You’ve got to hand it to Mitt Romney. Coming forward in defense of his commitment to the Mormon faith, he tried to turn today’s speech into a win by focusing in on the threat of European secularism and violent Islam to America’s liberty. But will he be able to persuade his party’s faith-based base that his Mormonism is not a danger to their own religions? Ultimately, this was the speech’s goal.
And I think this is the most important passage for that audience (with some emphasis added), what they will be remembering while others focus in on Romney’s shots at ’secuarlism’:
“There are some for whom these commitments are not enough. They would prefer it if I would simply distance myself from my religion, say that it is more a tradition than my personal conviction, or disavow one or another of its precepts. That I will not do. I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers – I will be true to them and to my beliefs.
“Some believe that such a confession of my faith will sink my candidacy. If they are right, so be it. But I think they underestimate the American people. Americans do not respect believers of convenience. Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world.
“There is one fundamental question about which I often am asked. What do I believe about Jesus Christ? I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. My church’s beliefs about Christ may not all be the same as those of other faiths. Each religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These are not bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance. Religious tolerance would be a shallow principle indeed if it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree.
“There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church’s distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes President he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths.
“I believe that every faith I have encountered draws its adherents closer to God. And in every faith I have come to know, there are features I wish were in my own: I love the profound ceremony of the Catholic Mass, the approachability of God in the prayers of the Evangelicals, the tenderness of spirit among the Pentecostals, the confident independence of the Lutherans, the ancient traditions of the Jews, unchanged through the ages, and the commitment to frequent prayer of the Muslims. As I travel across the country and see our towns and cities, I am always moved by the many houses of worship with their steeples, all pointing to heaven, reminding us of the source of life’s blessings.
I can’t see these statements allaying the concerns of the Christian base at the heart of the Republican Party, the people who could just vote against him for acknowledging his Mormon faith.
First, there just isn’t enough tolerance within that base of sincere religious believers to take Romney in. My mother’s brother was afraid to let my grandmother learn that he had been “born again” after being born and raised Catholic. There’s a suspiciousness that exists between the different Christian faiths. Those who look at Mormonism and see it as no different from a cult will look at this passage and continue to believe that Romney’s way of believing in Christ is too different, too relative. There remains a missionary impulse that does endlessly seek to convert religious minorities in this country, and doesn’t want Americans to stand by the “faiths of their fathers.” Romney is saying he rejects this impulse, and the members of the base with that zeal will hear that message loud and clear.
Second, John F. Kennedy’s efforts to get the public to accept his Catholicism just aren’t relevant here. Catholics were clustered in important states like New York and Illinois and voted for him in droves. In an election that was incredibly close, Kennedy prevailed over Nixon with their support, and with the backing of non-Catholic Lyndon B. Johnson. Mormonism is a tiny minority clustered in Utah that continues to be looked askance at by many Americans.
Ultimately, if Romney is going to win the nomination, it won’t be the result of this speech convincing Christian conservatives that his Mormonism is acceptable. He’ll win if he can convince them to ignore his Mormonism, and focus on his conservative economic credentials.
16 Responses to “Did Romney pass the Mormon test?”
Too bad he didn’t mention the fact that he knows the secret handshake to get into heaven.
Too bad he didn’t mention the fact that his wife has a secret heaven name that only he knows. That’s so he call call her name and lead her into heaven. The little wifey can’t get into heaven without his hand. How’s that for gaining obedience?
Too bad he didn’t address the issue of the role that women will play in his administration in light of the fact that they are viewed as secondary citizens in the Mormon world.
This was an inspiring speech. I wasn’t able to see it, but I read the entire text. The words are SUBSTANCE and reaches to the very core of patriotism and tolerance. This morning Rush Limbaugh also called it “inspiring”, “courageous”…and he basically said this was an incredible example of true LEADERSHIP. I think Romney hit it out of the park.
Get a life Carl, you’ve been reading to many anti Mormon talking points. While you Mormon haters are worried about what Mormons think they will do to get into Heaven and what they do once they get there, and the Planet they think they will inherit, the rest of us are worried about this life and this country, here and now. Let the Mormons believe what they want about Heaven and beyond, and worry more about public policy on abortion, gay marriage, gay adoption, and more. Let’s deal in the here and now. Romney will be an effective leader and is a very good man.
I continue to be amazed by the stupidity of our media. Romney said for days that this wouldn’t be a speech about Mormonism, that it would be about “faith in America,” and would basically inform the evangelicals that he wouldn’t take their Bibles away while still allowing them to expand their religious intolerance in the public square. And yet, after the speech, everyone is dumbfounded that he didn’t mention Mormonism. Huh?
The speech had the phrase “freedom requires religion” in it. Yet people are still comparing it to JFK’s “no religious test for public office/separation of church and state” bill. Yet the key question is this:
The question now is, has the media invested so much in insisting that this was indeed what the speech was going to be about that they won’t be able to admit he ducked the issue entirely? Or is it just easier to say he did what he set out to do, because that story is already written?
And let’s be clear that the result of the media spin may have a direct impact on who becomes the Republican nominee.
I thought the speech was brilliant and deeply moving. Romney raised the bar for the American people to become a people of tolerance, a people of inclusion and a people of purpose.
After hearing Romney’s speech it lifted me to a great cause and a greater vision of this country.
I agree with Chris Matthews’s comment, “For the first time in this campaign, and it has been a long one, I have seen greatness!”
Romney may not have passed the Mormon test, BUT he passed – with exceptional high marks – the Presidential Test, and that’s what really counts. As I watched/listened, it was as if Romney was giving the State of the Union Address, with the sporadic applause! Thank you Mr. President, and that’s “Mr.” as in “MR” – Mitt Romney!
I thought Mitt Romney gave a very inspiring speech! It was all he promised it would be. The particulars of his faith are inrelevent! Those who actually listened to the words of his speech heard his message. Those who hope to hang him by his unusual beliefs can show their unAmercian behavior if they choose….. this is America they have that right! Today we saw courage and conviction similiar to the founding fathers. A very rare thing in this day … if it costs him the Presidency SO BE IT !!!!
Mitt Romney for President 2008…..
a Return to greatness ..SO BE IT!!!!
Something to say?
What do you make of the Giuliani campaign’s response to Mitt’s speech? Here’s the link.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=C6ZmZizWTy4
That’s more interesting to me than the actual speech. Reminiscent of the Florida debate speech. Anyone know which media firm Rudy uses?
Left by ronald
December 6, 2007 at 11:47am