Polygamy and Mexican Immigrants prominent feature in Der Mittenfuhrer's family tree

[Ian David]

Polygamy a prominent feature in Romney's family tree

SALT LAKE CITY -- While Mitt Romney condemns polygamy and its prior practice by his Mormon church, the Republican presidential candidate's great-grandfather had five wives and at least one of his great-great grandfathers had 12.

Polygamy was not just a historical footnote, but a prominent element in the family tree of the former Massachusetts governor now seeking to become the first Mormon president.

<snip>

Romney's father, former Michigan Gov. George Romney, was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, where Mormons fled in the 1800s to escape religious persecution and U.S. laws forbidding polygamy. He and his family did not return to the United States until 1912, more than two decades after the church issued "The Manifesto" banning polygamy.

"When you read the family's history, you realize how important polygamy was to them," said Todd Compton, a Mormon and independent historian who wrote a book about the polygamous life of the church's founder, Joseph Smith. "They left America and started again as pioneers, after they had done it over and over again previously."

B. Carmon Hardy, a polygamy expert and retired history professor at California State University-Fullerton, said polygamy was "a very important part of Miles Park Romney's family."

<snip>

Hood Hill wrote of Miles Park Romney: "I felt that was more than I could endure, to have him divide his time and affections from me. I used to walk the floor and shed tears of sorrow. If anything will make a woman's heart ache, it is for her husband to take another wife. ... But I put my trust in my heavenly father, and prayed and pleaded with him to give me strength to bear this great trial."

More:
http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO44251/

See related thread:

Romney family tree has polygamy branch
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2744238

[Colobo]

1. So what?

I don't care about polygamy or Mexicans...

[Ian David]

2. The right-wing does. And they DO read DU. n/t

[Colobo]

3. Yeah, but if anything

It's sad to see how people are stupid enough to discriminate against Romney, or anyone else, for his religious beliefs or family history.

That's what the Right does, though...

[Ian David]

4. I'd be happy to vote for a Mormon who wasn't certifiably insane and evil

For example, I'd donate to a campaign to elect Olin Thomas For President.
http://www.affirmation.org/about/

[Igel]

5. Except for two minor problems.

First, "born in Mexican" is different from "ethnically Mexican" (presumably a mix of Spanish and native features). This gets at the racism that many repubs may endorse, but spares Romney's lineage.

Second, did the guy illegally immigrate? Because a lot of anti-illegal-immigrant folks aren't anti-immigrant per se. It's a common misrepresentation--one that is, to make the falseness of the argument even worse, one that's intentional.

[Ian David]

6. Good points. n/t