How do you spell Bigot? 

Well, today’s dictionary spelling and definition of that term is personified by Slate’s Jacob Weisberg.  Unsurprisingly, Weisberg doesn’t bother to assess Mitt’s accomplishments as Governor, nor his qualifications for the Oval Office.  Weisberg disqualifies Mitt on one issue.

Mitt’s a Mormon.

[Gasp]

Weisberg’s entire article is a tinny, out of tune, one note samba.  He could have saved valuable keystrokes and precious bandwidth by condensing his column to one sentence:

I’m a religious bigot and because of that I won’t vote for or otherwise support Mitt Romney.

There, now you don’t have to waste time reading Slate.

What you should spend your time reading is Dean Barnett’s well crafted and spot on analysis of Mitt’s evolving candidacy.  He actually uses facts and verifiable first hand accounts to back up his overall premise that Mitt is, in fact, a Social Conservative.

Yet another example where the Blogosphere trumps the MSM in quality content.

 

Mitt is front and center in this week’s edition of Newsweek.  Some key paragraphs:

In late October, departing Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney huddled with a godly group. Gathered in his kitchen were 15 of the country’s leading evangelicals, including giants like Jerry Falwell, Franklin Graham and Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention. They’d come to nibble sandwiches, slurp soup and quiz Romney on his faith. Why on earth should they support Romney, a Mormon, in his presidential candidacy in 2008? Richard Lee, a Baptist minister from Cumming, Ga., got to the heart of the matter. What did Romney really believe about Jesus Christ? Romney didn’t hesitate. “When I say Jesus Christ is my Lord and savior, I realize that means something different to you than it does to me,” he admitted. But he urged them to remember their shared beliefs: the faith that Christ was born of a virgin, was crucified and rose after three days. The ministers were pleased. “So you’re really a Baptist?” Lee cracked.

On the whole, not a bad article.  Read the whole thing.

From there we go to the Chicago Tribune.  The article hits the same two points repeatedly.  Polygamy and the “Cult” issue.  Read it if you feel so inclined and haven’t had enough of that tune yet.  Its got a good bass line, but you can’t dance to it.

And finally, for today anyway, stop by the Salt Lake Tribune.  Peggy Fletcher Stack opens with this attention grabbing paragraph:

More than a year ago, Mitt Romney sought the advice of LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley about a run for the presidency. At the meeting, as reported in a Mormon-focused magazine, Hinckley said the decision was Romney’s to make, not the church’s. But if Romney decided to go for it, Hinckley wasn’t worried. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would survive the inevitable scrutiny.

That was then. {cue ominous music} 

Since that reported meeting, photos of sacred temple garments, caricatures of Mormon worship and questions about the church’s former racial policies have circulated widely on the Internet. Such unwanted and unflattering attention will only multiply starting Jan. 8, when Romney is expected to announce his 2008 aspirations. In the coming months, Hinckley’s optimism will be put to the test.

Ok.  Perhaps I added a little something to Stack’s opinion piece masquerading as reporting.  Most of her article is dedicated to rehashing issues that are so lacking in substance they make Krispy Kreme donuts look like a well balanced meal.  Sooner or later papers like the Salt Lake Tribune will have to start focusing on what actually matters in this campaign.  Methinks it will be later rather than sooner.

As is most likely obvious, this site is dedicated to the proposition that Mitt Romney should be the next President of the United States.   We make no illusions to the contrary.  We believe Mitt has the qualifications, intelligence, and foundation necessary to lead this great nation through the perilous times in which we now find ourselves.  In the interest of full disclosure we will lay out the following two points:

 1. The founders of this blog, Rick and Jon as we choose to identify ourselves, are both members in good standing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – more popularly identified as “The Mormons”.   That being said, this is not a “Mormon” blog.  We believe firmly in Article VI of the United States Constitution which states: 

  “No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” 

The religion we share with Mitt Romney will no doubt become an issue in the 2008 Presidential campaign.   Where we feel necessary, aspects, tenets, and teachings of the LDS Church will be discussed in posts and commentary will be welcomed.  However, Mormon bashing will not be permitted on this blog.   Any derogatory or inflammatory comments will be summarily deleted and the offending commenter will be banned.  In short, if you want to bash Mormons simply for what you think they believe, find some other blog to pimp.

2. At the present time, we have no official relationship with Mitt Romney.   We have never met him.  He has never bought us lunch or made us an offer of support (financial, endorsement, or otherwise) of this blog, its contributors, or its content. 

Memo to Mitt:  Don’t let this dissuade you.   We can be bought. 

We do what we do here because we believe who leads this nation matters.   In the end, we’ll support the Republican nominee for the White House.  That said, we want that man to be Mitt Romney. Enjoy your stay here on our blog.  Come back and comment often.