Mitt Romney: Betrayer of Mormonism, and other laughable nonsense; or, How Low Can Harry Reid Sink?
Many of us thought Senator Reid would at least maintain an embarrassed silence after Mitt Romney produced evidence that he had indeed been paying taxes — a lot of taxes — over the last decade. Reid, as you’ll recall, has been spreading for weeks the unfounded slander that Romney paid no income taxes for at least 10 years.
Also, as John noted below, Romney donated enormous amounts to charity. In fact, the Weekly Standard noted that Gov. Romney gave 1,000 times as much to charity in a single year as Vice President Biden gave in a decade.
But no, Senator Reid continues to serve as the Obama campaign’s cynical tool. Now he has made himself into the point man in making religious attacks on Romney.
Yes, you read that right. Reid, a Mormon, gives Obama political cover. Here’s the headline:
Harry Reid: Mitt Romney is not the face of Mormonism
According to Reid, Mitt Romney has “sullied” the LDS faith and that the GOP presidential candidate is “not the face of Mormonism.”
Obama cannot say this. No member of Obama’s campaign team can say it. But Harry Reid, who as the Senate Majority Leader is the highest-ranking Mormon government official in the United States, can say it.
In fact, Reid gets national attention when he says it. And — perhaps this is the most despicable aspect of what Reid has done — only Romney’s fellow Mormons know that what Reid says is absolute hogwash. Many others will read Reid’s statement and think, “Well, this is an internal fight in Mormonism. It sounds like Mitt may not be such a good Mormon after all.”
The enabling foundation for Reid’s latest dive into the fever swamp of cynicism came courtesy of a HuffPo piece by Greg Prince, an amateur Mormon historian (and, like me, a blogger who happens to be a Mormon). Prince, who is by all accounts a decent and thoughtful man, is unhappy about Romney’s “47 per cent” statement that was at the heart of last week’s MSM attempt to create an anti-Romney narrative. His HuffPo thesis:
Judge Mitt Romney as you will, and vote for or against him as you will; but do not judge Mormonism on the basis of the Mitt Romney that was unveiled to the public this week. He is not the face of Mormonism.
Reid simply referred to Prince’s piece and said “I agree with him.” But Reid went further:
Reid, a Mormon Democrat from Nevada, blasted Romney in a conference call for reporters over a litany of things the Republican nominee has said recently. And Reid added that Latter-day Saints aren’t buying Romney’s rhetoric.
“He’s coming to a state where there are a lot of members of the LDS Church,” Reid said in advance of Romney’s Friday visit to Nevada. “They understand that he is not the face of Mormonism.”
What utter nonsense. What spectacular cynicism.
The truth is this: There is a segment of the American LDS community — maybe 20-30% of Mormons who vote — that votes Democrat. They will not vote for Mitt Romney. There is a much, much larger LDS segment — 70-80% of Mormon voters — that will vote for him enthusiastically. All Mormons understand this. We all worship together and generally do not discuss partisan politics at church. The church itself is politically neutral, as I once again noted yesterday.
Harry Reid knows all of this very well. And yet here he is, giving license to the MSM and others with less than benign motives to attack Romney over his faith.
I’ll close by directing to Harry Reid the words of another lawyer, uttered many decades ago:
You’ve done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?
Please draw your own conclusions regarding the answer to that question.
UPDATE: More here.
John HAS to add to this one…
“‘Sullied’ the LDS faith”…”‘Sullied’ the LDS faith”?!…“‘Sullied’ the LDS faith”?!?!?! Just two quick points here.
It is not my place to decide who is a good Mormon and who is a bad one, that is up to other Mormons, but if I understand things correctly, Mormonism holds the US Constitution in a particularly high regard. And doesn’t the constitution REQUIRE an annual budget? And what Senate Majority Leader has failed to deliver such a constitutionally mandated budget? And therefore who is failing to represent Mormonism well?
My second point has to do with how one would sully any religion, not just the LDS faith. Seems to me, lying is a pretty good way to sully a religion. Whether it’s a TV Evangelist lying about using his secretary for more than dictation, or a Roman Catholic Bishop covering up for nasty priests – lying just dirties up the room and the religion the speaker represents. And how did Lowell open this post? Oh yeah, I remember:
Reid, as you’ll recall, has been spreading for weeks the unfounded slander that Romney paid no income taxes for at least 10 years.
Quick definition of an “slander:” “Collectively known as defamation, libel and slander are civil wrongs that harm a reputation; decrease respect, regard, or confidence; or induce disparaging, hostile, or disagreeable opinions or feelings against an individual or entity. The injury to one’s good name or reputation is affected through written or spoken words or visual images.” Synonyms of “unfounded” – “baseless, empty, erroneous, fabricated, fallacious, false, fictitious, fictus, fraudulent, groundless, idle, illogical, insubstantial, invented, spurious, suppositional, supposititious, trumped up, unattested, unauthenticated, unestablished, ungrounded, unproven, unsubstantial, unsupportable, unsupported, untenable, unwarranted, vanus, without basis, without foundation, without reality, without substance.” In other words, Harry Reid has been lying about Mitt Romney. So who – Harry – is doing the “sullying” here?
One feels dirty even responding to this nonsense. We are balanced on a fiscal cliff – our ambassadors are being murdered – Iran threatens the world with nuclear holocaust, and Harry Reid comes up with this?! I don’t know whether to laugh at the absurdity, cry over the fact that someone this low is in such a high position, or…say something I might really regret later.
I think I’ll settle for having the fire department hose me off, a shower is not going to cut it with this one.
UPDATE THE NEXT MORNING: Oh look, Politico noticed. Late, but they noticed. A Couple of hours later: Fox wakes up.
Posted in Political Strategy, Uncategorized, Understanding Religion | 14 Comments » | 
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ltngroup on 24 Sep 2012 at 6:23 pm #
This may come across as somewhat crude… but if… if… Harry Reid was the face of Mormonism, I would indeed paraphrase the famous Max Klinger of M*A*S*H and say, “If my dog had Harry Reid’s face (as the face of Mormonism), I’d shave his butt and teach him to walk backwards.” He (Harry Reid) has been an embarrassment to the vast majority of Mormons for way too long. When Harry Reid speaks, my brain automatically shifts into “Who cares?” mode.
Rockgod28 on 24 Sep 2012 at 9:39 pm #
What else can Harry Reid do?
His political party is in deep trouble this election year. He is in danger of losing his position and the agenda of the Obama Party ending November 6th. So what Mitt Romney proved he paid taxes not just for a decade, but two decades. Double down. That is what you do in Nevada right?
Neither Mitt Romney or Harry Reid are the face of Mormonism in a public relations sense. Ordinary citizens in any country are the face of Mormonism as evident in the “I’m a Mormon” campaign. Both political leaders are not in that promotion. Neither are advocates or called to represent the LDS Church like those in the public relations ads.
That said both men represent their faith whether they want to or not.
Now there is a balance that all people strive to reach in their career, family, and spirituality. Some people can be out of balance or over compensate in one area they care about the most like career.
I am not going to judge Harry Reid or tell him what he should do. He has political views and has choosen his side of the political spectrum. All the evidence in the world will not change Harry Reid’s or Team Obama’s strategies to win the election.
So Mitt Romney paid his taxes he didn’t give them what they wanted to use as a weapon against him. That just means to Harry Reid, as he said in the news, that Mitt Romney is hiding something. Like he cares if his source lied, that was never the point anyway.
Attack, attack, attack.
Campaigning is war without bloodshed. Harry Reid knows how to fight, literally. Both politically and physically. When the Tea Party changed the face of American politics in 2010 he survived his election.
What does that mean? Ignore Harry Reid. Harry Reid is the hatchman since the Vice President is the ‘gaffe’man. He is safe until 2016. That means he can say and do anything politically for Team Obama. It is political chess and Harry Reid is the only player left on the board game of the campaign that is an actual politician unlike the media that has any credibility even though his original charge was proven untrue.
Barack Obama is in the fight for his political life. If you have seen 2016: Obama’s America or know about it he has an agenda for his second term. He can’t accomplish it if he does not win re-election.
Anti-colonialism.
Crazy right, America doesn’t have colonies, but we have influence and military bases all over the world protecting our national interests.
It is the magic of ‘somehow’.
Somehow if America were no longer a superpower and stealing the wealth of the world by redistribution then the world will be at peace.
Never mind that America was the first colony to gain independence which allowed and inspired the others over 100 years later to become independent. Forget that the point of communist containment policies of the United States was to keep colonization by the Soviet Union whose mission statement is violent revolution to overthrow all governments not under their control.
There were no army patrols outside the US bases to exercise political control over independent countries. No suppression of riots in the streets. No protection of factories or resources by armed forces supposedly ‘stolen’ from third world countries by US forces.
When Iran develops the nuclear bomb, Russia attempts to reassert its dominance, China’s biggest trading partner goes bankrupt which will collapse their economy and other worlds issues like the Muslim Botherhood is the ‘somehow’.
Somehow with all the influence of the world equalized and returned to the level the world supposedly was at in the 1500′s the world will be equal and redistribution complete. Mission accomplished and the Dream of Barack Obama’s father gave to his son will be fulfilled.
So the question according to the movie 2016:Obama’s America is which dream will be the reality for United States the first independent colony. The dream Barack Obama obtained from his father or the dream of our founding fathers, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, and other American leaders like JFK, Reagan and citizens who believe in those dreams we learned from our parents.
Can we do it?
We will see in November.
BELIEVE IN AMERICA!
GO ROMNEY/RYAN! 2012!
TVHall on 24 Sep 2012 at 10:12 pm #
The irony of Harry’s words is beyond hilarious. I believe I can safely say that the overwhelming majority of Mormons has been saying the same thing about him since he poked his wretched head above ground, as the Democrat leader of the Senate.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go laugh myself silly.
coltakashi on 24 Sep 2012 at 10:48 pm #
It really is ironic that Reid should make a statement about Romney that really describes Reid himself.
gogseditor on 24 Sep 2012 at 11:07 pm #
I’m LDS (have been all my life), and what follows is purely personal opinion.
There’s a biblical term that describes what Mr. Reid has been doing: it’s called “bearing false witness” (a more stylish and descriptive way of saying that he has been lying). In my opinion, Harry Reid is a total embarrassment to the LDS church and it’s teachings. Sad enough that lying has to take place in a presidential campaign–or any campaign, for that matter. Sadder still is the scenario of one member of a religious group deliberately and knowingly bearing false witness about a fellow member of the same group–all for the purpose of obtaining another four years in office for a man who has clearly proven that he does not deserve another four years. Now, it seems, Mr. Reid is compounding his errors by enlarging them, spreading even more falsehoods about Governor Romney. The problem with lying and not wanting to get caught, is that you have to tell more lies to cover the ones already told. After that, each lie becomes more unbelievable and ridiculous. Soon, one finds oneself in the position of rationalizing that the lies really aren’t that unreasonable. Given enough time and enough repeating of the lies, and the person begins to actually believe them, and justification becomes easier than ever. This, in my opinion, is the position Mr. Reid is currently in.
I make no judgments any further than what I have just stated, other than to say that his lies will come back to bite him. (All lies do at some point in time.) For Mr. Reid, I would not be disappointed if that time occurred sooner, rather than later.
mahonri on 25 Sep 2012 at 7:11 am #
Welcome to the world of 21st century politics. Give ‘em hell Dirty Harry! “Go ahead punk, make my day”.
Seriously though, all this talk about mormon-on-mormon character violence (slander, lying, false witness, etc.) only reinforces the idea that the LDS community have it all wrong when it comes to having their members in partisan politics.
Here is an example of one supposedly active mormon (Harry), who supposedly holds the “priesthood of God” (just as Mitt and Orrin), and who would supposedly get interviewed by his church ecclesiastical leader to ensure fidelity to his priesthood “covenants” – which, in effect, would remove any of this nasty stuff you are all discussing.
But, because good ol’ Harry is near the top of the political food chain, there is no way the LDS church is going to do anything about correcting such “bad unchristian behavior”. Heck, Harry is part of the liberal leadership that supports a platform which diametrically opposes all the viewpoints of moral consequence for which the LDS church holds dear. The truth, as far as the LDS are concerned, is that Harry is way too valuable.
Really folks, the hypocrisy (even the perception of it) is just too damaging to overcome.
The solution for the LDS is to simply serve in public office as independents… and get out of partisan politics!
Real political neutrality requires it.
That way, all of the nice things that John and Lowell bring up about mormons will actually resonate with those of us who really care about character in politics.
Perhaps in the near future, Jon Huntsman may have the courage to try to show us the way.
JLF9999 on 25 Sep 2012 at 7:15 am #
Reid’s position on Mitt is not a new thing among Mormons. Disputes occur regularly among members of the church just as they do in other denominations. I assume that is why the official church refuses to get involved in partisan politics. In the temple, before gathering in a prayer circle, those who wish to participate are asked to step out if they have ill feelings towards any other person participating. I bring this up because Mormons are people too and despite our best efforts, we get cranky and out of sorts for all the usual reasons – even in the most sacred places. We say and do dumb things just like everyone else. If we took action against everyone who exercised bad judgement we would have no one left. This goes for the highest church leadership too.
Obviously Harry Reid is passionate about his political views. I do not share them but I think condemning him for them is not the way to go. I doubt Mitt does either. In fact I would be amazed if he makes any disparaging comments about what Reid said. Just because Harry Reid got all haywire over this thing does not mean Mitt ought to jump into that swamp too. Pesonally, I would welcome Harry Reid into any prayer circle in which I was invited to participate. Because our views are so different, I would make an extra effort to befriend the man. I have to think that would be Mitt’s position as well.
macfan1950 on 25 Sep 2012 at 8:34 am #
I feel very sad for Harry Reid. For a long time I’ve been wondering: “How can Brother Reid hold a temple recommend?” When interviewed for it, one of the questions that a member of his bishopric and stake presidency always ask is: “Are you honest in your dealings with your fellow men?”
Retrocon on 25 Sep 2012 at 10:46 am #
My opinion has been that Sen. Reid sees certain aspects of “politics” as part of his job description — in much the same way as otherwise practicing Christians might have to “violate” the commandment to keep the Sabbath Day holy if they are emergency room nurses or professional sports players — and thus must work on Sunday.
Again, this is only my opinion, but it is the best way I can come up with to explain Reid’s behavior.
However, I’m not sure Reid has much credibility among swing voters, or ANY voters for that matter. But his actions may be designed to muddy things among the Evangelical support, those who have come to at least recognize Romney’s moral integrity and family values. Just from his baffling accusations, he seems to ask, “Who are we Mormons really?”
Ain’t Nothing Like A Meme… | Article VI Blog | John Schroeder on 25 Sep 2012 at 3:48 pm #
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GottaZoom on 25 Sep 2012 at 4:18 pm #
“It is not my place to decide who is a good Mormon and who is a bad one, that is up to other Mormons”
Even among the Saints, there is essentially 1 person designated with the primary authority to be an official witness for Christ for a given event when it occurs – at least relative to his soul. In life, that person generally takes the member at their word until evidence suggests otherwise. Then then others are involved as additional witnesses to provide fairness to the member while striving to promote righteousness for all. Ultimately Christ will be the final witness and make an eternal decision.
The rest of us judge whether to protect ourselves and those we love, without harming another’s right to choices upon which his soul rests. Personally, if I were in his state and represented by him I’d first look to see if there isn’t a civic rule that Senators must tell the truth and either enforce or propose such a rule that doesn’t wait for a civil court judgement for plaintiffs. I wouldn’t be surprised to see other Senators think about this relative to Senate rules – though IMO their fear of reprisal from throwing stones with a glass house seems likely to (short-sightedly) let this slide as both as to their rules, and as a case.
Some observed/probable sins – usually those which significantly hurt or risk someone else (e.g., financial scams, a wife with children in the marriage reporting abuse such as infidelity) – are reported by members to another member’s Bishop. Reid has been extensively reported as a good and active member, so in this case I’d probably do so if I lived in his Stake because of how things now appear to me. It is beyond he/he said and if it bothered a large number of Stake members I think the appointed leaders would consider that as input toward their responsibilities in their callings. But it will remain private unless repentance leads to self-disclosure, continued harm to others is a reasonable risk/exists, or legal obligations require – and we sustain the leaders’ righteous decisions.
PS – I normally don’t bristle at the Mormon label since the Church has become more accepting, but it seems to me this is a Christian principle toward a shared civic religion even if practices vary among denominations of Creedal Christians, and also relative to LDS. I’m assuming this was written with the LDS perspective on the label, but it should be clear for all readers that some who are called Mormons would not be involved at any religious level, just as might be the case for different denominations sharing a common historical source. There should be a civic duty for truth we promote and agree on as followers of Christ, and another for the authority from God in which we individually believe.
When You Absolutely Positively Have To Take The Shot | Article VI Blog | John Schroeder on 27 Sep 2012 at 9:23 am #
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Phil T. on 28 Sep 2012 at 10:10 am #
Every 6 months I look forward to hearing the 2-day LDS General Conference broadcast from Salt Lake City. It never ceases to amaze me how certain sermons address unresolved issues I have been thinking and praying about. Some are likewise recalled over the next 6 months until conference time returns. During the last April conference several of the talks given appeared to me to apply to the election season we currently enjoy.
One such talk on judging others was beautifully given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. At the 6:38 mark on the youtube link below he says… “When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges or wanting to cause harm please apply the following [2 word sermon] STOP IT…. We simply have to stop judging others.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaM71ULPWes&list=LPDwPpzEizqPg&index=7&feature=plcp
Click here for text.
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/05/the-merciful-obtain-mercy?lang=eng
I remember thinking to myself at the time that the reason he’s giving this talk now is because those participating in the 2012 elections may need to use the type of civil discourse he is encouraging. Until Senator Reid exposed his soul with his false accusations concerning Gov. Romney’s taxes, the thought never entered my mind that a high ranking LDS politician would need to be reminded about not passing judgement on a fellow Mormon or anyone for that matter. I agree with Article VI Blog that Senator Reid slipped from being the face of Mormonism himself when he began gossiping about Gov. Romney’s taxes. Wasn’t he taught to judge righteously like every other Mormon? (see link below) Perhaps he’ll remember that particular lesson when his Senate colleagues compel him to apologize.
http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=576
UPDATE 1
Barack Obama just used the world stage to announce he’s the new sheriff in town when it comes to arresting those who belittle religious adherents. Surely President Obama disapproves of Senator Reid’s hate speech and once he pins on his new badge he’ll compel the Senate to call for his resignation (see link below).
http://townhall.com/columnists/monacharen/2012/09/28/lowlife_harry_reid_should_resign
Now that there’s a new sheriff out West hopefully it will end well for casual investor and Senator “Lucky” Reid and he’ll be content with retirement trading after resigning. (His estimated net worth between $3 and $10 million was acquired as he invested while serving in public office with a salary of $193,400 or less.)
Maybe Harry will eventually apologize on his own for his religious extremism. The good news is we can all change for the better if our hearts are so inclined.