Over the weekend, Mitt Romney incorporated some new rhetoric into his stump speech: "I will not take 'God' out of the name of our platform. I will not take 'God' off our coins, and I will not take God out of my heart. We're a nation bestowed by God."
When we discussed this yesterday, I got an email from reader G.S. suggesting this wouldn't last -- Romney was in Virginia Beach, a religious right stronghold, just a few feet from radical TV preacher Pat Robertson. This was an example of Romney catering his message to a specific audience, G.S. said, not a sign of things to come.
I wish that were true, but consider the speech Romney delivered in Mansfield, Ohio, yesterday:
"I honor my promises. One of those promises was the one that I made and the ones that I made in the pledge of allegiance. I believe it's important to have a president, and I would be a president, if elected, that honors that pledge, all the pledges that I make.
"That pledge says that we are a nation under God. If I'm president of the United States, when and if I become president of the United States, I will not take God out of my heart, I will not take God out of the public square, and I will not take it out of the platform of my party."
The Romney campaign still wants us to believe the candidate's central focus is on the economy, but given the recent rhetoric on welfare, contraception, Israel, and the sudden outburst of "God" talk, I think it's fair to say Romney The Corporate Turnaround Artist has once again metamorphosed into Romney The Culture Warrior.
For the record, in case anyone cares about the substance, the word "God" isn't being removed from U.S. currency; no one is trying to remove God from "the public square," and President Obama didn't take references to "God" out the Democratic Party platform; he did the opposite.
So why is Romney shifting away from his jobs message? For one thing, he didn't have much of a choice -- it hasn't worked and Romney's still losing. For another, the Republican candidate probably sees value in exploiting his base's sense of victimization and cultural tribalism.
But this tack is not without risks. Romney's message is suddenly all over the place, and the more he pretends God is his running mate, the more likely it is Romney's Mormon faith will become a campaign issue.
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With the advent of Jesus' write-in campaign, Romney finds himself fighting for the Evangelical vote which he considered to be his "base".
(tongue only half embedded in cheek..check out the link)
It's simple - only a truly righteous man can fix the economy the heathen Mooslim wrecked almost immediately. Why, I remember in 2001 we had so much money Our Leader George W. Bush gave us all at least - AT LEAST - three hunnerd dollars each. And just 8 short years later, as soon as that Demoncrat stole the election, boom, 15 trillion dollar deficit. Just like that.
Thus, the more Romney talks about the election in religious, almost Evangelical terms, the more he will be able to shore up that base, and the more the base is shorn up, the more frightened people will vote for Romney to keep that base from rioting in the streets if they don't get their way.
Step 3: Profit!
It's such a shame that Obama squandered the huge surpluses Bush had built up as of January 2009. As Republicans remember it (so it must be true), unemployment was at about 2% and GDP grew by at least 20% in the 4th quarter of 2008.
And now, back to reality. :)
God called, said money is the root of all evil, wants "god" off the cash.
His label is registered and his attorneys have issued a cease & desist.
The thing I can not figure out are the evangelical Romney supporters who believe the Bible is the literal word of God. Romney believes in the Bible, as appended by Joseph Smith. Doesn't that make Romney a heretic?
yes it makes Romney a heretic and indeed many evangelical Christians are sure that Mormons are the anti-Christ, not that they don't have many candidates for that. Mormons would tell you that they are believers in Christ, and he just made a house call to Israelites who magically became North American natives.
IMO, the reason the EvChristians are sideing with Romney is partly because if they criticize his religion, theirs looks just as ridiculous. It's the circling the wagons phenomenon.
Another way of looking at it is the fact that Jesus, who at the very least was an advocate of feeding the hungry and healing the sick, was (is?) a Liberal, if not a forerunner of the Socialist movement. So there's plenty of hypocrisy to go around both with the conservative (aka "rugged individualists") Christians and Mormon faiths.
Not to mention, Romney is white like them, unlike the Lamanite he's running against who show's "God's curse" on his face.
Give the man a break, he is running for office for Petes sake... I suggest a hybrid argument. How about converging the You Didnt Build That with the Ann Didnt Work A Day, then sprinkle a little Welfare on top. Sounds delicious. Heck, then we can all have a Garden Of Eden party in Missouri or at Rick Perrys hunting lodge. Makes perfect sense...
Dude, abide..... That is called a flip flp sandwich!
This is one of the laziest campaigns I've ever seen. A few staffers reading the local newspapers could surely reveal at least a few issues important to the locals that he could address. I'm guessing the removal of "God" from anything isn't one of them.
Didn't you know? Willard is riding the shoulders of Oral Roberts 900 foot Jesus, all the way to the closest in n' out burger, with a stop at chik fil A for good measure.
More genius strategery from Team Romney. Because accusing your opponent of being a godless heathen worked out great for former North Carolina Senator Libby Dole in 2008. Ask current North Carolina Senator Kay Hagen.
Why do you zealots have to see God’s name in print? God should be in your heart and always with you whether you see his name in print or hear his name. You want Religion than go to Church and have your spiritual leaders pass on God's teachings from the pulpit. Although, considering all the hate, anger, race baiting and bigotry coming from the Republicans, I would say the religious leaders are NOT doing their jobs.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Republicans you cannot legislate Religion, your belief may not be my belief and the Constitution protects my right to have a
different belief.
The gop always forget about the NO RELIGIOUS TEST constitutional thingy too
I imagine many of them were stunned to see all that when they read the constitution to open the u s tbagger house in 2011
Because it's not about what's in their hearts. Inside of their hearts rests the reality that they are the most awesomest, perfect, most wonderfulest people alive. They work hard and make money and aren't evil freeloaders like those scumbag Demmie-crats. They're true Americans! They serve in the military, abhor communism, and want to make sure every innocent baby in America can grow up to serve in a military that fights pointless wars against communism. They are perfect humans who have never made mistakes in their lives: they always made enough money to cover the bills and saved enough money so that if there ever was an emergency they could pay for it. But of course there never has been an emergency because god only causes bad things to happen to bad people and they are obviously ever so righteous therefore they are wealthy, well endowed, and endowed with the American spirit (and that's the true American spirit; not that evil librul homo-gay-lovin' spirit).
Whereas everyone else in America is a heathen. Obviously there has to be so many heathens alive in this country because how else would you explain someone being a Democrat or a liberal? Or gay? Or black? Or a woman who isn't married to a wealthy white man? Clearly these people need the help of the evangelicals to get their life in order- I mean how else can you explain a gay black single female liberal Democrat??? By inspiring the heathens with god's divine word they will ensure that these heathens will come to recognize in their sinful hearts the errors of their ways and once they repent they will be cleansed of all evil librul thoughts and become good, moral, righteous Christian conservative Republicans. Because nothing says "god loves you" like "now change everything there is about who you are." And once that is all completed god's loving apocalypse will come and destroy the planet. Amen!
Ha ! Count me as one proud heathen !
Old Testament: Don't mess with God.
New Testament: Be nice to people.
Book of Mormon: ???magic underwear and your own personal planet???
/snark
Seriously, if folks want to claim to be Christian, they need to follow Christ's teachings, which can be found in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. "As you do unto the least of these, you do unto me." etc. So-called religious conservatives spend most of their time quoting the Old Testament. I have no idea really what is in the Book of Mormon. If Mitt wants to explain how that faith informs his decision-making, I'd be glad to listen.
As mr benen points out it is a subject they have avoided so far , this can certainly open the door , he does not want to talk about those details , they will be talking about food stamps when the subject gets to loud
C'mon Mark, most of those thumping up & down on that bible have barely read the whole thing thru, and definitely don't apply it in their lives. Besides "real evangelicals" see Mormonism as a "cult".
Frankly, I've heard a few "evangelicals" say that they're going to "sit this one out" - they don't want the "black guy" and they don't "trust the cult guy"....
Are not the God zealots already IN Mitt's corner? He keeps "reaching out" to the same folks, not working at all to reach anyone else. He needs more votes, not the same votes...wait, what am I saying!? Mitt, just keep doing what yer doing, dood.
Romney's grasping at straws to WIN votes where ever he can:
""wefare people are taking your money"
"liberals want to take God out of everything"
The crazy birther people claim President Obama is a Muslim. To me it doesn't matter what he is, although he has said many times, he's a Christisn. But why would Mormonism trump Muslim?
Somewhere along the line I got put on the crazy train of pass-along emails from teabaggers...a friend of a friend. I asked several times directly to be removed but I think they thought it was their mission to convert me....lol. Prerequisets to be one of "them"...live in fear, believe all conspiracy thories and be totally adversed to any kind of change in the status quo.
The crazies just make your head spin.
There's always the killfile. I have lots of the morons in mine.
Thank you President Obama for keeping us safe these past 4 years. If Romney gets elected, we will be hit with another terrorist attack.
If God is in Romney's heart, why does he keep pledging that the first thing he'll do will be to "repeal Obamacare" when that means inflicting needless suffering for purely political purposes on millions of Americans?
It's because the people he'll be inflicting harm on aren't "real Americans". They "deserve" it because they dare to oppose Romney. God said so, donchaknow?
the Republican candidate probably sees value in exploiting his base's sense of victimization and cultural tribalism.
Very astute Benen. This sense of victimization and cultural tribalism are the root source of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual exploitation.
I would never say that in a job interview, but then, I will probably never find another job working with these issues in the remainder of my working lifetime due to de-funding, ageism, and extremist right wing control of governing boards of private non-profit corporations dealing with these issues.
Again what Romney's base says they are against, is exactly what their behavior displays. They are walking, talking,. oxymoron's. Which is exactly why they come across as stilted puppets. The Mormon faith, and Bishop Romney, actually believe that husbands have control of whether their wives go to heaven!
The Mormon cult, and Bishop Romney, actually believe that husbands have control of whether their wives go to heaven!
So do the fundies. See Pat Robertson's bit about "moving to Saudi Arabia".
Great . . . here comes the "I love God more than you do" debate. I have a feeling I'll be hearing the name "Jeremiah Wright" before too long.
Also . . . a Mormon, financed by a Jew, is pandering to Christians. There's gotta be a joke in there somewhere.
Four religious truths:
1. Jews do not recognize Jesus as Messiah, only as a Jewish
prophet.
2. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the
Christian faith, only the leader of the Catholic Church.
3. Nation of Islam does not recognize either Jesus or the Pope.
4. Mormons do not recognize each other at the liquor store or at
Hooters.
@Lulynn,
"3. Nation of Islam does not recognize either Jesus or the Pope."
Actually the Nation believes that "Jesus" was a prophet, not the "Son of..".
Disclaimer: Not intended as fact! Veracity alert... ;-)
But what about the strip club and adult video store??? INQUIRING MINDS NEED TO KNOW!
Since when is God an "it"?
Strictly speaking, "God" ought to transcend the male/female business, supposedly being objective, universal, etc. However, it has been quite obvious since the beginning that the Judeo-Christian-Islamic complex of religions has always worshipped a specifically male deity (with a few exceptions). The objective, universal, etc., stuff is basically a sneaky way of asserting that maleness is objective, universal, etc. (Yes, I'm aware that certain religions/philosophies openly assert that)
Keeping the word "God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Not taking "In God We Trust" off of our money. Wow, talk about stretching for the hard to achieve.
It really takes a lot of courage to promise to not change things that aren't going to change anyway.
Let's see if I can do this.
If I'm elected, I promise not to remove one of the hydrogen atoms from water. I won't change the wording of the First Amendment. I promise not to kick Texas out of the union. (I'd like to, but I'll restrain myself.)
Yup. I feel just like a Republican presidential candidate.
"Yup. I feel just like a Republican presidential candidate."
Doncha feel dirty? :-)
Let them bring up rev wright , then we can start the bio about magic under ware and how everyone else but mormons are fake christian , and going to hell , or whatever
As was indicated , this is an act of desperation by romneys handlers , and we have all witnessed , they do not react well under pressure , the seams are going to come off this campaign soon , and hopefully it will injure the gop mortally
When Romney wears blue jeans you can see his majic underwear. Looks like he is wearing a diaper. Makes me laugh everytime. I wonder if Rachael's photographers could post a good picture of Romney in his blue jeans. Bring sexy back.
Does Ann wear her majic underwear under all those expensive clothes? Does she have them taylored? Can you taylor majic underwear?
I hope Romney talks more about his Mormonism, because I have a lot of questions about their underwear. ( and yes, I am snarking).
Than perhaps the media can ask about the White Horse Prophecy: An article in the Beast which had portions of an interview Sue Emmett the Great Great Granddaughter of Bringham Young had given:
Ms. Emmitt talks about the White Horse Prophecy that has floated around since the time of Mormon founder Joseph Smith. It suggests that Mormons believe a time will come when the U.S. Constitution is eroding and Mormon leaders will save it and usher in a new theocracy with Mormons in charge. Emmett’s great-great-grandfather talked about it. In a discourse from 1855, Young wrote that
"when the Constitution hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the 'Mormon' Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it."
Romney has said that he considers the White Horse Prophecy just a matter of speculation by church members. "I haven't heard my name associated with it or anything of that nature," he told The Salt Lake Tribune in 2007. "That's not official church doctrine…I don't put that at the heart of my religious belief."
But Emmett begs to differ. “I can guarantee you that there are millions of Mormons who believe this prophecy and see Romney as potential fulfillment of it,” she says. “As a Mormon, you grow up hearing about this prophecy. I think Mitt believes he has a mandate from God to become president so he can help move this along. I don’t know if it’s a conscious thought, but it's in his subconscious.”
A Mormon theocracy won't last for one minute if they try to shut down Starbucks.
that's one thing that can be guaranteed. One hyper religious candidate wins and then we have a civil war among all of them who are sure that their "god" is with them.
Seeing that I live just outside of Rome, NY, the home of Francis Bellamy, I prefer the author's original version of the Pledge of Allegiance. I also prefer the original motto of the United States, E Pluribus Unum.
Wait a minute! I just got my resume together to apply for one of those jobs taking God off the money. I am qualified for a supervisory position. There go the Republicans again with their job killing policies.
“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Gospel According to Mark
Taking "In God We Trust" off the coins is full-on wingnuttery. It was a very fashionable right-wing meme back about 5 years ago.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/dollarcoin.asp
Those on the right love to spread malicious hoaxes. The lie about Madalyn Murray O'Hair petitioning the FCC continued to go around even years after her death. A version of this hoax appeared at least as recently as 2008. O'Hair died in 1995.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/fcc.asp
He says he remembers this from fourth grade. He was born in 1947. The "under God" part was added in 1954.
Guess Mitt was taking another ride in the same time machine that had him attending a parade that happened before he was born:
Mitt Romney recalls attending parade that happened before he was born
http://www.examiner.com/article/mitt-romney-recalls-attending-parade-that-happened-before-he-was-born