Donald Trump’s Mormon Problem

[Doctor Jack]

Throughout the primaries, Mr. Trump was pummeled in the Book of Mormon Belt. In Utah, he suffered one of his worst defeats, finishing dead last with a paltry 14 percent of the vote. Outside Utah, he often underperformed in counties where Mormons were more heavily concentrated.

On some level, this dynamic might seem intuitive. Mormonism is a faith that holds up chastity as a virtue and condemns pornography as a soul-rotting vice; Mr. Trump is an unabashed adulterer who has posed for Playboy covers. Mormons draw inspiration from their ancestors’ modest frontier frugality; Mr. Trump travels the world in a tricked-out Boeing 757 with his name stamped conspicuously across the fuselage.

Many conservative Christians were willing to overlook these defects during the primaries because they liked what Mr. Trump had to say about issues like immigration. But Mormons are considerably more conflicted about his mad-as-hell message — and their ambivalence could cost the candidate in Western swing states.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/13/opinion/campaign-stops/donald-trumps-mormon-problem.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share&_r=0

[Kelvin Mace]

1. Last I checked:

Fundamentalist Christianity is a faith that holds up chastity as a virtue and condemns pornography as a soul-rotting vice; Mr. Trump is an unabashed adulterer who has posed for Playboy covers. Fundamentalist Christians draw inspiration from Jesus' modest frugality; Mr. Trump travels the world in a tricked-out Boeing 757 with his name stamped conspicuously across the fuselage.

And yet, a lot of these self-described "Fundamentalist Christians" are voting Trump.

[importDavid]

2. Mormon not Moron

I read it wrong the first time.

[bonemachine]

3. It's precious rare

that I will commend Mormons for their good judgement. This appears to be one of those times.

[KamaAina]

4. "Mormons draw inspiration from their ancestors’ modest frontier frugality"?

That must be news to Mittwit and his car elevator.

[Doctor Jack]

5. Latest polling averages have Trump down to a 3 point lead in Utah

and losing Kansas.