Mitt Romney and the Mormon Machine

[cbayer]

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2012/08/30/mitt-romney-and-the-mormon-machine

By SHANNON MCGOVERN
August 30, 2012

Americans don't know much about Mormons, but religion is sure to play a role in the 2012 presidential election



What do Mitt Romney, Glenn Beck, Katherine Heigl, and Stephenie Meyer all have in common? Their Mormon faith. Many successful people, including the Marriott family, the founder of JetBlue, and more than a dozen members of Congress, are among the 7 million Mormons in the United States. In his book The Mormonizing of America: How the Mormon Religion Became a Dominant Force in Politics, Entertainment, and Pop Culture, Stephen Mans­field, the author of several books on the role of religion in history and modern culture and founder of the Mansfield Group communications consulting company, explains why he says Mormonism's doctrinal values and emphasis on family and education put its followers on the path to success. Mansfield recently spoke with U.S. News about what he calls the "Mormon Machine" and why religion will be a factor in the 2012 election. Excerpts:

Which aspects of the religion appeal to Americans?

First of all, the Mormons are very, very good at involving people in community, bringing them into big families, bringing them into big local congregations. They do that through their missionary efforts, they do that through very creative outreaches, even through their television programs. And so all of that invites Americans, especially Americans who don't have good strong families, who are living kind of lonely lives and don't really have places to belong.

[See a collection of political cartoons on Mitt Romney.]

Why is it the fastest-growing religion in the United States?

No other religion sends as many young missionaries out every year knocking doors as Mormonism. There's just nothing else like it. I've already seen them, two by two on their bicycles or walking the neighborhoods, white shirts, black ties. They just cover the whole nation every year. I think when you combine all of the appeal of Mormonism with the strategies the Mormons use to reach people, it's very effective.

-snip-

How are evangelical Christians likely to vote?

Evangelicals have always had a hard time with Mormonism, and it's mainly doctrinal. But I think evangelicals are so eager to get Obama out of office that they are lightening up on their willingness to not vote for a Mormon. In other words, I think more of them will vote for Romney than have said they will, but I don't think that's because they have changed their view of Mormonism. I think they just hate Obama more. In other words, an evangelical who votes for Romney is going to have somebody who is pro-life, pro-free market, and all those kinds of things that evangelicals are. And they find Obama to be the opposite. I don't think there are many people who are going to stay home. I think they are going to let go of their religious differences and vote for Romney because he reflects their political values, and I think they're just going to have to swallow it. Many of them won't be happy about it, but they'll do it anyway.

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[Angry Dragon]

1. When a religion starts owning office buildings, malls,

and other private sector things then they are no longer a religion but a business.
The Mormon church owns many such things.

[pinto]

2. The church, imo, does emulate a corporate, business type of structure in some aspects.

Financial success, business success seems to be valued as a virtue in their world-view.

[Jim__]

3. I'm not quite sure how to take the article.

He implies that religion will be important in the election. But then he says that religious Christians will ignore both Obama's Christianity and Romney's Mormonism. It sounds like religion, at least the religion of the candidate, will not really matter.

[cbayer]

4. I think he is saying that their hatred of Obama is going to outweigh their hatred of Mormonism,

but acknowledges that Mormonism is still a big dark cloud over Romney.

[dimbear]

5. There are many religions which claim to be fastest growing in the US,

Islam, Mormons, and so on, but I opt myself for the underdog Amish. The Amish definitely win in the category irresponsible reproduction, the engine behind them all.