There’s a lot of talk in the media and across the ’nacle to the effect that Romney’s Mormon identity was the critical factor that torpedoed his candidacy. The argument is that a large percentage of Republican primary voters have anti-Mormon sentiments that kept them from supporting the candidate who, by the numbers, shared all the values positions that mattered to them most. The comparison has specifically been drawn with Log Cabin Republicans: Are Mormons a second group in the GOP’s big tent that find themselves despised by their fellow Republicans?
If that’s where Mormons find themselves, we should ask: What lessons can they learn from Log Cabin Republicans? Continue reading…
The wires are alive with the story that Romney is dropping out of the race. More as the story develops.
See Breitbart, TIME and CNN for the story. Romney is quoted saying:
This is not an easy decision for me. I hate to lose. My family, my friends and our supporters … many of you right here in this room … have given a great deal to get me where I have a shot at becoming president. If this were only about me, I would go on. But I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our party and for our country
During this campaign season I’ve been helping Newell Bringhurst and Craig Foster edit their forthcoming book, The Mormon Quest for the Presidency. The book tells the fascinating story of 9 Mormons who ran for president prior to Mitt Romney’s bid and I thought I’d briefly share their stories while Mitt’s fate is being decided today…
1844 Joseph Smith Jr. (no party) — In an era when the separation of church and state were still absolute, Smith was the first clergyman to run for president. As such, he did not emphasize his role as a prophet or as president of the Mormon church. Instead, he campaigned as “General Joseph Smith” (of the Nauvoo Legion of the Illinois militia). Smith organized the Council of Fifty whose chief goal was to campaign to get him elected president. The Fifty ratified Smith’s choice of Sidney Rigdon for Vice President, and then spread out across the country campaigning for the Smith-Rigdon ticket. Smith’s positions were expressed in a widely distributed pamphlet entitled “General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States.” Dominating the day was the question of Texas annexation, which Smith favored. This was a very popular position in the western states which were interested in expansion and cheap land. People in the eastern states viewed the question more soberly because annexation meant an unprovoked war with Mexico. Continue reading…
I’ve never been very political. It’s not that I’m a total slacker – I always read the platforms of both parties and I keep up on presidential candidates’ basic positions. I have preferences about who should win. Mostly, though, I’m disgusted by the divisive nature of our partisan system and my interest is politics is a casual affair.
That’s all changed. This year, I am a political junkie. I watch all the debates and follow the polls the same way the wealthy follow stock prices. I have strong opinions on the merits of the major candidates and I know the dates for the state primary elections. This is what happens when you write a book on politics. I expected to become something of a political freak when I signed on to co-author a book about Mitt Romney. What I didn’t plan on is that I’d be put into the position of defender of the faith, in a way I never have before.
Continue reading…
I just got back from my neighborhood polling place, where I voted for Mitt Romney in the Michigan primary. Let me tell you why…
Mitt Romney is a terribly weak candidate. He comes off as a phony, primarily because he is a phony. The charge of being a “flip-flopper” has stuck to him (because it’s true) and Romney’s counter message — that he’s legitimately changed his mind and become a true believer in regressionism — has gone no where because it’s not genuine.
Ultimately, even if Romney eventually is the last man standing in the Republican primary season and becomes the nominee, he will not have the support of the core voters in the GOP coalition: fundamentalist Christianists. Christianists know “Mormonism is a cult” like they know that “the fossil record is explained by the Flood.” Although Romney would still be able to count on some in this group — hard-core racists if Obama is the Democratic nominee and hard-core Clinton-haters if Clinton is — a large proportion will stay home come November, rather than vote for a cultist. Meanwhile, Romney is so weak that if he loses Michigan, he’s probably washed out. Continue reading…
In Part 2 of this series, review the “Mormon angle” of Mitt Romney’s much anticipated religion speech entitled ” Faith in America “, delivered on December 6, 2007.
Panelists include: John Fowles, John Hamer, Tom Grover, Russell Walker and John Dehlin.
All music from my podcasts are provided by Clayton Pixton and Skye Pixton.
In this episode, we review Mitt Romney’s much anticipated religion speech entitled ” Faith in America “, delivered on December 6, 2007.
Panelists include: John Fowles, John Hamer, Tom Grover, Russell Walker and John Dehlin.
All music from my podcasts are provided by Clayton Pixton and Skye Pixton.
This is a replay / podcast of Mitt Romney’s ” Faith in America” Speech.
A continuation from Episode 4.
Thanks again to Dr. Bushman, Taryn and Rosalynde!!!!
And of course, to hear more of (and to purchase!!!) the wonderful music included in the podcast, please check out: claytonpixton.com and skyepixton.com
Enjoy!
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Today we release part 1 of a 2-part conversation reviewing the recent Mormon Stories series on Women in the LDS Church (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5). This includes a discussion of my introduction, the 3 waves of Feminism in the USA, and a 3 part interview w/ Claudia Bushman.
Today’s brilliant panelists are:
- Taryn Nelson-Seawright: Taryn lives in the Chicago area with her husband.
She is a researcher in the medical social sciences. She is a passionate
amateur scholar of the Book of Mormon. In her spare time, she blogs
for By Common Consent and, under the pen name Serenity Valley, Latter-Day
Saint Liberation Front.
- Rosalynde Welch: Rosalynde lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband John
and her three children. She’s an independent scholar of early modern
English literature and an eclectic assortment of other topics, and
she blogs on Mormon issues at timesandseasons.org.
Finally, to hear more of (and to purchase!!!) the wonderful music included in the podcast, please check out: claytonpixton.com and skyepixton.com
We hope you enjoy!!!
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Note: Mormon Matters podcast is now available through iTunes. You can subscribe to the podcast by clicking on the iTunes button at the top right of this site.
“This September marks the 150th anniversary of a terrible episode in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On September 11, 1857, some 50 to 60 local militiamen in southern Utah, aided by American Indian allies, massacred about 120 emigrants who were traveling by wagon to California. The horrific crime, which spared only 17 children age six and under, occurred in a highland valley called the Mountain Meadows, roughly 35 miles southwest of Cedar City. The victims, most of them from Arkansas, were on their way to California with dreams of a bright future.”
In this episode, we discuss the Mountain Meadows Massacre from a variety of angles, including:
Continue reading…
Mountain Meadows Massacre [71:58m]:
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The topic for today is Mitt Romney, Mormonism, and the Recent Coverage in both the New York Times and Good Morning America.
We had 3 more EXCELLENT panelists for Mormon Matters podcast. They included:
- John Fowles: John is a lawyer living in London with his wife and three children. He is interested in Mormonism and Mormon blogs and has participated for several years in Mormon blogging (or bloggernacle).
- Tom Grover: Tom is a lifetime resident of Cache Valley, producer and co-host of KVNU’s For the People.
- Ronan James Head: Ronan is from Malvern, England (home of the Wilford Woodruff missionary sites). He grew up in the church and served a mission to Vienna, Austria, where he now also lives. Ronan is a scholar of the ancient Near East — currently dissertating — and a teacher of religious studies. He is married with three kids and recently taught Seminary. He blogs about Mormon stuff at the mighty bycommonconsent.com.
Please check out the podcast and let us know what you think.
Also, as always, please tell your friends about us, and don’t forget to thank Skye Pixton for letting us use her wonderful music.
Episode 2: Mitt Romney, Mormonism and Recent Coverage in the New York Times and on Good Morning America [70:35m]:
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