Robert Jeffress: I'll 'Hold My Nose' And Vote For Mitt Romney

Rev. Robert Jeffress, a Dallas Baptist pastor who previously endorsed Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) for president and ignited controversy last October for calling Mormonism a cult, said he would hold his nose and vote for Mitt Romney if he ends up being the GOP nominee for president.

In an interview with MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell Tuesday, he said, "I'm going to hold my nose and do it, but that's hardly a ringing campaign endorsement. I don't think that'll make a slogan -- hold your nose and vote." He explained that he wrote in his book that, "Given the choice between a non-Christian like Mitt Romney who at least embraces some biblical positions like the sanctity of life and sanctity of marriage, as opposed to a professing Christian like [President] Barack Obama who takes unbiblical positions, I believe there is merit in choosing the non-Christian over the Christian."

Jeffress said in October that he believed that Mormonism is a "cult" after introducing Perry at the Values Voters Summit in Washington. Mitt Romney called on Perry to repudiate the remarks.

Jeffress also said to O'Donnell, as he did in October, that he does not believe that Mormons are Christians. "Mormonism is not historic Christianity. When people say, well, Mormons and Christians all believe the same things, my response is if that's true, why are they always on my front doorstep trying to convert me?" he said, adding that Mormons, or anyone who isn't Christian, can also be a "good, moral person."

Jeffress was also asked about Rev. Franklin Graham, who waffled Tuesday on MSNBC in answering questions over whether President Barack Obama is a Christian. "We love Franklin Graham. I think he should have stuck with his original premise and that is that President Obama claims to be a Christian. In my book, I quote an interview with President Obama in which he says he has trusted in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his sins. And by that definition, he's a Christian."

Earlier on HuffPost:

 

 

Comments

[aretoo]

05:48 PM on 02/22/2012

Such a ringing endorsement. Wonder why he bothered?

[samsausagehead]

05:13 PM on 02/22/2012

His decision was diffiCULT.

[jazzylyn]

05:10 PM on 02/22/2012

All religions are cults anyway you slice it

[Jamzhelm]

04:35 PM on 02/22/2012

A Quote from the Mormon Research Ministry:

The founder of the LDS Church, Joseph Smith, claimed an angel named Moroni visited him in September of 1823. This heavenly messenger is reported to have told him about gold plates that contained a record of "former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang." The plates were said to contain "the fulness of the everlasting Gospel" as it was "delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants."

This is why normal people think it's a cult...magic hats, gold plates... I could go on, but this is certainly no Christian faith. It appears to be made by a man who sorely needed psychiatric help.

I don't mean to trample on anyone's faith, but wow...reading the passage this came from in its entirety actually made me laugh...

http://www.mrm.org/translation

[pynecastle]

05:12 PM on 02/22/2012

You should revisit some of the beliefs of "true Christians" , like talking snakes, virgin births, parting waters, one God made up of three persons, etc., before laughing at other strange beliefs.

[Jamzhelm]

05:47 PM on 02/22/2012

Yeah, those are pretty funny too! However, I have none of those beliefs. The bible is a book written by man, open to interpretation by those who choose to base their religion on it. I, for one, could never base my faith on a man looking into a hat, its just that simple.

I also don't believe in talking snakes. Oh, and women can get pregnant without sex...just sayin...parting waters could be explained by seismic events...

Seer stones, a hat, and not one person ever seeing these gold plates, not really explainable.

[cries]

04:04 PM on 02/22/2012

Who cares, any way? Religion has absolutely NO PLACE in politics and anyone who bases his presidential vote on whether or not someone is a Christian or not is ludicrous.

[TabNApple]

03:29 PM on 02/22/2012

I am a mormon and so sick of people saying that we are not christians. We are more christian than they are. They are soooo closed minded that they cannot see the forest for the trees. There biggest problem is that they believe that God is all three wrapped up in one. All three meaning the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. While we as mormons know plus believe that they, meaning the Father, Son (Jesus Christ) are resurrected beings having flesh and bones. The Holy Ghost is spirit. And Since we know the TRUTH about who Jesus Christ in reality is, we are the TRUE CHRISTIANS. I admonish all who read this comment to read the Book of Mormon. Read it with real intent, keep an open mind and follow it's counsel in Moroni 10 verse 4. If you do that you will know of its TRUTHFULNESS. Remember that old saying that truth is stranger than fiction.

[traditional]

03:25 PM on 02/22/2012

Jeffress is a Godly person but will go for party over religion

[All Heart]

03:22 PM on 02/22/2012

Dear Rev. Robert Jeffress, I tend to hold my nose and change the channel when you are on.

[HoratioGalt]

03:15 PM on 02/22/2012

And anything this guy says is worth reporting on because...?

[SunnyDaySam]

03:08 PM on 02/22/2012

"I'll 'Hold My Nose' And Vote For Mitt Romney"

Well now. Isn't that SPECIAL?

[marta76]

03:43 PM on 02/22/2012

I think it would make a great bumper sticker.

[Hey338Too]

03:03 PM on 02/22/2012

Santorum won the lottery with this endorsement. Now Santorum can say that even Romney's supporters don't believe he's a christian and that Mormonism is a cult. The fact that Romney would accept an endorsement like this shows how desperate he is.

[chriss0114]

03:02 PM on 02/22/2012

While this idiot can put whatever personal criteria he wants for his vote it seems he doesn't know that the constitution says there shall be no religious test for office

and of ciourse he would vote for a charlatan over a real christian anyway like when the religious right supported an adulterer and non-practioner over a a real Christian, Jimmy Carter

[twain307]

02:46 PM on 02/22/2012

Well, if we lived in a theocracy, and Christianity was the official state religion, Rev.Jeffress might have a point, but even then I would call on him to enumerate the unbiblical positions he alleges the President has taken. But as the government is still secular, and we are governed by laws instead of scripture, I believe that I'll do what the vast majority of America is doing, and ignore this little pipsqueak.

[DesertShores]

02:39 PM on 02/22/2012

Is there anything more cult like than snake handling, talking in tongues Babtists?
http://religionroundtable.blogspot.com/2007/05/snake-handling-on-rise-in-baptist.html

[gibraltar]

02:21 PM on 02/22/2012

Wow it must be race a Christian President and a non Christian white contender!

[libwithaclue]

04:34 PM on 02/22/2012

BING! BING! BING! BING! You are correct!!