Hewitt baselessly claimed Romney is "going to have problem with anti-Mormon bigots on the left, especially"
SUMMARY: On Hannity & Colmes, Hugh Hewitt claimed that Mitt Romney is "not going to have a problem with pro-lifers" in seeking the presidency in 2008, but rather "[h]e's going to have problem with anti-Mormon bigots on the left, especially." However, recent polls indicate that more liberals than conservatives would be willing to vote for a Mormon.
On the March 12 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, nationally syndicated radio host Hugh Hewitt claimed that former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA), a Mormon, is "not going to have a problem with pro-lifers" in seeking the presidency in 2008, but rather "[h]e's going to have problem with anti-Mormon bigots on the left, especially." However, recent polling data indicate that a lower percentage of conservatives than liberals would be willing to vote for a Mormon. Moreover, as Media Matters for America noted, Fox News has largely ignored the issue of conservative and evangelical Christian hostility to Mormonism and responded to other coverage of the issue with allegations of media bias.
According to a February 9-11 USA Today/Gallup poll, 75 percent of "liberals" would be willing to vote for a Mormon for president, compared with 66 percent of "conservatives." Gallup's analysis of the poll stated: "Conservatives are less willing than moderates or liberals to vote for candidates with several of the ['non-traditional'] characteristics, including being of Mormon faith or married three times. This could make things somewhat more difficult for Romney or Giuliani to prevail in the Republican primaries, since conservatives make up the base of the Republican Party."
As Washington Post staff writer Chris Cillizza noted in a February 14 entry on his washingtonpost.com weblog, The Fix, the USA Today/Gallup poll asked respondents "whether they would support a 'generally well qualified person' who was a Mormon. Nearly three in four (72 percent) said they would vote for a well-qualified Mormon candidate, while 24 percent said they would not." Cillizza further noted:
But Romney's challenge is to convince Republicans -- not the American public at-large -- that his Mormonism shouldn't be an issue. Among the GOP sub-sample, 66 percent told USA Today/Gallup that they would support a Mormon candidate, while 30 percent said they would not (77 percent of independents and 72 percent of Democrats said they could back a Mormon).
Hewitt's words are similar to those of Fox News contributor and Weekly Standard executive editor Fred Barnes, who, as Media Matters documented, responded to questions about evangelical hostility to Mormonism with an accusation of "liberal intolerance" of Mormonism. Moreover, Hewitt's comments represent yet another example of Fox News' ignoring evidence of hostility toward Mormons on part of conservative evangelicals -- who make up a significant part of the Republican Party. As Media Matters also noted, Mormons were barred from conducting services during 2004 National Day of Prayer ceremonies by the group's task force chairwoman, Shirley Dobson, the wife of Focus on the Family founder and chairman James C. Dobson. The Southern Baptist Convention, America's second-largest religious community after Roman Catholicism, and Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson have reportedly declared Mormonism to be a "cult," while Prison Fellowship Ministries founder Charles Colson claimed Mormonism "can't call itself Christianity."
Hewitt appeared on Hannity & Colmes to discuss his new book about Romney, A Mormon in the White House?: 10 Things Every American Should Know About Mitt Romney (Regnery, March 2007).
From the March 12 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes:
HEWITT: Yeah, I love the liberal media, Alan.
COLMES: No, no, no.
HEWITT: That "flip-flop" thing --
COLMES: I am the liberal media.
HEWITT: There you are. That "flip-flop" thing was invented by the liberal media --
COLMES: Invented?
HEWITT: -- to get back at the John Kerry stuff.
COLMES: Invented? He did it.
HEWITT: Mitt Romney is a Reagan conservative who, like Ronald Reagan, started out pro-choice and is now pro-life. And adamantly so. I spent a lot of time talking to him about this in this book [A Mormon in the White House?] because this is the one issue for me they've got to get right -- the Supreme Court. Romney knows this court.
COLMES: He said when he ran originally for office in Massachusetts that -- he talked about this personal story about a relative close to him who had a botched abortion, an illegal abortion, and then said, "And you will not see me wavering on that," his pro-choice stance.
How can one believe him saying he's not going to waver on it when he's now flip-flopped?
HEWITT: I asked the archbishop of Denver, Charles Chaput, for this book about that. And he said we need more people like Mitt Romney who become persuaded of the sanctity of unborn life. We need people to come to our side in this business, and we need them very much to be persuaded by people who have done that like Reagan.
Romney's not going to have a problem with pro-lifers. Pro-lifers are smart. They're sophisticated. They know the real deal. He's going to have problem with anti-Mormon bigots on the left, especially.
Anti-Mormon bigots on the LEFT?
Take a poll of self-identified liberals and see if they are even AWARE of any perceived distinction between Mormons, who they assume to be hard core social conservatives, and Fundamentalist Evangelicals, who they assume to be hard core social conservatives.
I know I didn't. It was with a great deal of surprise that I came to learn that there exists any anti-Mormon specific bigotry - until I read it clear and plain as day being spewed BY social conservatives on public message boards.
To this liberal (who was raised a forsaken ELCA Lutheran, BTW), there WAS no difference politically. It took the RW ranters identifying with being fundamentalists to tell me that there was any such view held at all.
This is yet another example of someone on the right trying to apply a predominantly right-wing label (bigot, racist, Nazi) to a person or persons on the left.
If you really look at the quote, he can't really be saying that the left is MORE bigoted towards Mormonism that the right. Well, he might be trying to say that, but if he is, that's absurd. In reality, Romney (like all Republicans these days) is in trouble among the entire left. Anyone with half a brain knows that. Therefore to me, it sounded like Hewitt's "Anti-Mormon Left" was not meant to target some specific leftist sect, but rather as a cheap shot meant to refer to the entire left as "Anti-Mormon."
That's right
It's just more rambling conservative Through the Looking Glass opining.
"Pro-lifers are smart. They're sophisticated."
Then why are they so opposed to stem cell research? And do these "smart" and "sophisticated" pro-lfe people also include those among them who believe that the earth is six thousand years old?
he's also going to have a problem with the anti-anti-gay "bigots" on the left...
Should come as no surprise that Hewitt is a stranger to the truth. Anyone familiar with his radio blather knows he plays fast and loose with the truth.
If the left has such a big problem with Mormonism, how does Hugh explain the fact that Harry Reid is a Mormon in good standing? Isn't he a current boogie man for the Right?
And isn't it amusing tht when somebody goes from being pro-choice to being pro-life, it is always the result of deep consideration and pricipals, but if somebody moves to a different position on the left, they are flip-floppers or panderes?
Romney has switched on many of the "values" issues ever since he began considering a race for the White House. In '94, he told gay repubs that he would be a better friend to gays than Ted Kennedy. And he was staunchly pro-choice. My, how they flip-flop all over the pla e on that right wing!!
>>If the left has such a big problem with Mormonism, how does Hugh explain the fact that Harry Reid is a Mormon in good standing? Isn't he a current boogie man for the Right?
Yep, he criticized Clarence Thomas and the right then claimed that Mormons are all racist.
There are anti-mormon bgiots.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/164612/thats_so_gay_comment_launches_obligatory.html
So Evil, those school kids were liberals? You've got to be kidding me. But sadly, I know you are not.
I did not say that they where liberal. But who ratted on the poor girl I wonder. Some skin head? A Liberal, or a homo? Maybe a conservative?
Biggest laugh in the article is the reference to Chuck "Watergate" Colson. Where in the New testament does JC give a convicted felon the right to determine who is and who is not a christian??
Chuck is still an evil bastard, he just works for a different boss.
So there's no payment of debt, no rehabilitation, no restitution, no forgiveness for felons? If Colson hasn't done it, it cannot be done. He works with the prison population to give them hope and a worthwhile life.
Are you a representative compassionate Progressive? Do you represent the Progressives on this site?
I guess your answer would be to just let prisoners sink into prison gang life.
No. I believe in redemption, forgiveness and rehabilitation.
What I don't believe in, is criminals like Colson, who have subverted the government and constitution of this country and then after being caught find religion.
I would not mind his finding comfort in his beliefs except for the fact that Mr. Colson has made a career out blaming all of humanities ills on our lack of devotion to Jesus and to right wing conservative "values".
He has a history of conflating natural disasters with God's judgement against us for not being serious enough in the war on terror.
He has made statements saying that "opponents of faith-based prison programs are enabling terrorists".
I am happy for Mr. Colson. He may actually believe what he says. But that does not give him license to judge the motives of those who disagree with him. It does not give him the right to federal funding for his ministry.
He is nothing more than another cheerleader for blind obedience to his god and what he imagines to be his country, but not mine.
No federal funding for religious viewpoints, including yours, is fair enough.
What is an " anti-mormon " ?
Sad but true that there are anti-Mormon bigots amongst us. But Hewitt ignored the stats that showed clearly that there is more such bigorty among the conservatives than the liberals.
I disagree. You are just a different kind of bigot.
Wrong. I personally treat all theists equally, whereas I've seen protestant church goers look down on Mormons. Pot and kettle, if you ask me.
Bigoted liberal is like compassionate consrervative. An oxymoron. A bigot is one who clings to a belief despite evidence to the contrary. Liberals have their faults and of course we aren't perfect. But for the most part liberals tend to be more open to new ideas and interested in learning. If someone is bigoted their not liberal.
I disagree, there are Liberal bigots, but their numbers are smaller, they aren't biased against racialgroups but I see on this site a bias a contempt against what some here refer to as a "theist", see an earlier post where the poster said that he holds “theists” in contempt. I have a problem myself with how organized religion has been abused and misused, but my faith hasn't waned. I am a proud Liberal "theist", and some of my fellow Liberals would indeed dismiss me as irrational and superstitious because of that. That said they have a right to express their opinion and it doesn’t bother me because I am completely comftortable with my chosen beliefs and I often agree with some of these anti-theists on other issues, and like I said earlier their numbers appears to be tiny, but they do exist.
I am a proud liberal and am also proud of you, Lynn. Your faith leads you to a life of good work.
What some of those who are against all religion don't seem to realize is that progressive causes have been championed by religious people since this country was founded. A lot of people have a tendency to lump everyone who believes in God in with the crackpots on the right. This is wrong.
I'm not at all religious myself, but throughout my life I have seen that great things have been done by churches and people of faith. The civil rights movement and opposition to the War in Vietnam would never have been successful without the participation of people of faith.
It is only recently that the religious right has changed the meaning of Christian values. Most of the values they profess are neither Christian or true values. They are flash points to draw attention away from focussing on good works and putting the emphasis on their profession of faith and away from acts of kindness.
Hey King,
I know its become cliché, but I am actually much more spiritual than I am an adherent of strict religious dogma, although as you said Church outreach and charities have and continues to do much good for society.
lynn, i frequently attack religion on here, and whether there is something beyond all this, i cannot say. but no one can say for sure there's not. i've said before that the golden rule type of christianity is fine with me.
LOLOLOLOL.... you are a BLACK AND WHITE IDIOT YOU SAY?
Actually liberals don't believe in marriage or family... just shacking up together and having children out of wedlock... at least the children we don't abort. So the fact that Romney's forebears had multiple wives is offensive to liberals by a factor multiplied by the number of wives Romney's ancestors had. We hate Romney so much because he's a Mormon. Grrrr... ;>)
He is correct that he will face opposition from "anti-mormon bigots" because of "mormon bigots" who are "anti-rational thought". The "anit-mormon bigots" on the left are actually anti "believing in magical beings " . Like me. I won't vote for anybody who says things like, " I was called by the Spirit" to be president.
Unless it's Pan.
No not Pan, the Flying Sphagetti Monster, maybe.
Anti-Mormon Leftists?
Are you kidding me? I know SOME on the left are not too friendly with religious folks, but the number does not even come CLOSE to the number of EVANGELICALS who despise mormons. One of my friends is a conservative Mormon, and he would never in a million years think I despised his faith. It is quite funny actually, because I have been reading the Book of Mormon for about a week now... and I am one of those so called "ANTI-MORMON LEFTISTS"? Absolutely ridiculous if you ask me...
What are the Mormon beliefs?
It's hard for me to be "anti-Mormon left-winger" when I don't have clue. What the difference between Mormon and Latter Day Saints.
I'm thinking that the real reason that I don't trust or believe Mitt is because he keeps changing. No evolving but when he need to be a certain thing (pro-choice, anti-gay) he seems to change in an instant
Pearlene,I'm pretty sure that Mormon and Latter Day Saints is synonymous. I do believe the term Latter Day Saint is the official identification for them. I believe the problems for Mormons and Romney specifically will come from the evangelical right as they often adopt my religion is better than your religion stance. That said, their appears to be more cooperation between conservative Catholics and conservative evangelical Christians of late, but if you asked them each thinks the other is misguided in their beliefs. I grew up in the Black Baptist church and basically we were served up biased interpretations of other religions including other Christian denominations like Jehovah’s Witnesses, Catholics, and Mormons. I just didn't buy into any it. Actually what it served to do with me was to peak my interest in the tenets of these other groups. I read about it and talk to Catholics and Jehovah Witnesses that I encounter at work. I must admit you have to be careful with the Jehovah’s Witnesses because they saw my curiosity as an opportunity to recruit me and that some how I was searching for the truth and of course they believe their religion was the ultimate truth.
Lynn, you're right, Mormon is the popular term for members of the Church of Latter Day Saints. I think part of the reason many conservative Christians have an anti-Mormon bias is because they believe in the Book of Mormon, which is essentially a fifth gospel revealed (or "revealed" depending on your beleifs) to Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon describes Jesus appearing in America shortly after his crucifixion. Many Christians believe that Mormons are heretics for adding a book to the Bible. There's other stuff like the history of polygamy, but I think the charge of heresy is the big problem. I'm actually surprised that there aren't more Mormons in the US, considering how many Americans love the idea that we're God's favorites. What could be better suited to feeding that sense of national self-importance than a religion that explicitly says that Jesus came to America and blessed the land?
Spinonedog
Here's an example of a Mormon belief with which I take issue: They believe that the lost tribes of Israel came to the Americas, and some of them turned evil and killed the others. As punishment for their evil, God made their skin dark. That's where the Native Americans came from. Now, is that wacky? I report, you decide.
Nerzog,
I am pretty certain that after that guys' (I can't think of his name now) revelation about dark skinned people now being allowed to enter heaven that Mormans are targeting minorities for special witnessing and recruitment now. I have been approached on several occassions both at home and on the street from their 20 something year olds that they send out on out on missionary duty. I brought some of these issues up to them. Their reactionsranged from being unaware of this to being completely embarrassed. I used this as an example to TEACH them that MAN doesn't have all the answers and we are inherently flawed and that their FOUNDERS were wrong. I usually end up feeling bad for them and I assure them that I don't hold any anomosity toward them or Mormans for the errors of their ancestors.
The central issue between Evangelical Christians and others is the issue of Grace. Others believe that one can earn eternal life through good works and rituals; Evangelicals believe that eternal life is a gift from God through Jesus Christ, and the good works come voluntarily, as a result.
Fascinating.
Hard-hitting FOX News...
Now where exactly did this reported commentary occur? Oh, yea... FOX News, on Sean Hannity's show. The real issue here is why on FOX News shows ridiculous misinformation like Hewitt's commentary isn't seriously challenged.
I think that you'll see a lot more bigotry coming from the left in the event that Romney becomes a viable candidate. There are lots of conservative evangelicals who would rather have a root canal than vote for a Mormon but given the choice between Hillary and a Mormon, the scale will tip the other way. If Romney gets the Republican nod, you'll see a concerted effort to portray Romney as a religious wacko. That's why it's too early to utterly discount Hewitt's position.
" I think that you'll see a lot more bigotry coming from the left in the event that Romney becomes a viable candidate."
I am the King of England and I think it will snow in Death Valley, Az this summer.
"If Romney gets the Republican nod, you'll see a concerted effort to portray Romney as a religious wacko."
If I get the Republican nod, I'll wake up only to continue driving directly into oncoming traffic. After all, I am a Republican, I am therefore never in the wrong.
I discount first, and analyze later with Hewitt.
He's a propagandist pure and simple. And far better than most. Everything he says on his radio show seems to be motivated by his desire to help the GOP, not so called conservatives.
ALLRED,
Ya nailed it. Lotta hate comin' your way, now.
He didnt nail anything. He made a biased baseless assertion not based on facts in evidence. YOU just agree with his bias. Fine, you are both welcome to your opinions just dont pretend they are based on anything but hatred of liberals.
You miscategorize a divergance of ideas as Hate. That word is used recklessly here.
I don't hate anybody. Life's too short. And I don't participate in any other sites--this one's the best. Furthermore, it's a time commitment.
And through lively debate I learn something, and it can be enjoyable. Just wish Media Matters could serve beer w/this.
If there hasn't been a concerted effort to paint Romney as a "religious wacko' when he campaigned for and won the governorship in Massachusetts, why would there be one now?
He won the race in the bluest of blue states. His problem from the left will be his inconsistent stand on issues not his religion. His problem from the right could be his faith, but the religious right may endorse him.
I actually agree with MMFA here. My mom is a conservative Christian, and she told me that she probably wouldn't vote for Romney because he is a Mormon. She thinks that it's some kind of cult or something. I think that many other Christian conservatives think the same way. Many have a problem with Romney's faith. It's not an issue with liberals.
Most if not all conservative religious types think the Mormons and the Church of the Latter Day Saints are headed straight to hell when judgment day comes.
I don't see any of them voting to put one in the White House.
Can't speak for all of the other Secular Progressives out there; I don't have anything against Romney other than he is a Republican.
"It's not an issue with liberals."
Exactly... I just find him too well-groomed. ;>)
I just find him too conservative. I have no other issues with him. I think he is an actual conservative as opposed to the Bush administration and I think he has shown himself to be honest and principled overall.
He may be right, but it is for the wrong reason.
It won't be because he is a Mormon, but because those on the left are fed up with hate filled phony Christians.
I think Mormons are deluded, and I think their beliefs are baseless superstition. Does that make me a bigot? I would never be rude to a Mormon nor would I deny them any rights or privileges because of those beliefs. Does that make me a bigot? Maybe. Maybe not. I also think fundamentalist Christians are deluded, and that their beliefs are baseless superstition. I also have little tolerance for racial and anti-gay bigotry. Maybe I'm an anti-bigot bigot...a bigotphobe, if you will.
Romney's problem on the Left will not come from "anti-Mormon" bigotry, but anti-GOP bigotry. No one on the left is likely to vote for the Republican candidate, no matter who it is.
This is just another brazen attempt by the Right Wing Professional liars to paint liberals as anti-religion bigots. It is meaningless drivel.
Nerzog,
I admire your posts, but some Liberals are anti-religious bigots and an assumption is made that someone like me a person of faith by default is judegemental, superstious, and irrational. I love the BIll Maher show, but he says this all the time and questions the intelligence of people like me because we are "Theist" as a previous poster here said. I can't let that bother me because I believe what I beleive, but there is an element in the progressive ranks that is vehmently at best anti-organized religion and at worse have a contempt for people who believe in God. It appears to be very small. But I can't deny the truth of their existence.
Well said. I admit that I often say unkind things about religion and religious people, and I get called on it occasionally. I don't have contempt for all religious people, only those who use the Bible as a moral sledgehammer and try to impose their narrrow set of moral values on the rest of us. I realize that society has to have moral guidelines, but these can be and are enforced through secular laws. My quarrel is with those who would, for example, require the teaching of creationism in science class, or want to post the Ten Commandments on government buildings, even though some of those Commandments contradict our First Amendment. I also have contempt for people who would deny gays the privelege of marriage based on cryptic Biblical passages and centuries of misguided prejudice.
In arguing against these people and their agendas, I often get quite caustic, and may sound disrespectful toward all religious people. That is just rhetorical recklessness on my part, and not to be taken personally.
Nerzog,I agree that religion is often abused/misused, and it’s an ugly thing when it is. It's like the pornographer who takes something as beautiful as human sexuality and degrades into a base commodity. That's what many of the religious right leaders have done. They have used religion as a commodity and many have gotten quite rich because of it and now it's used as a political tool not only to advance and force their religious beliefs on others, but to protect the agenda that protects their wealth. When practiced at its best religion can have comforting and positive effect on society; but make no mistalke about it I am absolutely anti-theocratic government. Religious beliefs should not be forced on anyone, I wouldn’t want it any other way. Besides either accept my religion or be burned at the stake proved to be horrible policy. (smile)
I agree. In my mind, religion should make people feel good, not agitated. It should be a way to find inner peace and acceptance of the world and its challenges. Unfortunately, too many people use it as an excuse to persecute and kill those who are different. Muslims and Christians have been guilty of this throughout their history. Fortunately for Western Civilization, Christianity has slowly evolved away from its brutal past. We can only hope that Islam will do the same.
Shammity is one to talk about liberal religious bigotry against Mormons. Here in Texas, the ACLU and other liberal groups helped the Mormons and Catholics stop the generic Protestant prayers over stadium loudspeakers before high school football games.
I've heard Shammity is a Roman Catholic, who hold that if a Mormon coverts to Catholicism they have to be rebaptized, because the Mormons practice an "invalid" form of baptism.
Ysbadden,
Well, that's the belief with many religions. I am Baptist and when new converts coming from other religious denominations that don't practice submersion baptismals the new recruit has to be baptized in the method sanctioned by the Baptist church. The method sanctioned is a full body dunk into a baptismal pool, while the congregation sings and thanks Jesus for saving your soul. Unfortunately, the my beliefs and PRACTICES are better seems to be a common trait among all religions.
I'm grateful for the Conservative bias against Mormonism. Growing up with that kind of hostility probably led me to embrace Witchcraft.
GOOD ONE HUGH!
Did your proctologist help you come up with that one?
FYI-- In case a few people did not know this. unlike other religious orginization, the lds church has no political affiliation. they do not support or endorse any political figure. They are a religion that sticks to religious teachings. i think one of the reasons people call them a cult is because they are very un-aware of there teachings. and thats because they do not force there beliefs on others. plus people tend to base there Facts off of heresay. So when someone questions a mormons faith with these so-called "fact" it is perceived as bigotry. because they have to prove there faith. and if you can prove your faith with concrete fact then it would not be faith. chances are you know a good amount of people that are mormon but you just dont know it. they are good people and that is all that should matter. politically or domestically