Romney's Mormonism, shifting values threaten push for presidency

[Richard Tafoya]

AP:
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_4889764

How does a devout Mormon woo religious activists critical to winning the GOP presidential nomination when many of those same activists are openly hostile to a faith they consider no more than cult?

For his all-but-announced presidential bid to succeed, Romney must win primary votes across the Bible Belt from people whose churches have a historical antagonism with his own Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"The rhetoric between evangelicals and Mormons has been almost abusive," said Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary in California, the largest evangelical seminary in North America.

Romney also will angle for support from millions of Americans whose own preachers have criticized past Mormon practices, such as polygamy, as well as the Mormons' refusal to allow black priests until 1978.

Yet he just may be able to overcome those concerns because of two things: his family-oriented lifestyle, and a primary campaign that could pit him against rivals like Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

[Richard Tafoya]

Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/20/AR2006122002046.html

Mass. Governor's Rightward Shift Raises Questions

As he prepares for a 2008 presidential campaign, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) has championed the conservative principles that guided President Ronald Reagan, become an outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage and supported overturning the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

It was not always so. Twelve years ago, Romney boasted that he would be more effective in fighting discrimination against gay men and lesbians than Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), distanced himself from some conservative policies of the Reagan administration, and proudly recalled his family's record in support of abortion rights.

The apparent gulf between the candidate who ran for the Senate in 1994 and the one getting ready to run for president has raised questions as to who is the real Mitt Romney. Is he the self-described moderate who unsuccessfully challenged Kennedy in the year of the Republican landslide, the self-described conservative now ready to bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, or merely an ambitious and adaptable politician? The answer could be crucial to Romney's presidential ambitions.

...

Romney declined a request for an interview to discuss the evolution of his thinking on these issues. Aides said his schedule did not permit him to take the time for a telephone interview. They also said he has responded to questions on these subjects many times as he has explored a presidential candidacy.

[pinky]

Flip. Flop.

[db44]

MA politicians and flip flops? :p

[Regis Philbin]

People clearly don't understand the Mormon faith... It's really a shame. :noway:

A "cult" with 12 million followers and the fastest growing religion in the world???

[db44]

Funny, I've often heard that about Islam... Except some people don't want to acknowledge its growth of late for some reason.

[LesterX]

A "cult" with 12 million followers and the fastest growing religion in the world???

What does the number of followers have to do with whether or not something is a cult? If Jim Jones had had 12 million followers, would The People's Temple have lost its cult status?

[Richard Tafoya]

Funny, I've often heard that about Islam...
Likewise for the Church of Scientology.