Repost: Can we please put Romney candidacy to bed?

[sampsonblk]

Mitt Romney has little chance of gaining the GOP nomination, if current polls are to be believed. If by some miracle, Mitt Romney is the GOP nominee, the GOP would risk becoming a second-rate party incapable of garnering a majority or a victory in presidential elections for years to come.

The GOP has built itself up over the past few decades by co-opting the white christian community - in particular, evangelical fundamentalist tpes and those who believe in them (as opposed to believing in Jesus). Of those people, many many of them believe that the KJV is the only bible 'authorized' by God himself, and that any form of faith that deviates from the current fundamentalist teachings is actually satanic.

I bring this up because Mitt Romney is so often mentioned as a possible GOP nominee. I think many are underestimating the influence of the fundies who drive GOP turnout. To many of them, Mitt Romney is a practicing satanist. These aren't live-and-let-live Democrats we're talking about. From their perspective, if a guy is a practicing satanist, you just can't vote for him or give him any form of support under any circumstances. Knowingly helping him is a sin right up there with adultery and murder.

Our party has made serious mistakes in past elections, by ignoring popular trends until it was far too late. This particular trend isn't even new. I had my first contact with fundies in 1991, and have studied them ever since. Their 'leaders' have really jumped into politics with both feet. I hope everyone will realize what's going on today. If the GOP nominates Romney, they will be essentially rebuking the fundies that put them almost on a national par with the Democratic party. For them, that would be more foolish than I can explain. Once rebuked, I don't think the GOP will get the fundies back in the fold for a long long time.

I don't think Mitt Romney has any chance at all of getting the GOP nod. If he does, the GOP will be in serious trouble with its base.

Links:

http://www.exposingsatanism.org/mormons.htm

http://www.macgregorministries.org/mormons/facts.html

http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon204.htm

http://www.prophecies.org/DOCS/Book%207/12judgement.htm

and finally, from Real Clear Politics:

'...the issue of his religion, which some say has been overplayed, has in fact not been addressed with nearly the thoroughness and honesty that will be necessary to satisfy some in the Republican voting base...'

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/08/a_religious_time_bomb_only_rom.html

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Never Underestimate Romney

The man is very smart, has enormous resources, and is perfectly amoral.

Very, very dangerous.

[sampsonblk]

4. He appears to be a great campaigner.

Good looking and all that. But I don't see how he gets over the fundie problem.

[saltpoint]

8. That is an absolutely perfect description of Romney, IMO.

:thumbsup:

[CK_John]

2. How come he got elected Gov of Mass? Your religious bigotry is clouding your judgment. n/t

[sampsonblk]

3. Did you just insult me?

[CK_John]

6. Just making an observation. n/t

[TankLV]

5. I hope they DO do it! I want to see the fundies relegated to the laughing stock they are

and marginalized and kicked to the side FAR away from public discourse and influence as is possible...

[sampsonblk]

9. They shouldn't have cast their lot with any political party

I don't know how 2008 will play out, but its not looking pretty for the fundies at the moment.

[saltpoint]

7. Who knows which candidate the GOP primary voters will propel to nomination?

I don't.

Thompson is a dud. Brownback is unstable. Huckabee cancels himself out -- the demographics are there but there's no traction. McCain is a corpse. Hunter's running for veep. Paul's a 1-issue kook. Giuliani's a backalley thug. Tancredo is a flaming racist.

Hell, as miserable as he is, Romney has as good a chance as anyone in their pack.

And he's got some dough to spend, too.

[sampsonblk]

10. True.

All of their candidates have serious baggage. If they had an Al Gore, now would be the time to roll him out. But they don't.

I bet Condoleeza Rice could win their nomination though. Other than being a black woman, she fits the mold perfectly, and she's got cred with the religous types.

[saltpoint]

11. You're making me physically ill with the notion of a Condi Rice White House.

!

Truly, I don't think she has any currency at all within the Bush administration, nevermind on the ballot.

I think there are a lot of voters, not only in the South, who are not going to be drawn to a Rice candidacy.

Also, we could exploit her comprehensive international failures to maximum impact.

The Republicans are faced with the problem that they don't have an electable candidate right now.

Gingrich is more nationally prominent, perhaps, but he's a jerk and a half, and as you say, no Al Gore.

They're in dire straits for 08.

[sampsonblk]

13. No Rice for me either.

Well said. I think you are right about Rice.

The GOP has no electable candidates in the race yet. I don't know that much about Thompson. But he doesn't seem to excite anyone - yet. The rest of them are all hamstrung by one thing or another. Good!

[slick8790]

12. Are you kidding?

Have you seen any polls from Iowa or NH? He's leading there, sometimes by significant margins. If he takes one or both of those, might as well put the others to bed. A liberal NYC mayor? A candidate with a reputation for laziness, who was just condemned by james dobson? I'd say they have a significantly bigger handicap than being a mormon.

[jmp]

14. I don't care what happens in Iowa & NH ...

The South will NOT vote for Mitt. They may vote for Hillary before voting for Mitt.

[slick8790]

16. But that's in the general election.

Romney has something of a 15 point lead in Iowa and 5 or so in NH. The amount of momementum from winning both of those would set other candidates reelings. Combine that with his ridiculous amount of money to spend, and you have someone who, in my opinion, has a very, very good chance of being the GOP nominee

[sampsonblk]

19. I agree

The south is like a firewall against Romney.

[sampsonblk]

18. I think you underestimate what's going on with these people

These people - well you know the impact they've had on politics. These people are on a polital jihad of sorts. They just won't accept anyone who sees things differently. If Romney gets the nomination, I am certain he won't get the support he will need from the RW religious community.

I don't think the fundie issue is as major a factor in New England as it is in the south and midwest - the states the Republicans need to win to have a chance.

Go to freeperville and do a search for 'mormon.' Very educational.

[Vickers]

15. The Repukes at work think he's just dandy.

Every time the religious question comes up one of 'em will ask "What about Kennedy? What about Nixon?"

[sampsonblk]

17. I am speaking of fundies only

You know, the abortion-is-evil crowd. The ones who hand out flyers for candidates after church, like its the same as tithing. The KJV-only crowd. The ones who think America was just fine till 'they' took prayer out of schools.

I also know a few GOPers who like Romney. But not one single fundie. Not one.

[Vickers]

20. Yeah, I suppose you are right.

I do know one of the guys is VERY religious, but I'm not real clear on the whole fundamentalist/evangelist demarcation thing.

[OHdem10]

21. I too have a pretty good understanding of fundies

I have been monitoring various TV Evangelists many of whom
are part of Weekly Conference Call to WH. I also grew and
lived in the south until I was about 30 years old.

I can remember when P Robertson and Foxman, ADL were anything
but friends. Robertson sounded Anti-Semetic by anyone's
standards. Now that is changed of course.

This election must be a "bummer" for the Fundamentalists(Those
who believe that Bible is infallible and they also believe in
LITERAl interpretation of the bible. They are deeply committed
to the End Times, described by some as Apocalypse.)
Not all Evangelicals are Fundamentalists.

This election:
Candidates???

Thompson: R. Land, hold high position in Southern Baptist Convention
considers Thompson Southern Fried Regan. He also say
many of my followers are going with Guilliani because
they think he can win.
J Dobson--Parentimg Specialist with humongous following
of Evangelicals. Radio Talk Show Host--Parenting Programs
with a Moral Values Approach. Part of Christian Coaslition
Has publicly announced he will not support Thompson

Romeny: Land: May have problems with some of my followers, not
all of them
Dobson: Romeny's mormonism may hurt him with some of
my followers.

Guilliani Land--I personally could not vote him, his marriages
amd his position on the cultural issues make it impossible.
I do have followers who believe he is the one who can
win and are going to support him

Dobson questions Guilliani's positions and his personal
history(marriages, public divorce, but I have not
heard him say absolutely no vote.

McCain: I think we know the History of McCain and the Base of GOP
Christian Coalition and McCain are not the best of buddies.