Mitt Romney and the Mormon persecution complex

[_the road to hana]

On another thread, Charity suggested that Mitt Romney is alone in the 2008 presidential contender field in being asked questions about religion.

Here's the exchange on the other thread:

A candidate's religion, and how deeply the candidate practices their religion, is a viable factor in politics. Not everyone in this country is whatever the religion the candidate is. I want to know how the candidate deals with reality. Looking at religion can give insight into the candidate's way of looking at reality.

You are surely joking! What questions have you seen being asked of Hilary or Obama or even Huckabie? So you really think everyone wants to know this? Only Mitt. So why is that?

That sounds like a persecution complex. Charity, you might want to either pay more attention to the campaign process or do your research before you post, because your assertion is incorrect and uninformed.

Since that thread was getting way off of its original topic, I'm resuming this part of the discussion here.

Charity, as I mentioned on the other thread, I believe you are suffering from a common malady among Latter-day Saints this political season, which is a Mitt-only persecution complex. It's entertaining, but it's not accurate.

Other candidates have indeed been asked pointed questions regarding religion and their personal beliefs.

Example #1:
Rudy reminds us why he doesn't go outside in lightning storms:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bpfhzlxg6CE

Example #2:
Huckabee reminds us he wasn't present at the creation:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2cgAM76wyOc&feature=related

Example #3:
Democrats answer their own views on prayer and a personal God:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rv2L4j2bp8k&feature=related

Example #4:
Elizabeth Kucinich discusses politics and religion:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=e8Hf9Ldg9yg

Example #5:
Huckabee believes he is being asked most of the questions on morality because he is an ordained minister:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=iJ3eIJ_fYAQ&feature=related

Example #6:
Biden explains how religious faith informs his values:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0OK_yQNHx1s&feature=related

Example #7:
Obama's Chicago congregation comes under scrutiny:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OZXeNk7H3u4

Example #8:
Democratic candidates are asked their favorite Bible verse:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oHyq7vEixDw

Charity, suggesting that Mitt is alone in being asked questions about faith is just completely uninformed. When you respond the way you do, you simply perpetuate the persecution complex that exists on MADB and elsewhere this political season which completely ignores other candidates being grilled on matters of faith.

Four years ago, when no LDS candidate was running for president, the Democratic candidate John Kerry was in the middle of a firestorm regarding questions surrounding his own faith, and some have suggested that he lost the presidency because of it:
http://www.time.com/time/election2004/a ... 36,00.html

All evidence on the discussion boards is that Mormons feel Mitt is being singled out and persecuted. He might have a persecution complex, and Latter-day Saints might have a persecution complex, but it is just not the case that he is the only one being asked questions about religion and faith.

[_beastie]

No kidding. In the past couple of decades, religion has become an extremely important tool in politicking, and nearly all politicians have to share their religious credentials to be taken seriously.

As an atheist, I find this extremely irritating, but I can't change reality. And Mitt shouldn't complain about his religious beliefs being inspected when, in his own talk about faith, he made religious faith of some sort not only a primary requirement for holding public office, but also apparently for being a decent citizen.

[_karl61]

I think that there is an issue because they are asking questions such as "can you vote for a Mormon". Those that run the news let that question slide. To ask - "can you vote for a women" would be so sexist to even hint that a women could not be President; that question would never be asked when talking about Hillary. I think Romney could be asked about a woman's place in modern society and if he thinks they should all be in the home supported financially by a male.

[_Moniker]

Yep, they all get asked about their belief in God. The problem for Mitt is that most Americans are just not that familiar with LDS (and I'd wager he knew this) and so some of his answers (if he chose to answer them) would probably startle people. So while politicians usually embrace faith and wrap themselves in the flag and the heavenly glow of God, Mitt has to parse words and deflect attention away from his beliefs. Bad spot for him. Seems to me he's embarrassed of his beliefs or recognizes (or someone has informed him) that most Americans would be a bit surprised to hear some of the odder aspects of LDS theology.

And yes, Jason, and anyone else -- I know mainstream Christians have wacko notions too. But they're not wacko to them, since they hold them.

[_the road to hana]

I think that there is an issue because they are asking questions such as "can you vote for a Mormon". Those that run the news let that question slide. To ask - "can you vote for a women" would be so sexist to even hint that a women could not be President; that question would never be asked when talking about Hillary. I think Romney could be asked about a woman's place in modern society and if he thinks they should all be in the home supported financially by a male.

Actually, there are all sorts of polls out there regarding whether or not the U.S. is ready to elect a black person, or a woman.

[_Moniker]

I think that there is an issue because they are asking questions such as "can you vote for a Mormon". Those that run the news let that question slide. To ask - "can you vote for a women" would be so sexist to even hint that a women could not be President; that question would never be asked when talking about Hillary. I think Romney could be asked about a woman's place in modern society and if he thinks they should all be in the home supported financially by a male.

Actually, there are all sorts of polls out there regarding whether or not the U.S. is ready to elect a black person, or a woman.

And there have been for years.

[_karl61]

I know those questions have been asked but I think we are above that in 2007 and 2008 ; if you recognize that they are wrong then why repeat the mistake.

[_Moniker]

I know those questions have been asked but I think we are above that in 2007 and 2008 ; if you recognize that they are wrong then why repeat the mistake.

I'm not following. Why is it wrong to determine the likelihood that someone will vote for someone else? Even if it is based on religion, race, or gender? Those are valid questions.

[_the road to hana]

I think a lot of Americans fail to appreciate the role that religion plays in politics outside the U.S. For example, in England, it's really unthinkable for a prime minister to be Catholic, witnessed by the fact that former Prime Minister Tony Blair resigned his position before his recent official conversion to Catholicism. Further, in England, a ruling monarch cannot be Catholic or even married to a Catholic.

So, sure, people in the U.S. might get stirred up about whether or not their candidate is Mormon, or Evangelical, or Catholic, or whatever, but there really are not the religious proscriptions for politicians in this country that might exist elsewhere.

[_Mercury]

Charity, you want to have your cake and eat it too. Repeatedly, with diuretics needing to be delivered afterwards. You will need lots of frosting on it to cover up how stale it all is.