Is Mitt Romney’s love for America a Mormon thing? (Boorstein/WaPo)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Michelle Boorstein, Published: May 11
The Washington Post

When it comes to American exceptionalism, Mitt Romney is going all in.

His book “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness” is a love song to the idea that this country merits “the protection of Providence” and has a singular “calling” to be a beacon for freedom. A major theme for him on the campaign trail is the nation’s divine destiny, a heritage Romney said has made him “stand a little taller, a little straighter” when overseas.

But what Romney doesn’t say is that, for followers of his made-in-America religion, Mormonism, exceptionalism isn’t political metaphor. It’s theology.

The faith’s sacred text, the Book of Mormon, describes the United States as “a land of promise .?.?. a land which is choice above all other lands.” It describes Jesus coming down from heaven, to America, and teaching to people there. Joseph Smith, Mormonism’s founder and prophet, quotes God as saying that he established the U.S. Constitution. Mormons’ Garden of Eden is in Missouri. Their version of the hajj begins in Upstate New York and ends in Illinois.

Other post-Reagan candidates may passionately preach beliefs like Romney’s, but he’s the only one who can say American exceptionalism is his religion.
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more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-mitt-romneys-love-for-america-a-mormon-thing/2012/05/11/gIQAQeBlIU_story.html

[BeyondGeography]

1. Kind of at odds with his immigration stance, isn't it?

He's narrowcasting to white people.

[Enrique]

2. it should say “professed“ love for America

no excuse for a reporter, even a religion reporter, to assume a politician’s rhetoric represents their true feelings. And when the politician is Mitt Romney, it is even more inexcusable. And to take any candidate’s campaign biography at face value? Ridiculous! This Michelle Boorstein is a terrible reporter.

[dimbear]

3. I think you're right. Mitt and his money love America, but also the Caymans and Switzerland.

Mormon thing.

[LiberalFighter]

4. His grandparentsssss didn't have enough love for the USA.

[VocalProgressive]

5. America in the hands of religious nutjobs. News at eleven.

[treestar]

6. America is a good place but that kind of thing

is a little too much. It could hardly appeal to anyone who lives in any other nation.