# Could a Mormon get elected POTUS? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 16, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613 "2006-03-16T16:49:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/21 "2006-03-16T18:57:36Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Romney is governor of MA. I can’t imagine a more non-Mormon state. His father was governor or Michigan. > > I suspect the governor of Utah is usually a Mormon, but that probably doesn’t tell us much. Um um :smack: :smack: :smack: Oh ok, Nevermind. I still think a Jewish Candidate could be Governor around my area but I also feel like a complete idiot. Jim :smack: ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/22 "2006-03-16T19:24:22Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Well, isn’t that part of the problem? How does one change a stereotype? Through sympathetic portrayals in the media? > **["Big Love" - 3/12/06 (Spoilers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=362625)** > > This looks like it’ll be a good show. So they aren’t Mormon, but belong to a breakaway group. The compound and Rhonda was plain creepy, especially the fact that the only people seen working were women. The Hendricksons seem pretty normal by... (Not about Mormons, strictly speaking, but it’s a step . . .) ---
**Author:** ![cruel\_butterfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5daacb/32.png) [@cruel\_butterfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cruel_butterfly)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/23 "2006-03-16T19:59:24Z")
Am I the only one who read the title as “Could a **moron** get elected POTUS?” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/24 "2006-03-16T20:01:30Z")
> [@cruel butterfly](#): > > Am I the only one who read the title as “Could a **moron** get elected POTUS?” Asked and answered. ---
**Author:** ![Reloy3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/25 "2006-03-16T20:15:10Z")
I have a hard time seeing how “Big Love” is a sympathetic portrayal. It seems that it will do more to reinforce a Mormon=Bigamist stereotype. Could a member of the LDS Church be elected President? Maybe, but probably not soon. In a 1999 Gallup poll, 17% of those surveyed said they would not vote for a Mormon for president, far more than said the same of a Jew (6%) or a Catholic (4%). BTW, unlike Jews and Catholics, the 17% number hasn’t changed in decades. On the other hand, LDS politicians seem to do fairly well. After all, Harry Reid, Orrin Hatch, Mitt Romney, etc. haven’t done too badly. IIRC, there is a higher % of Mormon federal legislators than % of Members of the LDS church. My take? Sure, it could happen if the right candidate appeared at the right time (but it won’t be Romney). I think the first Mormon POTUS would likely be a consensus building Democrat, though. Too many of us are far too right-wing politically, IMHO. On the other hand, there is a lot of prejudice out there, even among supposedly “enlightened folk”. I, myself, have been fired twice because of my religion. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/26 "2006-03-16T20:19:57Z")
You’ll have to excuse my friend, here. He was at Berkley during the free speech movement…[aside]I think he did a little too much LDS. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/27 "2006-03-16T20:22:52Z")
> [@Reloy3](#): > > I have a hard time seeing how “Big Love” is a sympathetic portrayal. It seems that it will do more to reinforce a Mormon=Bigamist stereotype. The point is that it’s a sympathetic portrayal of **polygamy.** (No longer a Mormon practice, but the characters belong to a sect that broke away from LDS.) ---
**Author:** ![EEMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a6a055/32.png) [@EEMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EEMan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/28 "2006-03-16T20:30:42Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > The point is that it’s a sympathetic portrayal of **polygamy.** (No longer a Mormon practice, but the characters belong to a sect that broke away from LDS.) The funny thing (well not funny really) is the LDS chruch gave up Polygamy prior to Utah becoming a state (it was one of the ‘deals’ for statehood); that is one hard dying idea about Mormons (heck we don’t still believe that ‘blacks dont see well at night’ as some did during WWII). ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/29 "2006-03-16T20:33:31Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > How many Jewish governors have there been? Currently, there are two…Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, and Linda Lingle of Hawaii. Previous Jewish governors were (and I hope I’m getting them all) Simon Bamburger of Utah, Neil Goldschmit of Oregon, Henry Horner of Illinois, Herbert Lehman of New York, , Frank Licht of Rhode Island, Marvin Mandel of Maryland, Julius Meier of Oregon, Abe Ribicoff of Connecticut, Samuel Shapiro of Illinois, Milton Shapp of Pennsylvania, Bruce Sundlun of Rhode Island, and Madeline Kunin of Vermont. ---
**Author:** ![EEMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a6a055/32.png) [@EEMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EEMan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/30 "2006-03-16T20:33:44Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > 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. They have the same misogynistic views that many in the Catholic church hold, and it doesn’t handicap them. People accept Tom Cruise as a Scientoligist and he says some seriously wacked out things. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/31 "2006-03-16T20:35:32Z")
> [@EEMan](#): > > They have the same misogynistic views that many in the Catholic church hold, and it doesn’t handicap them. > > People accept Tom Cruise as a Scientoligist and he says some seriously wacked out things. Actually a lot of people don’t accept Tom Cruise is Rational, just that he is wacked out. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/32 "2006-03-16T20:40:34Z")
Sure misogyny handicaps the Catholics. We’ve only elected one of them, and he got killed. ---
**Author:** ![EEMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a6a055/32.png) [@EEMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EEMan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/33 "2006-03-16T20:41:02Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > Actually a lot of people don’t accept Tom Cruise is Rational, just that he is wacked out. I’m speaking about the population at large, but he isn’t running for public office that is true. There are Mormons in every branch of government (just as there are jews, catholics, etc); but you are also correct in the rules being different for PotUS. I JFK was a serious black horse because of his religion, since then I don’t think it has played as MUCH of an issue (then again we have only had WASPy PotUS’s). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/34 "2006-03-16T20:40:11Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > 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. What about Mormon doctrine or practice is misogynistic? (Compared to more mainstream Christianity.) ---
**Author:** ![EEMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a6a055/32.png) [@EEMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EEMan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/35 "2006-03-16T20:46:34Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What about Mormon doctrine or practice is misogynistic? (Compared to more mainstream Christianity.) Mostly the chruch sturcture and ability to hold the ‘priesthood’ (much like Catholics) and perhaps the view on abortion. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/36 "2006-03-16T20:55:23Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What about Mormon doctrine or practice is misogynistic? (Compared to more mainstream Christianity.) Compared to the Catholics, not much. Compared to the Protestants, there’s the LDS’s denial of priesthood to women when it’s granted to all men (including blacks only since the 1970’s), and its teaching of wifely submission to her husband. [An insider adds details.](http://www.lds-mormon.com/women.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/37 "2006-03-16T21:14:17Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Compared to the Catholics, not much. Compared to the Protestants, there’s the LDS’s denial of priesthood to women when it’s granted to all men (including blacks only since the 1970’s), and its teaching of wifely submission to her husband. [An insider adds details.](http://www.lds-mormon.com/women.shtml) Those are **sexist** practices . . . I don’t believe misogyny (hatred of women) is quite the same thing as sexism; but let that pass. ---
**Author:** ![Reloy3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/38 "2006-03-16T21:54:27Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Compared to the Catholics, not much. Compared to the Protestants, there’s the LDS’s denial of priesthood to women when it’s granted to all men (including blacks only since the 1970’s), and its teaching of wifely submission to her husband. [An insider adds details.](http://www.lds-mormon.com/women.shtml) Just to note that [www.LDS-Mormon.com](http://www.LDS-Mormon.com) is a cite made by people who have left the LDS Church. It is not a viperous as some out there on the web, but it is not neccesarily going to give you a balanced view-point. Being male myself, I will let others (Calling DangerMom) to give their perspectives, if they wish. I will just say that the attitude expressed on that webpage are nothing like what I see with my Mom, my Wife, my sisters and my daughter. End Hijack ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/39 "2006-03-16T23:46:49Z")
Hello! Got no time right now to answer that one, but will later. A visitor is driving up to the door. However, I personally don’t see a Mormon getting elected anytime soon. I can see the comparison to JFK’s Catholicism, but I still don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613/40 "2006-03-17T00:10:35Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#): > > Currently, there are two…Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, and Linda Lingle of Hawaii. Previous Jewish governors were (and I hope I’m getting them all) Simon Bamburger of Utah, Neil Goldschmit of Oregon, Henry Horner of Illinois, Herbert Lehman of New York, , Frank Licht of Rhode Island, Marvin Mandel of Maryland, Julius Meier of Oregon, Abe Ribicoff of Connecticut, Samuel Shapiro of Illinois, Milton Shapp of Pennsylvania, Bruce Sundlun of Rhode Island, and Madeline Kunin of Vermont. Funny, none of them looks Jewish. 🙂 Hey, thanks for the info. I never knew, and good for them! A Jewish governor in Utah! I think I’m geting verklempt! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-mormon-get-elected-potus/348613.md?page=3)