Andrew Sullivan: This week is Mormon Week -- a little vetting of Mr. Romney

[beachmom]

Yes, I'm still smarting from Sully's unfortunate remarks about our guy, but . . . nothing like reading non-stop criticism of Mittens to brighten up that dark spot on his blog! In principle, Andrew thinks Romney's religion should be irrelevant to his running for president. However, since he's running as the "Christianist" candidate to gain the GOP nomination, Sully now deems his religion fair game. I think he's got a point there. Anyway, from underwear (which Romney won't admit to whether he wears Mormon underwear or not) to LDS's historical opposition to interracial marriage, I have to say that the info is quite illuminating.

Here's the one on interracial marriage:

http://time.blogs.com/daily_dish/2006/11/this_strikes_me.html

And any time in these last months of his governorship that Romney pisses you off, imagine him in this underwear:

http://time.blogs.com/daily_dish/2006/11/mormon_sacred_u.html

I'd say you could read the last 5 or so days, and read lots of biting criticism of Mittens. Ah, Schadenfreude -- sometimes, you just have to go with it . . .


Edited to add: yes, it's all a bit tasteless and lacking in decency, but don't forget how much gay bashing Romney has engaged in, and you can understand Andrew's zeal in taking him down.

[rox63]

1. I support any and all Mittens-bashing

Speaking as one who has been living under his regime for the last 4 years. Generally, I like to leave one's religion out of the equation. But the threat of the Mittens regime going national is too big to leave any options off the table. :scared:

[beachmom]

2. So . . . did you check out the underwear? n/t

[rox63]

5. Oh, I already knew about the underwear

And for all his coyness about whether he wears it, he has to. He can't enter a Mormom Temple without wearing it.

[Democrafty]

3. I'm sort of torn on the whole thing.

It seems pretty awful to attack a candidate on the basis of thinking his religion is kind of weird.

OTOH, if institutionalized racism, sexism, homophobia, or whatever are part of that religion, I guess there's nothing wrong with raising questions about it.

Sort of like how JK says he doesn't feel he can legislate an article of faith. Does Mittens feel he can?

[beachmom]

4. You're right that it is a bit politically incorrect; however the GOP

has become a religious party -- your religion is a litmus test, so that invites this sort of thing. Andrew has never shied away from going after other religions (I'm a fan of Sam Harris's "The End of Faith", and he speaks about how people think it's unacceptable to say one religion is better than the other -- that's where our uneasiness about this comes from) including his own, the Catholic Church. So why NOT take a closer look at the Mormon church? And Mitt Romney has gone out of his way on "legislating an article of faith"; therefore, his faith is VERY relevant to the conversation. If it creeps us out, well, that tells you how bad political discourse has gotten these days.