A Mormon (gasp) In The White House?

The following is an article from Guest Contributor Joshua Lawson.


I am not the Catholic candidate for President. I am the Democratic Party's candidate for President, who happens also to be a Catholic. -- John F. Kennedy

The recent poll that revealed that more than 40% of Americans would not vote for a presidential candidate simply because they were Mormon is shockingly appalling.Governor Romney received his B.A., with Highest Honors, from Brigham Young University in 1971. In 1975, he was awarded an MBA from Harvard Business School , where he was named a Baker Scholar, and a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School .Romney first gained national recognition for his role in turning around the 2002 Winter Olympics. With the 2002 Games mired in controversy and facing a financial crisis, Romney left behind a successful career as an entrepreneur to take over as President and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. In his three years at the helm in Salt Lake, Romney erased a $379 million operating deficit, organized 23,000 volunteers, galvanized community spirit and oversaw an unprecedented security mobilization just months after the September 11th attacks, leading to one of the most successful Olympics America's history.

In 2002, he was elected governor of Massachusetts. Romney then presided over a dramatic reversal of state fortunes and a period of sustained economic expansion. Without raising taxes or increasing debt, Governor Romney balanced the budget every year of his administration, closing a nearly $3 billion budget gap inherited when he took office. At the beginning of Governor Romney's term, Massachusetts was losing thousands of jobs every month. By the time he left office, the unemployment rate was lower, hundreds of companies had expanded or moved to Massachusetts and the state had added approximately 60,000 jobs from the low point of the recession. By eliminating waste, streamlining the government, and enacting comprehensive economic reforms to stimulate growth in Massachusetts, Romney got the economy moving again and transformed deficits into surpluses. (From www.mittromney.com)

So what on earth does Mitt Romney’s personal religion have to do with his qualifications to be president? Certainly his faith should have absolutely nothing to do with it. The people of America are voting for a commander-in-chief, not a theologian-in-chief. Do I want Romney to pastor my church? Heck no. Do I think he’s the best hope for the United States and all those who love freedom? Would I vote for him in a second? You better believe it.

After all, the last two presidents who were evangelical Christians – Jimmy Carter (D) and George W. Bush (R) – are considered to be, almost resoundingly, the two worst presidents in modern history. Carter and Bush were elected are large part because of evangelical, conservative Christians who wanted socially traditional, “family values” policies. Then Carter and Bush did precisely the opposite when in office. So the argument that only evangelical Christians will follow a conservative agenda when elected can be thrown out the window.The best presidents in America’s history (Ronald Reagan aside) were not practicing Christians who belonged to a certain denomination. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln were all Deists. That is, they believed in a “creator” but not necessarily the Christian God. All three were at times fairly skeptical of the divinity of Jesus. Jefferson even rewrote the Bible, taking all of the miracles, and “supernatural” stuff out if it! Should Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln have been elected? Where they not some of the greatest leaders in political history?Regarding the 'Mormon question' during a GOP debate in New Hampshire Romney said, “Some pundits out there are hoping that I’ll distance myself from my church so that that’ll help me politically. And that’s not going to happen.”

It is bigoted for some Americans to say they will not vote for Romney simply because he is a Mormon. In fact, its downright blasphemous to the founders of America. Remember, the colonists who founded America were Pilgrims, Puritans and Quakers, all of whom were considered religious extremists back in their home nations. If the United States was founded by 3 groups considered by the vast majority of Europe to be cults, then why should a candidate lose the general election (or the party nomination for that matter) more than 350 years later? Is there any religious litmus test to become President that lies in the Declaration, Constitution or Bill of Rights that I’m not aware of? The Wall Street Journal also put it nicely: "Any expression of religious bigotry should be roundly condemned as not fit for the public square in a religiously tolerant country."America is a country where you should be able to come and practice your religion free of discrimination or persecution. It is the people we are fighting who kill and persecute those who do not obey and follow their religion. America was founded on the principle that all men and women are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; and yes, believe it or not, that applies to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints just as it applies to atheists, Catholics, Jews and those who believe in “The Force”.

Many people are scared of Mormons because of its past practices of polygamy (which is now only practiced by an insignificantly small minority of Mormons). It's extremely amusing then that Romney is the most monogamous of the leading Republicans having been married to his high-school sweetheart for over 30 years! Besides, in its1890 Manifesto, the LDS church renounced the practice of polygamy calling it a sin. Today, the LDS church strongly rejects the practice and excommunicates members who engage in it.The electorate should be looking for the candidate which best represents their platform of political beliefs -- not religious beliefs. They should be voting for the best candidate for the job, whether they're white, black, male, female, transgendered or polka-dot skinned. Someone's private and personal religious beliefs shouldn't even enter the equation and the defense of the nation against terrorism doesn't hinge on whether the President is Penacostal, Buddhist, Sihk or Hindu -- it hinders on their courage, their intellect and their resolve.If Americans choose to not vote for Romney because they think he isn’t qualified, then so be it. (they should -- however -- check out his website first: http://www.mittromney.com )If Americans choose to not vote for Romney because they don't like his social, domestic and foreign policies or don’t buy his recent conversion to the pro-life movement, then so be it.But if the electorate rejects Romney just because he isn’t a member of a major religious denomination, then the United States will have taken a step back 400 years. And frankly...I'd be embarrassed to call myself an American.

Thanks Joshua. Excellent article!

Ken.