Mitt Romney addresses a touchy subject about his religion

[cbayer]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/President/2012/0421/Mitt-Romney-addresses-a-touchy-subject-about-his-religion

Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer says Mitt Romney’s family 'came from a polygamy commune in Mexico.' That’s not the whole story about Romney’s Mormon ancestors, but it forces him to talk about his religion, which he’d rather not do.


By Brad Knickerbocker, Staff writer / April 21, 2012



Mitt Romney’s religion, a subject he prefers not to talk about so far in the 2012 presidential campaign, inevitably comes up in political discourse. It did again this week in a way that forced him to respond.

Discussing the likely Republican presidential nominee's difficulty in attracting Latino voters, Montana's Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer, pointed out that Romney’s family “came from a polygamy commune in Mexico.”

Mr. Romney is Mormon, descended from English converts to Mormonism who immigrated to the United States in the 19th century. The denomination (also known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) encouraged polygamy or the taking of “plural wives” by Mormon men until the practice was officially ended in 1890.

At a time when Mormonism was under attack in the United States, resulting in state and federal legislation against polygamy, some Mormon groups – including Romney’s ancestors – fled to Mexico where they were able to continue the practice until the Mexican Revolution forced them to return to the United States.

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[dkf]

1. "his father was born into a polygamy colony."

What a way to put it. Classic.

[MADem]

3. Which is why, when George Romney was trying to run for President, he was known as

"Chihuahua George."

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. Being embarrassed about your religion suggests there's something

Seriously wrong with the religion in the first place.

[handmade34]

4. +1

[Act_of_Reparation]

5. Mine may be an unpopular opinion...

... but unless Romney makes his religion a political talking point, then I don't see any reason to be concerned whether or not he is a Mormon.

I also see no point in bringing up the marital proclivities of his forebears. They aren't running for office. He is. Willard has plenty of character flaws of his own without dragging those of his great grandparents into the public discourse.

[DCKit]

7. I'd agree, but this goes to the heart of "What they'll say to get elected...

vs. what they'll do once they're in office." Don't forget, either, that Romney made his fortune as a corporate raider, but calls himself a job creator. To put it simply, he'll say anything to gain the (R) nomination and the WH.

I'm pretty fond of the women and girls in my life, and I don't want to see them under the boot of religious fundamentalists or cultists of any stripe - not to mention what other socially regressive policies a Romney Administration in cahoots with the Teabaggers and certifiable nutjobs already in Congress would impose upon us.

Mitt Romney is unfit to be our President, even if he's not a true believer.

[Silent3]

8. Romney is already playing the religion card when and where it suits him...

...so why shouldn't he be forced to endure the minuses instead of only getting the pluses?

[Angry Dragon]

9. +6009

he has brought up religion so his religion is on the table

[humblebum]

6. Who knows? Someday polygamy might become accepted and normal.

There was a time when gay marriage wasn't even an after thought. But with changing attitudes about gay marriage, it could be difficult not to give credence to having more than one spouse, if they are all consenting adults.

[dimbear]

10. It's moderately interesting that Miles Romney didn't just light out for Mexico. He was

sent there by Brigham Young.

Goes to show how independent the actions of Mormons are from the wishes of the church, namely, not so much.