Is Romney Gaining Ground With Evangelical Leaders?
CBS News' Scott Conroy reports:
The morning papers carried two pieces of news that indicate Mitt Romney, whose Mormon faith has been an issue in this campaign, is making progress in winning over evangelical Christians.
The New York Times reports that Mark DeMoss, a prominent evangelical publicist, wrote a five-page letter to 150 conservative Christian leaders urging them to rally around Romney’s candidacy.
“After spending months researching his life and his record, and hours with him (and his wife and staff) in his home, his office and on the road, I am convinced his values practically mirror my own,” DeMoss wrote.
Meanwhile, The Washington Times reports that two other big-name evangelicals heaped praise upon Romney yesterday. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and American Values President Gary Bauer praised Romney while criticizing Mike Huckabee — the GOP candidate and Baptist minister whose theology might be most in line with theirs.
Though polls continue to show a sizable percentage of the electorate thinks America is not ready to elect a Mormon president, DeMoss, Perkins and Bauer argued that shared values are more important than shared theology.
“We’ve had a real constant and steady growth of support with conservatives and evangelical leadership,” Romney spokesperson Kevin Madden told CBS News.
Romney’s previous support of abortion rights has exposed him to accusations of being inconsistent on an issue that is critical to evangelical voters. But several prominent Christian conservative leaders have pointed out that they are in the business of converting people on abortion and should not automatically reject someone who’s changed his views.
“I always thought the pro-life movement existed for the purpose of influencing hearts and mind on the issue of life, and historically, we have celebrated converts to our side,” DeMoss wrote.
Romney will soon get a prime opportunity to prove himself to Christian conservatives at the Values Voter Summit in Washington on Oct. 19 and 20, where he, along with the rest of the GOP field, is expected to speak.
The morning papers carried two pieces of news that indicate Mitt Romney, whose Mormon faith has been an issue in this campaign, is making progress in winning over evangelical Christians.
The New York Times reports that Mark DeMoss, a prominent evangelical publicist, wrote a five-page letter to 150 conservative Christian leaders urging them to rally around Romney’s candidacy.
“After spending months researching his life and his record, and hours with him (and his wife and staff) in his home, his office and on the road, I am convinced his values practically mirror my own,” DeMoss wrote.
Meanwhile, The Washington Times reports that two other big-name evangelicals heaped praise upon Romney yesterday. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and American Values President Gary Bauer praised Romney while criticizing Mike Huckabee — the GOP candidate and Baptist minister whose theology might be most in line with theirs.
Though polls continue to show a sizable percentage of the electorate thinks America is not ready to elect a Mormon president, DeMoss, Perkins and Bauer argued that shared values are more important than shared theology.
“We’ve had a real constant and steady growth of support with conservatives and evangelical leadership,” Romney spokesperson Kevin Madden told CBS News.
Romney’s previous support of abortion rights has exposed him to accusations of being inconsistent on an issue that is critical to evangelical voters. But several prominent Christian conservative leaders have pointed out that they are in the business of converting people on abortion and should not automatically reject someone who’s changed his views.
“I always thought the pro-life movement existed for the purpose of influencing hearts and mind on the issue of life, and historically, we have celebrated converts to our side,” DeMoss wrote.
Romney will soon get a prime opportunity to prove himself to Christian conservatives at the Values Voter Summit in Washington on Oct. 19 and 20, where he, along with the rest of the GOP field, is expected to speak.
Furthermore, I didn''t hear Perkins or Baurer "heap" praise on Romney. They just said they don''t think he flip-flopped.
Their supposed "criticism" of Huckabee was regarding negotiating with Iran %u2014 hardly a values voter issue.
Let what they actually said speak for itself %u2014 evangelicals are not coalescing around Romney.
Posted by Twinmomentum at 02:59 PM : Oct 11, 2007
I was looking at from the other way around. Mormons finding their place in the scheme of things.
A careful read reveals that Mr. Miller isn%u2019t saying that all evangelicals are jumping on the Mitt wagon. What the article points out is that some prominent evangelicals believe Mitt Romney%u2019s conversion on the core values of the Republican Party and admits that he %u201Cis making progress in winning over evangelical Christians.%u201D
Mitt Romney is running on; pro-life, against gay marriage, strong family values (to name a few) many of the values that resonate with religiously motivated voters. This coupled with his lead in early states, the organizational strength of his campaign, the assets to last him through, and his experience as a successful business person and problem solver, make Mitt Romney an appealing candidate.
Mitt Romney%u2019s current stands then become even more contrasted and important to this race when compared with Giuliani%u2019s almost polar views on those same principles, which are completely out of step with his party.
DeMoss%u2019 and others statements shows that choosing a candidate is less about theological differences and more about common values, even if the opposite makes a great story.
According to an MSNBC online poll participated by over 22,000 people, Texas Congressman Ron Paul won the Tuesday night GOP Michigan debate in a landslide.
As shown in the screenshot, when asked who they thought was standing out from the pack, Paul received 86% of the online vote.
Some accuse the Church of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion . . http://mormonsarechristian.blogspot.com/ helps to clarify such misconceptions by examining early (First Century) Christianity''s theology relating to baptism, the Godhead, the deity of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) adheres to Early Christian theology more closely than other Christian denominations. Perhaps the reason Evangelical preachers promote this mis-representation is to protect their flock (and their livlihood). Pure bigotry is the only explanation for the Media and Air America.
You are a completely misinformed fool! I know that when I want to find out the complete truth about a person or an organization, I go directly to their enemies. Give me a break!
Any use of the word, no matter the meaning the author is trying to portray, then brings to mind these negative nuances to the reader or listener. As such the use of the term become irresponsible and bigoted when applied to groups who do not fit the common usage of the term.
Labeling and name calling only serves to show that user of such tactics is either ignorant or worse intolerant of others belief systems, i.e. a religious bigot. Difference of opinion on religious theology is better mediated by respectful, thoughtful discussion on those differences.
I didn''t misstate the case or misspeak myself when I used the term.
CBS and the media is trying to make this cult more palatable for the American people, and it will simply not work...any more than if $cientology were suddenly thrust upon us as some sort of viable alternative religious choice. It is not.
As for Mormons being a lawless religious group that can quickly be dismissed. Mormon doctrine states that they %u201Cbelieve in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law%u201D in the country for which they reside. (Pearl of Great Price | Articles of Faith 1:12)
Mormons also are not a drug-laden group for the most part as they abstain from things like tea, coffee, alcohol, and illegal drugs as a matter of church doctrine.
I have seen some who would label other religions for other reasons such as doctrinal differences. As an example Mormons do not follow the Trinitarian views laid out by the Nicene Creed. Also they believe in continuing revelation and that God sends to his children, all of us, through prophets and on a personal level through to Holy Spirit. Much of the obedience to any instruction coming from leaders of the church is then predicated on ones personal spiritual journey as Mormons are expected to pray and think for them selves of any matter of doctrine before applying such in there life.
Differences such as these do not hold against the current social use of the term %u201Ccult%u201D and so JackSteen1 has just proven my point from the post below.