A post defending Mitt Romney!

[mckeown1128]

First, I hate Mitt Romney and his ass-backward republican policies. God help us if he becomes VP. That stated, his faith should NOT be touched in this election. We have no right to use his religion as a reason not to vote for him. A few times this year I have seen posts using Romney's faith to attack him. This is something republican's do.

I have seen the bigotry in this country against mormon's first hand. This is why I'm upset with "magic underwear" references that creep up from time to time in here. Leave that sludge to the freepers.

I know that ZERO rag-head references to muslims would be allowed in DU... so why not hold back the petty insults from all religions (and atheism too)

There is nothing wrong with criticizing and discussing the logic (or lack of it) in religions. But ignorant insults like rag-head and or "magic underwear" have no place in it. They especially have no place in politics. (As the constitution states)

I think we should take a stand against religious bigotry on the DU boards.


!!!!!!!!!!!REC IF YOU AGREE!!!!!!!!!!!

[New Earth]

1. I definitely agree

Just say hypothetically, he was religiously a Mormon but politically liberal.

Would people here be making fun of his religion then? I don't think so. They'd be defending him.

[book_worm]

his religion doesn't bother me

he's smarmy and an opportunist and that will be his downfall.

[niceypoo]

26. Romney is a caricature of Ted Baxter ...

.. from the Mary Tyler Moore show

[Radical Activist]

2. Mormons are the only group to be violently driven from US borders for their religious beliefs.

People should be aware of that fact and sensitive to that history of persecution.

[bidenista]

3. i'm not a mormon, but i agree

Some "progressives" seem to forget that if they encourage a climate of religious hostility, it's unlikely that their religious positions are going to be the ones that win out.

[Chloroplast]

4. Romney being a Mormon isn't an issue to me.

It would be an issue to the Republican fundamentalists but let that be THEIR ignorance. My annoyance with Mitt is his tendency to embellish his life story.

[mckeown1128]

5. kick.nt

[LostinVA]

6. I have to disagree

Mormon politicians have been very public and very rabid about voting their "religion": anti choice, anti GLBT rights, etc. I agree to leave the Garments thing alone, but I think that people who vote and preach their religious beliefs make those beliefs fair game.

[mckeown1128]

7. That isn't exaclty what I said...

if a candidate is running on "I'm going to make my religious beliefs law" of course that is an issue...because it's a policy issue.

But to say "don't vote for so and so because they are muslim/athiest/mormon/pagan" is bigotry.

[LostinVA]

9. I know a Mormon politician WOULD vote that way, so I'll admit I'm a bigot

Because I could never vote for someone who I know will vote to take away my rights.

But, the personal aspects of his religion, ie Garments, etc., I won't touch. That's different to me. I totally agree with that.

[mckeown1128]

12. OMG!

Let me get this straight.

Your saying that ALL mormon politician's would vote to take away your rights and that we shouldn't vote for mormon politicians because of that.

Is that really what you just said?

[KatieW]

19. How about Harry Reid? I believe his a Mormon. Would you say the same thing about him?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

30. I agree.

I know One True Thing: When I start worrying about and deriding anyone else's choice of undergarments, I know that I have just entered The Realm of The Abysmally Pathetic.

[FatDave]

17. "I agree to leave the Garments thing"

Shame, the garments are the funniest part.

[DefenseLawyer]

8. Has that been a big problem here?

I must have missed that day.

[mckeown1128]

11. It's a big problem...but not common here..

A few times over the year I have a seen the odd post about Romney's religion. (in the aspect that I've mentioned) Today there is was a post...with people defending it even on the subject. I am just disappointed that there aren't that many critics of this. I don't like Romney but insulting a whole group of people with insults as a "talking point" is unacceptable.

[sharesunited]

10. Romney keeps the evangelicals home on election day. Not a good choice for McCain.

So my guess is it won't be Romney and DU bigotry baiting won't be an issue.

[Clear Blue Sky]

13. Agree. Go after him on the issues, not his faith...nt

[Hamlette]

14. as someone who has lived with and been victimized by the bigotry OF mormons, I agree to a point

NO religion is out of bounds but in the case of Romney, I hope the fundamentalists trash him, not us. It would backfire against us if we did it since we are seen as not as godly as "they" are.

[MGKrebs]

15. OK, what is the distinction between a legitimate religion and a

cult or non-legitimate religion?
Is snake handling off limits too?
Do we just have to take the practitioners word for it that they are sincere?

I don't think Mormonism is alone in attracting jokes and jabs. People who aren't members find many religious rituals funny and sometimes downright bizarre. Besides, Mormons (as well as other religions) don't seem to have a problem with changing their practices to suit current conditions anyway (polygamy), so perhaps a person should be wary of getting too spiritually attached to things like undergarments.

All religions suffer from ridicule, but atheists and agnostics suffer too. You can't scratch the surface of many religions without the prospect of going to some sort of hell unless you join. I'm not saying that makes the jokes alright, it's just that if we're going to agree to some standards, let's make it across the board, and I think that will be impossible.

Maybe Mormons should order the next size larger underpants and relax a little. Jews make all sorts of jokes about themselves, as do Catholics and many others. Making a reference to spiritually infused lingerie is not necessarily persecution or bigotry.

Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to go flail myself for a while.

[FatDave]

18. I was about to make the same point.

While it could be argued (in fact, I could--and have--argued it) that all religious beliefs are ludicrous, some are a little more ludicrous than others.

For example, what if he was a Scientologist? Now of course we'd argue that we wouldn't want the president making decisions based on the day's e-meter reading, but wouldn't it be bad enough that he believed all that stuff about Xenu and the alien souls?

And well, Mormons have magic underwear. I'm sorry, but that's just too damn goofy to be president.

[awoke_in_2003]

21. "All religions suffer from ridicule"

As well they should.

[Arugula Latte]

37. Yep -- I think this society would be a lot better off if people pointed

out all the ridiculousness involved in religions. It seems like anything labeled "Faith" is instantly granted hands-off status, no matter how stupid or harmful or anti-science or irrational or what have you. Yes, people are free to worship as they please and believe whatever crazyass thing they want, but other people are free to say: "The emperor has no clothes." And, yes, it's a matter of opinion what is a crazyass belief and what is not, but people should not be muzzled out of fear of hurting the tender sensibilities of those with the no-accountability protection of "Faith."

And, I'm gonna say it: Belief in Magic Undies is pretty damn silly.

[Yavin4]

16. We Don't Need To Belittle His Religion

Romney gives us plenty to belittle him over. He looks like one of those slimy guys from the show, "Mad Men".

[Hekate]

20. Agreed. Let the fundies handle the bigotry & fear. Dems can get him on policy & record.

There is absolutely nothing to be gained by DU going down that road. It demeans us all when some of our own members can't seem to restrain their personal antipathy towards Christians or Mormons.

Hekate

[mckeown1128]

22. kick.nt

[eridani]

23. His religion doesn't bother me at all

Luckily, it bothers quite a few fundy types who don't think Mormons are really Christians.

[endthewar]

24. Too bad that the Republican Party is filled with bigots

The conservative base will be the one bringing up Romney's religion.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

25. If McSame chooses Mittens, every ad from the DNC ought to take Mittens' own

words about how he will be more "pro gay rights" than Ted Kennedy and how he tells the story of his own mother's fervent support for privacy and women's rights; then show Mittens flip-flopping on all of that.

[Justice]

27. Sure, I bet Mitt will encourage us all to go to a Mormon service and

really experience the faith so we understand it better. Oh wait, right, we can't step foot into the Morman chapel if we are not members of that faith. That will reassure people.

[mckeown1128]

28. kick.nt

[heaven or hell]

29. He got rid of Billy Bulger aka "the corrupt midget"

for that reason alone I believe he is an honorable man - and I would be more inclined to vote Rep. if he was on their ticket............

[Starry Messenger]

31. then what the f are you doing here?

[heaven or hell]

32. I am an independent voter

I have not pledged allegiance to either established party

[Starry Messenger]

33. Well I haven't "pledged allegiance" to jack either.

But you might want to read the stickied post by the owner of this website up above where it says this forum is for helping get Obama elected.

MPK

[heaven or hell]

35. my vote doesn't count? - you had better think twice

Obama won't be elected without reagan dems.

[Starry Messenger]

36. I am rereading my post to you.

And no where do I find that I typed "your vote doesn't count".

So I thought twice. And be darned if I didn't come up with same answer.

MPK

[rockymountaindem]

34. I'd recommend but I'm past the deadline

Making fun of the Mormons is uncalled for. While I disagree with the politics espoused by most of their members, I can say as someone who has lived around Mormons for most of my life that every Mormon I have met has been most respectful of the beliefs of others, non-preachy and (as far as I know) upstanding people as far as their family lives go. I'll never be a party to put-downs against them.

[Barack_America]

38. I have no problem with his religion, but many fundies do...

Their reasons are their own and not something I understand. However, I see no problem in mentioning this when evaluating the strengths of McCain's various VP possibilities.

Just my thoughts.