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I read other political blogs on the ‘net every night, and tonight I was reading over at Race 4 2008. Though the blogs are nice to read, the real meat of that site comes from the comment section. The comment section of a blog will have 100+ comments in it rather regularly, and the posters squabble about a lot of junk that I don’t care about, so I’ve learned to just ignore a lot of it. But still, it’s enlightening as a whole, and it makes me think.
I posted the following as my own comment on one of the threads that had gone off on the Mitt-is-a-Mormon tangent, with people arguing both sides of the story. I just thought that adding my own perspective in would hopefully help things along, but by time I was done, the darn thing was so long, I figured I might as well copy and paste it onto here. I hope you enjoy it. 
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I come from a very religious family (all Mormons) who pay attention, more or less, to politics, although none of them are as into it as I am. I’ve had quite a few of them asking me questions about Mitt, because they didn’t know very much about him. My brother-in-law, my grandmother, and my mother-in-law, most notably, were asking me questions. All three of them started the (separate) conversations out with me by saying that they weren’t sure about Mitt. One of them supported Fred Thompson, and the other two weren’t really behind any candidate at that point.
These are three very active Mormons, and very staunch Republicans. They should be, if certain posters on here are right, rabid Mitt supporters who can’t see anything but how wonderful Mitt is.
I try very hard not to push my own views on to others, so I only answer questions people ask me about Mitt; I don’t start talking about him if not asked first to do so. The three relatives that did want to talk about Mitt, I gladly talked to, and answered the questions they had about him. “I heard he’s a flip-flopper.” “I heard he used to support abortion.” “What is his stand on the war?” They really didn’t know any of his qualifications, any of his views on the problems facing America - didn’t know anything about him except he was Mormon, running for president, and helped turn around the Olympics.
Once I started to talk with them more, I realized that their hesitation towards Mitt wasn’t because of his views on the issues (obviously, since they really didn’t know what those views were) but because (and the irony of this almost kills me) he was Mormon. That’s right, all three were hesitant to support him because he was Mormon. Coming from three staunch, extremely active Mormons, this was a bit of a shock to my system, as you can imagine.
All three of them said that they didn’t think he would get elected because he was Mormon. Period. They also all three said that his running for president meant that there was going to be a huge increase in anti-Mormon literature and information being spread across the country. As you can see in David Brody’s blog, this fear is well-founded. Romney running for president will make the amount of anti-Mormon junk increase. Kelly’s diatribe about how the Mormons are going to burn in hell is just a small sampling of what’s to come.
After I talked to all three in depth on the subject (one I talked to for two hours, one was an hour, and one was about 45 minutes) they began to understand what Mitt was really about, Mormon aspect aside. And all three of them realized that Mitt was a guy they could vote for, despite him being Mormon.
All three conversations were very insightful, and helped me understand that despite what some people on here seem to think, Mormons are not walking in lockstep on this one, they aren’t running to support Mitt at all costs, and they certainly aren’t opening up their checkbooks and writing out huge checks. Some of them are, but a lot of them aren’t.
I’m not saying that Mitt cannot get Mormon supporters, I’m just saying that for the most part, the
people I talked to needed to see that Mitt will be a viable contender in this race before they’ll get excited about him. That will take care of their first concern, that Mitt can’t win. Once the polls start to show a strong support for Mitt, they’ll start to think that hey, maybe this guy does have a chance, so maybe I should start paying attention to him.
The second concern about an anti-Mormon push happening…Well, at some point, they’ll come to the same understanding that I did, that whether Mitt is running or not, anti-Mormon crap will always be around. If he dropped out of the race today, we would still see blogs written like the one I linked to above, because these whack jobs don’t need an excuse to be idiots, they just are. Mitt or not, they’ll always be there.
For the record, two of the people I talked to lived in southern Idaho (extreme Mormon country with very conservative thinking) and the third lived in Salt Lake (she’s on her 7th mission for the Church, working in the genealogy center this time.) This is deep Mormon country that they live in, and yet all three were hesitant at first. Once they had a chance to ask me questions and listened to my answers, they began to understand that Romney was someone that they could agree with on the issues, and could support in the voting booths. It did take some education, and it did not happen simply because Mitt was Mormon.
I think that Mitt has an uphill battle he has to wage in order to be the first Mormon president in history, but like many firsts, I think this is worth fighting for. America was the first country founded on the idea that we could have religious freedom, and could worship who we wanted, when we wanted. When elected, Romney will be proof that this belief is not simply lofty sounding ideology, but is actually happening right here, right now, in America.
I can’t wait.
Hava
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11:14 pm on January 8th, 2008 1
I read your article and I like Romney. I am LDS living in Northen Utah. I still can’t get past some of Romney’s views on the war in Iraq, Health Care, etc. I am, at this point, a Ron Paul supporter. Our church teaches that the constitution is inspired by god and that it is very important that we stick by it. Ron Paul has been the only candidate that I have seen that truly sticks by the constitution and has the record to show it. I am troubled by some of the views of Mitt. I would like to see you do a blog on your position on Ron Paul and why you would pick Mitt over Ron Paul.
8:06 am on January 20th, 2008 2
I am a evangelical and was a big Tancredo supporter LONG before anyone knew who he was. I was surprised that Tancredo didn’t endorse Hunter. I moved my support to Hunter.
My problem with Mitt isn’t that he is a Mormon. I’m worried that he will flip and support gay issues. He did govern the most liberal state and I want my president to share my values for our children’s sake. I want less of the gay agenda in my face and in our schools (I’m homeschooling).
12:26 pm on January 20th, 2008 3
Chuck » I just put up a blog that does exactly that - check it out here.
Have a good day,
Havs
12:59 pm on January 20th, 2008 4
W. Martin » Hi W. Martin! Thanks for visiting my site and taking the time to leave a comment.
One thing to keep in mind is this: When Mitt was governor of Massachusetts, the first ever serious attempt was made to allow gay marriage, when the Massachusetts’s courts decided that gay marriages were to be allowed. People were up in arms about it, and a movement was started called “Let The People Vote.” Massachusettians were saying that gay marriage was something that should be voted on by the people, not decided by some judicial activists. Here is a video up at YouTube, where Mitt Romney is talking to a huge rally about this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJXyDxMKv1E
They didn’t end up voting on the issue (at least, not that I know of) but instead Mitt Romney was able to find an antiquated law on the books that kept gay marriages from continuing to happen. He has also made it an integral part of his campaign, and has talked about how important it is to have marriage between one man and one woman. He is in favor of, and is fighting for, a marriage amendment to the Constitution. http://mittromney.com/Issues/american-culture
So if he didn’t flip when the pressure was truly on and the whole nation was focused on Massachusetts, why on earth would he flip now? This is a core belief of Mitt’s, and I just don’t see him ever changing his stance on the issue.
I hope this helps,
Havs
9:12 pm on January 20th, 2008 5
That is a great article. I am LDS. I remember first learning about Mitt Romney not from the Olympic thing or his problem in Massachusetts but from my 12th grade government teacher who simply made this comment “In the 2008 presidential election we could see a Mormon run for president” and that in response to a question “what about a Mormon running for president?” from surprisingly a non-Mormon. This intrigued me and I waited until I heard the announcement from Mitt Romney that he was running. I then looked at his website. I didn’t make a full decision to join Romney until the second Republican Debate and what I saw with Romney impressed me. It wasn’t that he was good looking, not even that he shared my religion but his positions on the issues and his impeccable honesty. I look for Integrity and confidence in a candidate and I see that in Mitt Romney.
11:58 am on January 21st, 2008 6
I just watched him. He was truly a voice “FOR THE PEOPLE!” Imagine that happening in Washington. Imagine someone listening to us!!
My reservations about Romney are gone. I have never given McCain or Gulianni any support. This leaves Thompson, Huckabee or Mitt. There’s a lot about Thompson’s past that will be dug up and I just don’t think people will want him once dissected. Huckabee is entertaining and his gift of speaking (all warm and pastoral) may help our fallen spirits in the recession. However, we aren’t hiring a preacher and Mitt has a lot more business sense. The best\worst thing about Mitt is his personal wealth. After living through a Presidency of the “Elite” I want somebody that has been at the bottom (Mitt NEVER has regardless of any spin that says different). He doesn’t know the struggle and has always had powerful friends at the top. On the other hand…if he wasn’t wealthy, he would be gone by now. The MSM wouldn’t give him air time and he would be in the dump with Duncan Hunter. On the other hand, because of his wealth he can say that he owes no groups in Washington any favors for his election. That is the best selling point he has if it’s true..”Romney isn’t bought.”
I do believe he is in this not just to win but rebuild America. So, for now (unless Lou Dobbs runs with a better message) I’m in the Romney camp.
Thanks Hava for such a great site.
12:05 pm on January 21st, 2008 7
Sarah>> I’m glad to hear it! Isn’t Mitt amazing? I can’t wait to see what he’s going to do for this country!
W. Martin>> I was thrilled to see your comment. Wow! I am so glad you took the time to watch the video and didn’t just brush me off. He really has fought for traditional values in America, and I think if he was elected president, he would be able to do so much for traditional marriage and the pro-life movement.
Welcome aboard the Mitt Mobile!
Havs
PS If you want to check out some other Mitt sites, I highly recommend Elect Romney for President: http://www.blog.electromneyin2008.com Have a great day!
6:26 pm on January 23rd, 2008 8
Hello!
I am from the Philippines and devoted LDS members, Since Mitt Romney announce that he will run for President i watch CNN daily and know his Polls result.I hope and Pray that he will be President and govern right.
Jomar..
6:33 pm on January 23rd, 2008 9
Jomar B. Albalate »
Hi Jomar! Welcome to my blog, all the way from the Philippines! How fun. I used to live in Japan as a child (my father was stationed in Okinawa) and I know my parents visited the Philippines several times. What a small world we live in, eh? I got an e-mail from someone living in England just a couple of nights ago. I love how the Internet helps draw people together.
Have you visited RealClearPolitics.com? That is a great place to see polls. Here is a conglomeration of all of the polls in Florida. Mitt is in a statistical dead heat with McCain. If he could pull off a win against him Tuesday, that’ll be huge. Here’s hoping!!!
Thanks for visiting, and I hope you swing by again soon!
Havs
7:10 am on January 27th, 2008 10
I am saddened to hear that so many Mormons don’t really know Mitt Romney! Since I have been a blog junkie since the beginning of Mitt’s candidancy, I have learned a tremendous amount about him. ComMITTed to Mitt is an excellent site to get up-to-date information on the campaign. Without being pushy, how can we get people to pay attention to other than the MSM?
12:26 pm on February 7th, 2008 11
Havilah,
I voted for Mitt in Tennessee and was in tears watching
him give his speech at CPAC. It just occurred to me that you who have been so faithful and such a fighter for him all along must be devastated.
I’m really sorry Havilah. I just want you to know I’m thinking about you. I send hugs and prayers.
5:19 pm on February 7th, 2008 12
W. Martin » Thank you for that. I teared up when I read your comment. Yes, it was a horrible day on Super Tuesday and yesterday, although today wasn’t as bad because I had already gotten all of my crying out of my system.
I knew it was coming, I knew it would be hard, and it was, but I know it was for the best. If you haven’t checked out the blog I just put on his dropping out, go read it when you have a chance. I know this was what Mitt should have done, and I feel good about it. I feel even better about it because I know he’ll be back, and I’m going to be here to support him when he does!!!!
Thanks for everything,
Havs