Jay Kersting's Blog

Today, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will give a speech explaining his Mormon faith.

Really?

This matters in 2007?

Sure I live in a state that once issued an extermination order for Mormons.  (Missouri Executive Order 44, but Governor Lilburn Boggs in 1838.) No, there is no truth to the rumor that the order led to the founding of Orkin.  That is just sick.  Then Governor Kit Bond did recind the order in 1976, and I think that is what allowed Mizzou to schedule a game with BYU.

OK, all jokes aside, really, this is an issue?

Well, it enough of an issue for me to have Michael Miller from the Acton Institute come on the show this morning to talk a little further about it.  

This is the time when I will start to hear talk about "separation of church and state"....which is when I will respond by reminding EVERYONE the legal standing of that phrase.  Courts gave that phrase legal standing, not law.  In fact, let us now look once again at the First Amendment.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The first clause of the First Amendment is the key to this discussion.  Mitt Romney will not convert us IF he becomes President.  He may wish to, but your conversion to the Church of Latter Day Saints will be on your own. 

So, in my opinion, this discussion is only as appropriate as Romney himself makes it.

Will his theological view have an impact on policy decisions?  Probably.  Did Jimmy Carter's views as a Southern Baptist steer him?  Probably.  Does that make it a reason to NOT vote for a Southern Baptist in the future?  Hmm...OK, not a good example.  Did Richard Nixon's views as a Quaker impact what he did?  Maybe, but again it is not fair to judge all Quakers based on Richard Nixon.  Besides, oatmeal is great for your heart.

In 1960, this was an issue for John Kennedy.  It was also an issue in 1928 for Al Smith.  Both were Roman Catholic.  Anti-Catholic bigotry was believed to be a factor in the landslide loss for Smith, so Kennedy gave a speech to "nip it in the bud" to use the words of Barney Fife. 

I have not been around all of that time.  It has been OVER 47 years since Kennedy gave his speech and I am only 37.  But I have been led to believe that a lot of positive changes came to America starting in the 1960's.  

Apparently, that is a load of raw sewage.  The same bigotries exist today, whether racial, gender or religious based.  And there are other categories.

I admit to one form of bigotry.  I have a strong dislike of the ignorant.  Let me explain this again.

Too often people use the term ignorant interchangably for stupid.  Completely different things.  Thinking they are the same is, well, ignorant.  Ignorant is a lack of knowledge or comphrension.  Stupid is lacking intelligence or reason.  Ignorance can be corrected.  As Ron White says, "You can't fix Stupid."

So, are the concerns over Romney's religion really necessary?  I doubt it. 

For now, I am more interested in hearing what Romney has to say about it.  Because what he says can do one of two things.  It can put out the fire, or it could further fuel the fire.

For now, I support no one who is running and have been outspoken on who I am against. 

Are you concerned?  Post your comments here, let me know why you are concerned.  Because for now, I just don't get it.