Romney's Changing Positions on Moral Issues

Mitt Romney’s positions on moral issues such as gay rights, abortion, and stem cell research have remained a dynamic part of his career political platform. The following October 8^th New York Times article highlights some of the changes to his political platform over time, (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/us/politics/social-issues-pose-new-test-for-mitt-romney.html?pagewanted=all)

“Mr. Romney’s evolution on the issues has been well documented. On abortion, he once called himself ‘pro-choice’ and supported Planned Parenthood. But after being elected governor of Massachusetts, he publicly switched his position, declaring that the debate over stem cell research had convinced him of the ‘sanctity of life.’ Since then, Mr. Romney has called himself ‘pro-life.’” Romney’s platform has not only shifted with respect to abortion, but with respect to gay rights as well,

“As a candidate for a Massachusetts seat in the Senate, Mr. Romney wrote a letter in 1994 arguing that “we must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern.” The letter, to the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay advocacy group, said he would do more for gay rights than Senator Edward M. Kennedy, his Democratic opponent. Since then, however, Mr. Romney has fought against gay rights, championing an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution that would ban same-sex marriage. As a presidential candidate, he has opposed same-sex marriage and this summer signed a pledge to support a federal constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between one man and one woman.”

The question becomes whether or not Mitt Romney changes his position on moral issues in an attempt to pander to key constituencies. Through Romney has admittedly undergone a few 180 degree turns on the above moral issues, he defends his actions as an attempt to alter his positions in response to new information on the issues. In reality, the information on issues such as abortion has changed little in recent decades, hinting that Romney does change his political positions in order to appease key constituencies. Whereas Romney’s 1994 candidacy for Massachusetts senator forced him to espouse more liberal moral views, his 2012 candidacy for president necessitates he placate an already skeptical religiously conservative core by adopting the prerequisite conservative moral values needed to receive the Republican nomination.

Romney's Battle with Religion and Race

In the eyes of many voters, Mitt Romney’s adherence to the views of the Mormon faith certainly raises some questions about his relationship with ethnic minorities. Moreover, the clash between race and religion as influences on the voting patterns of Americans is fully exemplified through Romney’s campaign. As related by a quote from an article in Slate magazine entitled, Romney’s Mormon Problem, this connection to Mormonism can be a source of conflict, “saddling itself with some pro-slavery views at the time of the Civil War, and also with a “bible” of its own that referred to black people as a special but inferior creation, the Mormon Church did not admit black Americans to the priesthood until 1978.” But it can also be a source of strength for Romney when it comes to social issues such as gay marriage and abortion. Though the Mormon religion is quite different from more prevalent Christian denominations that exist in communities of ethnic minorities, its positions on gay marriage, welfare, and abortion are nearly identical. What is interesting about how these religious patterns is how they fail to influence the voting decisions of ethnic minority groups as a whole. Despite, as stated by Fowler, the fact that “a strong majority of Latino Americans remain catholic (some 68 percent)… only18 percent of Latino Catholics [identify with the GOP].” Furthermore, despite the fact that “80 percent of all African Americans report praying daily, compared to the national average of 58 percent… the presidential nominee could count on receiving 85 percent of the vote of the expanding African American electorate.” Despite the heavy influence of religion in the communities of ethnic minorities across the country, it is shocking to note that ethnic minorities by and large vote for the more liberal political party. Thus, ethnic minorities interests in voting for candidates with policies that favor liberal racial attitudes trump their desires to make voting decisions based on religious values.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2011/10/is_mormonism_a_cult_who_cares_it_s_their_weird_and_sinister_beli.html

Mormonism: Romney is Crucified for his Lack of Faith

Just hours before giving an introduction for Rick Perry at a political event, Pastor Robert Jeffries stated "That is a mainstream view, that Mormonism is a cult... Every true, born again follower of Christ ought to embrace a Christian over a non-Christian." Hours later, presidential candidate Rick Perry was riddled with questions as to whether or not he agreed with the pastor’s remarks, responding on multiple occasions that he did not. Despite the lack of controversy provided by Perry’s response, the issue brought up by Jeffries is poised to become the central issue of the republican nomination process.

"The thing is (evangelicals) just won't be honest and tell you it's going to be a major factor," Jeffress said. "Most people don't want to admit, even evangelical Christians, that they have a problem with Mormonism. They think it's bigoted to say so. But what voters say to a pollster is sometimes different than what they do in the privacy of a voting booth."

The Pastor’s comments reflect a large amount of doubt in the accuracy of current polling numbers, which in turn, place doubt on the legitimacy of Romney’s campaign for president. However, if Romney is to be relegated to losers column simply because of his Mormon faith, why isn’t John Huntsman, also a Mormon who had spent 2 years as a missionary in Taiwan, also under attack.

“For that matter, if Mormonism is such a liability in the political realm, what should we make of the political activism of the Church of the LDS? Fowler refers to the activism of the LDS church by stating that the LDS church is actually part of a political coalition of socially conservative groups with strikingly similar agendas, “as noted, the emergence of same-sex marriage as a major issue has activated alliances between evangelical groups, catholic lobbies, black churches, and Mormons. Notably, the normally cautious LDS Church saw opposition to same-sex marriage as fundamental to its understanding of marriage and societal organization, so in 2008 it endorsed California’s high-profile defense of marriage amendment initiative, Proposition 8, and provided substantial backing to the successful campaign to pass it. However the LDS church faced a fierce backlash from people who support gay rights, illustrating the dangers of visible lobbying by religious organizations.”

Thus, although Mormonism holds many of the same positions on social issues as other conservative religious groups, it appears that it is repeatedly scapegoated.

When it comes down to election time, Jeffries might be correct in stating that, "If Mitt Romney is the nominee, Barack Obama will be the next president. Mitt Romney will not energize evangelicals."

Jeffries quotes taken from (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20117465-503544.html)