way, “The bridge you built for others you also built for you”
Build it strong enough to carry all the troubles of our day. Build it wide enough for many who will seek to pass that way.
And if it’s strong, if it’s wide, The Savior waits on the other side.
And the bridge you built for others leads you home.
Look around in your life. Is it time for you to start, building faith, building love, building bridges to the heart?”
It made we wonder what kind of “bridge builders” Brothers Franklin Graham and Richard Land are in contrast to Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormons)? Both these “men of God” seem to think the Latter-day Saints don’t practice Biblical Christianity.
One Latter-day Saint, Joseph Smith Jr., established the LDS church because of an exploratory prayer he offered. At age 14 he was caught up in the religious commotion that swept his town. “The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others.” Joseph wanted to know, “Who of all these parties are right…? Joseph Smith History, 1838.” The answer he got ultimately led to some tools we could all use to help build bridges. Four fruits of his inquiry are worth mentioning in this context.
1. Article of Faith 11, “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of
our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they
may. Joseph Smith, 1842.” It seems Joseph Smith Jr. was pretty open minded about other faiths and
religious freedom and yet oddly the Mormons were persecuted.
2. A 4-part religious freedom series at the URL below with comments by Joseph Smith like this: “If it
has been demonstrated that I have been willing before Heaven to die for a “Mormon,” I am bold to
declare before Heaven that I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a Presbyterian [sic], a
Baptist, or a good man of any other denomination; for the same principle which would trample upon
the rights of the Latter-day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or of any
other denomination who may be unpopular and too weak to defend themselves.”
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/religious-freedom-matters-mormons
3. Latter-day Saints have fought and died defending America’s religious freedom along side Jews and
other Christian and Non-Christian denominations. Their headstones at national cemeteries tell all you
need to know about the Christian beliefs of Mormons in the military who gave their lives in battle for
their friends. According to the Lord Jesus Christ they are qualified to join ranks with all the
other great Christians.
4. “A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the
faith necessary unto life and salvation. Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith”. Only 9% of Evangelicals
bother to pay tithing.
Contrast No’s. 1-4 to many of today’s evangelical Christians who don’t realize that the version of “Biblical Christianity” they practice trivializes tithing and military sacrifice while supporting religious freedom for everyone except the Mormons.
How comfortable will they be in the eternal world with early Christians who paid the ultimate price out of devotion to their faith and love for their fellowman?
The way Latter-day saints work with friends of other faiths is to respect their personal religious experiences and judge not (click on video below). “You bring with you all the good that you have, and let us add to it. That is the principle on which we work (President Hinckley Philippines Television, 30 April 1996).”
http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#looking-through-windows
The way Saturday Night Live will work over churches that demean other people’s personal religious experiences might look like the skit below about Brothers F. Graham and R. Land.
“You need to be wearing a mighty big “God hat” when you judge individually the hearts and consciences of 14 million Mormons whose faithfulness you know nothing about and pick them to be losers as Christian soldiers. I thought the White House was assigned to pick winners and losers these days. When these “preachers” were ordained they had some enormous hats bestowed on them to try to match the power they took upon themselves.”
If you’re wondering where on earth to find large enough hats, click on the video below (the mustache is optional).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNEDk4zqZQA&feature=related.
Bridge builders are not what come to mind when I think of Brothers F. Graham and R. Land. We will all reap the whirlwind of mockery and worse if you continue your mockery of the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of religious freedom.
Sincerely,
Phil T.
Vista, CA
* P.S. If they ever do apologize will they wait until Newt’s and Santo’s southern strategies play out?