Might as well get this one out of the way, especially in light of Mitt Romney’s expected run. I don’t know much about him-- is he a practicing Mormon? I think a lot of Americans are a little leery of Mormans, thinking of the LDS religion as almost a cult (in the negative sense), even if they might admire some of the stereotypical features of Mormon life (hard working, family oriented, etc.).
I see the Mormon factor as a pretty big negative. Not impossible to overcome, but definitely in the “minus” column overall.
It would take some serious education on what is and what isn’t a ‘Mormon’ belief (though they prefer to be called LDS, Mormon to some, has a negitive connotation).
LDS are Christian, but are as different from protestant as catholics are, then again they are the fastest growing Christian faith (possibly ANY faith, though some numbers disagree) in the world.
LDS are Christian? You’ll get countless Southern Baptists and other conservatives telling you that, no, they aren’t. Mormanism has to be one of the last Protestant splits anyone gives a damn about anymore. And since most conservative Protestants are traditionally intolerant bigots about other people’s different religious belief, Mormons are the last bastion other than atheists that they can sneer at.
Yes, he’s a practicing Mormon. He has other weaknesses as a candidate that make his nomination implausible even before considering that, though. He’s established himself well as a flip-flopper - in the South, denouncing those MA lib’ruls who’ve kept him from accomplishing anything much, while back here he takes a live and let live tone. To the extent he has an image, it’s of a corporatist with an anti-gay and anti-abortion background, certainly appealing to some but still not good enough.
I do agree that Mormonism is too alien in too much of the country not to be a handicap of some extent to a national candidate, especially with its racist and polygamist history.
I actually think Mormons are less mainstreams than Jewish or African-American from the other threads.
I can’t conceive of an active Mormon running and winning. Would the Fundies vote for a Morman? I doubt it. I think the East & West Coast would be suspicious of a Morman candidate. Were would the support be?
Well, isn’t that part of the problem? How does one change a stereotype?
I wouldn’t be surprised, especially if we’re measuring % growth. They proselytize like hell, and encourage large families. If you belong to the Church, you have access to a pretty substantial support group. That’s a recipe for growth.
I should also have mentioned misogynism among the LDS’s institutional attributes, one which isn’t history either, and one which a practicing Mormon candidate can’t separate himself from as easily.
Like others have said, adherents of LDS do have a lot of negative stereotypes about them that seem pretty widespread - on the other hand, should a candidate run, then likely the MSM would pick up that and run endless stories showing “the modern mormons”. I don’t think there would be an (active) need for the candidate or their party to dispel those stereotypes, short of a press statement now and again - the media will do that for them.
I think an LDS, given that, would have about as much chance as any other candidate with those particular views on issues.
I know it’s early, and I know this was only a regional straw poll, but let’s not forget about what Chris Matthews called: the big surprise is Massachusetts’ Gov. Mitt Romney’s showing. One might expect opposition among Republicans to be strongest in the South.
That’s the same Tennesee straw poll that had Frist way out ahead, and that ain’t gonna happen either. Romney had covered the hotel bill for a lot of delegates, and there’s a suspicion that many felt obliged to do something for him in return.
More serious polls, of actual voters and not party activists, have yet to show Romney breaking out of the background noise.
Yes Mitt wants to be POTUS. i don’t see his religion as an issue as much as his performance as MA governor. he made a lot of big promises-very few of which he’s actually delivered on. Of course, he’s a Republican in a heavy democratic state. people do this because they fear a total raid on their wallets, under a democrat.
You’re absolutely right, but it’s still surprising he did as well as he did. That’s not saying he’s on the road to winning the GOP nomination, much less the presidency itself. But if he could be a Governor (his dad was one, too) why not President? How many Jewish governors have there been? How many Black governors (not counting right after reconstruction)? Seems like a Mormon would have a better chance than someone who is Jewish.
I’m not saying whether Romney (or any other Mormon) could be elected in the current political climate, but I remember prior to JFK that most people thought a Catholic could never be elected.
Sometimes the voters look past things like a candidate’s religion to their other qualifications.
I think a lot of fundies would sooner vote for a Jew than a Mormon. Jews are simply not-Christians. Mormons, in their view, are fake Christians. Heretics are always more threatening than infidels.
But he is governor of a Morman state isn’t he? A Jewish Governor in my neck of the woods wouldn’t be a surprise. NJ, NY or CT. I think Bloomberg could easily be the next Governor of NY if he chose to run. NYC has had several Jewish mayors and in many ways being the Mayor of NYC is bigger than being Governor of many states, including Utah.
