Romney, Christie repeat calls for Perry to repudiate pastor

Chris Christie, left, and Mitt Romney, right.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Wednesday reiterated his call for Texas Governor Rick Perry to condemn a Texas pastor and supporter who called Mormonism a "cult."

Romney, in a joint appearance on NBC's "Today" show with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie - who announced his endorsement of Romney on Tuesday afternoon - argued that Perry would be "wise to repudiate the words of the pastor in every way he possibly can."

"I've heard worse in my life," he added. "I don't get real nervous about what people say. And I think this pastor could say something like that in his church, but in a political setting I think that's a mistake and the founders felt that way when they crafted the Constitution and said there would not be a religious test."

Christie added that religion "has no business in deciding who would be the President of the United States of America."

"The folks should be judged on the basis of their record, integrity... not what religion they practice," he continued. "I don't think this has any business in political life for our country, and I think it's unsettling that anyone would associate themselves with those kinds of comments."

The pastor, Robert Jeffress, made the comments while endorsing Perry at the at the Values Voter Summit last Friday. Perry has rejected the characterization of Mormonism, but has refused to disavow the pastor.

"Governor Perry is going to focus his campaign on improving the economy and creating jobs, issues that matter to Americans," spokesman Mark Miner said in a statement to CBS News. "Mitt Romney's comments are a distraction from the fact that Romneycare served as a blueprint for Obamacare."

Romney and Christie also shrugged off multiple questions about whether or not Christie would be on the former Massachusetts governor's short list for vice president if he were to win the nomination.

"The truth is, Governor Christie is one of the leading figures in the Republican party and of course anyone who becomes our nominee is going to look at people like Governor Christie and say, well, that would be a terrific person to have on the ticket," Romney said. "He'd be on anyone's short list."

"He's an extraordinary person and I'm delighted to have him on my team," he added.

Christie emphasized that he hadn't been promised the vice president slot in the event of a Romney nomination, and said he had endorsed the candidate because "he's the best person for the job, simply on the merits."

"Governor Romney gives us the best chance of winning back the White House in November 2012 and I want to do everything I can to help him," Christie said.

Much has been made of Christie's recently-touted endorsement of Romney, and many believe it could help the former governor both lock up support from the Republican establishment and make inroads with the conservative base.

Moreover, the governor's support is a clear sign of growing momentum for Romney toward the nomination.

"He's going to win," Christie said.

Otherwise, he added, "I wouldn't be with him."

[clarkeb1]

It is unfortunate that someone had to resign because they spoke the truth about Mormanism. If one does the slightest searching into the history of Mormanism they will find out why it is not considered a Christian religion. And Romney being a Morman should be a consideration in his running for office as it speaks to his being able to be deceived so easily or his believing in such a wild story concerning American and religious history as that presented by Mormanism. I can understand that when someone is brought up in the Morman faith that they would be inclinded to accept it but can they really believe what Joseph Smith came up with as having any believable truth to it. I just finished reading jon Krakauer's book Under the Banner of Heaven and I'm left wondering how anyone with the business sense that Romney obviously has could buy into a faith that is built on such falsehood. Although religions differ in their historical basis and ones belief as such is not a reason for selecting a president and I would be open to voting for candidates from different faith backgrounds, following Mormanism seems so intellectually false that I could not see myself voting for someone who has bought into this belief system and here we have two otherwise very smart men running for president who are Morman - who would have thought it possible.

[devanhoops]

ANYONE that believes Mormons are not Christians should listen to this. Take it from the voice of a man who IS authorized to speak for the Mormons as a whole:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STgqgEAypAg&noredirect=1

Best online source on the topic. Hope this clears some things up for some.

[DanerMuhlig]

.
~Mormonism Not Christian
Mormonism [Church of Latter Day Saints] is not Christian is because it denies the doctrines
of Christianity. Mormonism denies that there is only one God, Jesus is God in flesh,
forgiveness of sins is by grace, Jesus rose from the dead physically.
God, One of Many Gods, is An Exalted Man, Who is Married with Many Wives
Mormonism teaches that God is a an exalted man, that he used to be a man on another
planet and he is only one of countless gods and that God is married and he brought one
of his wives to this world and produces spirit children who then inhabit human bodies at birth.
God Had Sex with Mary
Mormons say God had sex with Mary and produced Jesus! According to Mormonism there
was no virgin birth. "The Father came down from heaven...and begat the Savior of the World;
for He is the Only Begotten of the Father which could not have been if the Father did not
actually beget him in person...The birth of the Saviour was as natural as are the births of
our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood." (Brigham
Young, Journal Of Discourses, Vol. 1 page 238 and8:115)
Man Can Become God
Mormons believe that man can become God! "The Lord created you and me for the purpose
of becoming Gods like Himself." Brigham Young (Journal Of Discourses 3:93).
Jesus Was A Polygamist
The reason people "persecuted Jesus Christ, was because he had so many wives; there were
Elizabeth and Mary, and a host of others." [Journal of Discourses, Vol 1. ppl 345-346] "The
Scripture says the Lord, came walking in the Temple, with HIS TRAIN; I do not know who they
were, unless his wives and children." Brigham Young [Journal of Discourses,Vol.13.pg309]
Jesus and Satan Are Spirit Brothers
Mormons believe that Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers. [Journal of Discourses, 93:21]
Salvation through Joseph Smith
"No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God
without the consent of Joseph Smith...every man and woman must have the
certificate of Joseph Smith." [Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p.289-91]
The Bible Is Not Infallible and Is Not Reliable
Mormons teach that the Bible has many errors and is unreliable and was corrupted in
translation and it is not infallible.They believe their Book of Mormon is God's Word. It is
"the most correct of any book on earth and the keystone of our religion." Joseph Smith
Polygamy Marriages in Heaven
Mormon's believe that you can be "sealed" to more than one woman and therefore have

[McLovin22]

Mormonism is not "Evangelical" Christian is more accurate. Jesus Christ "is" at the center of their religion and to claim they are not Christian and followers of Christ's teachings is a lie and a play on words. They are very much Christian. They are not "Evangelical" Christian.

It seems that you believe Jesus Christ is the sole property of your own beliefs and that Mormonism, with it's intriguing theological twists, has no claim.

[UniqueGramma]

Though I don't like Rick Perry, nor Romney for that matter, I think Romney needs to get off his high horse and deal with the preacher himself!! Was Rick Perry the puppetmaster of this preacher? Come on!! Get a backbone Romney!

[Progress4USA]

Stand by your man Rick!!!!!!