The M-Word: GOP Debates Have Strayed Away From Addressing Mormonism
Mitt Romney is a Mormon. And Jon Huntsman, no longer in the GOP race, is, too. And yet most Americans would be hard-pressed to find many mentions of Mormonism in any of the Republican debates. Well, that’s because in 20 debates, only three questions have addressed the faith. None of those were directly pointed at Romney or Huntsman.
As the Guardian reports, in a primary season with an abundance of debates, none of the moderators have ever asked about Mormonism — despite half of Republican voters saying they know “little to nothing” about it, according to Pew Research Center. And about two-thirds believe Mormonism is “very different” from their own beliefs.
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Romney himself has successfully avoided the word “Mormon,” and thus voters still know little to nothing about his beliefs, and how they would affect his decisions were he elected president. Perhaps it would not be as noticeable if we lived in a world where religion rarely enters the realm of political discussion — but that’s not the reality. Interestingly, Romney’s faith might help humanize him and further connect with voters. Frank Rich argued this in his New York Magazine story that stated, “his greatest passion is something he’s determined to keep secret.”
Toward the end of the piece, Rich adds:
Take away the bogus boasts about “job creation” at Bain and the disowned Romneycare, and what else is there to Mitt Romney? Mainly, his unspecified service to his church and his perfect marriage.
In November 2011, The New Republic also analyzed Romney in the cover story about his “peculiar anger.” The piece described his history of confrontations — or “Mitt-frontations” — and anger, but notes one exception. When challenged about his religion, “Romney seems guaranteed not to lose his cool.” His 2008 political director, Jamie Burnett, shared an anecdote to illustrate the point:
Burnett was with Romney in 2007 when he went into a diner in Dover, New Hampshire, to greet patrons. When he marched up to one older man, Burnett recalls, “The guy just turned and yelled at him and said, ‘I’m not going to shake the hand of a Mormon!’” What struck Burnett most was Romney’s response. “He was taken aback a little, but he said, ‘That’s fine, I just wanted to say hello, you don’t have to vote for me.’ He went on, and it didn’t faze him that much.” A few months later, at a town hall meeting in California, a man asked Romney, “If you were elected president, how many first ladies could we expect?” Romney smiled and pointed at Ann, who was with him. “Just the best one in the country. This one here,” he said.
While Romney has stayed mum about his faith, it’s interesting how much the media, too, have avoided it. Had that not been the case, who knows, it’s possible Romney might be in a different situation right now.
This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.
