Michael Steele on the Mormon Factor in Romney's Defeat

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Steele was correct. One reason Romney didn't get the nomination was because of religious prejudice by Republicans.

Tom of NE 3:52AM May 20, 2009

ShellyGirl of AZ May 12, 2009 13:08:57 PM writes:
"As long as the Christian Taliban is hijacking the party, the GOP will never win again. If they keep alienating a segment of their base (Mormons) they will never win again. The religious bigotry is toxic and people are leaving the party in droves to avoid being the next target.
Mitt is honorable. He shares the same values as other Christians. Many Evangelicals do not have a problem with Mitt. It is the rabid, hate-driven pastors afraid of losing their own members (money) that keep religious bigotry alive and well.
If we learn nothing in this century, let us learn to be accepting and loving towards all races, religions, and groups not like ourselves. We don't have to pass laws to support sins, but we need to be inclusive and respectful with our dialog. The GOP is so damaged by religious extremists, it may take several presidential cycles to reform the party. By then, it will be too late. America will have lost her soul.
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Excellent post--I couldn't agree more! And this faux problem that Romney supposedly has with Evangelicals is limited to a minority, and the GOP overall views him very positively.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics2/republicans_give_romney_edge_over_gingrich
April 24, 2009
"Eighty-two percent (82%) of Republican voters have a favorable view of Romney, including 43% whose opinion of him is Very Favorable. Only 12% of GOP voters have an unfavorable opinion of the former Massachusetts governor, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey."

Shelby of WA 3:56PM May 13, 2009

I'm a Mormon and I gagged on the Mitt candidacy because he was a closet big government conservative, a la Bush.
Having said that, the evangelical base doesn't know a friend when they see one. Nothing bothers me more than having conservative Christians cry because they don't want thier candidate to believe in "a different Jesus". They would rather have a candidate that professed ideological purity, but raised tarrifs, regulation, and non-military socialistic spending like George Bush.

Libertarian Mormon of NY 10:29AM May 13, 2009

Michael Steele's assessment of Mitt Romney's run for the presidency was fairly candid, at least in regards to the WHY that Romney lost, due to perceptions of his religion. Romney should admit it, but can't, as that would appear to be giving in to a reality he can't necessarily change.
But I take a different tack on Steele's religious reasons why Mitt lost due to his Mormonism. I see in it rather a condemnation of society, and to a great extent of Republicans in this country. (But I have plenty to say in condemnation of Democrats, too)!
As far as reality goes, many, if not most (though not all) Republicans in this nation are nothing but neo-Pharisees. Romney lost in Iowa due to a whisper (and also a not so whisper) campaign, conceived and designed to stir up and bring out the easy to evoke prejudices of neo-Pharisees.
Even now, the likes of an Ann Coulter cannot make plugs for a book on many radio shows without being harangued for her support of "Mitt the Mormon" (and not of "Romney the Republican"). While 'Acorn' and (they hope soon) the unions of the U.S., with a non-secret balloting on unions, the Democrats have (& yet will have) their version of Hitler's "brown shirts" to intimidate voters, workers, and general citizens into going along with them, or being harangued and harrassed until they do. Hey, it worked for the gay community in silencing the likes of Anita Bryant in voicing her opposition to them!
Religious Radio Talk Show hosts have done and are doing the same thing to anyone like (and including) Ann Coulter who supported 'Romney the Representative' (of Mormonism) whom they desire to squash like a bug!
They (the Republican Red Shirts) fail to see that their 'red-shirting' (same as Nazi 'brown shirting' of foes) makes them fully the equivalent of the largest (or most popular among the people) group of Jewish sects that fought to destroy and try to eliminate Christ and Christianity two millennia ago.
Ironically, the various sects that have become today's 'traditional Christianity' are persecuting and pursuing the present day proteges of "the prophet" (Joseph Smith—supposed founder of modern-day Mormonism, to which 'Mitt the Mormon' is identified).
Mitt is somewhat of a 'Mormon martyr', speaking politcally, that neo-Pharisaical Republican Red shirts are determined to keep out of their 'holy city' and 'priesthood' (Washington D.C., and U.S. Presidency).
Hey, I had as much of a problem, at least initially, with Mitt's "abortion flip-flopping". But, as a fellow Mormon, even seeing his obvious opportunism, was willing to forgive that, if it might help us get a president who might best address and deal with the economic free fall we find ourselves in.
But just as Jews left Jesus in droves when he wouldn't give them the "bread" they wanted, nor the immediate, effortless salvation from the Romans (rather than from sin), so also religious Republicans defected in droves from Romney, due to his 'wrong religion'.

Diligent Dave of UT 9:14AM May 13, 2009

See "http://www.harriethousewife.com/Romneymissedagoldenopportunity.htm" -- where conservative Republican "Harriet Housewife" spells this out. The issue could have been a winning one for Romney, but he, and his handlers, chose to intimidate people over their legitimate concerns as mere religious bigots.
He'll lose again if he doesn't change this. Handling the issue correctly could have been an "ace in the hole" that other candidates didn't have. Instead fellow Mormon, liberal Democrat Harry Reid, saw the opportunity and wrote a polygamy bill. The bill only pretended to appease people's concerns over polygamy, but at least he knows enough to politically address the issue instead of pretending polygamy isn't a growing problem.
Did you know that our country has a growing number of polygamy-sanctuary cities just as they have immigration sanctuary cities and they aren't way out in the dingle-berries. They are in our major cities such as NYC, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Do an Internet search.
If the head of the RNC doesn't correctly address these issue then he isn't doing his job. He owes no one an apology for correctly analyzing Romney's campaign. Romney isn't doing himself any favors hanging around with the old established RINOs like McCain, Jeb Bush, etc. Making snickering remarks against Sarah Palin isn't going to help him either.

Cherrill Clifford of CA 7:33AM May 13, 2009

ShellyGirl,
Put me on the list of Mormons that the Evangeical-fundie wing of the Republican party drove away from the GOP. I was as conservative republican as they come, but couldn't stand the thought of voting with a bloc that so rabidly hates my religious beliefs. While I can't say I agree with 100% of what the Democratic party puts forth, over time I've come to realize that it is much more in line with my religious beliefs than the Republican party ever was.

Jon of UT 12:37AM May 13, 2009

That this author, Dan Gilgof, seems to be in the tank for mike huckabee seems pretty clear...reminds me of the MSM being in the tank for Obama. So much for unbiased and fair reporting!
huckabee is a charlatan wolf in sheep's skin...(ethics violations, family animal torture, easy on criminals, the list goes on...) and hey why won't preacher-man hucky release any of his sermons?! It will be interesting, I'm sure, one of these days when someone releases a stunner to the press. This is the guy who joked about Obama having a gun pointed at him and fearing assassination...seems like a dark mind to me, not to mention a colossal gaffe disaster always waiting to happen--AGAIN!
Google: obama huckabee gun
You will get ONE MILLION HITS! The Dems salivate at the thought of hucky being the GOP nominee. Buh-bye huck...the Dems won't get you the nomination, no matter how hard they try!

Shelby of WA 10:57PM May 12, 2009

Steele's comments were correct. A lot of bible-thumpers in the GOP refused to back Romney because they disapproved of his faith. During the primaries, they always called the talk radio shows, saying that they couldn't support him solely because he is a Mormon.

Ryan of AZ 9:45PM May 12, 2009

1. People shouldn't vote or not vote for someone based on their religious beliefs, but on values. Romney's values are Christian based. Mormons are Christian.
2. Romney felt it was important to uphold and support the Supreme Court ruling of pro choice legislature because that was the Federal law, but he vetoed any abortion law that expanded the Federal rights already granted by the Supreme Court. For the record, both Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush where pro choice early in their political careers and changed to pro life later in their careers.
3. I think it's funny that you automatically assume that Romney's business practices are illegitimate just because you don't know what they are. He ran a legitimate and respectable investment firm that turned failing businesses in to strong, healthy corporations. There's no secret there.

Bob of CA 9:43PM May 12, 2009

A lot of folks in both the Democratic and Republican Parties seem to have fallen into the error that electing a president is the same thing as choosing a Messiah. There is no question that millions of President Obama's supporters, including in the national news media, treat him more like a Pope than as a politician. And there is no question that many people who voted in the Republican primaries were intent on disqualifying any candidate who didn't resemble their idea of a National Pastor.
Secular leftists should wake up to the irrationality of the cult of personality. Religious right wingers should remember that they worship God, not any imperfect man. Both ends of the political spectrum in America have engaged in idolatry. They have transformed the election of the president from a political decision about public policy choices to an American Idol popularity contest to pick their own "ideal man". Both ends of the political spectrum have abandoned adulthood and reverted to the high school contest for prom king.
Conservative Christians should remember that election of Evangelical Christians in the past has gotten them not only George W. Bush, but also Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Carter was (and is) self-righteous and clueless. Clinton was a self-centered hypocrite who turned adultery and lying into a national sport. If they insist that only those who belong to their own clique will get their votes for president, and cannot compromise to support all candidates with conservative principles, then they should go off and have their own Evangelical Party and not make any pretense of political unity with Catholics, Mormons, and Mainline Protestants. They will condemn themselves to eternal minority status. By being unwilling to support candidates outside their clique, they will never get any of us outsiders to support their candidates. And they will find that their insistence on a religious test with a terrible track record will result in their inability to resist the radical social transformation that the secular left intends to force on all of America.

Raymond Takashi Swenson of WA 8:39PM May 12, 2009