Mitt Romney

[Proud 2b Peculiarcaptain of 1,000]

Yep, gotta keep up with http://www.hinckleychallenge.com

[Stephencaptain of 1,000]

"There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon —it is a conspiracy fact." (Ezra Taft Benson, “Civic Standards for the Faithful Saints,” Ensign, July 1972, 59)

[lundbaekcaptain of 1,000]

"About 150 political friends, including former Utah Sen. Jake Garn and former candidate Mitt Romney, are helping McCain raise money." McCain said Romney has "earned a role in our Republican Party in the future,".

McCain makes brief stop in Salt Lake
March 27th, 2008 @ 2:00pm
Sen. John McCain is in Utah today. The likely Republican pick for president has been touring the nation, talking about foreign policy and national security.
Today, he is in Utah for a political fundraiser.

McCain is at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. His visit is purely business, and press access has been extremely limited.

Sen. McCain landed just after 10 a.m. He was greeted at the private Million Air terminal. Gov Huntsman was there with his security detail and transportation to take McCain downtown.

The two headed to Grand America for a fundraiser. There is a $2,300 VIP reception and a $1,000 a plate lunch where the senator will speak. About 150 political friends, including former Utah Sen. Jake Garn and former candidate Mitt Romney, are helping McCain raise money.

This week, McCain has been talking about his recent trip to the Middle East. He may take the opportunity to address the on-going threat of terrorism.

Yesterday, McCain said, "[They spend] their energies, indeed their very lives, murdering innocent men, women and children. They alone seek nuclear weapons and other tools of mass destruction, not to defend themselves or to enhance their prestige or to give them a stronger hand in world affairs, but to use against us wherever and whenever they can. Any president who does not regard this threat as transcending all others does not deserve to sit in the White House."

Garn says he is confident McCain will win Utah even though he garnered only 5 percent of the GOP vote in the February primary.

Today's fundraiser is the first time McCain and Romney have appeared together since Romney endorsed the presumptive Republican nominee in February. Following the fundraiser, McCain made himself available for questions from reporters. He was joined by both Romney and Gov. Jon Huntsman and seemed to dodge questions on whether either man was being considered as a possible running mate. "I can say that both these gentlemen have earned a role in our Republican Party in the future," McCain said.

Tune in to Eyewitness News at 4 for full coverage on McCain's post-fundraiser press conference and his visit to Utah.

[shadowcaptain of 1,000]

So the republican god mcCAIN has tapped Huntsman and Romney and said they "earned" a role in the party. Not my kinda party.

[lundbaekcaptain of 1,000]

Romney's fundraisers or McCain at both his properties makes me sick. He's digging himself a big hole. Can he be that ignorant? If Romney is a true LDS, what righteous motive could he have for supporting McCain?

I guess intelligence is not all encompassing. Some are sharp in business, some in one field or another of science, some in music, some in one sport or another, etc. When I see people like Huntsman Sr., Huntsman Jr., and Romney, supposedly gifted and talented in business and presumably active in Church, I cannot understand how they can espouse the likes of McCain and Giuliani.

[Markcaptain of 1,000]

If Romney is a true LDS, what righteous motive could he have for supporting McCain?

I really think you are taking the issue of ones political support for different candidates way beyond its scope Lundbaek. Did you know that Hugh B Brown a counselor to David o McKay was in fact a staunch Democrat? That did not reflect upon his worthiness as a good latter day saint or his commitment to the Lord and his church. By equating worthiness with ones political leanings puts you on a slippery slope that is not supported by the church leaders in any way. Political affiliation and support is a personal choice. It is not a prerequisite to good standing in the church.

[lundbaekcaptain of 1,000]

Interesting that after Church President David O. McKay died on January 8, 1970, Hugh B. Brown was not called by new Church President Joseph Fielding Smith to be a member of the First Presidency. Never before in the twentieth century had a new president of the church failed to call a surviving member of the previous First Presidency as a counselor. Rather, Brown returned as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, where he remained until his death. In the October 1965 General Conference, President Brown made his only statement I know of in support of the U.S. Constitution: “May our lofty institutions, our matchless Constitution, our love of freedom and liberty be noted by other nations, and insofar as they can be made applicable be adopted by them that all men everywhere may join us in singing what may well become an international anthem, “Our fathers God to thee, author of liberty...”

Another prominent Democrat supporter of the U.S. Constitution was Democrat Congressman from GA and for a time President of the John Birch Society, Larry McDonald, known for his staunch opposition to communism and belief in long standing covert efforts by powerful US groups to bring about a socialist world government.

I consider any LDS especially who supports McCain, Giuliani, Hillary, or Obama to be at best deceived, probably ignorant of what kind of government the Lord wanted for America, and at worst a traitor to the Gospel, the Constitution, and our country.

[buffalo_girlcaptain of 1,000]

If Romney is a true LDS, what righteous motive could he have for supporting McCain?

"All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well..."

Romney is naive. He has lived his entire life with the 'have mores', as our president refers to the ultra rich.

On this one I have to agree with Obama, "Romney excels at 'looking good'.

It truly is up to us to turn this country around by our involvement at the very most local level in order to insure that our towns, cities, counties do not become FEDERALIZED by taking Homeland Security money to fund what should remain OUR locally controlled and overseen government agencies. I believe this is our last card.

[DocsWifeIdahocaptain of 50]

I beleive his motive is that he is next in line...........if he gets vice pres or not. If he sticks with the program he will eventually hit the white house.

I dont think this govt is gonna hold up much longer so he wont get in anyway.

I think he is a righteous man. I knew it when he spoke.

I love Ron Paul more though now. I have to admit..

Ron Paul needs to be baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[buffalo_girlcaptain of 1,000]

WE need to stop looking for some preselected US President to 'fix' this nation. WE are in this mess because we thought someone else was more qualified to fly the plane.

[lundbaekcaptain of 1,000]

I wonder about just how righteous Mitt Romney really is. Reading back thru this thread, all 5 pages of it, one will find numerous allegations by various reporters, including an LDS investigative reporter, of Romney's apparent disdain for certain moral principles, including abortion and homosexual interests. He claims to have altered his stance on certain prior positions, but without a public acknowledgement of and apology for his earlier support of homosexual interests and a couple of more recent blunders, my opinion of him stands.

I am probably harder on him that most other members of this forum, but I consider it important that LDSs learn that LDS membership, business acumen, and a nice smile does not alone make a good candidate for the White House.

[buffalo_girlcaptain of 1,000]

Well, I agree with you, Lundbaek.

[jnjnelsoncaptain of 100]

WE need to stop looking for some preselected US President to 'fix' this nation. WE are in this mess because we thought someone else was more qualified to fly the plane.

We are also in this mess because we want the government officials and bureaucrats to fix our problems for us. I suggest we could all find many more effective uses for our time than criticizing a previous candidate for President of the United States. I find nothing in Mitt Romney I feel qualified to criticize. Enough said.

[buffalo_girlcaptain of 1,000]

Actually, I'm not sure considering a politician's record thereby determining if he/she comprehends and adheres to constitutional laws governing the whole United States and the states in which they variously have acted as elected officials is criticizing. It seems to me the 'responsible' thing to do as a participating citizen exercising one's power of 'critical thinking'.

Mitt Romney has a pretty good chance of being 'selected' to run with McCain as vice president. McCain has health problems and appears to me to be quite a bit 'older' than Ron Paul in his mental and physical capabilities. Should McCain not fulfill his entire term, Romney would be up.

If Mitt Romney needs to ask his lawyer about which branch of the federal government must authorize a declaration of war I have to conclude he has not read or does not understand the Constitution for the United States.

At Tuesday's debate, the candidates were asked a hypothetical question about whether he would seek Congress's approval before taking action against Iran. Romney answered this way:

"You sit down with your attorneys and {have them} tell you what you have to do,"Romney said, adding quickly "but obviously the president of the United States has to do what's in the best interest of the United States to protect us against a potential threat."

Given a second chance by moderator Chris Matthews, who asked whether President Bush needed the Congressional approval he received for the Iraq invasion, Romney again offered a legalistic answer.

"You know, we're going to let the lawyers sort out what he needed to do and what he didn't need to do," Romney said.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trai ... t_130.html

And then, of course, there is the rather odd statement Mitt Romney made about God not talking to anyone since Moses. I find that extremely unsettling if not shocking.

In the interview with Boston's WCVB, a reporter asks Romney several questions about his faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including how his faith would impact him if elected.

"Should God speak to you, and ask you to do something that might be in conflict with your duties as president, or should He speak to your prophet who would speak to you, how would you make that decision, how would you handle that?" reporter Natalie Jacobsen asks.

Romney laughs and then replies, "Well, I don't recall God speaking to me. I, I don't recall God speaking to anyone since, uh, Moses and the [burning] bush, or perhaps some others, but, but I don't have that frequent of communication."

The interview aired on the Boston station on Dec. 9 and was offered to the 28 other stations nationwide owned by Hearst-Argyle company.

Given that there is a strong possibility Mitt Romney will be selected as vice president to McCain, it is important to 'think critically'. Our freedom and perhaps our very lives depend upon those in positions of political 'leadership'.

If you find nothing in Romney you feel qualified to criticize, so be it. You might want to go brush up on the Constitution. Please remember Romney is not 'called' to any position in government to which we have 'sustained' him. We aren't 'finding fault' with a church authority here - we are talking about an elected official who happens to be a Mormon.

[lundbaekcaptain of 1,000]

It seems that some LDSs can accept Mitt Romney's egregious statements that BuffaloGirl quoted for us, as well as his other actions on unconstitutional mandatory health care and suppport of homosexual interests (all accessable on this thread). Some LDSs refuse to believe he made those blunders; that the reports of them are all lies. Others I encounter think that once in the Oval Office he will use his Priesthood and financial abilities to rescue the nation. I so wish that all American LDS voters could be made aware of the real Mitt Romney. Had more LDSs "befriended" the US Constitution as commanded in D&C 98:6 and by admonitions of prophets and apostles, they would surely be qualified to criticize Mitt Romney. They might then come to realize how they have been suckered away from real constitutional principles by those they have sent to Congress. They might then resolve to do all they can to get the country back on the constitution track.

[Proud 2b Peculiarcaptain of 1,000]

Being on the 'inside' of things, having gotten involved and having been a delegate all the way through state, I have to say that there is no ignorance there. Every move is deliberate, and planned well in advance. It runs more like a dictatorship then a Republic. Mob rule is what is really is. I am now seeing if there is a possibility of turning around the state and local government, while still trying to hold on to the one that is within my control, my own home. It very well may be that we are told to focus on our families and that there is no compensation for failure in the home, because that is all that is left to be saved at this point. I am feeling that way about it, that is for sure. I have seen a tide of change though, and as long as those that are engaged remain engaged AND warn their neighbors, and teach them how to get involved and point them in the right direction, things can change drastically!

From what I have seen recently, many know something is wrong, but they do not know what to do.

The Constitution was designed to restrain government and to protect the individual, so, use it!

And this year is shaping up to be a bad year for Republicans, use that to your advantage. There are seats that have been empty for years on the local level, fill them, and actually educate your neighbors, that is what committeemen and women are for!

[buffalo_girlcaptain of 1,000]

THANK YOU, LoveChrist! Thank you, for being so valiant in what you are doing to confront the wickedness calculated to rob us of our Nation.

You are absolutely right! We won't each have the strength to fight at every level of corruption, but we MUST engage what abilities and strengths we possess to confront the wrongs before us. The federal government has absolutely NO business funding our local law enforcement agencies, volunteer fire departments, county health agencies, etc. GET THEM OUT. They are deputizing our states and counties as agents of a federal dictatorship. We cannot make a pact with the devil and expect to walk home free.

[DocsWifeIdahocaptain of 50]

amen!

[lundbaekcaptain of 1,000]

Political affiliation is a personal choice, and is not a prerequisite to good standing in the church. But I believe political support, or our choice of programs and legislation that we support or oppose does affect our standing with the Lord. I think it is safe to say that if we support any program or legislation that violates the principles of the US Constitution, or those discussed in "The Proper Role of Government", we are on thin ice at best.

Many Americans, including LDS, think of Democrats as the BGs. Laurence Patton McDonald was a Democrat congressman from GA known for his conservative views, even by Southern standards. In fact, one study named him the second most right-wing member of either chamber since 1937. And while in Congress, he became the President of the John Birch Society. His anti-communist fervor was probably second only to that of Sen. Joseph McCarthy. He took the communist threat seriously and considered it an international conspiracy. In another sense, McDonald may be viewed as a precursor of the Reagan supply-side (market liberalization) revolution that swept through the country in the 1980s. An admirer of Austrian economics, he was an advocate of tight monetary policy in the late 1970s to get the economy out of stagflation. He was also a passionate advocate of laissez-faire or market based policies.

His staunch conservative views on social issues attracted controversy. For instance, McDonald is noted for using amendments to stop government aid to homosexuals. He also advocated the use of a non-approved drug Laetrile to treat patients in advanced stages of cancer.

In 1979 with John Rees and Major General John K. Singlaub McDonald founded the Western Goals Foundation. It was intended to combat the threat of Communism. In 1980 Larry McDonald introduced American Legion National Convention Resolution 773 to the House of Representatives calling for a comprehensive congressional investigation into the Council on Foreign Relations and Trilateral Commission.

Larry was even considering a run for the US Presidency as a Democrat.

(Edited from Wikipedia)

[Proud 2b Peculiarcaptain of 1,000]

I think those that are really awake will look for those that support principles regardless of party affiliation.

However, there are moments when it is clear that there are weak areas and a clear shot to making a change, and you have got to take it where you find it.

The dem's are stronger right now. They have turned out 2 to 1 in voters. The Rep's are weakening, people are jumping ship, it is a great time to get in there and actually do something... many of these committeemen and women have held the positions, but never did the work of informing their neighbors, talking to them, and mobilizing them for correct principles. The RP movement has effectively trained a ton of professional educators for liberty, if they can see his vision.

After he can to visit us here in Missouri, it was made very clear to me what to do next and where to go, and how we would succeed. We were only 32 delegates away from beating them. 400 of our people didn't show because they were scared. The bikers and the police didn't scare me. I realized before now that I was free, and that there was nothing they could do to take that from me. I did not care that I was in the minority, it was fun! I liked getting to yell out how I am feeling right now, and how they are destroying our nation and etc etc... Now, I am going to go kick their rears locally. They do not expect it, but that is what is going to be.

I have had enough and my neighbors have too, and I am going to tell them exactly what they can do to change things.

I have 63 days until the local primary, so, please keep me in your prayers that I will maintain enough energy to balance it all as we begin our attempt to root out the establishment.

Oh, I started pointing candidates out to others at the convention and saying what it was that they were doing that I didn't like. They were very uncomfortable and tried to hide from me a few times, but they couldn't! LOL ha ha ha Oh, and we are the only activists in the party, so now all the candidates are like "What do we need to do to be supported?"

Ok.. I will stop celebrating and get back to work LOL

[lundbaekcaptain of 1,000]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/ ... 1959.shtml

"Despite his deep summer tan, Romney has been anything but a beach bum as of late. Since dropping out of the Republican race in February, he has gone from being John McCain's fiercest rival to one of the Arizona senator's most visible surrogates. What was inconceivable during the height of their primary battles, the prospect of a McCain/Romney ticket, is now a real possibility.

"The most obvious assets that Romney would bring to the Republican ticket include his economic expertise, fundraising prowess and potential to give McCain a boost in more than one battleground state. But a less talked about plus side to a Romney vice presidential candidacy is that despite his perpetually sunny demeanor, the former Massachusetts governor is not afraid to unleash razor-sharp political attacks against the opposition.

"This is not the time for an amateur," Romney said of presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama. "This is the time for a tested, proven professional to lead our country."

"Romney brims with confidence and is almost always unflappable. The McCain campaign has taken advantage of Romney's willingness to take the offensive by encouraging him to make TV appearances on the senator's behalf."

[lundbaekcaptain of 1,000]

Convinced as I am that McCain is affiliated with groups antagonistic to the Constitutional law of the land, this statement by David O. McKay comes to mind.

"Latter-day Saints should have nothing to do with secret combinations and groups antagonistic to the Constitutional law of the land, which the Lord "suffered to be established," and which "should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;"

Nevertheless, I'm sure many LDSs would support a McCain-Romney ticket as a noble cause because of the additonal attention he will draw to the LDS Church.

[Proud 2b Peculiarcaptain of 1,000]

Which would bring on severe persecution when they keep going the same direction and screw up the country.

[CBentleycaptain of 100]

LoveChrist,

Besides the fact that Romney is a socialist, I told my wife that I didn't want to see him in the White House because if the country went down on his watch the Church would be blamed for it.

I was glad when he dropped out of the race. Now he might be the VP.

And with McCain's many health issues and age, Romney could end up in the driver's seat.

Lovely...

[lundbaekcaptain of 1,000]

As part of my personal program for education of LDS voters, I have used Mitt Romney's mandatory Massachusetts health care program as evidence of his socialist leanings. Is anyone aware of other loud and clear evidences of his being a socialist?

As I noted before, LDS voters are quick to excuse his demonstrated disdain for constitutional principles as being necessary exceptions for the good of the country, and necesssary to get him into position from which he can usse his priesthood to save the country, etc., etc.

[BackBlastcaptain of 50]

As part of my personal program for education of LDS voters, I have used Mitt Romney's mandatory Massachusetts health care program as evidence of his socialist leanings. Is anyone aware of other loud and clear evidences of his being a socialist?

I don't believe Mitt Romney is a socialist, though some evidence may lead you to that conclusion. I believe Mitt Romney covets the office of President of the United States and is quite willing to do a great deal to get there. He may even do a great deal of harm to remain there a 2nd term if he does get the office. To Mitt's credit, he does tend to fulfill campaign promises - and in a liberal place like MA, those promises aren't very friendly to a classic conservative - he was a nationally ranked RINO. You can see this motive and direction, gunning for the presidency, time and time again with his stances, actions, and positions.

I think he is honest, and in his own mind moral, and he is just doing the dance required to get him what he wants. I don't trust him to make all the right decisions, he seems far too willing to compromise on sound principle for my tastes - but such a man is much more palatable to the masses than say, Ron Paul's strict principled stances. He was the only "realistic" candidate I had any hope of making *some* good decisions on our behalf. I'm still not sure I could vote for him.

Anyway, it's not to be. Even with his millions, I don't think TPTB would ever let him have a real shot at the presidency. They want people they can blackmail and control. It's too bad he is still doing the dance on behalf of the establishment, maybe someday he will learn...

Brandon

[jbalmcaptain of 1,000]

Something about him has always made me feel uneasy. I can't really explain it though.

Most of the LDS politicians I'm aware of are quite liberal by my standards, but something about Mitt is different to me, and not in a good way.

Maybe its that seeming awkwardness he displays when trying to fit in with whatever company he is with. You know, kind of like the a non-drinker who goes to a kegger and tries to act like he's having as much fun as the drinkers.

Or maybe it is the image that is so polished that it makes it impossible to believe as authentic.

Or maybe not.

All I know is that whenever I heard him speak while he was campaigning, I felt uneasy to the point that I had to change the station.

[masterdmjgcaptain of 100]

As with Mitt Romney, so with everything else. As I've watched and contemplated all of these political rumblings over the past year and a half, as well as other fundamental questions, one of the only things I've come to feel completely certain of is you can choose what to believe, and you can find any amount of evidence to back it up. If you want to believe Mitt Romney is a socialist, you can find information supporting it. If you believe he would be a good president, you can find information supporting that opinion, too.

To say someone is ignorant for choosing to support Romney minimizes the person's ability to choose what they want to believe. We all do this to one degree or another. If you studied why conservative Mormons are psychos all day long, you would probably eventually start to believe it. If you studied all of Joseph Smith's baser qualities, all the criticism, and never got a balanced viewpoint, you would probably end up thinking he was an impostor. That's just the way it is. If you're convinced 9/11 was an inside job, you'll give importance to any evidence that you feel backs your claims, and you will ignore anything that goes against that assumption.

It's really about as simple as that, in my mind. Some people feel like they want to have a say in the election, so they decide to vote for the "legitimate" candidate. If they see it that way, they can do just that. They may feel voting for the third party is pointless, since so often we hear a vote for so-and-so is a vote for _________ and usually ___________ is the worser candidate (yes, I realize I said worser, it is one of my favorite terms).

There, I've taken my noncommittal stance again. If you want to believe Mitt is an evil machine-serving conspirator, you can go out and find evidence to back up those claims. If you think he's a good guy, you can find proof of that, too. In many things, it would appear truth is mostly in the eye of the beholder.

[Markcaptain of 1,000]

In many things, it would appear truth is mostly in the eye of the beholder.

Truer words were never spoken..

[BackBlastcaptain of 50]

As with Mitt Romney, so with everything else. As I've watched and contemplated all of these political rumblings over the past year and a half, as well as other fundamental questions, one of the only things I've come to feel completely certain of is you can choose what to believe, and you can find any amount of evidence to back it up. If you want to believe Mitt Romney is a socialist, you can find information supporting it. If you believe he would be a good president, you can find information supporting that opinion, too.
...
There, I've taken my noncommittal stance again. If you want to believe Mitt is an evil machine-serving conspirator, you can go out and find evidence to back up those claims. If you think he's a good guy, you can find proof of that, too. In many things, it would appear truth is mostly in the eye of the beholder.

Truer words were never spoken..

I disagree.

I don't buy this logic that essentially all angles are equally valid and evidences equally weighted behind them. People can and will believe what they want, that's the nature of agency, but there is one set of truth, it doesn't exist in multiple conflicting states simultaneously. I understand you are essentially speaking up for agency and explaining what people effectively do, but you give no weight to the value of the real truth of the matter. The ability to discern the correct state with the limited available information is a skill and spiritual gift that is to be sought after, as it grants wisdom, direction, and leads you on correct paths and it's development stems from the internal desire to REALLY KNOW the real truth. Deception is a tool of the devil to blind and enslave, and those that allow themselves to be deceived, end up on this path of error and it's consequences.

Chasing your desired ends and seeking evidence of your own preconceived conclusions is the work and path the devil promotes. Seeking truth, light, and knowledge and then acting on it is the correct path.

Brandon