We Should Lay off Using Romney's Mormon Beliefs as a Criticism

[MineralMan]

79. No, I'm not arguing that at all.

I'm arguing that ridiculing religious belief as a means of campaigning against a candidate, or implying that religious belief will control the candidate's behavior in office is a losing campaign strategy.

Romney is a Mormon. That's no secret. Obama's a Christian, which is also no secret. However, neither is an indication of how they will govern. We've seen that demonstrated time after time. By looking for other clues, based on political positions each candidate takes, past performance and actions, and other factors, we get a far clearer picture of the candidate. Which sect or denomination of Christianity the candidate belongs to is not a reliable predictor of anything at all.

Worse, ridiculing a religion for its doctrines, such as the undergarment word by members of the LDS church, is a very poor approach to campaigning. This OP was prompted by just such a thing posted earlier in GD. Now, it's a legitimate thing to wonder or ask if LDS doctrines on specific issues are also the candidate's position on those specific issues. Normally, it's pretty easy to tell by seeing what the candidate says while campaigning. The LDS church opposes marriage equality. So does Romney. But, then, so do a lot of politicians who are Southern Baptists and Catholics. So, is it the LDS association that causes Romney to oppose marriage equality? Maybe, but not necessarily. For example, does Harry Reid, also a Mormon, oppose marriage equality? Or is it simply Romney's position that opposes that?

See, he's open about his opposition to something I support. So, I can't support Romney for his opposition to marriage equality, among other things. There are many political positions that lie behind my non-support of Romney, just as there are many that lie behind my support of President Obama. It has nothing to do with their respective religious beliefs. Nothing at all.

I would neither vote for or against any candidate based on his or her stated religious beliefs. Instead, I look at what they support and oppose, politically.