A new article (I think) about how Romney should just own his Mormonism and get on with things. Maybe some of you have already commented, but if you haven't, you certainly should.


http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75163.html

I just posted this, but there are over 700 posts ahead of mine:

"Most journalists and Christians do not know enough about Mormonism to know what the best questions are to ask Romney. And they don't know enough to know when Romney (or his church) is fudging or spinning. As a former Mormon, I do. See my list of questions at http://packham.n4m.org/romney.htm and my article "Mitt Romney's Mormon Secrets" at http://voices.yahoo.com/mitt-romneys-mormon-secrets-11070962.html";

IMO it's a little bit too long for a "get started" or "soundbites" list of questions. At the same time it's a bit too short for an exhaustive list of questions I'd like to see us all being able to pick from over the next 6+ months for recommendations on questions that ought to be asked. I'd like to see a vote for 5 of them every once in a while to a "talking points" list.

None of these questions are trick questions. They're all sincere and designed to help us all in America sincerely get to know Mitt Romney and his religion better. In fact 20 years ago as a missionary I would've loved this opportunity because I sincerely believed that the more people got to know about Mormons and our doctrines/history then the more they'd become enchanted and enthralled to know that they finally found the purpose of life and the path to real happiness :) It sure sucked when I found out definitively beyond any honest reasonable doubt 12 years ago that the BoM was fiction and as a result the whole house of cards came tumbling down.

BTW considering how much money Romney has given to "charity" it would sure be nice to know how that charity money is being spent. Some businesses masquerade as charities but in reality they are frauds and don't tell the world how they honestly spend the bulk of their funds for charitable purposes. Anyone know if Romney has ever given lots of money to any organization that is super-secretive about their finances?

Like most Mormons i know, Mitt is both embarrassed and terrified to talk openly to non-Mormons about his religion.

I see the same fear and reluctance reaction in my everday life with Mormon friends and family.

Once Mormons step outside of their comfort bubble their hackles go up and ANY question about Moronism...no matter how innocuous...is viewed as a direct anti-Mormon assault on their religion.

Their pulse races...their face become flush...their lips quiver...their voices take on a different tone...all because they feel they are being threatened in just having to TALK about their Moronism.

Or so it seems to me...

Since Mittens was a missionary, how can he not talk about the church? He certainly can't tell stories about Vietnam. He should be able to give the missionary lessons and in French too. He was born in the church, what else does he know?

However, if he thinks 'corporations are people too', then Mitt does not relate to people. He's a CEO with the golden parachute that sees workers as disposable or interchangeable cogs, nothing more.

The question is, does he empathize with others or does he see himself as being better than others? I'm in charge, do what I say.

The entire "Internet missionary" cabala as well as a lot of the right wingnuts (not poltical; there are sane conservatives out there) have their talking points well-rehearsed and ready to let the turds fly when factual information is put up.

People will want to keep that in mind, and since "missionaries work in pairs," there's no reason the "buddy system" can't be available to us as well (or even threesomes for the truly kinky sorts ;-).

It'll help guard against burn-out, and speaking from experience, it's nice to be out there and find someone has your back, no matter how well-versed you are.

I've been over on MSNBC a fair amount, and a really obnoxious non-Mormon headcase (although you'd never know he wasn't if you used narcissism as your gauge) has been blowing a lot of smoke. Anagrammy showed up after I asked her, and I'm sure the guy is now typing with one hand and holding his groin with the other...

They're often working in teams with scripts, and one advantage ex-Mormons have is the ability to think outside the box... It's their own fault if they give themselves a bad case of cognitive dissonance to deal with. Their tactics are personal attacks, distortions, strawman tactics, and outright dishonesty and denial. You're doing the world a favor by offering them a bit of cognitive restructuring.

Would you want to admit that you believe that you are going to be a god and have your own planet? Would you want to admit that you took an oath about obeying the profit in all things before the US Constitution? What about kolob? Do you want people to think you are originally from Kolob or going to Kolob? If he enbraces his Mo-ism, the country will think he is nuts. That is exactly why I want reporters and other media people to ask him hard hitting quesions that will force the non so nice family valued TSCC out into the light for all to see. TSCC is a radically insane cult. The USA needs to see this cult for what it is NOW before it is too late. I wish there was a way to get the media to ask the real questions.