# Southern whites troubled by Romney's wealth, religion **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 13, 2012, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588 "2012-09-13T10:35:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/1 "2012-09-13T10:35:49Z")
Or so says [Reuters](http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/09/11/uk-usa-election-poll-bible-belt-idUKBRE88A05O20120911). Among the Bible Belt voters, the choice between the rich Mormon guy and the black “Muslim” guy is apparently not as easy as first thought. > [@](#): > > Focusing on 11 states from Virginia and North Carolina to Texas and Oklahoma, the Reuters/Ipsos polling project canvassed 8,690 people in households with incomes under $55,000 a year – just above the U.S. median. > > Non-Hispanic whites in this bracket have skewed Republican for more than three decades, and they prefer the GOP nominee to Obama by 46 percent to 29 percent. However, as Romney launches a post-convention ad blitz, those numbers could signal trouble for his campaign. Strategists in both parties figure that to offset the president’s expected landslide among an expanding electorate of blacks and Hispanics – Obama won 80 percent of minority votes in 2008 – Romney must garner more than 60 percent of the white vote overall. What I find interesting about this is that there is any waffling at all amongst this demographic. While these folks are hardly going to defect to Obama in droves, Romney needs them to be fired up for him and it’s not happening. No wonder the GOP is cranking up the “secret Muslim” rhetoric - they desperately need to make him as toxic as possible to the Religious Right. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/2 "2012-09-13T11:59:01Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Or so says [Reuters](http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/09/11/uk-usa-election-poll-bible-belt-idUKBRE88A05O20120911). > > Among the Bible Belt voters, the choice between the rich Mormon guy and the black “Muslim” guy is apparently not as easy as first thought.What I find interesting about this is that there is any waffling at all amongst this demographic. While these folks are hardly going to defect to Obama in droves, Romney needs them to be fired up for him and it’s not happening. No wonder the GOP is cranking up the “secret Muslim” rhetoric - they desperately need to make him as toxic as possible to the Religious Right. If the opening of the article is any indication, that won’t help them – even people who believe the “secret Muslim” nonsense are turning against Romney: > [@](#): > > Sheryl Harris, a voluble 52-year-old with a Virginia drawl, voted twice for George W. Bush. Raised Baptist, she is convinced – despite all evidence to the contrary – that President Barack Obama, a practicing Christian, is Muslim. > > So in this year’s presidential election, will she support Mitt Romney? Not a chance. > > “Romney’s going to help the upper class,” said Harris, who earns $28,000 a year as activities director of a Lynchburg senior center. “He doesn’t know everyday people, except maybe the person who cleans his house.” > > She’ll vote for Obama, she said: “At least he wasn’t brought up filthy rich.”… ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/3 "2012-09-13T15:30:51Z")
From the article: > [@](#): > > According to Reuters/Ipsos polling data, however, 35 percent of voters overall, and the same proportion of lower- and middle-income white Bible Belt voters, say they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who is Mormon. > > Many evangelicals who would normally vote Republican say they view Mormonism as a cult. I’m not surprised by this. I learned in church growing up that Mormonism was a cult. That Mormons were nice people, but that they were misled. I’m not saying I necessarily believe that now, but just I remember being taught it, so I’m not surprised others believe it. It wasn’t a huge deal that was talked about often, but I remember that clearly. Theoretically, many of those conservative voters should have no problem voting for a Mormon, since they should have many of the same beliefs. But I think there’s a sort of tribalism for some conservative churches, where anyone in the church is okay if they follow the rules, but anyone outside is not to be trusted completely. It does surprise me the one woman quoted in the article who said she’d probably vote for Obama. I would think more of the conservatives who don’t trust Romney would just not vote, or maybe vote for Gary Johnson or some write-in candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/4 "2012-09-13T16:32:56Z")
Off-topic: > [@](#): > > “Mormons don’t believe like we believe,” said Dianna McCullough, a retired factory worker, as she tossed salad in a Tree of Life Ministries soup kitchen. “Like the wives – Romney’s probably got more than one.” I lol’ed. On-topic, [I really don’t think Republicans, in general, or even Christians, in general, have a problem voting for a Mormon candidate](http://www.gallup.com/poll/155273/bias-against-mormon-presidential-candidate-1967.aspx). BTW\> I just love the tone of the Reuters article. No, White Southerns are not generally hicks/hillbillies. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/5 "2012-09-13T17:07:38Z")
“I should know-- I’m white! _Whoops…_” ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/6 "2012-09-13T17:08:42Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > BTW\> I just love the tone of the Reuters article. No, White Southerns are not generally hicks/hillbillies. True. You can’t leave out the rednecks and goatropers. They’re the ones most likely to bring the beer. Well, the rednecks, anyway. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/7 "2012-09-13T18:19:52Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > On-topic, [I really don’t think Republicans, in general, or even Christians, in general, have a problem voting for a Mormon candidate](http://www.gallup.com/poll/155273/bias-against-mormon-presidential-candidate-1967.aspx). Interesting article. According to it: > [@](#): > > Eighteen percent of Americans say they would not vote for a well-qualified presidential candidate who happens to be a Mormon, virtually the same as the 17% who held this attitude in 1967. That’s not terrible, but that’s not great. Further down the article, it’s basically the same for Christians, with 80% of them saying they would vote for a well-qualified Mormon, and 17% saying they wouldn’t. Most interesting to me was the chart at the end, showing when they asked people if they could identify what Romney’s religion was and compared that to if they would vote for a Mormon. For that, only 9% who knew Romney was Mormon said they would not vote for a Mormon, but 29% who did not know Romney’s religion said they would not vote for a Mormon. So if more people realize he’s a Mormon, then that’s more people who will not vote for him. That’s not a great sign for him. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/8 "2012-09-13T18:29:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Sheryl Harris, a voluble 52-year-old with a Virginia drawl, voted twice for George W. Bush. Raised Baptist, she is convinced – despite all evidence to the contrary – that President Barack Obama, a practicing Christian, is Muslim. > > So in this year’s presidential election, will she support Mitt Romney? Not a chance. > > “Romney’s going to help the upper class,” said Harris, who earns $28,000 a year as activities director of a Lynchburg senior center. “He doesn’t know everyday people, except maybe the person who cleans his house.” > > She’ll vote for Obama, she said: “At least he wasn’t brought up filthy rich.”… That’s rather inspiring that a Southern Baptist, given the choice between a Muslim and a Mormon, picks the Muslim. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/9 "2012-09-13T18:34:08Z")
> [@Eutychus](#): > > That’s rather inspiring that a Southern Baptist, given the choice between a Muslim and a Mormon, picks the Muslim. Money can be remarkably ecumenical. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/10 "2012-09-13T18:36:09Z")
> [@](#): > > “Mormons don’t believe like we believe,” said Dianna McCullough, a retired factory worker, as she tossed salad in a Tree of Life Ministries soup kitchen. “Like the wives – Romney’s probably got more than one.” Sow the wind (“Obama is a socialist Kenyan Muslim!”); reap the whirlwind (“Like the wives – Romney’s probably got more than one.”). Karma’s a bitch, ain’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/11 "2012-09-13T18:50:54Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > I really don’t think Republicans, in general, or even Christians, in general, have a problem voting for a Mormon candidate. Your cite does show that Repubs are in general more likely to vote for a Mormon than other groups, which is hardly surprising since Mormons are overwhelmingly GOP. However, in your cite, 10% of Repubs say that they would not vote for a well-qualified Mormon for President. Don’t you think it might turn out to be a problem if 10% of your base decides they can’t vote for you? Don’t you think that might affect the outcome of a election, if you happened to nominate a Mormon? We’ll leave aside the question of whether Romney is “well-qualified.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/12 "2012-09-13T18:57:17Z")
No. Don’t leave that out. He’s not. He is, after all, a Republican. The Mormonism is simply a non-issue. Except perhaps to stupid people, whose views can be discounted. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/13 "2012-09-13T19:09:30Z")
Many of those distrustful of Romney’s faith probably also believe Obama to be a Muslim, which offends them even more. I would be surprised if they get put off by Romney’s wealth when for a generation they’ve been voting for candidates that favor the rich. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/14 "2012-09-13T19:13:19Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Except perhaps to stupid people, whose views can be discounted. This is ridiculous. Stupid people have tremendous power. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/15 "2012-09-13T19:23:46Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > …The Mormonism is simply a non-issue. Except perhaps to stupid people, whose views can be discounted. There are far too many stupid people out there than can possibly be discounted. The entire population is some degree of stupid. And we vote in large numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/16 "2012-09-13T19:33:44Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > This is ridiculous. Stupid people have tremendous power. [Here](http://www.despair.com/idiocy.html)’s a cite, as if you need one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/17 "2012-09-14T11:07:45Z")
Yes, stupidity and ignorance cannot not be discounted (and in some cases is relied on) in the voter base. I can understand people not voting for Obama because of his positions on homosexuality and abortion even if I disagree with those people; those are his actual positions. It’s the people who think he’s a Muslim socialist giving out free stuff to black people that bother me more. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/18 "2012-09-17T13:50:48Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > True. You can’t leave out the rednecks and goatropers. They’re the ones most likely to bring the beer. Well, the rednecks, anyway. > > 😉 Rednecks have a long history of fighting the influence of the wealth in politics. From the rural farmers fighting the influence of wealthy urban industrialists to mine workers fighting the influence of large mining companies in Appalachia through unionization. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > The Mormonism is simply a non-issue. Except perhaps to stupid people, whose views can be discounted. If they had a self idenitification box for “stupid” on the census, how many Americans do you think would have to check that box. If they had that box on voter registration forms, how many would have to check the box? What is the typical margin of victory for a presidential election? What is it expected to be this time? Yeah, the stupid vote counts, and both parties go after it. Its just that one party lines up better on the issues for the stupid vote than the Democtrats so that party gets the majority of the stupid vote. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/19 "2012-09-17T18:43:08Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > The Mormonism is simply a non-issue. Except perhaps to stupid people, whose views can be discounted. This statement is ignorant on so many levels. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588/20 "2012-09-18T03:13:27Z")
[Mistah Romney - he dead](http://aduni.org/~heather/occs/honors/Poem.htm) We are the party men We are the [stuffed](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/get_stuffed) men [Leaning together](http://static.zoovy.com/img/gkworld/W330-H463-Bffffff/S/stoogesdoor3894834.jpg) Headpiece filled with [straw](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_poll). [Alas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ames_Straw_Poll#Summary_of_results)! Our dried voices, when [We whisper together](http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/secret-video-romney-private-fundraiser) Are quiet and meaningless As wind in dry grass Or [rats’ feet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willard_%281971_film%29) over broken glass In our dry cellar Between [the idea](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitt_Romney_presidential_campaign,_2012) And the [reality](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush) Between [the motion](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomb_Iran) And [the act](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2%80%9312_Strait_of_Hormuz_dispute) Falls [the Shadow](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_strategy) [For Thine is the Kingdom](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Baptist_Convention) This is the way [the world ends](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whig_Party_%28United_States%29) This is the way [the world ends](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixiecrat) This is the way [the world ends](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_Caucus) Not with a [bang](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Seven) but a [whimper](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitt_Romney). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-whites-troubled-by-romneys-wealth-religion/634588.md?page=2)