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PrintDecember 13, 2007
Hating Mormons for Christmas
There's an ancient madness alive in the land, one that reflects miserably upon some Christians and some Jews, as well as the usual voices of the Left. It is being exploited by demagogues for political gain. Some conservatives, sincere or not, have jumped on the sleazewagon.
I refer to slander against Mormons, of course. Forget Mitt. It has nothing to do with Romney. It has to do with ugliness, deliberately stirred up for political gain.
Lawrence O'Donnell is throwing sleaze grenades on behalf of the Democratic National Committee (in effect, even if not consciously), not accusing Romney himself but his Church of racism, polygamy, being demented, and following a "lying, fraudulent, criminal named Joseph Smith." Smith died in 1844.
Said Hugh Hewitt,
"George Romney marched in civil rights actions in 1962, '63, '64. His young son was with him on that, and that it's silly to attribute to Romney a racist bone in his body on the basis of whatever the teachings of the Mormon Church were, and you know it's silly ..."
Lawrence O'Donnell himself is a selective Catholic, which in today's batty climate makes him responsible for the Spanish Inquisition. He's also a Democrat operative, which makes him responsible by the same logic for the Klu Klux Klan, slavery, Jim Crow and the Civil War.
But O'Donnell also says that "Mormons are the nicest people in the world." Further, "I would like to criticize Islam much more than I do publicly, but I'm afraid for my life if I do."
Is this nuts, or what?
In my mind, Governor Mike Huckabee has disgraced himself as well, by dropping just a little sly sleaze, asking in a New York Time Magazine (!) interview, "Don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?" Mr. Huckabee knows perfectly well that this amazingly stupid remark would make headlines. But, he assures us, "I'm just not going to go off into evaluating other people's doctrines and faiths."
The Democrats are trying to stir up religious hatred among Republicans. But conservatives are responsible for their own behavior, if they take that poisoned bait. What's particularly toxic is that Huckabee and O'Donnell must believe that their public bigotry will earn anti-Mitt votes from Republicans. If that is true, Republicans will utterly disgrace themselves for the coming election, and deservedly so. That can only help the Left.
The whole business is disgusting. It brings Republicans down to the level of race and religion-baiting demagogues. I can't imagine myself ever voting for Huckabee as a result, and I hope millions of other conservatives feel the same.
It's the holiday season, everybody. If you want to listen to some gorgeous music, check out the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. And then send an apology on behalf of all of us to Mitt Romney.
James Lewis blogs for dangeroustimes.wordpress.com
