Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch made headlines yesterday when he claimed that Democrats will "smear" Mitt Romney for his Mormon faith during the general election.
Hatch's claim is ridiculous. In fact, it is right-wing politicians and pundits who keep on "warning" us that Democrats will attack Romney's faith -- and then use those "warnings" as opportunities to slam Mormonism themselves.
The American Family Association's Bryan Fischer, like others on the Religious Right, has continually attacked Mormons, even going so far as to say their faith shouldn't be protected by the First Amendment and claiming that a Mormon president would threaten the "spiritual health" of the nation. But Fischer warned in a column yesterday that the "the out-of-the-mainstream media" will attack "every unusual thing Mormons have ever believed or done" -- helpfully listing a litany of things he deems "unusual" about Mormonism.
The Southern Baptist Convention's Richard Land has likewise claimed that progressives will make Romney's faith a campaign issue -- while he himself insists that Mormonism is "technically... a cult."
The Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody used the same tactic this week when he posted a video of a Ron Paul supporter grilling Romney on quotes from Mormon scripture -- and then claiming that Democrats and liberals will be the ones to attack Romney's faith.
The Values Voter Summit, the Religious Right's marquee event, fell apart last year after the pastor who introduced Gov. Rick Perry repeated his claims that Mormonism is a "cult" that worships a "false god."
Meanwhile, one of the most powerful Democrats in the country, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, hasn't been held back by any progressive backlash to his Mormon faith.
Romney is receiving attacks on his faith. But, as much as the right-wing media is trying to spin it otherwise, those attacks are not coming from progressives.
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So, Mitt and Newt...head to head in one of the most extreme of the christian right extremist states. It is a fact that the extremist bullies have run off real leaders and real Republicans while advancing their single issue agendas. As a result you end up with a field of clown candidates.
The extremist bullies believe Mormonism is a cult because, literally, they don't think Mormons love Jesus the right way (their way). So, in spite of the endorsement of a wildly unpopular governor (who has no religious hang-ups), the extremists were stuck with a multi-married, adulterous, ethics violating, pandering (faith team creator), former congressional obstructionist. A dilemma indeed for a gang of bullies. Newt's momentum didn't even extend to the next primary in Florida.
As Mr. Keegan correctly points out, look for the christian right extremists to undermine their own candidate. And, because anyone outside of the Mormon faith doesn't understand it, the media will start asking more questions about every aspect. Democrats won't have to say a word.
The atmosphere of hate and destruction the christian right extremist bullies have created is coming full circle. Real republicans may not ever be able to reverse the damage done to the party.
DO TO THE GOP WHAT MITT ROMNEY WOULD DO TO YOU. FIRE THEM AND SEND THEM HOME. AMERICAS FUTURE AND THE FUTURE RIGHTS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS AND POOR DEPEND ON IT. SEND THE CORPORATE MOUTHPIECE HOME.
I would refer you Galatians 1:1-9, and 2 Timothy 4:1-5, I'll leave you to look them up in any translation, but the summary is - false gospels, false prophets, Christians are commanded to convince, rebuke, and reproach - - modern day English, get in their face and defend Christianity from a cult that has attempted to hijack Christianity, and are trying hard to mainstream their cult for the ease of national politics.
I'm glad Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback Church, wasn't being politically correct when asked about if Mormons are Christians, and on Easter Sunday took the position that they are not. It is not judging when you follow the scriptures directives. To protect the Sheep, and to protect the Holy Bible itself.
The link provided doesn't support that at all. It says Texas pastor Robert Jeffries labeled Mormonism a cult or claimed that the Southern Baptist Convention had done so and that Land tried to support Jeffries by arguing that he had been misunderstood.
Land's own views of Mormonism are nowhere near Mormonism is "technically...a cult." On ChristianPost.com, of which Land is the Executive Editor, Land clearly states that he believes that Mormonism is "a new religion – perhaps best described as the Fourth Abrahamic religion – the first three being Judaism, Christianity, and Islam." See http://www.christianpost.com/news/editorial-mormons-christianity-and-presidential-elections-58423/.
This is actually an extremely inflammatory statement in evangelical circles. One such family member insists that "The god of Islam is not the God of the Bible!.". That Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission since 1988, believes that not only Mormons but also Muslims worship the Judeo-Christian God of Abraham would blow the freaking mind of most Southern Baptists if they were aware of it. When I showed Land's statement to the family member I mentioned, he responded "I thought Richard Land was a better man than that."
Richard Land doesn't believe that Mormonism is "technically...a cult." He believes it is a new, Abrahamic faith.
THE WAY YOU RAN THE PROP 8 CAMPAIGN
I guess we are going to be Venezuela, next
WOW! I lost all respect for all mormons after I found that they did not atone for Prop 8, and in fact attacked more. One gets nowhere with them by asking for fairness, so pardon me if I descend to revenge, seeing that they are responsible for kids being bullied and killing themselves
YOU ARE EITHER A MORMON, OR HEARTLESS BECAUSE OF SOME OTHER REASON
if you do not feel bad for the Gay kids in California alone, where there are more Gays than mormons by about 8 to one, but the mormons paid for the most effective ads
AND ADDING TO THE ATMOSPHERE OF HATE,
FUEL TO A FIRE THAT WAS BEGINNING TO BE BANKED
Did YOU live in California in 2008 and find yourself constantly bombarded with TV commercials that made "Gay" look like "creepy, perverted predator"?
Well I DID, and the Gay kids did, and the bullies did.
You are NUTS to say that absolves the bullies -- as if I said they were robots.
THE MORMON ACTIONS ENCOURAGED AN UNCHRISTIAN ATTITUDE
Wonder where he got that "technical" information since there doesn't seem to be a definitive description of what is considered a cult? The religion isn't particularly "new" (almost 200 years old) and there are millions of members all over the world, so it isn't a small group of followers. I guess if you are looking at religion from a far-right viewpoint, anything that differs from the beliefs of the SPEAKER is "technically a cult" then, isn't it? Buddhism, Judaism, Islam... anything that someone doesn't agree with.
Religion organized by a charismatic person, whose questionable acts are brused aside
Members told to cleave only unto each other, do not believe outsiders
Family, work, school, neighborhoods all encompass other members
Members told they are better, more exalted, and closer to God than outsiders
Belief that they were sent to set the rest of the world straignt
ETC -- SOUND FAMILIAR?
It seems Mormonism is an acceptable target for those kind of attacks in a way Judaism, Catholicism, and other Christian denominations are not. Those faiths also believe in miracles that defy scientific understanding and lack objective evidence, but similar criticism is not leveled against practicing members of those faiths when they run for office.
BUT ONLY MORMONISM AND CATHOLICISM ARE WELL ORGANIZED
AS POLITICAL ACTORS TO QUASH FREEDOMS
Think a little along the lines of archaeology and history.
Religion flies men into buildings.
Even the Arab News has said that Romney's Mormonism will cost him the General Election. So the Bright side?
The loser of the General Election, never runs for President again. There was no McCain, No Gore, No Kerry, losing the election knocks them back to obscurity.
And Hip, Hip Horray - the Mormon White Horse Prophecy goes away.
Try being Muslim, or Buddhist, or Hinduism , or Jainism, or Paganism, or Taoism, or Bahá'í, or any other religion besides Christianity and see how many of your holidays are celebrated.