Tagg: “JFK Type” Speech? Mormon Voting Block?
http://www.unionleader.co…80-b62873e1bd0d
These two tid-bits I found interesting. Many are wondering if/when Mitt will give the “JFK Speech” to dispel concerns regarding influence his religion migh have in his presidency:
[emphasis added]
Taggart Romney said his father is “considering” making a speech akin to John F. Kennedy’s 1960 declaration that, as a Roman Catholic, he would not take orders from Rome were he to be elected President. But Romney said, “At this point I don’t know that he needs to do that.”
Meanwhile, while pundits are fond of grouping people into religious voting blocs — the purported Jewish vote, Catholic vote or evangelical vote — it’s not at all clear that his fellow Mormons automatically will vote for Mitt Romney.
David Bresnahan of Wakefield, a former journalist and public relations expert, who is an LDS member, dismisses the notion of a uniform Mormon voting bloc. “There’s as much of a division between Democrats and Republicans within the Mormons as there are within any group of people,” he said.
“So I think that there is as much of a need for a politician to inform a Mormon as a Catholic or a born-again Christian or anybody else,” he said. “If you want their vote, you’re going to need to get them to vote for you because of what you stand for and the policies you espouse.”
And Bresnahan said, “I don’t think a Mormon is going to vote for a Mormon just because they’re Mormon.”
Taggart Romney noted his father’s faith was an issue early in his campaign for governor, but by the end of his tenure in that job, no one even discussed it anymore. Likewise, he predicted, in the Presidential campaign, “At the end of the day, people won’t decide to vote for him or not vote for him based on his religion.”
In those instances where I have run into members of Romney’s church (and if the subject of Romney comes up), they are almost defensive. Almost always I get an answer like, “I don’t know yet. I am not going to vote for Romney because he is LDS!” Frankly, I suggest that answer might be as close-minded and narrow as I would those who would not vote for Romney due to their religious bigotry, as suggested by Hewitt in his book. Those Mormons I have met who have studied the issues and the other candidates enthusiastically support Mitt Romney, including most Democrats I have met who are Mormon.
Tagg’s mug:
The entire Union Leader (NH) article is good. Click:
A question of faith, politics: Mitt Romney’s values shared by many faiths, son says
By SHAWNE K. WICKHAM, New Hampshire Sunday News Staff
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~ RHR
