5 Ways Faith & Religion Will Matter at the Republican National Convention
- Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:01am by
Billy Hallowell
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Stay up-to-date on all the convention news by visiting TheBlaze’s dedicated RNC page. Also find out how you can watch exclusive, live reports and analysis on TheBlaze TV. Get both here.
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For the next two weeks, the political and media worlds will be turned upside down as the Republicans and the Democrats meet for their 2012 presidential delegations. In anticipation of the Republican National Convention (RNC), which is kicking off today, CNN published a list of ways in which faith and religion will matter during the event.
Mitt Romney (Photo Credit: AP)
Considering the prevalence of faith among Republican adherents, it’s no surprise that religion will play a prime role at the RNC. From CNN’s analysis, The-Blaze has selected five of the ways in which faith will likely color the convention this week. Here they are (with our original analysis):
1) Todd Akin & “Legitimate Rape”: On the surface, the Todd Akin controversy (you know, the Missouri Senate candidate who recently said that women are able to prevent pregnancy in cases of “legitimate rape”) has some loose – if any – faith connections. But, alas, the drama surrounding Akin’s statement has reverberated throughout the walls of nearly every newsroom in America, with some evangelical leaders, rather than shying away from the controversy, actually coming to the politician’s defense (Mike Huckabee, among others, has jumped in to help Akin out).
CNN contends that this is creating some controversy within the GOP, with some social conservatives taking issue with some within the Republican tent who have turned their backs on Akin. How this will play out at the convention remains to be seen.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
2) Mormonism: There’s no doubt that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s faith will be a factor at the RNC. As the first LDS adherent selected to be a major party candidate, Romney and his religious beliefs will likely, at least based on what we’ve seen so far, be intensely scrutinized.
While TheBlaze has determined, through extensive analysis, that the candidate’s faith won’t substantially hamper him come November, there has been some unfortunate examples of Democrats, a small subset of evangelicals and media figures using Mormonism against him. CNN ponders whether Romney and RNC speakers will tackle his faith head-on or continue to let it lay in the background of the political schema.
Photo Credit: FILE
3) War on Women: Since the controversial contraceptive mandate was announced and furor followed, the Democratic Party has attempted to frame Republicans as “anti-women.” In fact, the rhetoric has gone so far as to claim that GOP politicians and their enthusiasts are waging a “war on women.”
Republicans, though, argued that the issue wasn’t about preventing women from receiving health care services. Instead, they said that the mandate was about religious liberty and conscience protections. At the convention, this issue will certainly be on the table, as the party will attempt to court women, while distinguishing the religious protectionism it embraces from an attempt to attack female health options.
Photo Credit: AP
4) War on Religion (Culture War): While CNN claims that there’s some worry over how Rick Santorum, among others, will handle his RNC address, the GOP – or at least the more theologically conservative branch — hasn’t been shy about claiming that there is an overt war on religion.
Considering the Obama administration’s handling of faith and religion, it will be fascinating to see how this issue is handled throughout the RNC. Will speakers address it head-on and in a fiery way — or will speakers avoid overtones and rely on more stragically-embedded messaging?
Photo Credit: FILE
5) Israel: There’s certainly partisan disagreement over Israel and how the U.S. government should be managing the nation’s relationship with the Jewish homeland. While President Obama has reiterated that he’s been a strong advocate of Israel, Romney has targeted him on this front and Republicans have widely criticized his handling of the Middle East (Obama has also been inconsistent in whether he believes that Jerusalem truly is Israel’s capitol).
You can read the rest of the elements that were compiled by CNN here.
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jackact
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:47pm1.) Let us pray that Obama goes away.
Report Post »2.) Let us pray that Jarrett goes away
3.) Let us pray that Soros kicks the mortal coil
4.) Let us pray for the return to states rights
5.) Let us pray for ‘torte reform’ and ‘loser pays’
Locked
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:57pm“3.) Let us pray that Soros kicks the mortal coil”
The moment I pray for someone‘s death is the moment I’ve lost my faith in Jesus Christ’s love. When did you lose your faith?
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:10pmLet us pray for the wisdom to see the coming trouble in time to lessen the suffering of our families and friends. Politics has revealed itself to be totally impotent. Our trouble has transcended man’s reach, let alone his grasp. Do you not yet know what time it is?
Report Post »vaman
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:33pmWe know the DNC is going to be anti religion, but it is important that the RNC distance itself from evangelicals. Radicals turn the stomach of normal people. Totally denounce Akin is the only way to deal with that problem. Evangelicals embrace him and his lunacy, but the RNC only damages itself by embracing him. The attack on women is not actually an attack, but choosing religion over health and health care is inexcusable and indefensible. Your personal belief systems should never interfere with the health of someone else. Your religious views and superstitions are not that important. There is no attack on religion. Again, there is no attack on religion. That was concocted by the radical religious groups and is propagated periodically during the year and the holidays. No one is closing churches or anything similar. Finally, keep Santorum to a brief statement that will not make the RNC look radical. He was a total disaster running for the Presidency and his extremist views were not accepted by mainstream Americans.
Report Post »Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:39pm” Your personal belief systems should never interfere with the health of someone else. ”
I’ll go a step further. Neither should my tax dollars and or laws. Someone elses health is just that…their own. It doesn’t involve a penny of funding from me or one iota of government red tape.
How’s that grab ya?
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:01pmIt’s Ok If we have the opportunity to help ourselves. This the satanic plan in action…Get the people so flummoxed and helpless that they cannot do for themselves any longer, to a point the ONLY option is slavery to a system of unjust laws and endless regulations.
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:06pmi am required by my Lord to inform you that there is no salvation in political systems or philosophies. And also there is no justice for those that surrender liberty for expedience. I understand your stand…if you think you are thinking correctly….You pay for it, I’m tapped out.
Report Post »shoulda coulda woulda
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:10pmWhoa, where did they get that picture, she is impressive.
More to comments of VAMAN. You framed the argument to win. I only have the two choices you gave me. That is not the argument, everyone is responsible for their own health, I shouldn’t have to pay for it. Additionally, people keep saying “get out of my bedroom” as long as you pay for the outcome of activities that transpire there. I would love to stay out of your bedroom, period. You pay to protect yourself.
Report Post »girlnurse
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:27pmYeah and when they march people into gas chambers they better not use my tax dollars to pay for the workers, chambers, or gas!
Report Post »JRook
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:07pmHere’s a clue. Anti Evangelical Christianity rhetoric is not anti-religion. And the rational and/or defenses put forth in this report are weak at best. Attacking the provision of accepted health care services (used by 90% of women) and laws which would ultimately ban the use of most contraception is not anti-religion, it is anti-women. And your religious conscious means nothing relative to the larger group as their liberty, free will and civil rights begin at the tip of their nose, cause that’s where yours ends. Hold strong to whatever faith and religious beliefs you want, but they are yours and thus should keep them to yourself and out of the political and public forum. Individuals who place their witnessing of christianity or “army of god” beliefs above the community at large or their responsibilities as a citizen are no different than the Islamic fanatics they take issue with.
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:29pmNURSE….You’ve already paid for the bullets!
Report Post »girlnurse
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:35pmJROOK: I hear where you’re coming from and I partially agree. But nothing is without judgement. NOTHING. We make 50 judgements before we leave the house. Where do you think our laws came from? The bible. Why should we not kill? If you are a NONbeliever–you HAVE a belief.
This is a tough dilema that we wont solve in this forum but don’t act like it is such a simple one.
I believe my neighbors should not be killed (abortion). You may believe it is a-okay if it is done behind closed doors. We both have a belief. Many believe it is just fine to be gay and to teach the next generation the positive attributes of such a lifestyle. I believe it will destroy many generations (if we get that far). We both have a belief system. Mine may be biblical but yours is clearly secular humanism and make no mistake-THAT IS a belief and influences YOUR decisions as much as mine influences mine.
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:39pmJROOK….My faith tells me that a lot of the suffering you will be experiencing shortly could be ameliorated or prevented should our nation turn away from its delusion and recognize just whose will is being done, here on this earth and the next. Stubborn stupid man believes he has a handle on what’s going on. Hah! Sooner or later we’ll have to say, “Go to the devil, then”, but that time is not yet.
Report Post »Phaerisee
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:27pmI would like to see more coverage about what Mormons believe just as Obama was scrutinized for his church.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGFAph3lWqw
Report Post »Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:37pmWhoa, wait. When was Obama scrutinized for his church? I must have missed all that media attention.
Report Post »shoulda coulda woulda
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:12pmGo to Mormon.org.
Report Post »shoulda coulda woulda
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:14pmAlso the BBC did a multi part on Mormons around 2002. I think you can still look it up.
Report Post »RockyMountainPATRIOT
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:19pmI seem to remember the mainstream shouting “RACIST!” any time anyone has attempted to question Obama’s faith (or lack thereof) …whatever church he went to (or didn’t go to) for 20 years… whatever sermons he listened to (or didn’t listen to) for 20 years… that did (or didn’t) introduce him to Christ (or Muhammad, or Hanuman or Lucifer or…?)
Obama’s beliefs were deemed off-limits early in his 2008 campaign.
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:27pmWe haven‘t looked at obama’s spiritual connections very closely. We haven’t even investigated his politics to any depth, except here and drudges place. Ooooo….he’s a mystery! Hah!! I see him clear as a trumpet blast. In my business, music, all his acolytes are the same bunch that are rushing to the dark side hoping there is still time to make a fortune. Running to sell their souls to the devil….I am serious. That is the spirit of this administration and indeed the democratic party.
Report Post »Big Tuna
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:58pm@ PHAERISEE – So you post a link to a garbage video that is about as accurate as what a democrat would tell you about Obama’s spending? The truth really has ZERO value to you.
Report Post »LibertyGoddess
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 3:50pmThere was never an inspection to his faith. There was criticism regarding the political nature of black liberation theology that Wright was espousing. No, doctrines are not up for examination, yes, anything political is.
Report Post »Mr. Oshawott
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:13pmSure, for some people, Mitt Romney‘s Mormon background will be a factor in how they’ll vote. However, I couldn‘t care less about Mitt’s religious background. His questionable history of flip-flopping on almost every issue, his history of putting his home state Massachusetts in the red by passing that un-Constitutional piece of legislation named RomneyCare while Governor, and his refusal to audit the privately-owned Federal Reserve are the actual reasons that I WON’T vote for him.
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:04pmBoth candidates fit the progressive ideal, in the socialistic sense. But Romney has capitalistic views, Whereas Obama does not. This should be enough to get your vote……to me they are both weak in knees when it comes to standing up to Satan, although Romney is ignorant, and Obama is a minion…
Report Post »Romney won’t recognize the coming Caliphate but obama is a facilitator…
They both look like a box of rocks to me.
IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:07pmWhen you have faith you don’t have to defend yourself nor do you have to run other beliefs down. Live as you believe. ,,Love not Hate
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:20pmWhatever happens in the next chapter, there will still be a “great divide” separating the people of this nation. In the near future this will become more and more apparent, as Satan’s folks continue to crawl out there places of hiding.
Report Post »PALEHORSE
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:56amI think the woman with sandwich sign should be asking for a salad instead.
Report Post »curmudgeon60
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:21pm@PALEHORSE: Haha I was wondering when someone would make a comment on that one — Good One! MMM Whaat a looker-I would make war on that woman-and I’m a woman too!!
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:56amI want to see how the DNC handles their plans to hold Anti-Christian prayer meetings at their convention, and who will say what about it. Obviously, a push to frame this country as “post-Christian.” I fear God a whole lot more than I fear any man, or death itself for that matter. Modern liberals are the stupidest people who have ever walked the earth.
Report Post »antitheist
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:21pmYou fear an invisible construct who supposedly sent itself to Earth to be tortured in order to redeem people of a condition that it itself implanted in them? Seems more like the ramblings of a paranoid schizophrenic, and yet you call liberal the stupidest people to walk on Earth?
Report Post »vaman
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:41pmAntitheist, that was absolutely perfect. Very well done!
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 3:05pmThe whole story is one of baiting the devil to boldly walk into the public eye. Jesus brought to a certain few the power to stand up to him without fear. Only to prove, once and for all, that death has no power. simple story.
Report Post »Scripture is just like the health care bill….Y‘gotta read it before you know what’s in it. I think the main part you are missing is the devil part. You can’t understand my faith without knowing satan is a real person. and has been in a supernatural conflict with the Lord of creation since before time. And he hates you and me, just because we are human. Face him, unprotected, if you want. I’m very, very glad I don’t have to.
Wango
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:43amI can guarantee you won’t hear the word “Mormon” from the stage or from any conservative pundit.
Report Post »Joey Joe Joe
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:41amIf Santorum speaks about religion, hopefully he’ll address the HHS mandate and how it infringes upon the freedom of religion for members of all faith.
Report Post »walnutportconservative
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:34am2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land”.
Only because of the efforts of the TEA Party, the republican party has had political gain from conservative wisdom.
Think of the unlimited power America could, Lord willing, enjoy, if it would embrace the same God that David embraced when he slayed his giant. Stand with God and Israel.
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.
From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth—
he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.
No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
God will watch over that convention and I hope it is a sweet, sweet Aroma
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 12:55pmwalnut port con……You are obviously a believer and a good hearted soul. I do not put any faith in the traditions of man. The prince of this world has a hand in ALL the plans of ALL governments at this time.
Report Post »Whoever wins this election will be the one to surrender this nation’s sovereignty to the NWO.
I’m just taking this from Jeremia, Daniel , Ezekiel .and the book of Revelation. Pretty scary stuff, I know, but true believers need not fear. I think you should be spreading the word of the coming of the antichrist. http://theseason.yolasite.com/
woodyee
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:32amGaybama and HIS “Christianity”…how evil can he get?
http://www.churchmilitant.tv/daily/?today=2012-08-27
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:28amFaith and religion to them is a tool, a device to gain votes to make themselves seem wholesome.
Report Post »girlnurse
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:35pmRight!
Report Post »Before his departure, Jesus told his disciples, “”If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19) James said, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4-5) Looking, dressing, acting, and talking like the world are not the marks of followers of Christ.
Max jones
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 3:15pmAdd your comments
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:25amOh yeah I‘m just sure ’Faith and religion” will matter. That must be why even one of you has the audacity to stand there saying the idea of a ‘Woman’s right to choose’ is a false choice – a manufactured category that isn’t real. Because [Faith and religion] are just on your mind oh so much.
Report Post »Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:22amSeriously….who cares!?!?
We are 16T in the hole and owe 200T in unfunded liabilities. We have the lowest labor participation rate since the great depression. Our congress has ceded its responsibility to coin money to a bunch of crooks who are stealing from each of us and our children. We pay obscene effective tax rates, the government is now in my doctor appointment, our civil liberties erode by the day, our sons and daughters are getting shot on sand dunes for no apparent reason now, our corporate tax rate is now the highest in the world, and nationalized education is rendering the next generation as a bunch of idiot serfs.
But no, lets talk about that idiot in MO or Israel. Sure.
Report Post »shoulda coulda woulda
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:19pmGood on ya mate. “Its the economy stupid.”
Report Post »mecbb55
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:20am6) Claiming Obama is a Muslim.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:18amLOL, that gal above with the sign…somebody quick, make her a Dagwood sandwich!
Report Post »Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:30amSomeone needs to make her a salad.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:04pmReminds me of AC/DC’s “WHole Lotta Rosie”.
RJJ, by the way, to answer yesterday’s post on the Volt. In the 80′s there were a lot of cars that got over 40 mpg, I had a Toyota Tercel that got 44 mph and actually was roomy, and had some power. The biggest problem is there were virtually no emmisions control on the cars, most were very lightweight and “Unsafe” per US standards, and the engines used High Comprression to get the high mpg. The exhaust of these engines produced gases that contributed to “Acid Rain”. So we now use low compression engines, which get lower mpg, but burn cleaner and more efficient.
Currently there are engines that burn Diesel, that get almost 60 mpg and produce less emissions than a normal gas engine, but the US doesn’t want diesels, so they are trying to down play these engines and limit their import and production in the US. Therefore, the Volt and Hybrids are what is being pushed, but market demands always will produce a better product that people want, versus being mandated by the Govt.
Just my 2 cents.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:16am“1) Todd Akin & “Legitimate Rape””
I think the broader context for this issue will be abortion. While Romney is pro-life generally, he’s pro-choice in the case of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother; this seems to be the majority view in the GOP, but that‘s just the impression I’ve received from media coverage. This is at odds with Paul Ryan, who (like Akin) is pro-life in all cases. It’s also at odds with the RNC draft platform, which currently includes the Personhood Amendment that defines life beginning at conception and (logically following) declares all abortions as murder.
But hey, if you make the election about social issues, you’re going to get hammered on social issues. I’d rather see it about a viable economic plan and ways to reduce the government and our national debt… but the RNC leadership hasn’t taken that step. I’m not sure if they will, either.
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