Exactly. All you republican haters can raise as an objection is the status of his religion prior to 1978. So far, no one has offered anything to suggest Romney has any racial bias today even though that is what you wish to believe so you take digs at his religion.</p>
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<p>When Catholic John Kerry said he supported abortion rather than adopting the Chatholic church’s view that it is wrong, he was a hypocrite? Can you show me a post where you pointed out this hypocracy?</p>
<p>And yes I misspelled tenent. Sorry about that.</p>
<p>I think it is a lot different, when Kennedy or Kerry as Catholics say something that is separate from what the Vatican would like you to think, than when a Catholic bishop says something separate from what the Vatican approves.
( although that has happened)</p>
<p>Romney was part of the structure of the LDS church- but I haven’t heard yet that he spoke out against any of their teachings , if he did in fact disagree with them.</p>
<p>I do believe he was/is a hypocrite for this. I don’t understand how a person can claim to be a faithful Catholic and yet support what is considered to be murder by the Catholic church.</p>
<p>Similarly, I don’t understand how a person can claim to be a faithful Mormon, but not be a misogynist or former (or current) racist.</p>
<p>Feel free to enlighten me, but without simplistic Earth-as-center-of-the universe arguments, please.</p>
Actually, that best describes your form of argument. You are way too black and white. </p>
<p>BTW, hypocrisy is not the best term for what you are describing. You can argue someone is inconsistent with the tenents of a religion but that does not make that person a hyprocrit. A hyprocrit would be someone who take a position that is inconsistent with him or herself. For example, some one who condemned Bill Clinton for engaging in adultery, while in fact that someone is married and engaging in adultery.</p>
<p>“Oh you mean like that darling of the right wing and Fox News, NEWT GINGRICH!”</p>
<p>Can you provide a link to where Gingrich condemned Clinton’s adultery?</p>
<p>As far as Romney’s potential racism and the Russert interview - this is all a bunch of blather, guilt by association and grasping for straws hoping to create some dirt on someone. Yet, I’m sure that all who participate in such mud slinging are also in the “politics is too dirty camp”. </p>
<p>If you think he is a racist, find something in his very public record to bolster your assertions. What we know is that his father (also a Mormon) made the effort to march with Martin Luther King. Given that kind of pedigree, trying to color Romney with racism is just very ugly and makes those who engage in this type of behavior appear more the bigot than their target.</p>
<p>No one here has accused Romney of being a racist. But calling yourself a faithful member of a church that has a history of blatant racism (and misogyny) is most certainly guilt by association, and without further evidence on Romney’s part, rightfully so, in my mind. Some of us are looking for that evidence and not finding it. Do you have it?</p>
<p>As I said, this is guilt by association. Apparently you feel justified in this. I find it disturbing. Why not direct your spotlight at the esteemed (and senile) senior senator from West Virginia who was an official in an organization that existed exclusively to promote racism and was directly involved with lynching?</p>
<p>Bay, thank you very much for your reasoned statement (#27). It makes me angry that others obscure our very legitimate interest in Romney’s conduct on this matter with invective and sophistry, i.e. we are racists and we hate Republicans because we want to know what were church leader Romney’s thoughts about the racial discrimination that was a principal canon of his congregation’s teachings? How false! What a dishonest attitude!</p>
<p>As for Romney Sr. marching with M.L. King Jr., I’ve heard self-serving politicians say this or something similar so often over the years that for many the memory of that time has nearly lost its significance. Charlton Heston marched with MLK too, but I doubt that MLK would be encouraged by Heston’s recent social commentary. I don’t care how many times Romney or Heston sang “we shall overcome” in 1963 holding hands with a Black church choir. I’ll say it again…even Jerry Falwell, who I’d like to believe was not an evil man, said his past racist beliefs were WRONG! One more thing…Senator Robert Byrd also renounced his KKK ties, as did Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black. And if one reads through this thread carefully, one will find that I did not introduce to this thread the reference to the Klan.</p>
Actually, you are presuming he is a racist and then demanded that he prove he is not one.</p>
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Your argument is little difference from the argument of Joseph McCarthy who presumed people were communists until they proved otherwise. It doesn’t work that way. You have no evidence that Romney is biased and, thus, he is not biased. The burden of proof is on you, not on Romney.</p>
Assuming this is true, it means that Falwell admited he once had racist beliefs. Romney has never had racists beliefs and you have nothing to show he ever had them. Saying his church had them is not sufficient proof of what Romney believed. Many people including religious leaders have different personal opinions from those of their religions. Try again.</p>
<p>I don’t think that asking someone who is running for President to clearly state his views on racism is asking for much. Maybe I’m in the minority.</p>
<p>How does this now answer the question about how Romney feels about racism? “not discriminating based upon race” “those are my fundamental core beliefs”. It looks pretty clear to me.</p>
<p>And those of you who wish to wish to make your arguments against Romney based on association, how about associating him with is parents? His father walked out of a speech because Goldwater suggested he would be weak on civil rights. Romney’s mother was a tirless crusader for civil rights.</p>
<p>In addition to what razorsharp said, if you want to look at the associations of a candidate, please be consistent and look at the associations of Obama whose pastor claims that the attack of 9/11 was America’s fault. Sounds a bit Ward Churchill to me.</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about Obama’s pastor, but I do know that many people misinterpret and acknowledgment of blowback to mean the US was ‘at fault’ which is a gross mistake.</p>
<p>“How does this now answer the question about how Romney feels about racism? “not discriminating based upon race” “those are my fundamental core beliefs”. It looks pretty clear to me.”</p>
<p>It’s nice to know about his “feelings”. Now, does he wholeheartedly accept the doctrine of his Church about the “curse of Cain”, or doesn’t he? What did he do BEFORE Spencer Kimball had his revelation? How did he assure doctrinal purity as a stake president? The issue is not whether he is (or was) a racist, but whether he relies on his Church to decide what his public positions should be. It’s not a matter of associations. Romney has declared he wholeheartedly accepts the doctrines of his Church - and that includes the “curse of Cain”.</p>
<p>Incidentally, Romney’s description of candidate Barry Goldwater is a feeble anecdote; Goldwater wasn’t just “weak on civil rights;” he adamantly opposed the Civil Rights Act and wasn’t bashful about it. But unlike some, Goldwater spoke clearly and unequivocally about his views. And years later he said his position in 1964 was wrong.</p>
<p>Yep, like father like son. I always knew former Vice President Al Gore was a racist just like his Senator father who opposed the civil rights act. </p>
<p>And Bill Clinton was a racist too. After all he selected a Vice President who was a racist and whose father was a racist. </p>
<p>I love this arguing by association.</p>
<p>Oh, and I should add that anyone who voted for Clinton/Gore must also be racists. Who else but a racist would vote for two racists.</p>