Why I Don’t Support Mitt Romney
There is a great deal of talk about Mitt Romney running for President, much of that talk is somehow connected to his religion. Romney is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many close to me know that I too, at least on paper, am a member of the LDS Church as well. I was asked the other day if I was supporting my “fellow Mormon” in his campaign for the presidency. Without having to ponder the question, I answered in the negative. Allow me to briefly review why.
1. Romney is no different than Hillary Clinton or John Kerry. I’m not referencing political ideology here. I know Romney is a Republican, at least for now. The similarity is the way Romney changes his location or his platform in order to become what is politically advantageous. While running for Governor of Massachusetts, a state well known for being liberal, Romney voiced liberal views on moral topics such as gay marriage and stem cell research. Isn’t it interesting that toward the end of his term as governor he shifted and became more conservative? Why? He needed to become more conservative in order to have a chance at capturing the Republican nomination. It is a fact that a candidate must become more radical to win a nomination. On top of that, he’s running from Michigan? I thought he was the Governor of Massachusetts? Where’s Hillary from again? What does Kerry believe this week?
2. His religion really isn’t that big of a deal for me. The above point is enough for me not to vote for him. For all of you religiously motivated people, here’s an interesting tid bit to fuel the fire. Romney served for 30 months as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in France. In order to serve a mission, Romney had to have participated in a temple ceremony where he would have promised to give hit “time, talents and everything which the Lord has blessed [him], or with which he may bless [him], to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” Essentially you are giving yourself to the church when you make such a promise. In my opinion, the LDS Church has more control over its active members than does any other church in the world. People were able to get over the fact that Kennedy was Catholic. As far as I know, Catholics don’t promise to give themselves to the Catholic church. Can we really believe that Romney can stand against the LDS Church if a conflict were to occur? Such an occurrence is doubtful, but it is something to think about.
