NATO Protest Recap: Black Bloc Chants for ‘Dead Cops’…Bottles of Urine and Feces…CNN Criticizes Cops

The BlogRSS Feed

Politics Actually, it is bigotry

Actually, it is bigotry

It's Not Romneycult; It's Romneycare

At the Values Voter Summit, Republican primary candidate Rick Perry was introduced by a megachurch pastor, named Robert Jeffress, who offered the audience an extraordinary false choice: “Do we want a candidate who is a good, moral person or one who is a born-again follower of the Lord Jesus Christ?”

Answer: We want a candidate who will cut capital gains taxes.

Now, Jeffress would go on to explain that Perry is a “genuine follower of Jesus Christ,” which is widely understood to mean that his opponent Mitt Romney is a member of a satanic sect. When one considers that Romney was governor of Massachusetts, the possibility can’t be dismissed. But Jeffress, it turns out, was referring to a “theological cult.” Many Americans, evidently, believe that Mormons such as Romney are heretics, too impure to take on the virtuous job of being a politician.

Some of us have no standing — and absolutely no interest — in wading into theological debates. The Constitution states that “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” This, regrettably, doesn’t shield candidates from the prejudices of some voters, and tragically, it doesn’t shield us from candidates who believe that repeatedly citing God is a policy position.

Though all that may be annoying, does it mean we should recoil from any discussion of religion in political discourse?

Let’s just stretch the imagination for a moment. Suppose a candidate had a deep fidelity with a faith that is known to occasionally keep women from driving, one that believes 90 lashes for speaking out of turn is an acceptable form of punishment and one that overlooks forced circumcisions and allows honor killings. Let’s say that this faith leaves little distinction between the state and God. If any tenets of your faith conflict with the liberty of others, does religion become a political matter?

If your faith drives you, as it does Michele Bachmann, is it out of bounds to ask — as she was during one Republican debate — why she believes wives should be “submissive” to their husbands? (As it turns out, she gave a rather fascinating answer, and I now strongly advocate for a similar position in my own household.) And seeing as Barack Obama is a religious man, why shouldn’t we question his association with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who, you will remember, used his pulpit as an ideologue to preach racism and other unseemly business?

No doubt, some on the left are offended that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opposes gay marriage, though they align the Mormon church with other “theological cults” — such as the Roman Catholic Church, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and most denominations of Protestantism. I get it. If any church publicly supported Keynesian boondoogles, I’d have a problem, too.

But Mormons seem, for the most part, because of a long and complex history, to go out of their way to avoid mixing religion and politics. Is Romney covertly behind some Mormon-centric legislation I haven’t heard about? Do Sen. Harry Reid, who is Mormon, and Sen. Mike Lee, who is Mormon, agree on any substantive policy?

We can’t know what impact the Mormon question will have on this election. Polls can’t accurately reflect that kind of sentiment. But if you dismiss millions of people solely on a religious basis as unworthy of public office, you are intolerant and have taken a deeply un-American position.

Jeffress isn’t a bigot because he has a theological argument or because he brought up religion. He is a bigot because he rejected a man based on his personal faith rather than dismiss him for his terrible health care policy like a normal person.

_____________________
Follow @davidharsanyi.

Comments (8)

  • The Third Archon
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 5:32am

    “Many Americans, evidently, believe that Mormons such as Romney are heretics”
    This is news to you?

    Report Post » The Third Archon  
  • SaraG
    Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:01am

    I hate the ignorance and misinformation people like Jeffers spread about the LDS church and its members. Just like this statement: “of being a Jim Jones cult.
    The Mormon Church has been working for many many years to change the stigma of past history from polygamy, discovered gold plates, special favoritism from God and even changes in the Mormon book by adding Jesus Christ to their name.”

    I never heard “Jim Jones” but he sure called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints a cult. Funny how just last year I attended a very interesting seminar on religious gold and copper plates found in archeological digs around the world. And all those who give themselves to Christ thru baptism and receiving the gift of the holy spirit are favored by God, even evangelical born again Christians. And since they pray to our Heavenly Father in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, your last point makes no sense at all. The fact that they believe that one of the best ways to be a good, honorable, faithful person is to put Christ in the center of your life is what I call Christian. I would put any graduating high school senior who has attended Mormon Seminary all thru high school up against Jeffers any day and bet the Mormon would win hands down on any contest of Biblical knowledge and meaning. Mormon children start learning at birth and by age 3 they are learning their Bible (KJV).

    Jeffers is no Christian despite his mega-church. True Christians are not disgusting bigots. He is.

    Report Post » SaraG  
    • conservative-apologist
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 12:05pm

      “Jeffers is no Christian despite his mega-church. True Christians are not disgusting bigots. He is.”You failed to mention that the Mormon Church was founded on a bigoted belief (using your definition of bigotry which is saying a church/person is not Christian) Joseph Smith was told not to join any church because none had the full truth. (Not an exact quote) Brigham Young said. “Should you ask why we differ from other Christians, as they are called, it is simply because they are not Christians as the New Testament defines Christianity” (Journal of Discourses 10:230). I suppose your response to this would be the same as your response to the LDS history of polygamy “The Mormon Church has been working for many years to change the stigma of past history from polygamy, discovered gold plates, special favoritism from God and even changes in the Mormon book by adding Jesus Christ to their name. “Such a response fails to take into account the fact that it’s really hard to change your history when you believe the people that started your faith were prophets and apostles. Your comments condemn Pastor Jeffres for something the LDS church has also done

      Report Post »  
  • HeyLanny
    Posted on October 12, 2011 at 3:33pm

    I think Pastor Jeffress stated the truth about the theological differences between Mormons and orthodox Chrisitans, but he should have concentrated on political items instead of faith differences. I have heard him speak 3 times and he simply stated that there were differences in the teachings and was encouraging votes for a more orthodox candidate.He never accused the Mormon Church of being a Jim Jones cult.

    The Mormon Church has been working for many many years to change the stigma of past history from polygamy, discovered gold plates, special favoritism from God and even changes in the Mormon book by adding Jesus Christ to their name.

    Again, as an evangelical myself I would vote for Mitt Romney in an attempt to reintroduce some sanity and values back into our government and I think he can offer those items. I bele3ive Romney has has the same issues at heart as Orthodox main line Chrisitans do.

    Report Post » HeyLanny  
    • BetterNTexas
      Posted on October 12, 2011 at 4:50pm

      “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints” has always, from the very moment it was registered as a Church in the state of New York on April 6, 1830, been the official name of the LDS Church. Always.

      Report Post »  
  • Independent American
    Posted on October 12, 2011 at 11:13am

    I dismiss Romney because of Romneycare, his support of in-state tuition for illegals (favoring them over US citizens not from Massachusetts), his approval of civil unions (which was simply a clever euphemism and temporary substitute for gay marriage, the standard “camel’s nose” strategy), and being a professional politician.

    I dismiss Jon Huntsman as lacking the backbone to clearly define himself as either a Mormon or not, and for acting like a professional politician. At this point, I doubt that Huntsman is in good standing in his church. I seriously doubt if he would have ever been elected Governor of Utah if his father were not the billionaire, Jon Huntsman Sr., a man of clear values, unlike his wishy-washy, flim-flam son. I dismiss Harry Reid as a demented old man who has to be an embarrasment to his fellow Mormons.

    Sadly, when we vote we usually take the lesser of two evils, Obama vs McCain for example.

    At this point, I’m leaning to Herman Cain. I’m not impressed at all with a national sales tax, but I like the other 9′s he is promoting. No, “the devil is not in the details.” That comment was clever, but it was erroneous about the details being more difficult than the current tax code.

    Report Post » Independent American  
  • BetterNTexas
    Posted on October 12, 2011 at 10:48am

    Mr. Harsanyi, thank you for your thoughts.

    As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I have to say that this whole thing is so disheartening to me. Imagine hearing your children talking about the Presidential race and hear them casually say, “But a Mormon can’t ever be elected President.” Imagine having your children go to school and have friends tell them they’re “going to hell” or how stupid they are for believing the way they do. Imagine them going online and seeing a nice article about Mormons only to read the hateful comments posted below. And then imagine one of your children saying, “Mom why do they treat us that way?” and your older child responding, “Because they hate us,” in a matter of fact tone because she accepts that that’s just how things are. Sad, sorry experience has taught her that this is so.

    I deeply, deeply love America. I will not give up my beliefs so that America will love me back. But I can’t help but wish that more people would stand up and accurately call this situation what it is–bigotry. Thank you for doing so. As a citizen of Texas it bothers me greatly that my governor hasn’t done so.

    Report Post »  
    • conservative-apologist
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 3:42pm

      “Imagine hearing your children talking about the Presidential race and hear them casually say, “But a Mormon can’t ever be elected President.” Imagine having your children go to school and have friends tell them they’re “going to hell” or how stupid they are for believing the way they do.”
      What should Presbyterian parents tell their children? When they read statements like this “We talk about Christianity, but it is a perfect pack of nonsense …the devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century” (Journal of Discourses 6:167). John Taylor 3rd President of the LDS church.

      Report Post »  

Comments are closed.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now