The 2008 presidential election already has me hot and bothered. Such are politics for me. Not because politics are inherently dirty but because my political views are nothing short of hypocritical.
Case in point: Mitt Romney. To be honest, I don’t know much about the guy. I know there are lots of people I respect who are rooting for him. And before it comes time to vote, I’ll get myself informed about his background and his politics. I might even vote for him. But this much I know already: We share a religion. And that has me frightened for several reasons.
First, I’m truly afraid of having my religion and its sacred tenets exposed to the general public. I don’t want Mormonism to be part of any mud-slinging directed at Mitt. Case in point: I watched a little snippet on msnbc.com of Tucker Carlson’s show last night, where he asked a pundit how Mormonism will affect Mitt’s bid for the White House. In just four minutes, there was a joke about polygamy, one about our undergarments and the observation that most people only know Mormons as “Donny and Marie.”
Second, I’m not really a Republican. (You GOP-lovers out there will be happy to know that I’m not really a Democrat either.) In fact, I tend to think poorly of many Republicans in office (including one who also goes by Dub) or striving to hold office. I don’t relate to the Religious Right Wing even though I am very religious. I’m not anti-immigration. I’m not a fan of the war in Iraq. I’m not against gun control. (And I’m not interested in arguing those issues with anyone through my comments because, trust me, I can type very, very fast.)
And I don’t want to feel like I have to vote for Mitt just because he is a Mormon. If I don’t totally support his politics – and he’s being billed as the “most conservative” candidate, which gives me a slight indication – I don’t want to feel obligated to vote for him just to send a message to America that we’re good people. And I don’t believe that his religion will necessarily make him a better president, though I’m sure it would make him a great candidate for bishop.
But on the same Web page I watched that segment you can take a poll about whether you’d be willing to elect a Mormon as president. I passionately voted yes despite my aforementioned concerns. Sadly, 53 percent of people who also voted would not. And I’m not sure how to feel about that. If they voted that way because they assume a Mormon would be hyper-conservative and un-progressive then I understand, although I’m slightly saddened that they don’t share at least some of our standards. But if they did it because they think everyone would be forced to take plural partners, then I am shocked by their ignorance.
So I don’t know what to think. And to make my hypocrisy worse, I’m excited to hear Barack Obama may make a bid for president. For several reasons, including some shared political views, but also because he is black, and I think it’s time we had a black president (or one of any non-Anglo ethnicity, for that matter).
Don’t think I don’t see the irony. I’m (partly) willing to vote for someone because he’s black but I won’t for someone just because he’s Mormon. And I’m a Mormon.
I can’t wait for 2009.
9 comments:
i think i like the libertarians the best, thanks to mike's influence. however, because my dad is who he is (meaning a very strong supporter of mitt), i will be voting for mitt. i'm ok with that.
hey - an endorsement by ma and pa parker is almost enough to sway me. i just needed an outlet for my political confusion.
I agree with you on many points, Mrs. Dub. Specifically, the conflict between my conservative view on things like, say, abortion, and my disdain of guns (and the idea that we all should have them), and the slimeballish ways of the republicans on the hill. I think Mitt is a very good candidate for many reasons, and it's hard to say how his religion will affect his chances. At least we can be confident that he is a good Mormon, who lives his standards and always has. My mom has talked about when JFK was elected: the first Catholic President. It was a very big deal at the time, especially in New England. Many thought he couldn't be elected. Anyhoo, Barack Obama wouldn't be so bad, but he's got some pretty liberal views of his own.
Miss Dub is cute.
Wow. Remind me never to debate politics with you. I'm pretty sure I'd lose the arguement. But I WILL defend Dr. Laura to the death, so just don't mess with her. :)
Can I hold Eden now???? She's just so stinkin' CUTE!!!!!
Wow. I'm not touching that.
i am sure that i am foolish but, i am really fed up with party affiliation at all. who says, "i only like drama's - no comedies for me." i am mormon but i really do not like jell-o, does that make me a bad mormon? oh yeah, and i am all for homosexual people having the rights of shared benefits etc...so who gives a shiz about parties. that is unless someone is throwing one.
amen, hilari. there's a reason a teacher once told us that fun is our number one priority.
...i can't stand politics anymore because they are full of way too many questions that in my mind have no answer or two totally opposite answers at the same time. it makes my head hurt too much. now, if the talking heads wanted to pontificate what math program our school district should switch to or reforming adoption laws to make them more humane or the fact that i cannot find many kenzie girl clothes in this town and what can be done about it, then i am game. i don't think there is an easy fix to the war--i see both sides and don't know which one i like more. i don't think there is an answer to immigration that is both protective and tolerant (i hate that word--i think it is anti-Christ). but, what i do know is that next season on 24, there will be a black president in the oval office. so, my advice, Mrs. Dub ...VOTE PALMER!
Im not detecting a whole lot of support for Gov. Mitt so I dont think his religion is going to be an issue. I agree with about 85% of his beliefs but I would never vote for him. Prepare yourself for 8 straight years of Hillary and Bill. Bill will have his own desk in the Oval Office, and with Hillary sitting next to him he will be forced to behave himself. Remember - You heard it here first.
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