'The Donald,' Mitt Romney and the Mormonism Factor

As of Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Mitt Romney has never experienced a blazing N.Y. Post headline the way Donald Trump has: “Best Sex I Ever Had!” (Marla Maples’ revelation about Trump when he was married to Ivana).

Trump would unceremoniously dump the pretty Marla and baby Tiffany. The larger-than-life TV personality, beauty contest promoter, real estate developer and casino operator is today’s tea party sweetheart. This to the chagrin of the squeaky-clean Romney, whose wife and kids, at least, consider him the GOP front-runner.

Donald is the unabashed huckster. If you could buy him for what he’s really worth and sell him for what he thinks he’s worth, you’d make a fortune. His pathetic attack on Obama’s place-of-birth legitimacy, which backfired disastrously for him, showed just how low he’d stoop to gain the elephant’s nod.

Romney has had a solid business career, a record of public service as the head of the troubled 2002 Salt Lake City U.S. Olympic Committee, and as Massachusetts governor. His reputation for honesty and marital fidelity is unimpeachable. Yet Romney lacks Trump’s pizzazz in an age of celebrity and glitz. Where Trump turns on a crowd, Romney puts it to sleep.

The 2012 election could resemble a Barry Goldwater-Lyndon Johnson rerun — a died-in-the-wool conservative vs. a liberal incumbent who’s inherited an unpopular war.

Goldwater was a distinguished American. His 1963 acceptance line — “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice; moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue” — sparked a disastrous campaign. Barry ran further to the right than anyone since Herbert Hoover. If Romney or Trump is nominated, expect the tea party to demand campaign stands much further to the right than Goldwater’s.

For Romney to prevail in early primaries and caucuses where the far right dominates, he must avoid positions so extreme that he turns off moderates needed in the general election. It’s a daunting task.

He’s accused of apostasy for creating a Massachusetts health care plan, which tea partiers consider too much like “Obamacare.” Women who believe in a constitutional right to privacy are offended that Romney, who supported abortion rights in liberal Massachusetts, is now cynically pro-life.

Romney reminds me of George H.W. Bush, who tried to be “one of the guys” yet always failed in the attempt. Bush had been around the GOP so long that the party finally gave him the nomination rather than watch a grown man cry.

Assuming Mitt overcomes the nastiness of a primary fight (and Trump can be nasty), then he must take on the Mormon-haters. Romney has been uncomfortable discussing church tenets. When a TV questioner asked if the Garden of Eden was in Missouri, Romney bristled, referring the answer to church leaders.

In liberal Massachusetts, he overcame anti-Mormon sentiments. But liberal Massachusetts is hardly the Bible Belt, where many Christian fundamentalists consider Mormonism an illegitimate cult. Recent pronouncements by the Catholic and United Methodist churches that Mormon converts must be rebaptized may convince skeptics that Mormonism is not a Christian denomination.

African-American voters, who research the Book of Mormon may be offended to learn how they’ve been characterized and denigrated by the Church of Latter Day Saints since its earliest days. But their votes are easily safe for Obama.

On the positive side, members of Mitt’s church are expected to “move heaven and earth” for him. As the Catholics did for Kennedy, Romney’s co-religionists will support this former Mormon bishop. Enthusiastic Mormon volunteers’ influence in early primaries should be impressive.

If the election is ultimately between Obama and Romney, I predict religion won’t be touched upon by the candidates. Romney hardly wants to discuss whether or not Adam worshiped at an altar in a western Missouri wood, as Joseph Smith claimed was revealed to him. Obama surely won’t wish to revisit his relationship with his controversial former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.

In such a presidential race, America will have two patriotic candidates who are well-informed, politically experienced, intelligent, pragmatic and deserving of voters’ attention and respect. Donald Trump isn’t in their league.

Paul R. Dunn lives in Pinehurst. Contact him at paulandbj@nc.rr.com.

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LDSRevelations 2 years ago

Just to clarify, while the Book of Mormon has it's share of problems, both doctrinally and historically, it says nothing about African Americans or those of African descent. The author is confusing verses in the BoM saying the brown skin of Native Americans is the visible representation of a curse God placed on their wicked ancestors— and the LDS priesthood ban on those of African descent which came from another LDS scriptural source— the Book of Abraham.

"Second Nephi, Chapter 5

20 Wherefore, the word of the Lord was fulfilled which he spake unto me, saying that: Inasmuch as they will not hearken unto thy words they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. And behold, they were cut off from his presence. 21 And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them. 22 And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities. 23 And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed; for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing. And the Lord spake it, and it was done. 24And because of their cursing which was upon them they did become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for beasts of prey."

In any event, the racism throughout Mormon scriptures may pose problems for minorities who investigate Mormonism and it's claims. Clearly the bigotry of the 19th century when these books were written comes through in their pages— just like the bigotry of Biblical times can be found in that book as well.

And yes, Mormons will nearly unanimously support Romney— especially in the conservative LDS strongholds of UT, ID and AZ. Numbers from the 2008 republican primary seem to confirm this— in Utah County, UT Romney took something like an astounding 94% of the vote.

linebyline 2 years ago

LDS Revelations, You clearly do not understand the Book of Mormon or our doctrines.

Also from the Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 26:33 "...and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile."

The two passages are not contradictory. The curse placed upon the people was not a dark skin, it was only a sign of the curse, which was the revocation of the priesthood. In fact, later in the record, the righteous part of the people were those with darker skin.

The Book of Mormon has withstood all criticism since it's translation and continues to stand as a poweful witness of Christ and his gospel and proves that the Bible is indeed the word of God. It is a gift of God in the last days to those who are patiently awaiting the second coming of Christ.

SH59 2 years ago

Yes, the bigotry sure does come out. If you thought this was going to clear everything up they you are seriously mistaken. The racism in these scriptures is appalling and I can't imagine anyone believing this sort of trash.

blessherheart 2 years ago

I like Mitt Romney. I could care less if he was a Mormon or not. I may not agree with all his stances but I do believe him to be a smart cerebral person.

k0nod 2 years ago

The author might do well to study "The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ" before trying to sound like an expert. The fact of the matter is, that volume of scripture makes no mention of anybody of African descent. Along with non-LDS Christians of earlier centuries, it took a while to work out their ideas on race, but the LDS Church ought to be congratulated and praised for their current acceptance of all races, and their amazing philanthropic work on the African continent.

On Romney's health care program, it should be noted that it was a program designed under the auspices of the individual state, not the nation as a whole. That's a bit different from the travesty that is Obamacare. Not to mention, it was later liberals in Massachusetts who tinkered with the program and created a monster.

As to whether LDS Christians are really Christian, who did God make the judge to declare which worshiper of Christ is truly "Christian?" Any educated person can see that the idea of the attributes of Christ has changed measurably throughout the ages. In one case it took the pagan Constantine, using his political might, to declare himself and his cohorts the only "true" Christians.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if voters looked past religion, as with Jack Kennedy, and put someone well-qualified in office that could lead us out of the mess we have allowed to happen? And why should we call "Mormons" bigoted when those doing the name calling are bigoted against "Mormons?" Think about it.

zadoc 2 years ago

Is it smart of Mitt Romney to have skipped the first debate?

Poll: http://www.wepolls.com/r/93314/Is-it-smart-of-Mitt-Romney

IMO... I think it gives Ron Paul the runaway chance he needs this year.

Duwayne 2 years ago

Actually, the poster "LDS Revelations" did a pretty nice (and accurate) job -- and you're not telling the whole story.

The Book of Mormon does, in fact, say that god uses black skin as a curse. Read it yourself on the official Internet site of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here's the link:

http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/5.21?lang=eng#20

That is racist doctrine. Period. The fact that the Book of Mormon also allows for dark-skinned people to "come unto" him doesn't change the racist nature of 2 Nephi 5:21. Furthermore, the Book of Mormon makes the point that when dark-skinned people do come to Jesus their skin color will change. Again, you can read it yourself on the on the official LDS Internet site. Here is the link:

http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/2.15?lang=eng#14

Notice how the Book of Mormon describes the Lamanites (the ones with dark and "loathsome" skin) joining the Nephites (the ones described as white, pure, and delightsome), and in the process:

"...their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephi"te

The Mormon Church should be congratulated for the steps it has taken to correct its long history of racism. But that congratulation has to be tempered whenever Mormon apologists seek to lie about the church's doctrines, and cover its sins. For, as Joseph Smith taught:

"when we undertake to cover our sins, or gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness…Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man" (D&C 121:37).

Duwayne Anderson Author of "Farewell to Eden: Coming to terms with Mormonism and science"