(CNN) – A holiday card that falsely claims to be from "the Romney family" and highlights Mitt Romney's Mormon faith was anonymously sent to Republican mailboxes across South Carolina earlier this week.
The source of the card is unknown.
The mailer, which says it is "Paid for by the Boston Massachusetts Temple," displays a quote from Mormon apostle Orson Pratt saying that God had multiple wives:
"We have now clearly shown that God the father had a plurality of wives, one or more being eternity by whom he begat our spirits as well as the spirit of Jesus, his first born, and another being upon the earth by whom he begat the tabernacle of Jesus, as his only begotten in this world," the quote reads.
A copy of the glossy brochure obtained by CNN offers holiday wishes from "the Romney family": "We wish you and your family a happy holiday season and a joyful New Year," it says.
The card focuses on the Republican presidential candidate's home state of Massachusetts, displaying a photo of the Mormon Temple in Boston as well as a snowy photo of the Public Garden in Boston.
The mailing also quotes from the first Book of Nephi, part of the book of Mormon, in which the Virgin Mary is described as "exceedingly fair and white."
Romney spokesman Will Holley condemned the card.
"It is sad and unfortunate that this kind of deception and trickery has been employed," Holley said. "There is absolutely no place for it in American politics."
– CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby
From CNN Politics
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With the bigotry that is evidence in the world, that is destroying countries like Iraq, Pakistan, and Israel, is there any wonder that this happens? Wake up America!
That is absolute religious bigotry.
Everyone should stand against this type of smear, regardless of what you may or may not believe. It's purely sick.
Looks like Huckabee is at it again.
Huckabee is a real piece of work, isn't he?
Outrageous and insulting. The anti-Mormon crowd is some of the most vicious, intolerant, hateful bunch of "Christians" I've ever seen. And, I'm not even Mormon.
Unbelievable.
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I would caution everyone against pointing fingers. No one has said that they put this out yet and we certainly haven't found out who. Please, let's not be too quick to judge.
Are those real quotes from the book of Mormon? Even if Romney didn't send the card, those quotes are interesting.
Now don't jump to conclusions. There is no reason to believe that the perpetrators of this hoax have anything at all against Mormons. It is naive to assume in politics that anything is what it appears to be. Who could benefit from this?
Giuliani and Huckabee benefit most from the association of Romey with a description of Mary as white and fair, because those whose skins are not white and fair may detect the odor of racism in the quotation. Of course, Mormonism came of age during a very racist time in American history and it is reflected in the books that Mormon leaders concocted back then. The Old Testament has some very creepy stuff in it too, but let's not start quoting chapter and verse.
Romney himself benefits because of the sympathy he is now getting as the victim of bigotry, so supporters of Romney may be behind it (and perhaps not known to Romney himself).
I am not aware of any big money anti-Mormon groups out there. Mormons are grumbled about by those who take theology seriously, but there is no group that so hates Mormons that they would spend this kind of money just to keep Mitt Romney out of the White House. Mitt is not going to hurt any Conservative cause, and he is about as Mormon as Fred Thompson is Christian.
My money is on the Huckabee supporters, though Huckabee himself was surely not involved. Theology to them is a big deal, and it would make sense to them to attack theology. It would make no sense to Giuliani supporters at all. To them, theology is something that ministers major in at the seminary but it has no relevance to life at all.
So we can relax. This is not bigotry. This is just dirty politics: as American as apple flavored pie-like pastry.
Hate is abundant even during Christmas.
Hopefully Americans are smarter than this bigoted attack. Then again, probably not.
This may have been someone who supports Huckabee, but I am confident that Huckabee had nothing to do with it himself. He would not stoop to this. NO WAY!
Romey and all the Republicans are running on the "Religion Ticket." They promise their voters that God and the Bible will guide their lives and guide their decisions as President. Yet if anyone points out the delusional bigotry, atrocity, absurdy, and contradiction associated with Christianity and it's two thousand year history, those people are vehemently criticised. Intersting, isn't it?
The Book of Mormon claims that dark skin was a punishment from God and that biracial children were cursed. It is legitimate to ask candidate Romney whether he believes these antebellum racial views are true or false, whether these nineteenth century racial teachings are deplorable lies - or the divine and inerrant Word of God. Thus far, he has declined to answer. Sooner or later, he will have to face these issues head on.
Freedom from religious persecution? Apparently not anymore. Witness further, the erosion of our country's core values. Whatever happened to the separation of church and state?
Romney spokesman Will Holley condemned the card.
"It is sad and unfortunate that this kind of deception and trickery has been employed," Holley said. "There is absolutely no place for it in American politics."
Mr. Holley, how do you suppose , Karl ( turdblossom) Rove got to have the reputation as a political genius for your party?
I am a Mormon. I am not offended. But context does speak volumes. Someone is certainly picking and choosing scripture here.
But so what.
Any American who is capable of voting should also be able to investigate both the candidates and the Church (if they so desire) for themselves.
Again...context people!
This is sickening! Absolutely uncalled for.
If this isn't Mike Huckabee's doing, I'll eat my hat. Huckabee is the worst of Jimmy Carter, the Clintons and Elmer Gantry, combined. I would rather see Edwards elected president, and that's saying something, as I'm a rock-ribbed Reaganite!
Questions – re: the biracial issues you ask about in the book of Mormon, there were two races that emerged and at different places each of them is cursed or blessed, but it was always based on whether they were obeying God's laws. Mitt's record and retoric, despite his flaws, makes it clear he's not racist. Also Mormons do not believe its leaders to be inerrant or infallible as the Catholics do, making obscure remarks from the 19th century or earlier even less relevant.
Bigots left this, the religious right is at it again.
There is no place for this in America.
It is simply deceptive and wrong. Shame on whoever did this.
I am in Dallas Texas and can assure you that religious bigotry is alive and well. Just as organized anti-mormon goups continue their hateful effort both inside churches and out. How do I know this? My baptist friends have told me so.
Don't believe everything you read, people.
Romney is clearly the best, most experienced leader and administrator running for president. His opponents have nothing but lies and deception to offer. Support Romney!
Religion and Politics are different things. Romney made it clear last month when he spoke about Faith in Polictics. Its a shame why people ask so many questions about his faith, why don't they ask the same with other candidates.
I hope they find who did this work of distributing the cards.
There is nothing wrong with this card. what's the big fuss?
Go Huckabee!!!