Can a Mormon get to the White House?

[^_^ 5,021]

Mar 3rd 2011 | LOS ANGELES

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church, is in a tizzy now that not one but two of its members, or “saints”, seem about to vie for the Republican nomination for president of the United States. Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman both seem determined to try to test the limits of discrimination.

For most of the 181 years since Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon, such prominent Mormon candidacies for the highest office would have been unthinkable. Mainstream Protestants, and especially evangelicals, have traditionally considered Mormons a devious cult, not quite Christian and just plain wacky.

...

Yet in practical matters Mormonism seems well adapted to the modern world, for Mormons are, by many measures, disproportionately successful. Harvard Business School, it is often said, is dominated by the “three Ms” (McKinsey, the military and Mormons). Wall Street and the Central Intelligence Agency love to hire Mormons. And Mormons now make up almost 3% of Congress, even though they are less than 2% of the population.

...

For this, Mormons may have their austere religious practice to thank. The church has no paid professional clergy, so all boys from an early age learn to become church leaders. Young men (and some women) also tend to go abroad as missionaries, usually after rigorous study of a foreign language (Mr Romney learned French, Mr Huntsman Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan).

Many missionaries become paragons of self-discipline, with their trademark white shirts and ties and a teetotalling, non-smoking, caffeine-free and abstinent Mormon work ethic. That experience—and perhaps the need to cope with repeated ridicule—seems to make many Mormons not only cosmopolitan but also resilient. Many become good salesmen and communicators, or indeed politicians.

Through their faith, Mormons tend to inherit many quintessentially conservative values, above all an attachment to the family.

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The mixture has created overwhelmingly conservative politics in heavily Mormon states such as Utah and Idaho, but with a pragmatic twist, says Kirk Jowers, a Mormon and the director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah. It may not be a coincidence that Mr Romney in Massachusetts and Mr Huntsman in Utah made the two biggest state-level efforts to reform health care (Mr Romney’s reform even resembling Barack Obama’s to a striking degree).

The debate on immigration is another example. The author of a harsh state law against illegal immigrants in Arizona, passed last year, is a Mormon. But as Utah began debating its own version, with anti-immigrant rhetoric taking on racist tinges, the state’s overwhelmingly Mormon policy elite formed a “Utah compact”, an agreement to keep the debate civil and empathetic toward all. The church gave this compact a nod of approval, citing the sanctity of families, including those of illegal immigrants, who might be split up by deportations.

http://www.economist.com/node/18284013

[mawilson 2,133]

If a Moron can, a Mormon can too.

[luckytxn 2,263]

Wasn't that long ago that we had these same debates about Catholics.

[Dan and Judy 614]

Im ready to get rid of those silly monogamy laws

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

If a Muslim can...why not a Mormon?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Im ready to get rid of those silly monogamy laws

[Amby 490]

Im ready to get rid of those silly monogamy laws

You should check out this book called The Ethical #######. It makes a really good argument for polyamory. It's also changed the minds of a few people I know.

[TBoneTX 43,125]

get rid of those silly monogamy laws

Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same thing, si man.

[mawilson 2,133]

Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same thing, si man.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same thing, si man.

Exactly! Which is why she should be HOT! I have never had any desire to have two wives. Alla says it would be OK if the other wife was an old lady to clean and cook.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

This question would better have been asked 39 years ago, when George Romney (Mitt's dad) wished to run as GOP candidate for POTUS--and got defeated by "both parties' tradition" of nominating eligible, incumbent POTUS (even when this was obviously disastrous as in 1980) as their candidate. Had it not been for this, US could already have been through a Mormon President.

(but Mitt as POTUS--only when you actually see snow in Kolkata).

Edited March 7, 2011 by Saddle Bronc

[Danno 1,228]

OF course the more relevant question might be:

Can a Mormon with his own Gov. health-care program, get elected to the White House?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

OF course the more relevant question might be:

Can a Mormon with his own Gov. health-care program, get elected to the White House?

(which I answered immediately prior)

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Exactly! Which is why she should be HOT! I have never had any desire to have two wives. Alla says it would be OK if the other wife was an old lady to clean and cook.

I have no desire for two wives either. Why would I want to disappoint two women?

[ready4ONE 5,400]

With magic underpants all things are possible...