December 6, 2007
Posted: 04:28 PM ET

Will Romney's speech change any minds among evangelicals in South Carolina?

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) ­ – Two prominent voices in South Carolina Christian politics watched Mitt Romney's speech at Capitol City News & Maps in Columbia on Thursday morning: Oran Smith, president of the Palmetto Family Council, and Joe Mack, public policy director of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.

Their thoughts? A solid performance, they said, but unlikely to impact what South Carolina’s evangelicals think about Mormonism.

"It was a good speech, but I'm not sure he changed anybody's mind," Mack said. "I'm not sure it explained the difference in Mormonism and other denominations."

Mack, a Baptist, said he was sure he and Romney were far apart theologically. But he added that they likely shared many of the same positions on "values" issues.

Christian conservatives are crucial to Romney's presidential bid, and white evangelical Protestants constitute more than half of likely South Carolina’s Republican voters, according to a recent AP/Pew Poll.

Thursday's speech was aimed squarely at those evangelicals in Iowa and South Carolina who may remain skeptical of his faith.

Smith said Romney nailed a few references sure to resonate with conservative religious voters here in the Palmetto State.

"For instance, his sadness over the coldness of religion in Europe," Smith said. "There is not a Christian church that that's not discussed on a regular basis."

The speech may have been short on theology – the word "Mormon" was mentioned just once – but Smith said Romney did well to avoid talking about the intricacies of his faith. And he would have been in bigger trouble yet had he tried to compare Mormonism to another form of Protestantism.

"For a minute there I thought he was going to go in the ditch," Smith said, comparing the Mormon faith to some of the Protestant Christian groups he mentioned, like the Lutheran and Pentacostal denominations. "I thought he was going to say that they were the same. But then he turned and he went toward Islam and the Jewish faith, and at that point I was more comfortable because at that point he wasn’t trying to say he was just another brand of Protestantism or Christianity."

Mack maintained that Romney's faith, not his past support for abortion rights or his Massachusetts pedigree, could still handicap his presidential bid, "at least among Baptists here in South Carolina."

– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

Filed under: Mitt Romney • South Carolina


John Allan   December 8th, 2007 10:28 am ET

America needs fiscal discipline right now. It needs a strong military to combat the threat of radical Muslims. It needs a man who has honored his commitment to his family. Mitt Romney is all of these and more. His speech on faith in America was outstanding, even moving. This is the man I want as our president.

Dave, NY, NY   December 7th, 2007 12:29 pm ET

Anon,
You just showed yourself to be a member of the majority of the American people with little to no knownledge of history in general. But what's new, there are always ignorant people with their ignorant comments posted here.

Kevin, Concord, CA   December 7th, 2007 11:24 am ET

I did think that CNN's puppet show during the speech was entertaining. Where did they get the slanted information addressing old doctrines out of context? It appears they thought the speech was going to be about church doctrines, but it wasn't. Nice puppet show though.

Trevor, Beaverton, Oregon   December 7th, 2007 11:17 am ET

last I read, the Mormon church has about 60,000 young men and women working the streets to explain their religion, teach families about Christ. It is all on http://www.lds.org

Is there another church with that commitment to spreading the good word?

Why would a candidate for president attempt that from a political pulpit? Mitt's speech was right on!

Fran, Syracuse, NY   December 7th, 2007 11:14 am ET

why address the differences in religions. that would be stupid. people can get off their butts and find out for themselves. and I'd ask one of their missionaries or go to their website because I asked my pastor about the mormon church and he was only maybe 50-60% right about what he said.

Tyler Wilson, Concord, CA   December 7th, 2007 11:11 am ET

I love it! Romney's religious commitment has helped him become a wonderful man, father, husband, business and political leader….! Thank you for your years of unpaid service, Congratulations on your nomination!

Amanda, Katy, TX   December 7th, 2007 11:08 am ET

Great to see a leader that thinks for himself and consults others, even God if he feels the need!!

If you really believe Romney was ever pro-abortion you have been warped!

Well done yesterday Mitt!!

Steve, NY   December 7th, 2007 11:06 am ET

flip-flop

Todd, SLC, UT   December 7th, 2007 10:38 am ET

"He looks like a president.
He acts like a president.
He talks like a president.
He has the credentials to be a president.
He SHOULD be a president…"

Becareful. Once upon a time there was an American President named Warren Harding. Harding was elected on the same concepts, and turned out to be one of the worst presidents in history.

It is hard to over look Mitt's flip flopping - he is a typical politician who blows with the strongest breeze. His integrity on the issues is what is at stake, not his religion.

Glen, Boston, MA   December 7th, 2007 10:32 am ET

It is sad that our government is held hostage by groups of Christians who believe they hold all the answers and judge everybody else for not agreeing with them. Spiritual truths have little to do with what they believe.

I guess that comes with the territory of culturally isolated segments of society. That's one reason Europe has moved beyond religion - that and the massive amount of destruction the manifestations of religion have caused over the centuries. We're just now beginning to experience that in our young country.

anon.   December 7th, 2007 9:52 am ET

That picture looks like he is giving a Nazi salute.

C. McGuigan   December 7th, 2007 9:12 am ET

I'm a Canadian "Mormon" and I watch with much interest and disappointment at the fact that the so called “Christian” Evangelicals who should be following Jesus Christ’s commandment to “Love thy neighbour as thy self”, don’t seem to be following it. Openly discriminating against a faith which has been persecuted since it’s inception by the American public and ignored by the federal government during this time and even issued an extermination order by the government of Illinois (which was only repealed just recently by the way ). Evangelicals should hang their heads in shame. Would you not vote for Obama because of his race? I think they can be a bit more "Christian".

Sarv, Miami, FL   December 7th, 2007 9:04 am ET

One should watch what comes out of ones mouth. Romney tried to attack Rudy in the GOP debate on illegal immigration issue and instead the tables turned on him when he was accused of having illegals employed at his home. And now this Mormon stuff. You do not prove that you are better candidate by critisizing others. Instead you should talk about what positives you have done and plan to do. If you throw mud at someone, be ready to get mud in exchange. Whatever negative you say (against anyone) could come back to haunt you.

I don't think his speech would make any difference. People who are not Mormons and do not like Mormons, will never vote for him. And sensible people will not bring this issue to vote for a right candidate.

John, Boston MA   December 7th, 2007 8:58 am ET

What do you want America? We've got a lawyer, a minister, a military man, and a businessman. So take your pick. Personally, I'd rather see America back again as a true economic superpower. It is all about the economy stupid. America is in big trouble people. We need some strong ECONOMIC leadership in Washington. That's why Romney is the best choice.

JB Boston MA   December 7th, 2007 7:56 am ET

People-

The reason he addressed this issue, is because it became an issue. He was being asked everywhere he went. It is sad that he had to speak to it, but the truth is people do care about religion. You can see that when people attempt to claim Obama is a Muslim. Calling him a Muslim is an attempt to hurt his candidacy. The same was occuring with Romney.

Now, that being said . . .that was the best speech I heard in a long long long time. Probably since Obama spoke at the convention. I bet Romney is back!!

Ed,Ellenville,New York   December 7th, 2007 7:34 am ET

Romney couldn't have been more anti-american. His dismissal of the separation of church and state undermines freedom of religion completely. It's over for him and Huckabee both now. Big mistake to say exactly the opposite of JFK.

Dale Davis, Glendora, California   December 7th, 2007 3:32 am ET

He looks like a president.
He acts like a president.
He talks like a president.
He has the credentials to be a president.
He SHOULD be a president.
The only question is, will the American people trust the Republican Party again, because of our current president? Mormonism is a moot point now.

erika morgan black dimond wa   December 7th, 2007 1:27 am ET

Mitt lost me I went from curious to not trusting, since there was no real explanation of how Mormonism worked for him in his decision making, i.e. like a good explanation for his flip-flops. What I heard is a slick talker trying to shmoos right past anything real.

common sense   December 7th, 2007 12:54 am ET

It's an obvious appeal to Republican heartstrings by a guy who acts like a used car salesman.

He wants a line item veto, which grossly oversteps the bounds of what the President should be able to do. It's flat out unconstitutional because it upsets the system of checks and balances.

What is so wrong about gay people adopting and getting married? What's so wrong about studying embryos for the sake of millions of lives? What's so wrong about letting women get legal and safe abortions? The gay population can only increase, cancer won't cure itself, and women will simply get unsafe back-alley abortions or give birth in a public bathroom and leave the baby in a dumpster.

Extremists hate America because we've been over there. We support the Saudi kingdom, we supported the Shah of Iran, we supported Saddam, we supported the Taliban. We need to understand our mistakes to see why we have enemies.

I like how he doesn't want the judicial branch to have any power. Judicial review is there for a reason. I also like the xenophobic stance he takes, since America has (until recently) prided itself on being a land of immigrants who bring their language and cultures into the melting pot of the USA, not plastic American flags and bumper stickers made in China.

I would love to have an actual answer from Romney, not this idealistic nonsense painted red white and blue. America is about opportunity and equality for all people even if you don't agree with them. This speech didn't do anything except show that Romney wants to be a new Reagan.

This crop of candidates is just trash. We have Rudy spouting 9/11 as foreign policy experience, Clinton mandating health care insurance when people can't afford it in the first place, Obama with just hope, Romney going with super-nationalism, Huckabee who wants to tax everything, Edwards wants socialism, and Thompson who looks confused to be anywhere. This is pathetic. We need a new Teddy.

Gary,boston,ma   December 7th, 2007 12:40 am ET

Romney want us to have sympathy and vote for him because he was a Mormon pastor and doesn't resonate with most people? Nah, doesn't work like that mitt!

Ivan, Chicago, Illinois   December 7th, 2007 12:26 am ET

Nice speech but it did not address the issue of the Mormon Religion, a Religion that I know nothing about. My only concerns about the Mormon Religion: Does your Religion want to impose their Religious beliefs on others,[if the answer is, no] do the Mormon's want American civil laws to reflect their Religious laws,[if the answer is, no] will the Mormon Religion let me practice my Religion in peace and out in the open,[if the answer is, yes] will the Mormon's harass me because of my religious beliefs,[if the answer is, no] then your Religion poses to threat to me.

Steve Blaine Washington   December 7th, 2007 12:00 am ET

I know it is not Church policy but as a Mormon myself I do not look upon myself as being a Christians in the sense that Christians are defined as
Christians today.
I look upon myself as being a Christian
in the sense that the early Christians
of 2000 years ago were Christians. I know what the definitions of Baptism of Fire means, how the new name is aquired and used, the meaning of the coming of Elija before the great and dreadful day of the coming of the Lord, and the meaning of the 2 priesthoods and many other terms that defined the Christians of 2000 years ago as Christians.
Simply put the Mormons are just a restored Church as promised by God himself in the days of refreshing in Acts 3 verses 19, 20 & 21 that had to take place before the great and dreadful day of the coming of the Lord just like Enoch was called to round up the good people who were taken to heaven as translated being before God destroyed all mankind except for Noah and his family by a flood.

Daniel, NY   December 6th, 2007 11:24 pm ET

A new poll just released this morning in South Carolina has Huckabee suddenly rising to a stunning lead in the state… OUTSIDE of the margin of error! Link.

Brendan H., San Antonio, TX   December 6th, 2007 11:04 pm ET

Foregt how Romney will play in SC; how about the New York, Italian Catholic, Giuliani?!

Walt, Belton, TX   December 6th, 2007 10:24 pm ET

More meaningless tripe from an also-ran who waffles more than Hillary.

joan niantic, ct.   December 6th, 2007 10:23 pm ET

The speech by Mitt Romney was a turning point in my mind. The other candidates cant hold a candle to this mans moral and family views. His religion does not matter to this Irish catholic. The Only thing that matters is his patriotism and his commitment to doing the job of President. He does not owe anyone for favors granted. Can hillary, Rudy.orRichardson stand up to that type of scutiny I THINK NOT> they owe their souls to the K Street and wil have to pay back if elected.

Bot, Cambridge, Mass.   December 6th, 2007 10:17 pm ET

The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is often accused by Evangelical pastors of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion. This article http://mormonsarechristian.blogspot.com/ helps to clarify such misconceptions by examining early Christianity's comprehension of baptism, the Godhead, the deity of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) adheres more closely to First Century Christianity and the original New Testament than any other denomination. Harper’s Bible Dictionary entry on the Trinity says “the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the New Testament.” The Church believes in the New Testament, not the man-made Creeds.

Perhaps the reason the pastors denigrate the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is to protect their flock (and their livelihood). It is encouraging that Paul Weyrich, Wayne Grudem and Bob Jones III, (along with Jay Sekulow, Mark DeMoss, and Dr. John Willke, a founder and past president of the National Right to Life Committee.) have rejected bigotry and now support Mitt Romney on the basis that he is the most moral candidate with the best qualifications.

George,Md   December 6th, 2007 10:15 pm ET

It won't change anything. Furthermore it just seems more desperation……

Yama, Alaska   December 6th, 2007 10:09 pm ET

I think his LDS faith is a concern for those of us who now alittle bit about it. Who whats a POTUS who believes that the American Indians are nothing more than the cursed desendants of a bad Jewish tribe? Look it up.. or better.. let the "nicely" dress, "nicely" mannered young men with the backpacks and ties in your house the next time they come knockin'.
They'll be more than happy to tell you how the whole bad affair went down.

Rick   December 6th, 2007 10:05 pm ET

Hello everybody…this speech was given at the George H. W. Bush Presidential library…this was the annointing of the Bush's…he is the successor…and maybe Jeb is to be his VP…is it getting strange yet?

Thomas, San Francisco   December 6th, 2007 10:01 pm ET

Jeff from Schaumburg, IL, you said, "Islam and Judaism are FAR, FAR closer to Christianity than the Mormon faith." You must have forgotten to think before you hit "submit." I'd love to hear your explanation of how Islam and Judaism, neither of which believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ, are more Christian than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You must have a very unique definition of what it means to be a Christian.

Dan, Saint Louis, MO   December 6th, 2007 9:52 pm ET

Amazing speech. Listen to it. Think about it. Romney really came through. Here's a great excerpt.

"Recall the early days of the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, during the fall of 1774. With Boston occupied by British troops, there were rumors of imminent hostilities and fears of an impending war. In this time of peril, someone suggested that they pray. But there were objections. 'They were too divided in religious sentiments', what with Episcopalians and Quakers, Anabaptists and Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Catholics.

"Then Sam Adams rose, and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot.

"And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God, they founded this great nation.

Anonymous   December 6th, 2007 9:50 pm ET

Now lets have all the Baptists and Evangelicals running for president and tell how they arent going to be controlled by the Gay guy in Colorodo and Pat Robertson, seeing as though they have actually been proven to have direct lines to the current president. Silly right wing fanatical X-tians always looking to question everone execpt themselves.

Mike, New Braunfels, TX   December 6th, 2007 9:43 pm ET

Although I can't deny that Romney's speech was very eloquent and well done, it isn't anything new for most if not all Americans. Of course, it never hurts to get a good reminder. However, this feels VERY prepared… the timing….the content…the method of delivery. Much of Romney's comments in all of his previous debates and especially this speech seem very carefully prepared and scripted. His "handlers" have all of this very well planned out for him. Coupled with the timing of much negative mud-slinging toward other candidates, the choice to deliver this speech at this point in time REEKS of pure politics. Again, I question Romney's motivation for delivering this particular speech at this particular time….it seems as though he will say whatever needs to be said and whatever suits the political climate of the day for his personal political gain.

KEITH JAMES LOUTTIT   December 6th, 2007 9:35 pm ET

"It was a good speech, but I'm not sure he changed anybody's mind," Joe Mack, public policy director of the South Carolina Baptist Convention said.

Hey Joe, it definitely secured my vote in South Carolina for Mitt!

Now all I have to do is move down there in time to register for the election. Or can I get a non-resident waiver?

Mack maintained that Romney's faith, not his past support for abortion rights or his Massachusetts pedigree, could still handicap his presidential bid, "at least among Baptists here in South Carolina."

I wouldn't be so sure Joe, I have a feeling you're not giving them Baptists the credit they deserve. I think they are bright enough to vote on the Issues and not the Faith of the Candidate. And, why do you exclude all of he other denominations of Christians? Do you think only the Baptists will vote against him for his beliefs? Or do you think it is just his Pandering, and Meandering that will offend the good upstanding Christians?

Any comments people? Speak up please.

William Courtland, Waterford, Ontario   December 6th, 2007 9:24 pm ET

No, Still can't understand?

Nothing is only a Nothing until it can be perceived, but what happens when the nothing perceives you first?

In a far distant time into the future of our universe; in a time when humanity as we understand it now has changed completely, when life itself as we understand it now is a distant memory almost forgotten into obscurity: Something comes which threatens all.

All can be a very big amount; when all is just one type of thing it has limits, but the all mentioned now is the Universe entire; yet, things have changed; a paradigm shift has occurred; All as Everything has once again become immeasurable.

Life has grown, sentient has spread from earth like a plague throughout the galaxy, and sentient beings from this galaxy now physically explore the new frontiers of alternate galaxies.

Sentient life in our galaxy was not limited to just earth; while earth held multiple body types that housed a sentient consciousness, one other type was found in this galaxy, and it existed alone and nearly it was nearly the size of a planetoid, they now, once it was only one, have multiplied since earth-life has met it, now them; but that new life is not the topic of interest; sure it was once feared, but that is another story.

The sentient life from earth has become so many multiples, as it found and changed with evolutionary adaptations to exists in environments so foreign to that known in the earths past; and lower life-forms from earth has even had time on other planets to become, adapt, grow into sentient varieties all their own, but again: that is another story.

The Universal problem is the reason for this tale. As the highest evolutionary Earth-life has evolved and combined, it has perceived anew. The dimension of time is a new frontier all its own, but again temporal entity shifting is not related to what is happening now. The Universal problem is what was found outside the Universe, or more importantly what has found us.

The Universe is understandable, distance, change, physical matter, but outside the reaches of that material change lays a nothing which goes unperceivable; it is a void of limitless anti-space that light has not yet penetrated. It is understood that the Universe is forever renewing itself, Black holes gather material until swallowing the whole thing and explode to change the domestic center, but with that movement the energy of its entirety does not change perceptibly. Of course that is still a theory as no thing has existed beyond the entirety of the universe to record it; accept for a few residual fragments located but physically unexplored and found balancing in the outer space of space itself.

The problem is with this new perception is it brings the matter of the nothing outside, for no longer is it nothing, not only that, it is not just something, but it is attempting to learn about what we, the universe, is. The nothing seems sentient, yet we inside still think of it as somehow less yet not dimensionally smaller.

For the longest time, what once was man feared the ability to travel faster than the speed of light; changing the domestic rules of time created a dark heart of energy. Going faster than the temporal speed of matter with an energy burst greater than the mass of the entire object created a pocket in space that was calculated to become a void, a space of infinite gravity similar to the center point of a black hole but it would not become one in the same sense as it was without the matter which compounds it; it would instead create a conduit to a place of unknown origin; believed to be a place similar to our universe but not the same entirely. Depending upon the amount of energy one expended and the number of holes in existence which directly affect each other or as the number of times traveled from different starting dimension it is assumed that the number of destination universes would be multiplied exponentially, and as the universe was only one pocket of universal energy: the universe as its entire dimension would shrink and renew from the known beginning of all time in for every universe required to exist, thus time would eliminate life to impossibility should life every create a multiple dimension universal matrix. It is not known if the Universe could pull itself back together after such a cataclysm, so sentient beings have never tried it.

Time travel is possible; it is confused with this dimensional shift, this sliding, but is not the same, yet neither matter nor energy can travel backwards in time, yet it is still possible for the new evolution of consciousness to do so, even pass back beyond the existence of life. Yet such travel before life is not provable in any context; so it is like imagination transposed.

Life did eventually get past the light speed barrier by finding a new type of atomic level underneath the matter of light now found within a contained scale; it is a temporal flux linked to phases in absolute rated temperature which is different for each proto-photon. By aligning all the proto-photons into the same level of phase to meet the universal age and each other: an object suspended in field and calculated into registry can travel at a velocity limited by the extremes of the rated variant as the maximum and minimum of the domestic proto-photons found in the complex object. The computational power requires a system of interlinks to allow the material exchange, but with the assistance and pre-processing of the galactic solar spheres, which were once known as stars, it is possible to pinpoint individual black-holes and direct an exchange towards their extreme gravitational density. It still takes time to travel even with this method, and traveling to places where such gates do not exist is still impossible beyond the approximation of the speed of light, never the less, with ships near the size of planets, many willingly attempt such terminally closed and fatally incarcerating sojourns. No other galaxy has been deemed to possess such a gate system, and with modern techniques the limit of the universal matter has been found and set a finite constant.

What to call a universe which is greater than the universe, “all or everything?”, while ‘it’ still must remain limited to its unnamed counterpart title: ‘nothing’.

So please, would you help me in meeting the nothing? And maybe introduce it to the universe so it does not destroy it? Life on earth, remember: has evolved, it grew beyond the physical and into parallels of the mental as psychic ability was harnessed and directed for life’s purpose and became a new dimension of dreaming where the imagination can consciously create a whole world separate from reality to enjoy, yet so lifelike to seem just as real. It was a great challenge to defeat this world of imagination and prevent the extinction of all the life which reaches that level. Yes; nirvana was a tough one to beat.

Write the next chapter or start again, because the above is just the beginning of the first draft!

Holograms can not be physical, or if they are their material make-up may interact differently with some natural types of matter it contacts. So, to make something feel like metal A or B: it takes an emitted photonic energy differentiation in such extremes for the safe projection of the required exotic and radical particles and the particles or waves required to contain the correlating or corresponding anti-particle centers: that the energy consumption would be enormous and the projecting energies still might irrevocably interact with certain bonds in some natural atomic particle the projection comes into contact with causing a ‘worse than anti-matter reaction’.

Jen, Cedar Falls, IA   December 6th, 2007 9:24 pm ET

Romney IS the man! Those of you who are spouting negatives about him have obviously not heard his presentation of goals he has for the USA. I have and it's impressive.

William Courtland, Waterford, Ontario   December 6th, 2007 9:20 pm ET

Paradox…Orthodox

A sentient consciousness can understand when it trusts, but faith, which is supplied by The Nothing exists even when it can not be perceived or understood.

In discussing the nothing I would have to define Zero, but nothing begins with the option future choice, and so Nothing can mean every option all at once, while still remaining nothing until the future becomes the present.

Mathimatical nature can define this Choice, but it is relative and to be true will depend upon the final finite limit of the Universe which still has yet to be found. I just have the faith that when all the information is gather, and so the universe known as 'all of it' is completely understood; then all of everything will grow to include the unknown nothing and so again deem the 'all of it' not completely known but not infinite, which allows the search for the next dimesion beyond time or below physicality and the known creation of sentient life.

The Nothing can be confused with where we go when we die, but as Peter Pan once said: 'death could be the greatest adventure.' Yet to return possibly knowning the some-thing of the No-thing, one can only describe it as faith.

Those with faith understand that; and those of freedom can belief what ever they want, until the final truth is found.

With the final truth: all discussion is closed.

To even title the nothing 'The Nothing' when being is a wrong when existing.

Harry Riesendel, Corydon Iowa   December 6th, 2007 9:02 pm ET

Joseph Smith, the aProphet and bSeer of the Lord, has done more, csave Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the dfulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain.

THE
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
SECTION 135

More than any other man that ever lived it it? What a proclamation of an absolute cult!

Lowell Ballard, Wheaton Il   December 6th, 2007 8:51 pm ET

Mormons are good people, but I would have three concerns about a mormon president:

1. Feelings seem to trump intellectual inquiry as a determiner of truth (ask any mormon how they know the book of mormon is true).
2. Mormons believe in a living prophet with the same or greater authority than Joseph Smith. A believing mormon would have to give great weight to the views of their living prophet (something similar might be said of the Catholic faith, though).
3. There seems to be enough evidence to prove the book of mormon is not true. For example, go to the hill Cumorah in New York and ask to see the artifacts of the two great battles the book of mormon says were fought there with over 2 million people dying (there are no artifacts). This is just one example of many problems. Mormon scholars have potential explanations but many suggested answers don't match what Joseph Smith and the early mormons believed.

The LDS and other mormon churches have alot of good qualities that the christian denominations should work harder to emulate. If I thought the book of mormon were true history I would be glad to have a mormon president, but sadly I don't think that is the case.

William Courtland, Waterford, Ontario   December 6th, 2007 8:43 pm ET

I am just wondering about how the Mormon Church deals with deformed or Conjoined children and their relation to Garmies.

Faith is, while belief requires data.

So I can have faith that The Nothing of my dreams: has created something only one who understands The Nothing can know, but one must also become nothing to understand fully what that something which nothing created is. And in knowing that The Nothing created a reason for fatih and that it can not be phsyically described beyond that; so can not be believed.

Joe Nardolillo Johnston RI   December 6th, 2007 8:31 pm ET

Come on ,how much clearer can you get? If any candidate said that his or her oppinion was influenced by their Religion what would you say then? It should be "illegal" (Like illegal aliens) to be a Republican or Democrat or Independent or any party. The candidates should run just on what good they believe they can do for the American People. The campaigns are so sickening to watch or listen to that most people don't even care who makes it because they believe it will not make any difference.We still live in the best country in the world but if we don't smarten up we will all be talking Arabic or Russian. I hope and believe that won't happen. The Government in Washington should take a few steps back and look at what is going on in the world instead of their re-election. I wish they would just step back and come to their senses and see whats going on around the world and do whats good for the USA and everything after that is not as important. How many countries send us money every year? I believe in freedom and individuall rights, but they must be earned!
As far as illegal aliens are concerned I think it is simple. If you want to come to the USA and live here you should have to go through the proper channels. Most people I know
, including my family, came here through Ellis Island. The Government should find all the employers that are hiring these "illegal" aliens and make them pay a fine. What I remember from school is that "Illegal" means against the law. Sounds pretty simple to me. Just send them back to where they came from and make them do it the right way. It seems to me that the only reason that the government doesn't really do anything about it is because they probably can get more votes with all these aliens whom can get a license
and can register to vote.

Chris, Portland, OR   December 6th, 2007 8:28 pm ET

I like the picture of the "salute". Does Herr Romney have a hidden agenda?

Bill , Covington,LA   December 6th, 2007 8:28 pm ET

So,so many sick people, i was undecided, I've read the speach over several times, now I'm decided. Many other presidential asperents could have made the speach but, they didn't. Congratulations Mitt,

Jeff Spangler, Arlington, VA   December 6th, 2007 8:08 pm ET

After watching the evening news and talking heads, it seems to me that The Speech failed to address why Mormonism is not a fringe Christian cult, and offended nonbelievers by asserting that "freedom requires religion".

HS, Columbia, SC   December 6th, 2007 7:49 pm ET

I thought Gov. Romney's speech was about Mormonism but it was just another well-publicized opportunity for him to talk about his candidacy. I think he did this because of Mike Huckabee's rise in the polls. The mainstream media is positive on the speech because they want Rudy to win the nomination, as he polls far weaker than Hillary Clinton. Huckabee polls far stronger than Rudy against Hillary (in fact, Huckabee wins). They think if Romney can defeat Huckabee, then Rudy will defeat Romney, giving them the Democratic victory in November.

I also think it's interesting that in the mainstream media, Huckabee is referred to as Southern Baptist Minister Mike Huckabee, and yet Mitt Romney is NOT referred to as Mormon Bishop Mitt Romney. And yet that is what he was - a Bishop in the church. By the way, anyone who wants to know more about Mormonism should visit http://www.mrm.org.

john williams san diego, ca.   December 6th, 2007 7:11 pm ET

Any religion is fine with me as long as it rejects people as Kennedy, Kerry, Osama Bin Lada and JIMMY CARTER

Alan Hepler, Laytonsville, MD   December 6th, 2007 7:06 pm ET

It isn't his religion, it's his party which he represents which is bothersome. Add to that all of the flip-flops and playing to the crowd he is trying to wow and there can be no trust. After all the GOP gave us Nixon, Agnew, Kent State, Watergate, Irangate, Iraq, $100 oil, a huge deficit, out of control spending, taxes, housing failures, Katrina failure, Afghanistan, dead soldiers, wounded soldiers, a weak dollar, a failing infrastructure, broken borders, long lines at airports, lies about Iran's nuclear program, terror ant time you want (Omaha, VA Tech, Columbine–forget the Islamic extremists, we do it to ourselves) and so on and so on……… If we as a people don't wake up and learn from history, forget the rhetoric and poltical promises which rarely materialize then we are getting exactly what we deserve….after all who would have hired Bush with his resume…only the American people, and all of the gay Senators and Representatives who get caught in Airport bathrooms or propositioning pages, while posing to be "men of
God" who are they kidding? Oh yea, the American electorate. Being a Morman, is the least of his problems.

rachel mark, beverly hills ca.   December 6th, 2007 7:06 pm ET

Mormon Leader in the White House, that would be a good thing. My sister lives in Chehalis Washington… where all the flooding is going on, 300 people had to be rescued from their rooftops… guess who were the first helpers into the area? Not the Red Cross, they were second… the Mormon Church… my sis told me that there are two Mormon Church houses in Chehalis that were opened up within hours after the flooding started, for people to go to, the local Bishop Storehouses started to send supplies… people of all faiths are welcomed to go in and stay and there are cots to sleep on and food, and then supplies to take back home…
My sis was able to get food and supplies yesterday, from "The Mormons"
Three semi-trucks are also on their way from SLC, loaded up with more supplies for people in the hard hit areas. Go to National News and you will see that the Mormons are sponsoring clean -up crews that will go door to door this Sat.
Rachel
Posted By Rachel Mark, Beverly Hills, ca. : December 6, 2007 3:09 pm

Curtis, Coumbia, MD   December 6th, 2007 7:02 pm ET

"Americans do not respect believers of convenience," Romney said. "Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world."

This from a man who just had "illegal mansion". Whats the use?

Alexander, Yigo, GUAM   December 6th, 2007 6:59 pm ET

I think he did a spectacular job all things considering. I think he did what he should've done. Like it has been stated, he should focus on what religion has done for our nation, and on how we are similar as a people. We are the "UNITED STATES" not the "50 Different Religous Almost Allied States"

Go Mitt!!

Also, Jeff…apparently you know nothing about religion to say, "Islam and Judaism are FAR, FAR close to Christianity than the Mormon faith." One, maybe learn something before you open your mouth and trash talk. Two, you could indicate in some small way how that might be. For instance, not that I'm an expert on Islam or Judaism, but to my understanding neither faith accepts Jesus Christ as the Son of God as the Mormons do. That doctrine/principle alone brings mormons close to Christianity. Get over your personal dislikes and learn the facts. You are a prime example of why people of religion have to defend their own freedoms granted to them by our own Constitution in our own country.

This is a Presidential Race, not a religious bashing contest. We shouldn't have to require 1 candidate to differentiate his faith from everyone else and not require the same from every candidate.

Justin, Grand Junction, CO   December 6th, 2007 6:57 pm ET

"Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone."

Really? Think about this- religion would not exist without freedom? Freedom would not exist without religion?

I know plenty of non-religious people who are free… I know plenty of religious people who are not free.

Ryan, Oakland, CA   December 6th, 2007 6:46 pm ET

I'm not sure anyone was expecting Romney to explain the differences between Mormonism and other Christian sects. There are other people, missionaries, preachers, etc who are willing to do that. As a presidential candidate Romney only needs to explain how his faith relates to how he'll govern. And he did that pretty well I think.

K Scully, Ruffin, SC   December 6th, 2007 6:44 pm ET

I have to wonder, whether Romney's "Faith Speech" was really about taking prospective voters' attention off his "immigration Faux Pas"! (Attacking Rudy while there were illegals still working at his own mansion)

dave, dallas,tx   December 6th, 2007 6:36 pm ET

Romney, you change in everything plus your religion. What do you stand for Romney? Tell me one thing. I am not secure with your one and offs!

sam,newton,Iowa   December 6th, 2007 6:34 pm ET

Romney is really desperate. He can not swallow the fact that someone else is leading. Romney I am sorry but we don't want your desperation!

John Barry   December 6th, 2007 6:16 pm ET

I have long wondered about the 'mysterious' Mormons. I have heard some scary things on the street about what they believe. But my question for all Mormons is, "Can I come to your worship services to find out for myself what it is all about?" …I would think the answer would be "NO!" Thus I still think there is some cult going on there and that they are hiding something.

Shawnie Cannon, Grants Pass OR   December 6th, 2007 5:16 pm ET

Expecting Mr. Romney to get doctrinal and into religious theologies was an unrealistic expectation. Saying that he owes an explanation to the Evangelicals for how his religion is different is pompous and intolerant. I would have thought much less of Romney if he HAD attempted to use the spotlight to further his own religion. He did not. He attempted to unify. Shame on the Evangelicals who so venomously segregate. I was just on a blog where one "orthodox evangelical" said Catholics weren't Christian either.

Kay P., Hayfield, UT   December 6th, 2007 5:15 pm ET

Why does Romney have to explain the difference in Mormonism and other denominations. That isn't his place. He's running for president. His two years of missionary service are over. What happened to the separation of church and state? Why are they so focused on differences? What they should be looking for are the similarities.

Why aren't the religious differences being focused on with the other GOP candidates? They are all of different faiths too, I'm sure?

Jacob, Moscow ID   December 6th, 2007 4:50 pm ET

This Speech could go down in history as the defining script, second only to the constitution, as to the role of religion in the United States of America. It was delivered by a man with great moral authority on the subject and the religious experience Mitt has under his belt is matched by few. He served two and a half years of unpaid service to the study of faith and the sharing of his beliefs to people of an other country. He raised a family that demonstrates a deep belief in god. He served several years as a bishop and nearly a decade as a stake president both of which were entirely unpaid and voluntary. He presided over many bishops as a stake president. Bishops in the Mormon Church are similar to pastures such as Huchabee. Mitt has spent most of his adult life encouraging a belief in god while trying to raise a family and obtain success in his business ventures, and has been very successful in all.

This one will go down in history

Jeff, Schaumburg, IL   December 6th, 2007 4:47 pm ET

It seems that a large portion of the Republican base are the people who are hurt the most financially by Republican fiscal policies (poor, rural, south), but they are dedicated to the Republicans because of their marketing themselves as the "Christian" party.

That being said…who is going to vote for Romney? Islam and Judaism are FAR, FAR closer to Christianity than the Mormon faith. This is basically a candidate who appeals to the smaller portion of Republicans. Wealthy, not very religious northern Republicans. Congratulations Mitt, here's your 7 electoral votes.

Mike J, La Porte, TX   December 6th, 2007 4:46 pm ET

Why do Americans still pay attention to religious hacks like Smith and Mack? Are these guys any more knowledgeable about taxes, foreign policy, immigration, crime, transportation, education, terrorism, etc. than the rest of us?

Why have these people become the gatekeepers to the White House?

Todd, SLC, UT   December 6th, 2007 4:34 pm ET

"Americans do not respect believers of convenience," Romney said. "Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world."

This from a man who campaigned for governor of Democratic-leaning Massachusetts as a supporter of abortion rights, gay rights and gun control — only to switch sides on those and other issues in time for the GOP presidential race. The first thing he did as a presidential contender in January was sign the same no-tax pledge an aide dismissed as "government by gimmickry" during the 2002 campaign.

By RON FOURNIER, Associated Press Writer

As Mr.Fournier states, Mitt has bigger problems than his religion.

MITT-TTIM; hey I just made a flip-flop to!

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