Is the US ready for a Mormon president?

[Gerald]

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/8587/53274899romneyprayingge.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/148/53274899romneyprayingge.jpg/)
Romney (centre) has made the economy, not social issues, his central theme

Mormon Mitt Romney is an early frontrunner among the Republicans vying to run for president - and one new opinion poll shows him in a surprise dead heat with Barack Obama. Another Mormon, Jon Huntsman, is expected to enter the race. Will their religion be an issue?

It's a nation that prides itself on having few barriers to the highest office.

Yet the prominence of two Mormons in the Republican race for the White House has raised questions about US attitudes towards the religion.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to give its proper name, was founded in 1830 in New York State by Joseph Smith, and today has about 5.7 million members in the US.

But whether it is fully accepted is another matter, and new findings published by the Pew Research Center suggest there is still a long way to go.

Although 68% of Americans polled said their support for a candidate would be unaffected if they were Mormon, a quarter said they would be less likely to vote for them.

This rose to 34% among white evangelicals, who make up a large part of the Republican base. "It's more prevalent among the [voters] who are going to play a role in this Republican primary process," says Carroll Doherty, of the Pew Research Center.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13674696


Note: 8 June 2011 Last updated at 11:34 GMT

[MothBalls]

In the latest issue of Life magazine (3/14/2007), featuring Chris Rock on the cover, Rock is asked, "Is this country ready for an African American president?" Rock answered, "It's ready for a retarded president, why wouldn't it be ready for an African American president?"I guess so.

[tater]

Giving oneself to one irrational set of ideas is little different than any other irrational set of ideas.

[Takeda Shingen]

Why wouldn't we be ready for a Mormon president?

[Bakkels]

If he gets enough votes to be elected I guess the answer is yes. Weird question in the first place.
(Though a voodoo priest for president would be way cooler :haha:)

[mookiemookie]

I really don't care what religion the President is.

[Platapus]

I would prefer an atheist President but as long as the President governs in a secular manner I have no problem with a President's religion.

It is when the President's religion influences his decisions that I get concerned.

[Onkel Neal]

I don't care what religion he is or isn't as long as he cuts spending, reduces the deficit and national debt, secures the borders and criminalizes employment of illegals, and gets the space program back on track. Oh, and he can end the two wars we have going, we accomplished enough.

:Kaleun_Salute:

[August]

There are plenty of reasons not to like Mitt Romney without resorting to the irrelevant.

[Torplexed]

All that fretting and hand-wringing over John F. Kennedy being the first catholic president fifty-one years ago and Ronald Reagan being the first divorced president thirty-one years ago. When it's all done and over with these issues never seem very important in retrospect.

[Onkel Neal]

And those were two of my top 5 Presidents. :Kaleun_Applaud:

[Sailor Steve]

There are plenty of reasons not to like Mitt Romney without resorting to the irrelevant.
:yep: Best post of the thread. :sunny:

[Tribesman]

I don't care what religion he is or isn't as long as he cuts spending, reduces the deficit and national debt, secures the borders and criminalizes employment of illegals, and gets the space program back on track. Oh, and he can end the two wars we have going, we accomplished enough.


Since you are not likely to get any real advances on any of that from any of the possible candidates wouldn't you like to focus on a non-issue instead;)

[Anthony W.]

Since you are not likely to get any real advances on any of that from any of the possible candidates wouldn't you like to focus on a non-issue instead;)

You really seem to hate most of what America stands for. I had a friend of mine read some of your posts. Even he thought you sounded Euro Elitist. That isn't a compliment.

Back on topic (Can you tell I'm fidgety tonight?)

I don't much care about religion either. However (the judgement I will make is that) I don't think America is ready for a non Christian president just yet, and to be honest, with the percentage of Christians in America, I doubt there ever.will be one.

I'm a Romney supporter on economic grounds.

PS: I'm a Catholic. A lot of my friends are Mormon. I have friends of a wide variance of religion including Islam, Sihk, Buddist, and atheist. I'm not prejudice.

[Tribesman]

You really seem to hate most of what America stands for.
You really seem out to prove that though you think you are more intelligent than your teachers you lack simple comprehension skills.
Though out of interest can you run through a few essential of what you think your country stands for and see if I agree with the values or laugh at your naivete.
Even he thought you sounded Euro Elitist
If your "friend" has the same problems as yourself with comprehension that isn't a surprise, but go on give me another laugh, describe euro elitism.

It is really funny that you think that pointing out the simple problem of your politicians not really doing anything effective about defecits, spending, debt and immigration is somehow hating america and its values:rotfl2:

[Castout]

Anything but a Satanist or Atheist. . .for me.:DL

[August]

:yep: Best post of the thread. :sunny:

:salute:

[Feuer Frei!]

The question shouldn't be "Is the US ready for a Mormon president" but:
Is the US ready for a ANOTHER president.

[flatsixes]

If Romney can speak these words, and mean it, then he can be president.

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

If he cannot, then it doesn't matter whether he's Morman or Martian.

Well, actually, it does matter, as only a native-born American Martian would be eligible to become president. And I don't think that we're there yet, despite what some people say about President Obama. :D

[Blood_splat]

WOW another politician/businessman who made his money
Nice ski retreat mansion.
http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/998/slide_998_16553_large.jpg

[Skybird]

I would prefer an atheist President but as long as the President governs in a secular manner I have no problem with a President's religion.
^ This - and I do not even necessarily have a preference for an atheist president. He could be Jewish, Buddhist or Christian or Atheist, as long as he governs and decides secular, and rational, and leaves religious agendas out of his decisons. Just with a Muhameddan one I would have problems, due to the problematic implications that rule out the coexistence of Quranic ideology and secularism.

It is when the President's religion influences his decisions that I get concerned.
^ And this too.

[AVGWarhawk]

Meh..I like Pawlenty anyway. :DL

[flatsixes]

WOW another politician/businessman who made his money the dick.

Nice ski retreat mansion.
http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/998/slide_998_16553_large.jpg

Damn nice ski lodge!

There's a lesson here, kids: Being "the little guy" is a bad career plan.

[Sailor Steve]

I don't think America is ready for a non Christian president just yet, and to be honest, with the percentage of Christians in America, I doubt there ever.will be one.
There have already been several. Don't mistake everyone who espouses a belief in a Supreme Being for a follower of Jesus.

Anything but a Satanist or Atheist. . .for me.:DL
I can understand the objection to someone who claims to worship evil, but someone who claims not to worship at all? I know your experience involves those who do both, but just because someone claims not to believe there's a God, would that make him a worse president than some of the ones we've already had, and who claimed to believe wholeheartedly?

[CCIP]

Actually Satanism is also widely misunderstood :DL Some forms of Satanism aren't any more 'evil' in doctrine than most other religions, and arguably less so than many. For some the invocation of Satan is just another way of understanding what has made us and the world what we are today.

Not that I'm satanist or anything, just saying...

[Platapus]

Although it would be impossible to ever know, it would be interesting if we could find out how many politicians only claim to be theists in order to get votes.

In the US you can't get elected unless you are religious, so how many politicians pretend to be religious?

[Sailor Steve]

...how many politicians pretend to be religious?
I would go further. I wonder, then as well as now, how many people 'believe' because they do; meaning they don't really believe anything, but it's how they were raised, and they go through the motions without ever really thinking about it.

[Flaxpants]

I would go further. I wonder, then as well as now, how many people 'believe' because they do; meaning they don't really believe anything, but it's how they were raised, and they go through the motions without ever really thinking about it.

I would argue that most of the world probably falls into that category.

A little confused by this thread.....I heard George Bush was a Moron?

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

A little confused by this thread.....I heard George Bush was a Moron?
:har:

I agree with your diagnosis of Mr. Bush. :DL

[flatsixes]

:har:

I agree with your diagnosis of Mr. Bush. :DL

I'll alert the media.

[AdeptCharge]

You really seem out to prove that though you think you are more intelligent than your teachers you lack simple comprehension skills.
Though out of interest can you run through a few essential of what you think your country stands for and see if I agree with the values or laugh at your naivete.

Fascinating :hmmm: Laughing at his naivete? now I (assume) to understand your intellect, or at least your way of thinking.

[Tribesman]

Laughing at his naivete?
Indeed, unless of course you somehow don't think naivete is hilarious when someone is expressing strong views on their "thoughts"

now I (assume) to understand your intellect,
A-hem you shouldn't assume, you should perhaps stick to your personal little word games

[AVGWarhawk]

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/worfisfrustratedrh3.gif

[Bakkels]

You beat me to it AVG. If ever a thread needed a facepalm... :damn:

[AdeptCharge]

Indeed, unless of course you somehow don't think naivete is hilarious when someone is expressing strong views on their "thoughts"


A-hem you shouldn't assume, you should perhaps stick to your personal little word gamesNo I dont think its hilarious, and I dont understand why so many use images to look hilarious either. Fascinating :doh: Given the lack of facts assume is indeed correct. I will not stick to anything. I wont laugh at others. You clearly are a clever individual.

[Tribesman]

I will not stick to anything
A-hem you are incorrect, you will stick to many things with sufficient application of some good glue.

[AdeptCharge]

A-hem you are incorrect, you will stick to many things with sufficient application of some good glue.Yes that is correct, but I was replying to your post. :up:

[yubba]

I thought we already had


a moron in office.http://storyballoon.org/wp-content/uploads/Obama-mad-magazine-cover-249x322.jpg

[AVGWarhawk]

I dont understand why so many use images to look hilarious either.


Perhaps the view of the GT forums and how it should function, material posted and general nonsense offered by the world community participating is somewhat muddled by one's own idea of what is appropriate and or hilarious in nature? As for me, light hearted humours pictures often release the head of steam that tends to brew from time to time on the GT forums.


Neal, please delete the "Funny Pictures' thread.

[flatsixes]

Neal, please delete the "Funny Pictures' thread.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/03/Gort_Firing.jpg
Klaatu barada nikto!

[Tribesman]

Neal, please delete the "Funny Pictures' thread.
Just rename it the "pictures" thread

[AVGWarhawk]

Just rename it the "pictures" thread

:har:

Good one Tribesman!

[Fish]

In the US you can't get elected unless you are religious, so how many politicians pretend to be religious?

Exactly! :hmmm:

[yubba]

A vote for Obama, is a koran in every home, a mexican in every garden, a chicken neck in every pot, and a cabinet full of Weiners. Yes we can, lean forward it won't, hurt much.:har::har::har::har:
{wait don't we have that already}

http://storyballoon.org/wp-content/uploads/Obama-mad-magazine-cover-249x322.jpg