Sunday, August 12, 2007

The Two Faces of Mitt Romney

This doesn't require much comment:

"Let me, uh, let me offer just a thought. And that is, uh, one of the great things about this great land, is we have people of different faiths and different persuasions. And uh, I'm convinced that the nation, that the nation does need, the nation does need to have people of different faiths but we need to have a person of faith lead the country."

But then came this:

Romney's Mormon faith, which has been a central topic of discussion here in recent days, is yet again playing a prominent role. A flyer being distributed by the U.S. Christians for Truth asks, "Would Jesus Christ vote for Mitt Romney?" It urges attendees to "join us to spread the truth about Mitt Romney and save America from his Mormon cult values."

Matt Rhoades, communications director for Romney, condemned the flyer. "Attacks of religious bigotry have absolutely no place in politics today. It's unfortunate other camps stoop to such levels." (It's not clear, however, that the group has ANY affiliation to any other GOP campaign.)


So get that straight people. If you draw the line of acceptability of religious views in a way that disagrees with Mitt Romney, then you're guilty of religious bigotry.

I would love to hear one of these people explain exactly why it is important for our leaders to be "people of faith", including specifics as to which faiths count and which don't, and particular situations where faith would give a believing leader an edge. It is too easy to talk in bland, unfalsifiable generalities. The, ahem, devil is in the details.

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