Is Mitt A Dealbreaker?

I haven't seen anyone post and comment on this story from the Trib: Will LDS flee GOP if Mitt gets shelled? The following scenario is not at all improbable: (1) Evangelicals publicly trash Mitt, who gracefully retires from the race; (2) the Democrats manage to nominate a candidate palatable to most Mormons; and (3) Harry Reid gives a rousing prime-time speech at the Democratic convention reminding "people of faith" and those who support "family values" that Democrats have values, too. And let's throw in (4) Reid and President Faust are photographed strolling down State Street on their way to a friendly "social visit" lunch a couple of days later.

Comments

[Geoff J]

Hehe. It seems to me that many Mormons have "testimonies" of the GOP that rival their tesimonies of the church so I don't see a mass exodus as a real possibility.

[Clark Goble]

Of course that was once true the opposite direction Geoff.

The above though is a fantasy. Harry Reid make a rousing speech? Come on.

I do expect Evangelicals to publicly trash Romney and I do think this will lead to yet more division in the GOP.

The problem is that both parties are in complete disarray and I think most Americans distrust both parties rather strongly at this point in time. And I have no faith that either party will nominate anyone who will be particularly good at bringing the country together or solving any problems. At this stage the only thing that could bring the country together and restore some faith in government is an other significant attack on our soil.

[David H. Sundwall]

I posted on this yesterday and have a different take.

(1) Perhaps it is wishful thinking on my part but I find it hard to believe that Republican Mormons will support another party if their religious feelings get hurt. I don't see it as Geoff does. I hope to have consistent political values regardless of what others think of my church.

It could get real nasty but the dirty work will be done by surrogates. The emerging nominee would never be allowed to at least be seen to impugn an opponent's religion.

(2) I'm interested to hear who would fit this bill.

(3) Likewise, I find it hard to swallow that Sen. Reid will appeal to many LDS GOP. His stand this week opposing cloture on the marriage amendment will just reinforce to the many that already believe that he and Democrats are not friendly to religious or family values, be that fair or not.

(4) I know I'm taking this too seriously but I do wonder if Pres. Faust is still a Democrat. But . . ., I am taking this too seriously.

Of course, this all worthless speculation because it is a political eternity between now and 2008 so all I've said is worthless.

But Sen. Reid will never be rousing.

[Steve EM]

The premise is a fundamental misunderstanding of human nature and how political coalitions function. Factions within the same coalition that dislike, distrust and/or don't understand each other is the norm, not the exception. How else could any coalition have a prayer of building a majority (50% + 1 vote)? In the end, people vote there own interests within the available choices. Dislike for other factions within in the same coalition, is irrelevant to the decision.

[cadams]

IF that happens we'll see the tribalization of Mormon politics. 3rd party tickets will get a huge part of our votes. I see political tribalization happening all across America soon, for that matter.

[Jim Cobabe]

I laugh somewhat bitterly about such blatantly slanted partisan promotions that show up so often in the SLTrib. Mormon Democrats -- who cares what they will do if Mitt gets the shaft? Vultures fighting over scraps of carrion from a stinking dead carcass.

I am sure that Utah Democrat leaders salivate over the prospect of a massive Republican defection, but truth be told, most of us are equally disgusted with both major parties. I find it difficult to understand how any person with moral convictions can stomach being very close to either the Republicans or Democrats, these days.

I am now registered Constitution Party .

[Seth R.]

Just wishful thinking on the SL Trib's part I'm afraid.

Modern Utah Mormonism has the political heart of a patsy.

Let's just see what mainline-Christian-conservative-values-America (which the Republicans claims to represent) and its ideological religious-themed attack dogs have done for Mormons lately ...

-Haun's Mill Massacre
-Far West
-Carthage
-Johnston's Army
-The Polygamy thing
-Giving 70% of the population of St. George cancer, ON PURPOSE
-Reagan trying to paint a nuclear bullseye on Temple Square
-The Godmakers
-200 years of being described by Christian preachers in terms worse than they use for homosexuals, feminists, aetheists or even Communists
-Getting shown the door every time we try to support an Evangelical moral values rally
-Thousands of Mormons in Bible belt America keeping quiet about their religion so their kids will have someone to play with

Despite all this, the Utah Mormons remain some of the most uber-patriotic, the most uncritical of unchecked state power, and the most loyal of Christian Right sycophants in the nation.

But hey - Evangelicals picking McCain over Romney outta tear it right?

Utah Mormons remind me of that annoying scrawny kid with the forced grin you'd see following the class bully around on the playground. 3 months of having his lunch money stolen, his face shoved in the gravel, being dumped in the hall garbage can, countless wedgies, innumerable public insults and even a nasty run-in with the cops, "shorty" still thinks this guy's his friend.

Thing is, he's just thrilled Moe is actually paying attention to him.

[gary]

What a joke. Mormons are pathetic Christian wannabes. They don't want to BE evangelical Christians, but they desperately want to be accepted in the club, to be recognized as "Christians" by the Christian world. Evangelicals will pal up to us when it suits them, as they are doing with the marriage amendment, but at the end of the day they walk away scoffing. Mormons, meanwhile, find their political influence is greatest when they vote as a block. They have nothing to gain by allowing their votes to be split. They will, for this generation at least, hew as far to the right as they can. Nothing the Christian right can do to Mitt or any other Mormon will shake them from their political "principles."

[Dave]

Well, no milquetoast Mormons on *this* thread! I'm sorry to hear the Republicans weren't conservative enough for you, Jim, but I'm sure the Constitution Party (motto: "Honor God, Defend the Family, Restore the Republic!") will do the trick.

However things turn out, I think Romney's run for the White House will be the biggest political splash Mormonism has made since Reed Smoot's ordeal before the Senate in 1904-07.

[Steve EM]

Seth,
You really have an axe to grind. Take it easy man. Some of that stuff is ancient now and was obviously perpetrated, at least partly, but inside conspirators. To dump the whole thing on “Christians” is utter slander. You might as well blame me for Mountain Meadows, even though I was born Catholic and have no LDS pioneer ancestry.

BTW, I'm a native New Yorker transplanted to the bible belt (Carolinas). My kids don't hide their faith and have plenty of So. Baptist friends. There are two stakes in my county. We add a new ward about every 1.5 years. Unlike NY, we're in a real, fully functional ward, just like any Utah ward. Some So. Baptist missionaries knocked on my door Saturday, and were quite respectful (being an evangelical Mormon, I pretty much agreed with most of what they said), and they never condemned me for being Mormon, even after I repeated that old joke about two heavens (one for the Baptists and one for everyone else).

Lighten up, please.

Again, dislike between political factions within a majority coalition is the norm. Otherwise, your faction is part of a minority coalition and you lose the game entirely. It’s as old as humankind.

[Jim Cobabe]

My feelings about the major political parties has nothing to do with a conservative preference. Rather it has to do with a personal distaste for continuing to align myself with immorality and dishonesty, and the sense that to so concede and compromise myself and my own ideals over these many years is a reflection on my own character and personal integrity. Though I always strive for personal honesty, I feel guilty by association. I'm fed up with that.

Antipathy for immorality is not reserved for conservatives. I don't know that much about the Constitution people, but I believe that at least they start with a clean record.

The suggestion that honest people with similar sentiments would look to the Democrats for alternatives is really rather insulting. How hard is it to predict that changing from one sewer to the other would not help remove the stink.

[Adam Greenwood]

"lately," Seth R.?

[Kate]

Just so you'll know...

My husband thinks the Hymn, "Choose the Right" #239 Is the Republican Fight Song. He gets pretty proud when we sing it in church!

[Seth R.]

Well Steve, you might say I'm overcompensating. I grew up in an environment (Utah) where there was absolutely zero thought process going on about the inherent tensions between Mormon religious identity and Mormon political identity. So it's really a backlash against that. When confronted with a ridiculously lopsided ideological environment, the natural human impulse is to move too far in the opposite direction. Which is about where a few of my comments are.

Oh yeah, and I might also mention that my first introduction to Adderall this last week has been an absolute trainwreck. But the less said about that, the better.

Yes Adam,

"lately"

After all, I remember walking across the plains like it were yesterday ... =)

[Jolard]

[quote]My feelings about the major political parties has nothing to do with a conservative preference. Rather it has to do with a personal distaste for continuing to align myself with immorality and dishonesty[/quote]

So you are a Democrat? :)

As a proud LDS Democrat, I personally find the corruption and dishonesty of the Republican Party right now quite astonishing. No need to get into an argument over politics, :) but I have to say my choice of parties is all about not wanting to align myself with greed, selfishness and hate, not to mention the inherent intolerance of the Republican party, which is the whole point of this post!! It is their intolerance of Mormons which is causing this issue.

I understand why many LDS are Rep, and it is usually because of Gay Marriage and Abortion. Personally those are about the only attractive Republican policies in my mind.

[Seth R.]

Well yeah, the Republicans (painted with a broad brush) do match my views on moral issues more closely than the Democrats (painted with a broad brush) generally do.

They also typically matched my views on foreign policy more closely than the Democrats.

That is, they DID ... Until the recent crop of neoconservative idiots took over. Even back in the Bush v. Gore election, I had an uneasy feeling that Bush Jr. was going to be a complete foreign policy screw-up.

Gosh, I miss his dad. A fine example of "responsible Republicanism."

Well, maybe the new Republican nominee can reintroduce a bit of responsible governance back to Capitol Hill. Cause honestly, being this ticked off with the Republicans every day is really wearing me out.

[RB Scott]

There was a time when I worred the zealous Christian Right would sandbag Romney. That possibility still exists, but, in my opinion, it gets more and more remote each day. Romney's organization is quite formidible, especially his fundraising arm. At this point, Romney's biggest challenge could come in the general election when fanatical Mormons could trip him up. The moderately liberal Romney who nearly whipped Ted Kennedy back in 1992 and captured the Massachusetts statehouse in 2002, could win the whole damn thing in 2008. I'm not convinced a Born Again Romney will fare as well. I liked his dad a lot: a real stand-up fellow