Posted by
Phil E. on Sunday, January 21, 2007 4:52:49 AM
Did you catch the "Mitt Romney Show" on Michael Medved's program Monday, January 8? (Yes, I'm way behind. How do part time bloggers do it?) That was the day Mitt Romney started his fund raising with great hoopla.
Actually, I shouldn't be too hard on Mr. Medved. While he didn't allow callers to challenge Mitt Romney directly (I'm waiting for you former temple Mormons to call in with your first hand concerns about the compromising
temple oath), Mr. Medved did challenge Mitt Romney with
Dick Morris' assertion that he (Mitt Romney) flip flopped flipped on murdering the unborn. (A.k.a. abortion). Mr. Medved even let some "bigoted" callers comment later on, who said they would never vote for a Mormon.
(Contrast this with Hugh Hewitt, who did not challenge Mitt Romney that week with Dick Morris and whose Mormon call screener has kept at least one former Mormon from getting on the air,
as I've said before.)
But when he's challenged, Mitt Romney has an annoying habit. He disparages his critics, saying something to the effect "he hasn't got that quite right." But then he doesn't say specifically where his critics have it wrong!
He said this when challenged about peculiar Mormon doctrine by Judy Woodruff in the video
Mitt Romney and Mormonism. Woodruff had the facts exactly right, as documented in the video, where Mormon church doctrine is quoted verbatim from Mormon church publications. Yet Mitt Romney tells her she "hasn't got that quite right," but refuses to correct her with the "truth." He did the same when confronted with Dick Morris' claim, saying "Dick's got his facts a little bit upside down." Oh yeah? Where? Is Dick Morris lying?
Look, as Rush Limbaugh says, "Words mean things." if Mitt Romney is embarrassed and doesn't want to explain his beliefs about his church or about where life begins or why he's changed back and forth, that's one thing. But to tell someone they're wrong but not tell them where gives the impression that he doesn't have the truth on his side. It's like watching the old Archie Bunker and Meathead "debates" in
All in the Family. When challenged, Archie could never defend his beliefs with facts. Maybe he was right occasionally, but simply Naysaying isn't very convincing and makes you look shallow. Like we should just take his word because he says so? Doesn't leave you fulfilled and certainly not any better informed. (Ironically,
the Mormon church is against "naysaying." Or so they say. Nay?)
But, according to Mormonism, Mitt Romney has this special authority called the
Melchizedek Priesthood. It's a prelude - and a requirement - for being a god someday. (Sorry, ladies. It's only for men. You don't rate and get to look forward, at best, to an eternal life of being pregnant, sharing your husband with his other wives as you strive to populate his planet.) See, in Mormonism, you can just pray about something and find the truth. Of course, your truth may not be someone else's truth, but all that matters in Mormonism is "personal revelation." That you feel you have the truth. (How will that affect President Romney's take on daily CIA briefings? Will he believe his staff or his feelings?) So maybe Mitt Romney's truth is different from Judy Woodruff's or Dick Morris'? Or yours? Or the plain facts?
I suppose like the Catholic priesthood, you can let this power thing go to your head. Maybe Mitt Romney thinks he's a god already. Maybe he thinks he can sweep away disagreements or charges with a wave of his hand or a simple denial. But he can't.
Mitt Romney insisted on his show that his values were YOUR values. But if Mitt Romeny has the truth and is going to say someone is wrong, he should have the courtesy - and the confidence - to correct that someone and deal in facts. As those on the Right are supposed to do. Until then, he's simply naysaying. Don't vote for Mitt Romney for President. It's like voting for Archie Bunker and condoning his shallowness. It might be funny in a sitcom. But it's deadly serious in real life.