Vote for Mitt Romney BECAUSE He’s A Mormon?
Mitt Romney
I’m a committed, active Mormon. So, does that mean that I should vote for Mitt Romney? Does that mean I will?
I’ll give you a hint: the answers are “no” and “no.”
Allow me to me explain…
A Political Pancake
When it comes to politics, if I know one thing it is this: no matter how hard you press the political pancake, there’s always two sides. Translation? There are pros and cons to every political situation and every candidate.
Barack Obama, for example, is a charismatic speaker that has broken down enormous racial barriers. In one election cycle, he brought a renewed sense of hope and forever changed how the world views America. I remember going to Ghana in 2010 and seeing hundreds of posters of Obama. Before that time, I had never considered how seeing an African American become president was inspiring to the African people.
But for all of his successes abroad, Obama’s domestic and economic policies are dismal. He has added trillions of dollars to our National debt, exacerbated political division, and tepidly leads through soft TV interviews with Entertainment Tonight and Late Night Talk Shows. On top of that, few would argue that ObamaCare is what they wanted, or hoped for.
Now for Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney is an exceptional candidate with an impressive resume. Through the company he started he’s made numerous businesses extremely successful. In 2002, he turned the Salt Lake City Olympics around, transforming scandal and bankruptcy into praise and prosperity. He delivered on many of his campaign promises as Governor of Massachusetts—a state where only 15% of the population is Republican—proving that he can work across the aisle. His track record alone suggests that he has what it takes to turn the tide of division into a drive towards economic prosperity.
Regardless of all of this, I am not a fan of Romney’s foreign policies. His blunders abroad (particularly in London) hint at his inexperience in dealing with foreign countries. Furthermore, the aggressive position he’s taken towards other countries is disheartening. I believe that Obama’s open hand towards the Middle East has done much to encourage the Arab Spring. A closed fist will only recreate cultural tension.
But Romney is a Mormon
Mitt Romney has an impressive resume.
Yes, Romney is a Mormon. So what? Does that mean that I should vote for him? Nope.
Stephanie Meyer is a Mormon, does that mean I should read Twilight? Sick, no!
David Archuleta is a Mormon, does that mean I should buy all of his albums? No way!
Jef Holm is a Mormon, should I start watching “The Bachelorette”? Not a chance.
So when it comes to Mitt Romney, or any other political figure, I won’t vote for them based on what faith they profess, I will vote for them based on their character.
As Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed to live in a nation where people were not “judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character,” we could easily replace the phrase “the color of their skin” with “their religious affiliation.”
So no, the fact that I’m a Mormon does not mean that I will vote for Mitt Romney.
If I vote for him I will do so because of what I judge of his character and accomplishments.
15 Comments on “Vote for Mitt Romney BECAUSE He’s A Mormon?”
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I like your post and agree with your overall sentiment. Sure, I’m Mormon and I like Mormons but I won’t vote for Romney *because* he’s a Mormon. There are many Mormons who I wouldn’t want to see in the White House, and many non-members who I could see doing a fantastic job. But I’m a bit confused, at the beginning of your post you say you won’t vote for Romney, and at the end you say you will… so which is it? Or is that the point, that you’re not going to tell us? I can respect any of those options, just wanting to know if I was intentionally confused or if I just missed something :)
Never mind, I re-read the first paragraph and it makes more sense now. Mitt Romney being Mormon doesn’t *mean* you will vote for him… but it doesn’t mean you won’t either. I think my kids wore me out today, my brain isn’t working as well as I’d like. Also, in regards to foreign policy, I liked what Orson Scott Card had to say on the issue – http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/1editorialbody.lasso?-token.folder=comm%2F2012%2F09%2F19&-token.story=213168.112113&-token.disearea=1&-nothing Just another way of looking at things.
I respectfully don’t agree with all your thoughts regarding our president (i.e., foreign policy), but I like the pancake paradigm :), and of course, we must vote for the person we each feel would do the best possible job as our president (after educating ourselves about their records/platforms) regardless of their faith base, race, gender, etc. This is why I am an Independent-I vote for people not political parties. Thank you for your thoughts (Oh! yes, I am a member, too).
I wish all politicians were independents….sadly, they are not. :(
Well said and Amen. There are stupid Mormons on there, thinking that because he’s a Mormon that he will be the one to uphold the constitution when it hangs by a thread- Get real!
I recently read a very interesting theory about “the constitution hanging by a thread.” Joseph Smith gave that speech in Nauvoo and said that “this people” will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean. Well, interestingly enough, during the Civil War, the nation DID lean on those people (the people of Illinois). Namely, Abraham Lincoln and the generals from that area….interesting, no?
Very awesome post! I love it and I agree 100%, also being LDS is no reason for an LDS person to vote for Mitt. I am glad there is an LDS person in the election, but that’s it. Like you, I am a pancake in my opinion of this election with positives and negatives for both candidates. Oh my!
Yeah, I know. The problem with political parties (and only two at that) is that they try to make everything look black and white. When really, there’s a lot of middle ground that could be had. If there were ever a centrist movement in the United States, it would dominate politics.
I second that and have thought that for a long time. Who knows, maybe they’ll figure it out. I have doubts though. Extremism is so easy to fall for.
You said what I have been trying to relay to people for quite a while. thank you, Seth!
Thank you for your comment! I feel like I could have said it better, though…
Nice one, Seth. BTW, I love this video.
Thank you, Kathryn! I love the video too. It was nicely done. By the way, how did you handle all of the political traffic a few days ago? Was it pretty intense?
Another excellent and articulate post! I couldn’t agree more.
Thanks again, MoSop!