Why They're Worried: "Will His Prayers Even Get Through?"

How child-like they are in their faith. Or how stupid they are in their childishness. Why evangelicals are opposed to a Mittens Romney presidency, from the Los Angeles Times:

Some Christians are appalled at the Mormon conception of God as having a physical body and a wife. In their view, Mormons don't worship the one true God -- so they fear that, as president, Romney would not benefit from divine guidance.

At a Huckabee campaign event a few weeks ago, voter Glenda Gehrke, 63, voiced that concern about Romney, asking: "Will his prayers even get through?"

We aren't going to bother to apply any logic to that one. You either don't get it or you do. But we'll ask if their Space Elf is really that fickle.

Few voters, they said, truly worried that Romney would take orders from Salt Lake City if elected -- that he'd "pick up the phone and call some 90-year-old Mormon elder to ask what to do on immigration," said Stuart Rothenberg, publisher of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report.

We're worried that some 90-yr.-old Mormon elder will have his flunky pick up the 'phone & dial the White House, & the senile wretch will get through to Mittens w/ his orders.

Romney also vowed that he would stand proudly by his beliefs as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[...]

In proudly laying claim to his family's Mormon tradition, Romney noted that Americans "tire of those who would jettison their beliefs . . . to gain the world." But that may have served only to remind voters of Romney's shifting beliefs on issues such as abortion. (When he ran for governor of Massachusetts, Romney supported abortion rights; he now opposes them.)

An excellent point. Once it becomes generally known that the LDS Church is happy to jettison its beliefs & tradition as the political winds blow, the connection between flip-floppery & Mormonism will probably be emphasized, albeit not openly & directly, by the other candidates or their surrogates. Can't wait, personally.

Romney did not explain any details of Mormon theology (and used the word "Mormon" only once in his 20-minute speech). He also did not take questions from the audience of 300 invited guests.

JFK took questions.

Romney's aides said he didn't plan to go any deeper into his beliefs. "If anybody asks the question, he can say, 'I've addressed that; I've spoken to that. Let's move on,' " one staffer said.

That leaves the court open, however, for pundits to pick apart Mormon theology and endlessly rehash some of the doctrines that may strike voters as unusual, such as secret ceremonies to baptize the dead and to "seal" them in temple marriages so they can reach the most exalted realms of heaven.

"If it goes to a point where everyone is taking apart what Mormons believe and what they don't, that's not good for Romney," said Charles Cook, a nonpartisan campaign analyst.

The magic underwear people also scare the snake-handlers w/ their rapid growth, 'though some of the anti-Mormon websites question many LDS numbers, & how long "converts" stick w/ it. Nonetheless, while the pool of people dense enough to buy into evangelical/fundamental/willing-to-tithe religion is large, there is an upper limit to the gullible (we sincerely hope) & the competition must be fierce:

Others consider Mormonism a cult and worry that a Mormon president would give the fast-growing faith more legitimacy in the U.S. and around the world.

That would make competition for the church going dollar tougher.

And while we're on the subject, a quick look at Mormon attempts at legitimacy & influence peddling, from Deseret Book:

In this groundbreaking work, Mike Winder presents the story of America's presidents and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From Washington to Bush, each President and their relationship with the Mormons is explored, and we see the Church rising from obscurity to political clout as America's-fastest growing religion. [Our emphasis.]

Familiar anecdotes are retold -- Wilford Woodruff's vision of the Founding Fathers; Joseph Smith calling on Martin Van Buren; Ezra Taft Benson serving in Eisenhower's cabinet; and Gordon B. Hinckley receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush. And, there is much, much more.

There's a long list of "Which President did such & such that had to do w/ Mormons?," questions, though you'll have to buy the book to find out which preznit did what. We do want to mention this one: "What future Church president was in the room when McKinley was assassinated?" Conspiracy, any one?