Mitt Romney As Mormon Missionary

The Skinny: Young Leader Spent Late '60s Seeking Converts In France

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While his peers back in the States were tuning in and dropping out, a young Mitt Romney was tuning out (newspapers and television) and dropping in (on unsuspecting French people) in his role as a Mormon missionary.

The New York Times delivers an illuminating look at this formative period in the presidential candidate's life this morning, showing how his two years at the Mormon mission overseas gave him his first taste of power and responsibility.

But David Kirkpatrick's piece is most powerful in showing what Romney didn't do - namely, voice any strong conviction about the two defining issues of his generation, the Vietnam War and civil rights. That is, until the authority figures in his life took a position. Then, he followed that position.

Romney left for France as a 19-year-old freshman at Stanford, and returned home two years later to transfer to Brigham Young University to be closer to his high school girlfriend and future wife, Ann.

His missionary efforts were interrupted when France erupted into chaos in May 1968, fueled in part by anger over the Vietnam War. He recoiled from the student unrest, and friends say it reinforced his respect for authority.

Many church leaders considered the war a godly cause, and Romney said at the time he thought it was essential to holding back communism. So it surprised him to hear that his father, George Romney, had turned against the war while campaigning for the 1968 Republican presidential nomination.

"I was surprised when I heard my father, then running for president, say that we were wrong, that we had been told lies by our military, that the course of the war was not going as well as we thought it was and that we had been mistaken when we had entered into the war," Romney said. "It obviously caused me to reconsider what I had previously thought," he said, adding, "Ultimately, I came to believe that he was right."

Back in the U.S. at Brigham Young, when boycotts and violent protests over the university's virtually all-white sports teams broke out at away games, he stayed on the sidelines.

At the time, the Mormon Church excluded blacks from full membership, considering them spiritually unfit as the result of a biblical curse on the descendants of Noah's son Ham.

A handful of students and prominent Mormons called for an end to the doctrine, but Romney wasn't one of them. When he heard over a car radio in 1978 that the church would offer blacks full membership, he said, he pulled over and cried.

But until then, he deferred to church leaders, he said. "The way things are achieved in my church, as I believe in other great faiths, is through inspiration from God and not through protests and letters to the editor."

Philanthropists Step In Where GI Bill Falls Short

Long gone are the days when signing up for the military meant a free ride to college.

USA Today reports that the gap between the maximum GI bill benefit for a year ($9,609) and the national average tuition, room and board charges and estimated costs for books and supplies at an in-state four-year public university ($14,577) is so great that private philanthropists are stepping in to help close it.

The original GI Bill entitled World War II veterans to tuition, books and a living stipend that covered the cost of education. Today, it covers about 66 percent of the tuition, room and board charges and estimated costs for books and supplies at an in-state four-year public university. It covers a much smaller percentage of the average cost of tuition and fees at private universities, $23,712.

So well-to-do alumni are stepping in to help. For example, at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., one of the priciest private institutions with an estimated annual cost of $47,000, officials announced Tuesday that two alumni had contributed "substantial gifts" to create need-based scholarships for up to 10 former servicemembers. Several other private institutions are funding other financial aid deals for military students.

Many of the gifts are fueled by anger that the government isn't doing a good enough job supporting the veterans in the first place.

"Frankly, I'm just angry that our country doesn't express their appreciation for what these people are doing for us," says billionaire financier Jerome Kohlberg, a World War II veteran.

Burglars Break Into South African Nuclear Reactor, Shoot Man, Steal Computer

With so much ink having been spilled over the tug-of-war between Iran and the Western world over its nuclear program, you'd think this story in the New York Times about a violent break-in to a nuclear site in South Africa would have gotten more play. But even the Times seems to be scratching its head on this one.

This much is known: Just after midnight on Nov. 8, Anton Gerber was sitting with his fiancé in the control room of South Africa's most secretive nuclear facility - where the nation's apartheid government conceived and delivered six atomic bombs in the 1970s and 80s - when four gunmen burst into the room.

Gerber pushed his fiancé under a desk and took four bullets in the chest as the attackers took a computer and fled. They dropped their booty as they later came under assault by guards, but got away cleanly, neither caught by security nor captured on the facility's security cameras.

A week after the assault, which the Times calls "the most serious on a nuclear installation in recent memory," the government is mostly mum about who was behind the break-in or why. The incident is giving ammunition to critics who question the wisdom of plans by South Africa and other African states to embrace nuclear energy as a solution to chronic power shortages and climate change.

The Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa said it suspended six security officials after the incident and hinted that the break-in was an inside job. But no one has offered an explanation of the assault. A Pretoria News report, withdrawn under government pressure, suggested a love triangle involving Gerber, his fiancée, a plant supervisor.

Although the government renounced its nuke program in the late apartheid era, some experts say the nuclear reactor holds bomb-grade enriched uranium. As if that wasn't troubling enough, the Times leaves us with this final question mark, saying it is "unclear if bomb-making information would be so casually stored as to be available to burglars."

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[marcodele]

Just what we need. Another ''Junior'' with money buying the presidency. When will the neocons start voting outside ''The Lucky Spurm Club?''

[perception5]

Mitt Romney will be the GOP nominee for 2008.

Mitt Romney will go on to be the 44th President of the USA because he the most qualified candidate from either party.

Mitt was Governor of the bluest state in America, Massachusetts and did a great job there.

Mitt brought health insurance to every citizen in Massachusetts without raising taxes.

Does anyone care about "health insurance"?

Mitt owes his political career to Democrats who elected him in Massachusetts.

If there is anyone that can "unite" this nation it''s clearly Mitt Romney.

BTW Mitt Romney is running for Commander-in-Chief not Pastor-in-Chief.

Not sure by America''s MSM wolfpack is so fixed on his religion?

Other Mormons have run for president in the past including Democrat Morris Udall.

And no one at the time even brought up his religion.......... interesting........

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need to is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need to is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need to is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need to is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need to is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need to is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need to is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need to is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need to is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need to is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[chucktruck2]

California Republican Assembly endorses Mitt Romney. This is huge news.....GO MITT...GO MITT

[marcodele]

He doesn''t have a chance in hlll if he doesn''t have Chuck Norris''s endorsement.

[chucktruck2]

Mitt has chucktruck''s endorsement ...GO MITT...GO MITT

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[grandmagreat-2009]

I can''t believe the comments by a reader that was submitted a number of times, that the Mormon Missionaries are out to sell you a book. I have been a Mormon Missionary, have had a son also serve, as well as grandsons''s, great grandsons, sisters, and to my knowlege not one of them ever sold a Book of Mormon. There whole purpose is to let People know that the Gospel has been restored, and invite them to participate in Church with the rest of the "Mormons", we prefer to be called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that is the name of the church, the world has nicknamed us Mormons. A grandma in Arizona

[PollM]

Do you think the Mormon Faith is a Religion?
.
.
------ http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=972

.

[chucktruck2]

OK...BE BRAVE...... Who are you voting for ? And what is your faith ?...Remember atheism is a belief system too .They BELIEVE that when one dies that is it .It is a religion . OK I am voting for Mitt and "Evangelicals for Mitt" is a great site .

[dbl06]

"Decisions should be based on inspiration from god". Sound familiar, It should. George Bush was "inspired by god" to spread democracy to Iraq. The morman dogma that blacks could not hold the priesthood limited equal rights to blacks. A dogma that still persists for women in the morman church. Dogmas prevent thinking and acting "outside the box". Inspiration from god is limited to a chosen few to direct the many. Freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and the freedom to act have been the hallmarks of all great accomplishments of human endeavor. If Mitt Romney were to become President (God Forbid), would he need to wait for an inspiration from god to act? Personally, my view of God would be a God who encouraged the above mentioned freedoms. Christ was any thing but a conformist. Anyway, Mitt should carry Utah.

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[honestabe8]

chucktruck: atheism is a belief, not a religion.

[donbl1]

Although I tend to "not answer the door", I do recognize the considerable dedication young Mormons make to their faith by being two year evangelists of their church at an age when most of us were pretty unfettered....

If we all gave that amount of dedication to what we believe, America would be a better place.

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[random_radar]

Let''s see...Mitt Romney has never committed adultery, never used illegal drugs, never promoted violence as a means of social change. He has made a ton of money by being successful in business rather than line his pockets in a long career in "public service."

It sounds like a Romney presidency would be very dull and full of prosperity. Why let the good times roll with such a forgettable president? War, conflict, and social upheaval sound more exciting.

Of course, I still am going to vote for Ron Paul because I believe in freedom and don''t support the status quo. Individual liberty yes! Statist oppression no!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[zenzen1-2009]

Your article has convinced me to vote for Mitt Romney. He sounds like the kind of candidate we need. What we don''t need is some dipstick airhead ex-hippy running our country. THANKS!

[seven_pesos]

remember, folks!

remember who voted for bush and supported his war and death and destruction.

christians and red state republicans.

and they want to elect another creep just like bush.

oh well, that''s the ----- for you, folks!

[seven_pesos]

ted haggard, james dobson and the christian right are hooking up with romney.

they hope to replace george bush, jr. with romney and continue his policy of hate, war and aggression.

christians and republicans...america is screwed.

ha,ha,ha.

that''s the ----- for you, folks!

[marcodele]

We allowed someone to purchase the presidency once and look at the shape we''re in now because of it.

Tell Mitt we aren''t for sale.

[denn034]

Hugh Hewitt''s book entitled A Mormon in the White House? also discusses Romney''s missionary days.

[myidoncbs]

I have to wonder about the sanity of "Christians" who plan to vote for Mutt Romney. The LDS cult does NOT believe that Jehovah (or Jahweh) is the One True God. They believe that Elohim is the One True God, that he is the father of Jehovah and Satan and Jesus. They believe that God had a wife and he used to be a man. They believe that they will all turn into gods if they follow the cult''s teachings. Their leaders declared war on the United States in the 1800''s, and their secret temple vows used to include a vow to get revenge on the USA for "mistreating" their prophet. I don''t think these are the kind of people who should be given the keys to the country!

[denn034]

Another comment. The Vietnam war was fought to protect the South Vietnamese from North Vietnamese oppression. The supposedly anti-oppression Democrats celebrated our defeat and the oppression of the South Vietnamese after our troops left Vietnam. The story seems to say that it''s a bad thing to not oppose the war which, makes no sense. How could it be bad to oppose oppression? Yes, we made mistakes over there but, the overall mission of opposing oppression made what we did over there worthwhile.

[denn034]

A comment on civil rights. Yes, the Mormons didn''t ordain Negroes to the priesthood and could be called racists during the 1960s but, the Mormon Negroes now receive the priesthood and they''ve shed their racist past.

[denn034]

MyIDonCBS,
First, Jehovah is Jesus in Mormon theology. Lastly, the Mormons did fight the US Army after it was sent to Utah based on false rumors but, any animosity the Mormons had against the US died in the late 1800s or early 1900s.

[denn034]

MyIDonCBS,
Regarding the Oath of Vengeance in Mormon temples, such ended in 1924. The Mormons today are extremely patriotic now. Their past animosities no longer exist.

[denn034]

MyIDonCBS,
Actually, the Oath of Vengeance was removed on February 15, 1927, from Mormon Temples not 1924. My mistake.

[denn034]

MyIDonCBS,
You''re right about the Mormons believing the God the Father was once a man and has a wife in heaven as well as their belief that mankind can progress to godhood through temple ceremonies and worthiness.

[randaids]

Of course, I still am going to vote for Ron Paul because I believe in freedom and don''''t support the status quo. Individual liberty yes! Statist oppression no!


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Posted by random_radar at 12:32 PM : Nov 15, 2007

A vote for Ron Paul is a vote for Hilary Clinton. Wake up and remember the other RP, Ross Perot.

[hillaryin08]

Just dont trick me!

[gkc99]

Curious how the article fails to mention how these two years as a "missionary" were used to keep Mitt nice and safe from the Vietnam draft and the Vietnam war. He never had to take a stand, because his rich, powerful daddy and church made sure he never confronted the possiblity of having to go to Vietnam himself.

The man is clearly a coward, hiding from any substantive decisions that might impact him, toeing the authority line and doing what he''s told.

If he supported the Vietnam war, why didn''t he tell his Mormon bigshot daddy--"I believe in fighting commies and I''m willing to risk getting my legs blown off in some stinking Asian swamp to hold them off." Instead, he handed out tracts to French housewives and kept his holy mouth SHUT.

[prairiefox1]

VOTE TO BLOCK ! NOT TO ELECT!
THEY ARE ALL CONTAMINATED WITH THE BUSH VIRUS AND IF BUSH GETS AWAY WITH IT THEN THEY WILL USE IT TO ITS FULLEST!
I WILL BE LOOKING FOR A INDEPENDENT AFTER THE PRIMARIES ARE OVER!
WE NEED CLEAN FRESH BLOOD IN THE WHITE HOUSE OR WE ALL WATCH AND HEAR THE DEATH KNELL OF A NATION!

[soldat44]

A comment on civil rights. Yes, the Mormons didn''''t ordain Negroes to the priesthood and could be called racists during the 1960s but, the Mormon Negroes now receive the priesthood and they''''ve shed their racist past.

Posted by denn034 at 01:57 PM : Nov 15, 2007

Just how many black mormon ''priests'' are there?