Prez
by Jake on Jan.08, 2008, under Jake
I had some fun conversations over the Christmas break centering on the presidential run of Mitt Romney. I can’t say that I’d vote for him, frankly because I don’t know enough about where he stands on critical issues. And, just as I think it’s wrong to withhold a vote from a candidate because of their religion, I also think it’s wrong to extend your vote to a candidate because of their religion. That fact that I am Mormon and Mitt is Mormon won’t steer my vote in his direction. I think the same logic should be extended to race and gender (eh-em, female-Hilary-lovers).
One thing that I do really appreciate is how his presidential run has cast Mormons into the uncomfortable spotlight. This is good for two reasons: first, it gets Mormons comfortable answering uncomfortable questions (from others and from themselves), and second, it forces others to figure out why they are uncomfortable with some Mormon issues. It’s good for everyone to get these issues out in the open.
Noah Feldman, a law professor at Harvard and a Jew, wrote a very fair and insightful article on this very issue, which he calls “the complex question of anti-Mormon bias.” The article can be found here. I especially appreciated his notion of how this “soft bigotry” that Mormons face is probably a result of the “soft secrecy” that Mormons seem to hold to. It’s a really interesting take on the LDS theology, history and politics, but it’s long, so read it when you have twenty minutes or so.
Though politics aren’t super interesting to me (I’m really interested in politics only to the extent that they interplay with economics, which is why I study economics and taxation), I have watched this election with some piqued interest and will continue to do so.
January 9th, 2008 on 1:24 am
I agree on those thoughts my brother. There is one thing that bothers me most. Many of my faith followers are voting for him solely because he is Mormon. To each there own but, how are we going to end up with a decent president in this not so necessary antiquated political voting system if 5 million voters waste their ballot on somone who may not get enough electorial votes anyways. If he has a good to honest chance I will cast a vote in his favor but, the choice must be made to choose the best fool who ends up on the ballot. Either way he has done some good paving far better than a bread crumb trail anyday. Good things have come from his exposure or non exposure to coruption. Darn good founders speach also for the history books. May those “dodgy” questions be asked and may those sweating learn to trust the spirit and keep the faith.
January 9th, 2008 on 12:42 pm
I agree with you as well. I feel like I am more interested in this presidential race than I have ever been before, though, because he is running. I am interested to see what people say to him and about him.
January 14th, 2008 on 10:42 pm
Interesting article. This could be an election for the history books- first female pres, first black pres, or first mormon pres. Why don’t we just elect Gladys Knight and kill three birds with one stone?
January 16th, 2008 on 1:26 pm
That was such a great analysis. I appreciated his very brief political history of our church, which despite what our members think, is a very different church than in Joseph Smith’s day. Indeed Brigham Young would find us an unruly, greedy, immoral lot and we would find him a raving, mad, dictator.
I enjoyed how he pointed out that secrecy paid dividends in avoiding the persecution of the government. But now that secrecy has caused us some discomfort and possibly, dare I say, the abandonment of some of the original teachings of the church. “Mormon teaching has moved away from many of Smith’s more radical ideas.”
There are so many great questions that arise from this odd political situation.
If conservatives cannot accept a Mormon president, especially considering how often conservatives tout the Constitution and its ban on a religious test for public office; what do Conservatives really stand for? My guess is that conservatism is fractured as badly as liberalism. Each group within conservatism and liberalism being held by a golden thread to their respective parties. Remember, there are only two parties representing thousands of ideals.
Now that a Mormon has the ability to run for President, the question must be asked; was it worth it for the Mormon people? Did our desire for mainstream acceptance cost us our religion? What shall we do, if anything?
Please understand, I will probably not vote for Romney, but I have enjoyed the questions that his presidential bid has forced into the open, and your post. It is nice to see you posting this kind of stuff again.