Comments on: The religious right lines up behind Romney: UPDATED http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/ Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:43:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Hugo Schwyzer http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-132490 Hugo Schwyzer Mon, 22 Oct 2007 01:01:35 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-132490 John, you may be right. Please know, even at my most Machiavellian, I would never <em>want</em> religious bigotry to play in my candidate's favor. Look, I think Romney's still going to be the GOP nominee. As a registered Republican (albeit a liberal one on the social issues, the environment, and on foreign policy) I'm not going to vote for him in the primary (where I'll vote for McCain, who has no chance at the nomination), and I won't vote for him against Clinton (or, less likely, Edwards or Obama.) Romney will be a good, smart, campaigner -- and he's the only candidate the right has that can threaten to turn some marginally "blue" states (Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania) back into "red" ones without risking losing marginally "red" ones. (If evangelicals don't turn out for Giuliani, the GOP loses, say, Missouri and Ohio.) As someone who wants at least a marginally better voice on the environment and global justice in the White House in 2008, Romney is the candidate I fear most. But I wouldn't use his religion against him. John, you may be right. Please know, even at my most Machiavellian, I would never want religious bigotry to play in my candidate’s favor.

Look, I think Romney’s still going to be the GOP nominee. As a registered Republican (albeit a liberal one on the social issues, the environment, and on foreign policy) I’m not going to vote for him in the primary (where I’ll vote for McCain, who has no chance at the nomination), and I won’t vote for him against Clinton (or, less likely, Edwards or Obama.) Romney will be a good, smart, campaigner — and he’s the only candidate the right has that can threaten to turn some marginally “blue” states (Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania) back into “red” ones without risking losing marginally “red” ones. (If evangelicals don’t turn out for Giuliani, the GOP loses, say, Missouri and Ohio.) As someone who wants at least a marginally better voice on the environment and global justice in the White House in 2008, Romney is the candidate I fear most. But I wouldn’t use his religion against him.

]]> By: John http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-132483 John Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:54:46 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-132483 Not to mention that there's a lot of difference between "a Mormon" and "this Mormon." It's going to come down to not just "can I vote for a Mormon" but "can I vote for Mitt Romney?" Put him up there looking clean cut with his five boys and applauding wife, give him a Billy Graham quote or two, and then stick him next to Hillary Clinton. I think for most Evangelicals, it'll be an easier choice than Hugo thinks. Not to mention that there’s a lot of difference between “a Mormon” and “this Mormon.”

It’s going to come down to not just “can I vote for a Mormon” but “can I vote for Mitt Romney?” Put him up there looking clean cut with his five boys and applauding wife, give him a Billy Graham quote or two, and then stick him next to Hillary Clinton. I think for most Evangelicals, it’ll be an easier choice than Hugo thinks.

]]> By: Stentor http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-132319 Stentor Sun, 21 Oct 2007 18:27:37 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-132319 I sometimes wonder whether there's not a bit of anti-Mormon bigotry-by-proxy behind the way so many on the left are so obsessed with the possibility of evangelicals refusing to vote for a Mormon. I sometimes wonder whether there’s not a bit of anti-Mormon bigotry-by-proxy behind the way so many on the left are so obsessed with the possibility of evangelicals refusing to vote for a Mormon.

]]> By: John http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-131862 John Sun, 21 Oct 2007 00:21:55 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-131862 As you said yourself, Hugo, better a wise Turk than a foolish Christian. I think you're underating the intelligence of the simple people. Voting for a Mormon analagous to voting for a Conservative Jew, and plenty of evangelicals have no trouble doing that. As you said yourself, Hugo, better a wise Turk than a foolish Christian. I think you’re underating the intelligence of the simple people. Voting for a Mormon analagous to voting for a Conservative Jew, and plenty of evangelicals have no trouble doing that.

]]> By: John Spragge http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-131753 John Spragge Sat, 20 Oct 2007 21:38:08 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-131753 I wonder why Mitt's dog does not attract more attention (Romney apparently strapped his dog in a dog carrier to the roof of his car for a drive home from vacation). Like the original curious incident of Sherlock Holmes: Romney straps his dog to a fast-moving car, and Hugo doesn't bark! I wonder why Mitt’s dog does not attract more attention (Romney apparently strapped his dog in a dog carrier to the roof of his car for a drive home from vacation). Like the original curious incident of Sherlock Holmes: Romney straps his dog to a fast-moving car, and Hugo doesn’t bark!

]]> By: Bot http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-131379 Bot Sat, 20 Oct 2007 03:40:36 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-131379 Mitt’s church, the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) has been often misunderstood by Evangelical preachers in the past . . Some accused the Church of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion . . http://MormonsAreChristian.blogspot.com/ helps to clarify such misconceptions by examining early (First Century) Christianity's theology relating to baptism, the Godhead, the deity of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Mitt’s church believes in the Jesus of the New Testament, who prayed to his Father in Heaven in the Garden of Gethsemane, not the Jesus portrayed in the creeds of the 4th Century. The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) adheres to Early Christian (New Testament) theology more closely than other Christian denominations. . Perhaps the reason Evangelical preachers promoted this mis-representation was to protect their flock (and their livlihood). It is encouraging to note that Evangelical preachers appear now to have a moral and competent president as a priority.. Mitt’s church, the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) has been often misunderstood by Evangelical preachers in the past . . Some accused the Church of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion . .

http://MormonsAreChristian.blogspot.com/ helps to clarify such misconceptions by examining early (First Century) Christianity’s theology relating to baptism, the Godhead, the deity of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Mitt’s church believes in the Jesus of the New Testament, who prayed to his Father in Heaven in the Garden of Gethsemane, not the Jesus portrayed in the creeds of the 4th Century.

The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) adheres to Early Christian (New Testament) theology more closely than other Christian denominations. . Perhaps the reason Evangelical preachers promoted this mis-representation was to protect their flock (and their livlihood). It is encouraging to note that Evangelical preachers appear now to have a moral and competent president as a priority..

]]> By: Hugo Schwyzer http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-131314 Hugo Schwyzer Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:46:34 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-131314 Yes, Mouw has been terrific about Mormon-evangelical relations. When Mouw was a graduate student at Alberta in the early '60s, he played in a trio with my father (an atheist) and their mutual friend Dick Bosley (also a philosopher, and a former LDS missionary). Yes, Mouw has been terrific about Mormon-evangelical relations. When Mouw was a graduate student at Alberta in the early ’60s, he played in a trio with my father (an atheist) and their mutual friend Dick Bosley (also a philosopher, and a former LDS missionary).

]]> By: Sneha http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-131310 Sneha Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:35:32 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-131310 i'm a fuller baby (born while my father attended; an awful lot of alums from that era know me by name b/c of the circumstances of my birth)...and also just up the street. since you follow mouw, you're well aware, i'm sure, of him and zacharias speaking at the mormon tabernacle. i’m a fuller baby (born while my father attended; an awful lot of alums from that era know me by name b/c of the circumstances of my birth)…and also just up the street.

since you follow mouw, you’re well aware, i’m sure, of him and zacharias speaking at the mormon tabernacle.

]]> By: Hugo Schwyzer http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-131304 Hugo Schwyzer Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:28:45 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-131304 Neither -- but I've audited several classes, was married to a Fuller grad student, gave money to Fuller (and not just in terms of tuition for aforementioned ex), went to Fuller graduations, and taught workshops on sexual harassment to Fuller seminarians. And I live a quarter of a mile from Fuller. So I feel like a Fuller kinda guy. Not to mention I've spent a lot of money in the bookstore. And heck, I just have this awful habit of appropriating things I like or live in proximity to. Los Angeles is "my city", and so forth; I have several churches listed under "my" churches on the sidebar. Neither — but I’ve audited several classes, was married to a Fuller grad student, gave money to Fuller (and not just in terms of tuition for aforementioned ex), went to Fuller graduations, and taught workshops on sexual harassment to Fuller seminarians. And I live a quarter of a mile from Fuller. So I feel like a Fuller kinda guy.

Not to mention I’ve spent a lot of money in the bookstore. And heck, I just have this awful habit of appropriating things I like or live in proximity to. Los Angeles is “my city”, and so forth; I have several churches listed under “my” churches on the sidebar.

]]> By: Sarah http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-131301 Sarah Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:15:01 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/19/the-religious-right-lines-up-behind-romney/#comment-131301 Are you an alum of Fuller or a student currently? Are you an alum of Fuller or a student currently?

]]>