Mitt Romney only uses the word “Mormon” once in his speech about religion
Today, Mitt Romney made a speech about his Mormon religion at the George Bush Presidential Library. It was widely-known as his attempt to speak out to conservative Christian voters who might be apprehensive about voting for a person from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (i.e. a Mormon). Many believed that that this would be the first time he’d be forthcoming about his religion.
So now that the speech has happened, keep a close eye at all news outlets that report on the event and see if they mention this very pertinent fact: Romney only used the word “Mormon” once in his speech, and it’s buried in the middle. Other than this one mention, there’s not a single other use of the word, nor does he use the words “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
Will journalists recognize this, and make sure to note that his promises to address his religion appear to be empty? Read the entire transcript of the speech over here
UPDATE: Well, the New York Times mentions it:
Mr. Romney did not dwell on the doctrines of his faith, mentioning the word Mormon only once.
Also, the NY Times Caucus blog noted that the Kennedy speech this one was compared to made references to his Catholicism 20 times.
UPDATE 2: Reuters doesn’t acknowledge in its article on the event that the word “Mormon” was only used once.
UPDATE 3: CNN doesn’t mention it, though it does take note that he made no attempt to mention the specifics of his faith.
UPDATE 4: The UK’s Guardian doesn’t mention it
UPDATE 5: The Washington Post doesn’t mention it in this article
By contrast, JFK mentioned the word “Catholic” at least 14 times in his famous speech.
How dare Romney write his own speech about his own topic (faith and religion in America from a Constitutional and historical standpoint), and not stump for the church he belongs to by gratuitously mentioning it over and over!?
How dare Romney not satisfy the laziness of 25% of Christians who are ignorant of mormon beliefs and as a result would not countenance a presidential candidate who is a mormon (“Another Clinton in the White House before a mormon!”) !?
I don’t recall Romney or his campaign “promis[ing] to address his religion.” But then again, I’m just an objective observer, not a blogger with an axe to grind.
Re: Polly
Romney has been milking the media for days about this event — the whole reason for him doing it is to address his religion. Why else would the entire news industry focus their spotlights on him if he were simply just talking about religious beliefs in general?
As far as those who are ignorant about his beliefs [WARNING: I'm about to editorialize], people knowing more about the Mormon religion and its history would actually probably hurt him even more. Joseph Smith, after all, was a convicted fraud, and the Book of Mormon is an insult to American history, because, among other things, it makes claims for cultures that never existed. It has also often been regarded as racist toward Native Americans
Simon said, “Romney has been milking the media for days about this event — the whole reason for him doing it is to address his religion.”
Cite, please?
If anything, the Romney campaign is guilty of not managing wild expectations. But, in the end, you inflated your expectations of the speech hoping it would be a dissertation on mormon doctrine, therefore, you are responsible for your own disappointment.
Simon, as far as the rest of your comment, it shows that you really do have an axe to grind. You (and likely numerous others) were hoping that Romney would mention specific mormon creeds so you could have a target to spew at. How does that disappointment taste?
Polly, dear, Willard didn’t need to say anything about Mormonism in order for Simon to find a target to spew at. Even when he is asked a direct question concerning his religion he deflects it. He is a member of the HIGHEST order of bishops the Mormons have. He has spent hundreds of hours studying the literature, reading the texts, and even speaking about his religious beliefs. A helluva lot more time than your regular catholic or protestant. We have Mormon neighbors and talk with them often about their beliefs, all with the understanding on their part that we are not interested in joining up. They are quite free with the knowledge of their church and actually enjoy a spirited debate about the topic. Why Willard can’t do it is beyond me or perhaps beyond his abilities.
Polly, if you look at my statements here and elsewhere you’ll see that I don’t hide the fact that I’m both an atheist and anti-religious — so if you’re implying that I hide my distaste for Mormonism and its extra layer of intellectual dishonesty, I don’t.
As for citing a source that proves he was there to address his faith, first before I do, tell me, why exactly do you think he was making that speech? The whole thing was in reference to his faith. Have you been living under a rock for the last few weeks, or are you just feigning ignorance for the sake of your argument?
Now, follow a plethora of links to articles that all state that he’s there to address his faith and lack of any protests from Romney’s media team that contradict this. Also, read through his official press releases heavily promoting the event.
As for him being a target to spew at, he doesn’t need to address his Mormonism to make this possible. All he has to do is keep uttering inane statements like the fact that he wants to “double guantanamo” Such silliness is ripe for satire.
Gindy said, “… Why Willard can’t do it is beyond me…”
Perhaps, he, like Harry Reid, like Joe Lieberman, like other religionists who seek a civic office, actually feel that it is not their place to educate the public about their private religious beliefs (for more information, please see the U.S. Constitution, Article VI, Section 1, Clause 3).
If he were attempting to evangelize the nation to mormonism, then, yes, those questions would be appropriate. But he’s not; he’s running for the GOP nomination for POTUS.
Gindy also said, “He is a member of the HIGHEST order of bishops the Mormons have.”
Having lived, studied, and worked among mormons for a few years now, I’m curious … what is this mysterious “HIGHEST order of bishops the Mormons have.” (I thought you had to be a member of the Osmond clan, or a 49er Q.B. to reach that??)
Simon said, “you’ll see that I don’t hide the fact that I’m both an atheist and anti-religious — so if you’re implying that I hide my distaste for Mormonism and its extra layer of intellectual dishonesty, I don’t.”
I’m only stating that you are a blogger with an axe to grind, not an objective, dispassionate observer. And, just like you write your blog to communicate your message to your audience, Romney wrote his “Faith in America” speech (note that his press releases did not bill it as a “My Faith” speech, nor did the leaked text present any view other than that of a discourse on the role of faith and religion in American civic life.) to communicate to potential primary voters who dismiss his candidacy because of his religious beliefs.
Again, the Romney campaign was guilty of not managing wild expectations. But, as you have not been able to point to any Romney campaign communication that indicated that the speech would be a discussion of mormon theology as you and others were hoping for, I think it is safe to say that the Romney campaign never billed it as a discussion of mormon doctrine. Again, it’s your own fault for hearing “Romney will give a speech on faith,” and thinking “Romney will discuss the intricacies of mormon doctrine.”
And I heartily agree with you that Romney’s own position on the issues (remember, that’s [presumably] why we favor one candidate or party over another) is enough to sink his candidacy from the perspective of a Republican primary voter. I just have a respect and reverence for our Constitution than to trash a candidate based on his religious beliefs. But, it’s your blog, and your axe … grind on.
Ya know why I wouldn’t vote for a Mormon? because anyone stupid enough to believe the amazing pastiche of nonsense that is Mormonism is too stupid to be president. The entire religion has been proven to have been plagiarized. It’s provably false. Yet people carry on anyhow. That’s not the kind of thinker I want in the White House, thanks. One moron per century is quite enough, thanks.
Mitt Romney was a Stake President in the Mormon Church for about 9 years in the Boston area. A Stake President is the ecclesiastical leader of about 10-15 “wards,” individual congregations, presided over by a Bishop. Romney has also served as a bishop.