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Highlands Today

Don't Judge Romney By His Religion; Consider His Words

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Highlands Today Staff

Published: December 7, 2007

It's painful to see Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney having to defend his religion. It's also sad that some Americans just can't get past the "religion thing" with candidates, and make their decisions based solely on their religion, or their supposed lack thereof. That said, what Romney needs to defend is his frequently changing stance on important issues. That's where his campaign is falling down.

By every standard, Romney is a good American and has been extremely successful as a businessman and as a politician. He's a Mormon, too, and for a fairly large number of evangelical Christians, that's enough to not vote for him for president.

In the western United States, Mormonism is a much more accepted religion. In the Midwest, Southeast and even Northeast, there are plenty of critics. But Mormons have served in high-ranking political offices throughout the country and have proven they are good leaders, and not zealots other religions should fear. So the religion criticism is just not fair.

Romney, however, has changed his views throughout his political career to win whatever office he was seeking, and that's what's troubling. We support anyone's right to change his mind if he has a change in heart. In fact, we need more politicians who are willing to change when former ideas are proven wrong or they aren't working anymore. That's just being human.

What we don't want is someone who will say whatever is needed to attain office, even if it's not in their heart. This was brought up in the Republican debate in St. Petersburg recently. Romney said a few years ago that he envisions a time when gay people could serve openly in the military. Now he says he would leave that to military leaders to decide. But when the question was put to him again, wondering if he still envisions such a day, he waffled and wouldn't answer the question.

Romney should have said, if he believes gays should not openly serve in the military, that he had a change of heart. He should say why he changed his mind. That's all it would have taken, but he didn't do that.

Forget his religion, and consider what he's said in the past, compare it to what he's saying now, and then wonder why he's changed his mind. To get elected? That's what should throw up red flags.

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