BlogBlurb - Cut it out, Conservatives!

ABC News asks survey takers “do you think that Mitt Romney would be a good or a bad President?” and people respond by saying he’s “too corporate”. John McCain’s various compatriots throw out news bait questioning Romney’s ability to manage government because he hasn’t had enough time in the system. Online bloggers suggest that Romney’s “flip-flopping” makes him untrustworthy.

While Huckabee insists on staying in a race that only the delusional believe he has a chance of winning, the conservative vote is split between the only two men that hold a perception of being conservative. Romney is not a tried and true conservative in the mold many Republicans have been hoping for, but it seems that is not his biggest liability. Instead, countless evangelical and other protestant Christians have no intention of supporting a candidate who is not only a Mormon, but even held a leadership position within his church. Their most serious charge is that Mormonism is a “cult” and they just don’t trust a “cultist” to be President. But as a member of a very conservative Pentecostal denomination I have also had charges of “cult” hurled at me countless times by the moderate and agnostic.

The definition of a “cult” by the Random House Dictionary:
A particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
An instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers.
A group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.
A group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.

To all of my fellow evangelical die-hards, listen to me: while we believe that our faith and doctrine are the only correct interpretation of scripture, we are no more OR less a “cult” than Mormonism! Somehow it doesn’t bother these same detractors that 17 of our 43 presidents were Masons, as well as Ben Franklin, Barry Goldwater and Bob Dole, who are, at heart worshippers of humanity and Mother Nature. I don’t understand the aversion of some fellow Christians to voting for a man who has a spotless record of character, has been married happily for 38 years, loves his wife and children and has never had a single slimy scandal in his life simply because he believes another faith other than traditional Christianity? I personally believe Mormonism is false, but so is the faith of playboy and maverick John McCain. McCain on the other hand was such a rebel that he lost his first wife, was known for frequenting strip bars and drag races, dating models and exotic dancers and has done more harm to the largest of conservative causes in the last 10 years than any other high-profile Republican member of Congress.

It remains to be said that every other major candidate in this race is a career politician and has no real experience running a business with the principles of efficiency and high customer service. On the contrary, Mitt Romney has a leadership ability that attracts the right people, motivates the cynical and transforms mediocrity to levels of greatness. While I do not agree with every decision he made as Governor of Massachusetts, he is by far the most conservative candidate remaining in this primary race. Huckabee is at best a moderate in governmental and fiscal policy, and McCain is the definition of an opportunist that has literally lied about previous positions and votes, believing the media will simply overlook his "inaccuracies" out of allegiance for his "independent" spirit and flair.

Christians need to stop haranguing Romney for his faith, independents need to start seeing the pandering and legacy-hunting character of Playboy McCain, and they need to begin paying attention to the dynamic of this race with three dramatically polarizing candidates and vote with responsibility. Mitt Romney is not God’s gift to conservatism, but he’s the closest representation we have to choose from, and American conservatives will be miserable with 4 years of John McCain if voters continue looking for the perfect candidate. Mitt Romney is a strict insightful businessman who understands efficiency and creativity and knows how to keep his hands clean. Something we haven’t been able to say about our President in a long time.