The Mormonism-is-a-'cult' attack: Will it hurt Mitt Romney?
A Dallas Baptist pastor who backs Rick Perry for president ignites a big fight by suggesting that Romney isn't a real Christian
The weekend's Values Voters Summit in Washington, D.C., was not kind to Mitt Romney. The slow-and-steady frontrunner in the GOP presidential race placed near-last in the summit's straw poll and faced potentially damaging attacks on his Mormon religion from some of the conservative conference's speakers. Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress, a key evangelical Christian backer of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, started things rolling by asking the conference: "Do we want a candidate who is a good, moral person — or one who is a born-again follower of the lord Jesus Christ?" Just to make things clear, Jeffress followed up later by saying that Romney is "not a Christian" and that Mormonism is a "cult." Some speakers criticized Jeffress and others for making an issue of Romney's Mormonism, though plenty of commentators thought the rather muted response from Romney's rivals to this "religious bigotry" was "pathetically insufficient." Could this anti-Mormonism turn evangelicals against Romney — and cost him the election?
Yes. This could hurt Romney: "Nearly half of Americans view Mormonism negatively," says Juan Cole at Informed Comment, as do more than one-third of white evangelicals. In 2008, 44 percent of Republican primary voters were evangelicals. "They are an outsized proportion of the party base." And even if Romney overcomes this hurdle to win the nomination, evangelicals who are less than enthusiastic about his candidacy might stay home on election day in November 2012 — increasing President Obama's chances.
"Pro-Perry Evangelical leader says Romney not a Christian..."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
No. The Right's anti-Obama anger is too strong: It was inevitable that Romney's religion was going to become an issue during the race, says Dan Amira at New York. And yes, Romney's Mormonism will be a problem for some GOP voters, "particularly if prominent voices keep referring to Mormonism as a cult." But none of the attendees we talked to said their dislike of Mormonism would affect their vote if Romney's their best shot to defeat President Obama. Romney still has "a very good chance" to be the nominee — and to beat Obama.
"The Mormon discussion that was always going to happen..."
Mormonism is the least of Romney's problems: The "Mormon issue" might not sink Romney, says Alexander Burns at Politico. But he's got a "bigger problem with social conservatives": They "just don't believe his ideological sincerity." On issues from abortion to gay rights to health care, Romney is paying the price for his previous life as a moderate Massachusetts politician. If Christian conservatives can finally agree on an anti-Romney candidate, Mitt could be in serious trouble.
"Mitt Romney's Mormon issue returns"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What is cloud seeding and did it cause Dubai's severe rainfall?
The Explainer The future is flooded
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
American Airlines pilots are warning of a 'significant spike' in safety issues
In the Spotlight The pilot's union listed 'problematic trends' they say are affecting the airline's fleet
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
6 star-spangled presidential libraries to visit
The Week Recommends These institutions provide insight into American leaders
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published