Evangelicals and Romney: Should Theology Matter?

As an American, a Republican, and a fiscal and social conservative — and though I have endorsed no Republican candidate — there is one thing that would disturb me greatly if Mitt Romney were not the Republican nominee: if Romney's Mormon faith were a factor in his defeat.

Many evangelical leaders have said that if Romney is the Republican presidential candidate, they would not vote for him in the general election. What is implied — and sometimes explicitly stated — is that his Mormonism prevents them from voting for him in the primaries.

Most evangelicals label Mormonism a cult, and many accuse Mormons of being dishonest for calling themselves Christians.

Let me explain where I'm coming from on this issue. First, all I care about with regard to the forthcoming election is that a Republican wins. It is difficult to see how the United States could survive as anything but another Europe between Mexico and Canada (while Europe itself is not surviving as Europe) with another four years of the most left-wing president in American history. Just the prospect of Barack Obama appointing one or more Supreme Court justices should focus every non-leftist's mind.

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blackhawk

Al the gifted one needs IS that one more Judge on the Supreme Court . Then he truly OWNS America and all of you.
- Paul
  
  So a divided opposition will spread the vote out, such that the great and might O will get the re-election because the "other side" couldn't agree that getting a tyrant out of office is more important that putting an angel in.
  
  Get together people, or we'll all come apart in the end – and this country will pay for many decades.
Karrie

I'm quite certain the only possible explanation for the Tea Party endorsement of Newt Gingrich is all about anti-mormonism. There is no other possible reason why fundamentalist Christians would vote for a big government conservative with serious ethics issues and two affairs in his past.
- Paul
  
  I'm not endorsing any candidate (you should know that before you read on).
  
  The Tea Party is conservative, both socially and fiscally. They are not, by and large, a "Christian organization". Just people who think we shouldn't spend what we don't have, nor ask any more from taxpayers who don't have it to give, AND that people are responsible for their morality, and the government needs to stop enforcing (and forcing) obviously twisted morals onto people.
  
  The reason they don't like Romney doesn't (again by and large) have anything to do with his mormonism. Oh, if you watch the MSM, you'll see them give a sound byte form this or that "tea partier" that says it's because he's mormon, but if you believe the MSM about anything, shame on you. The single most important reason the Tea Party doesn't like Mitt is he is NOT a fiscal conservative (Romneycare, tax structure implemented during his governorship, etc.) and he is not a social conservative (gay marriage in MA under his watch, etc.)
  
  Gingrich, who may call himself whatever, but his life speaks well that he is a philanderer, not a christian, is liked by the Tea Party because, in the absence of a TRUE conservative, he at least is fiscally conservative, and not in favor of excess liberalism in morality.
  
  In other words, Newt is the closest they can get to conservative in any of the candidates, and fiscal conservatism trumps everything else for them when you get right down to it.
  - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
    
    Governor Romney’s single term contained some solid efforts to promote pro-growth tax policy. In May of 2004, Mitt Romney proposed cutting the state’s income tax rate from 5.3% to 5.0%—a measure Massachusetts voters had approved in a 2000 referendum, but was blocked by the State Legislature in 2002. The proposed tax cut would have provided $675 million in relief over a year and a half. When the Massachusetts Legislature refused to budge, Romney proposed the same tax cut in 2005 and again in 2006 with no success. Romney was more successful when he took on the State Legislature for imposing a retroactive tax on capital gains earnings. After a bloody fight, Romney succeeded in passing a bill preventing the capital gains tax from being applied retroactively, resulting in a rebate of $275 million for capital gains taxes collected in 2002. Governor Romney also signed legislation that provided property tax relief to seniors in 2005, along with a gimmicky two-day sales tax-free shopping holiday.
    - rrodriguez
      
      Thank you for bringing to light things that should matter when electing a Presidential candidate instead of things based on half truths
http://www.orovalleychristianreader.com John J Flanagan

I do not think the anti-Mormon label is valid. Evangelicals should be rightly concerned about Romney, who isn't even much of a devout Mormon anyway. His positions on abortion and gay marriage, his willingness to side with Democrats on issues opposed by conservatives leads one to believe his is not the man we need in office at this time. If Romney were to be elected, I am not sure he would be a conservative voice. I see a man who has compromised principles.
Myrtlelinder

I do not believe that being a Mormon made a lot of difference. The big problem is that he does not what he believes, himself. One day he promotes one thing, next he has changed his mind. He is for abortion which no Christian would vote for him with that stand, Not to worry, next day he is against abortion. Does he believe that JESUS CHRIST is the SON OF GOD? This would make a difference to many of us, but we have no idea where he stands on that issue. I don't think he has a clue either. If he could buckle down with a set of sensible rules, he would have a chance, but at this point, who would believe him. He needs to understand, "You can't make up your rules as you go along and change them if they don't work!.'
Bobseeks

Mormonism is no less evil tham islam, therefore no Christian can support a mormon for any political office. Get the truth on the spiritual disease of mormonism by going to equip.org or by reading the Kingdom of the Cults. The truth shall set you free.
- Johnny
  
  Do Mormons demand that everyone become a Mormon or else die or pay a tax levied on them (non-Mormons) alone? Do they promote "honor killings?" The tragedy of their belief is that they do not trust only in the death of Christ on the cross to cover their sins.
  - Bobseeks
    
    All false religions lead to hell and that is the only criteria that matters. Using that as a basis, mormonism is just as evil as islam.
    - Vladimir
      
      Would you rather live under President Romney or President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?
- Paul
  
  Hmmm. By that thinking voting for Obama because he claimed to be christian was the right thing to do. Apparently it wasn't.
  
  If you want to vote for the truly Christlike candidate, write in King Jesus.
  
  Otherwise, in the field of politics, vote for the one who will uphold and defend the constitution in its original form and intent against all enemies foreign and domestic.
msjallen

We must be informed and elect the one who can beat 0. Mormons depart from orthodoxy and are very deceptive. They reject the doctrine of the Trinity. They are very bizarre by the way they live including the way Joseph Smith lived. His polytheistic nightmare of garbled doctrines draped with the garments of Christian terminology. Their Theology – it is upside down. They believe that Jesus was a spirit brother with Satan and Jesus was elevated to a higher status. Some people believe they are Christians because they say the right things. They are establishment oriented but are NOT Christians according to what the Bible teaches; but they believe what the Book of Mormon teaches. There are some very nice Mormons and hard working and believe in many things we as Christians believe in as far as establishment principles go. Read Walter Martin’s book; “Kingdom of the Cults” — an eye opener. And see: http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/changecontents.ht…
Ely

If any of you want to KNOW what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the "Mormons") believes, go to the web site "Mormons.org" and learn the truth. And the Truth shall indeed set you free!!
- Paul
  
  Don't take the word of the advertisers who run mormon.org
  
  If you want to know what the Mormons believe
  1) first get their meaning and understanding of words and names like "God", "Jesus", "Son of God", "Savior", Salvation, Heaven, Hell, New Heaven, New Earth…
  2) then get the meaning of the same words and names from the only reliable Word of God, the Bible – verifiable in prophesy that became history
  3) compare 1 against 2
  
  The result will show you that mormons have nothing to do with the God who revealed Himself in the Bible, nor the Son who died on the cross to pay for your and my sins. They do not put their faith in Jesus Christ, the only remedy for sin.
  
  Come out of her and be free. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.
- bighoss
  
  If you go to a Mormon-sponsored site such as Mormons.org, you should definitely supplement your reading by going to this site: http://www.utlm.org/navonlinebooks.htm and reading some very carefully prepared and well-documented criticism of the Mormon Church by various ex-Mormons. It is folly to depend solely upon a Mormon source for complete and accurate information about the Mormon cult. Information from such sources is very selective and avoids identifying some of the zanier doctrines taught by that cult
  
  Mormon-sponsored sites will tell you very little about the more sordid aspects of Mormon history, but the references in the link above will supply the lack. Mormons try to warn people against seeking information about the cult from former Mormons, but that is just a censorial defense tactic designed to keep you focused on what THEY say about their own cult. Get the complete picture by consulting both "INSIDE" and "OUTSIDE" sources!
http://google.com Bob

IT to late to vote for the best person they are not on the list. SO now we vote for the one on the list that will make the best leader regardless of his faith or his passed.
Jasmine

Best place to learn the truth about Mormons is mormon.org – worth checking out!
- bighoss
  
  Jasmine, since you and "Eli" have both posted a recommendation for Mormon .org, I can hardly do less than reply to you with the same advice I provided to him, which follows:
  
  If you go to a Mormon-sponsored site such as Mormons.org, you should definitely supplement your reading by going to this site: http://www.utlm.org/navonlinebooks.htm and reading some very carefully prepared and well-documented criticism of the Mormon Church by various ex-Mormons. It is folly to depend solely upon a Mormon source for complete and accurate information about the Mormon cult. Information from such sources is very selective and avoids identifying some of the zanier doctrines taught by that cult
  
  Mormon-sponsored sites will tell you very little about the more sordid aspects of Mormon history, but the references in the link above will supply the lack. Mormons try to warn people against seeking information about the cult from former Mormons, but that is just a censorial defense tactic designed to keep you focused on what THEY say about their own cult. Get the complete picture by consulting both "INSIDE" and "OUTSIDE" sources!
  - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
    
    You could also go to ex-Christian sites and get information about your false religion, but that would probably be asking too much.
    - bighoss
      
      There are some ex-atheist sites that might help round out YOUR education also.