Romney Slams Huckabee's "Attack" On Faith

Huckabee Asks In Interview: "Don't Mormons Believe That Jesus And The Devil Are Brothers?"

(CBS/AP)  Republican Mitt Romney retorted to questions about his faith by surging rival Mike Huckabee on Wednesday, declaring that "attacking someone's religion is really going too far."

In an article to be published Sunday in The New York Times, Huckabee, an ordained Southern Baptist minister, asks, "Don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?"

Romney, vying to become the first Mormon elected president, declined to answer that question during an interview Wednesday, saying church leaders in Salt Lake City had already addressed the topic.

"But I think attacking someone's religion is really going too far. It's just not the American way, and I think people will reject that," Romney told NBC's "Today" show.

Asked if he believed Huckabee was speaking in a coded language to evangelicals, Romney praised his rival as a "good man trying to do the best he can," but he added, "I don't believe that the people of this country are going to choose a person based on their faith and what church they go to."

Huckabee maintains that his question in the interview was taken out of context. A statement from his campaign said the full context of the exchange shows Huckabee illustrating his unwillingness to answer questions about Mormonism and theological issues.

"Governor Huckabee has said consistently that he believes this campaign should center on a discussion of the important issues confronting our nation and not focus on questions of religious belief," said Charmaine Yoest, a senior adviser.

"He wants to assure persons of all faith traditions of his firm commitment to religious tolerance and freedom of worship. Governor Huckabee believes that one of the great strengths of our nation lies in its diversity of thought, opinion and faith," Yoest added.

But Huckabee's campaign did not provide more information about the exchange, which the magazine reported this way in the article by Zev Chafets: "I asked Huckabee, who describes himself as the only Republican candidate with a degree in theology, if he considered Mormonism a cult or a religion. 'I think it's a religion,' he said. 'I really don't know much about it.'

"I was about to jot down this piece of boilerplate when Huckabee surprised me with a question of his own: 'Don't Mormons,' he asked in an innocent voice, 'believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?"'

Huckabee has been surging in recent opinion polls, taking the GOP lead in Iowa and pressing closer to Rudy Giuliani in polling.

The former Massachusetts governor also was asked why he used the term "Mormon" only once last week in a highly publicized speech about religion in which he said he was proud of his faith.

"Actually, we prefer the name 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,"' he said. "'Mormon' used to be a nickname and I don't use it a lot, but now and then I do because people know what faith I'm referring to, and I talked about 'my faith' a number of times, and I don't imagine anybody is confused about what faith I have."

The authoritative Encyclopedia of Mormonism, published in 1992, does not refer to Jesus and Satan as brothers. It speaks of Jesus as the son of God and of Satan as a fallen angel, which is a Biblical account.

A spokeswoman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Huckabee's question is usually raised by those who wish to smear the Mormon faith rather than clarify doctrine.

"We believe, as other Christians believe and as Paul wrote, that God is the father of all," said the spokeswoman, Kim Farah. "That means that all beings were created by God and are his spirit children. Christ, on the other hand, was the only begotten in the flesh and we worship him as the son of God and the savior of mankind. Satan is the exact opposite of who Christ is and what he stands for."

Romney also defended his first negative ad of the presidential campaign in Iowa, where Huckabee has erased Romney's long-standing lead in the polls. The spot, which began airing Tuesday, highlights Huckabee's support for in-state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants when he was governor of Arkansas, as well as his support for their being eligible for scholarships.

"It's not negative; it's accurate," Romney said. "It's an ad that shows the differences on a very important topic, and actually, if you agree with Mike Huckabee's positions, it's a positive ad for him. If you agree with my position, it's a positive ad for me."

Romney dismissed Huckabee's rise in the polls - saying he's seen similar surges from GOP rivals John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson - but he said scrutiny will follow his rival's rise to the top tier.

"I think Mike was desperately hoping that we would get through this without people taking a close look at his positions and his record, but his record on immigration, on pardons for criminals, on reducing the penalties for meth lab dealers, on taxing and spending - he increased spending from $6 billion to $16 billion. I think those features in his record will cause those numbers to turn around," Romney said.

[sgtrds]

This giantrobot2 spammer is beginning to get as irritating as the Ron Paul guy was. Wonder if he actually hates Huckabee and is just trying to pis*s people off by re-posting the same garbage over and over again? He sure isn''t making anyone want to vote for Huckabee.

[kansas1946]

Baptists are going to hell. They believe chia pets are oracles of God.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by figo55 at 11:43 PM : Dec 12, 2007
*************

You mean they aren''t??? Oh, no!!

[kansas1946]

Since the other candidates don''''t have anything to say on what they can do for America, they take the easy road and resort to taking cheap shots at Mike. Don%u2019t fall into their trap any longer with negative attacks, let''''s show the critics and the naysayers that Americans have pride and we are ready to elect an honest, humble, trustworthy man for US President.
**********************************************

I think Mike is the one taking cheap shots. "Don''t Mormons believe Jesus is the brother of Satan??? Oh, I didn''t really mean that. Oops. It is just something I heard sometime during the rapture."

Does he just think people are stupid???

[figo55]

Baptists are going to hell. They believe chia pets are oracles of God.

[giantrobot2]

Mike Huckabee facts:

1. He will Eliminate the IRS:
This means you will receive 100% of your paycheck.

2. He will drastically reduce Gas prices:
Switch to alternative fuels, changing supply/demand.

3. He will reduce global warming.
Switch to alternative fuels, no carbon dioxides.

4. He will reduce threat of terrorism.
New fuels cause middle east gov. crack down on them.

5. He will reduce rising Health care costs.
New programs that prevent diseases, not just fix them.

6. He will lead up not just hard right or hard left.
Excellent communicator, will bring parties together.

7. He will lead with principles rather than money.
He cares everybody not just those on Wall Street.

8. He will give Hope to America and enthusiasm.
He plays bass guitar in a band, dynamic personality.

9. He will carry out his goals, not talk about them.
Lost 110 pounds, kept it off, ran 4 Marathons-26.2m

10. He knows the American people is the real boss.
As Governor, his picture frame only shows citizens.

Vote for Mike Huckabee, otherwise you will not be able to enjoy these benefits

Since the other candidates don''t have anything to say on what they can do for America, they take the easy road and resort to taking cheap shots at Mike. Don%u2019t fall into their trap any longer with negative attacks, let''s show the critics and the naysayers that Americans have pride and we are ready to elect an honest, humble, trustworthy man for US President.

[mnmtrscutr]

I just cannot comprehend how people believe these things. Some Guy is not the Son of God and He didn''t die for my sins? Now the most embarrassing thing I''ve ever seen in a campaign is when the illiterate masses pull up to the drive thru window at the local smokeshop during the big rush on cigarettes and can''t figure out whether they want a carton or a ballot. Tough choices here. And you have your anti-Jesus tub thumpers out scrounging the shoulders of the interstate for their gummed butts the day before payday. They think literate has something to do with having kittens. They don''t read the Bible cause they can''t spell the title, but they still insist that miracle always precedes whip. They are their own best proof that Intelligent Design is a pure fiction. If 10,000 years of evolution, development, sacrifice and mankind building produces these epitomes, acmes and pinnacles of humankind, the Grand Creator must surely have been taking a nap when man slipped by cockroaches on the menu.

[fibonacci_]

I just cannot comprehend how people believe these things. Some guy is the son of God and he died for my sins?

[kansas1946]

Good Lord...please save us from the Republican shouting match on whose''s God is bigger and badder. This Jesus c r a p is about the most embarrassing thing I have ever seen in a campaign. It just makes my skin crawl.

[abdoul_pasha]

And I wish all of you good night and very sweet dreams.

[abdoul_pasha]

Mudrose, you are my sin, i wish you goodnight.

[fibonacci_]

Jesus said to me:

"Trust in the golden ratio and the Fibonacci numbers, for they shall bring ye great fortune."

[fitedafuture]

DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB...

[cpaide]

for all the evangelical zealots, jesus said:

"There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him; but the things which come out of [his mouth], those are they that defile the man. Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within [and are posted here], and defile the man."

[fibonacci_]

I found some gold plates in some unknown language and an angel told me how to translate them. Then they disappeared in smoke.

[abdoul_pasha]

Did muddy put herself on the marriage market and I missed that...

I bid three goats, two cows that have plenty of milk, five chickens and one rooster, a couple of brass bracelets, and a gold ring (10k - not worth much)...oh yeah and an old army (U.S.) surplus tent!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by ozilot

-----
Ah, brother, I offered more.

[abdoul_pasha]

of rubbish

[cpaide]

Actually not, the flat is full

Posted by Abdoul_Pasha

as is this blog. of what, i cannot say.

[stezzer]

neoconism

Are we supposed to think you''re a radical, freewheelin, rock n roll kinda guy following that comment? Or just wazzock?

[abdoul_pasha]

Actually not, the flat is full

[cpaide]

Im pulling for the Mormons on this one, because Mormon women are by far the best sexx I have ever had with any American chick.

Posted by neoconism

oh, now that she is joking certainly! we all know that morman woman will not do that with another woman.