Labels: hugh hewitt, mark hemingway, mitt romney push poll, nro, redstate, western wats

The serious conservatives have done the math and are now breaking for Romney. There is no alternative, and not to announce for Romney is to give tacit support to Giuliani, though spoecific denunications of Giuliani seem to some to be a third way. Many conservatives have also been watching Romney and allowing themselves to be persuaded --not about his LDS faith, but about his sincerity concerning the big issues, especially life. Read this transcript of my interview Friday with James Bopp, long time General Counsel of the Right To Life Committee, and conservative activist-lawyer with huge credibility within leadership circles.

Labels: hugh hewitt

I know I’m a late-comer in reviewing Blogfather Hugh’s most recent book “A Mormon in the White House?: 10 Things Every American Should Know about Mitt Romney”. With the way my life works, or doesn’t work, I don’t really have time to read much. Most of the books I consume are recorded – they make commuting much less dull.

But before I get to my book review, let me present for you some of my “Street Cred” so you’ll understand from which vantage point I’m coming from. First off, I’ve been listening to Blogfather Hugh for a long time. I’m not one of his KFI Eagles, but I caught his show shortly after he launched his KRLA morning program. He was my main source of information on the morning of September 11, 2001 and I’ve been with him ever since. My one claim to fame on the Hugh Hewitt Show is being the author of The Jimmy Malone Theory of International Relations. If you know what that is, congratulations. The Hewitt Radio Juggernaut has yet to penetrate my home market, so I’m part of his podcast audience – thus his “Evening Grace” is always my “Morning Glory”. I don’t mind because I can listen to his three-hour broadcast in about an hour and a half. Shhh. Don’t tell his advertisers.

Now to the Mormon question. Yes, I’m a Mormon – have been my entire life. I served a mission in Brazil a long time ago. Since then I’ve held multiple church callings (sometimes several at once) and am currently married with children. I know my doctrine well enough to tell if someone is making a valid argument or whether they’re just parroting what they read from the latest anti-Mormon tract or heard at the latest barn-burning.

Enough about me, on to the book.

Blogfather Hugh writes a tightly woven, well documented description of Mitt Romney that focuses on the entire package and not just the religious aspect of his candidacy. Hugh knows his stuff because he does his research. He carefully chronicles Mitt’s formative years in Michigan, his college experiences at Stanford, BYU, and finally Harvard, and details his personal, professional, and political life in the years leading up to his run for the Oval Office. In all of his details, I found few flaws – none of them very important. Hugh miscounted the number of Romney grandchildren, exaggerating the total by one. Knowing the prolific nature of Mormons, I’m pretty sure Hugh’s arithmetic error will be a self-correcting one. The other error, again not important, was Hugh’s description of Mormon missionaries as wearing white shirts and black ties. For the record, I do not now, nor have I ever owned a black tie. Missionaries are permitted to make their own choice in neckwear – within reason. Some make good tie choices. Some wear ties that look like they shot a 50 year old couch and stripped off the fabric. Again, an unimportant error.

Where the Mormon religion is discussed – and the subject does take a good portion of the book – Blogfather Hugh does something few other authors do when confronted with daunting task of writing about a religion of which they are not part. Needing a source for the fundamental beliefs unique to Mormonism, Hugh went to a man he considered to be a reliable, well reasoned, and well spoken Mormon. Rex E. Lee, former Solicitor General of the United States and former President of Brigham Young University, wrote a book entitled “What Do Mormons Believe?” Lee’s work gives the basics in an easy to understand manner and the quotes chosen by Hugh did a great job of explaining the historical details of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hugh did not attack the Mormon belief structure, nor does he show any signs of joining the LDS Church. He simply laid out the facts as he saw them. This is a far cry from what most journalists and erstwhile reporters do because conventional wisdom dictates that Mormons talking about Mormonism won’t sell books, magazines, or newspapers because there are no fireworks. As documented here at B4M, Article VI, and other similar blogs, most people writing about Mitt and his Mormon roots will waste little time before jumping off the proverbial cliff into polygamist ancestors and the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Sensationalistic subjects of centuries past matter far more to the average journalist than does a lifetime of success in the private and public sectors. Mitt has to answer about the events of September 11, 1857, but his views on the dangers of the spread of radical Islam aren’t newsworthy. Why that kind of logic makes sense to anyone is beyond me.

Mitt Romney is an exceptionally smart and phenomenally successful businessman with a proven political track record on every issue which really matters to conservatives, republicans, and every American. He also just happens to be Mormon. To some people the Mormon question overshadows every other aspect about Mitt. That is a truly sad state of affairs in a country whose founding document both guarantees Freedom of Religion and specifically forbids a “religious test” for public office.

When the Prophet Joseph Smith was questioned as to what members of his faith believed, he penned what came to be known as the Thirteen Articles of Faith. These basic tenets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints make up the foundations of the Church. The eleventh of the thirteen articles reads:

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. (Emphasis Added)

Wouldn’t it be nice if everybody involved in this debate could abide by that admonition? Yes, Mr. Pastore, I’m talking to you.

This election cycle is full of candidates from the left, right and fringes on both sides. The winnowing process will refine the field rather quickly and the fringe kooks on both ends of the spectrum won’t last long. At the time of this writing, Mitt has a better than average shot at running the table in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. If the stars align properly and Mitt ends up with the nomination to run against Hillary, America will have a real choice before her.

Anyone who questions whether Mitt’s Mormonism should be a factor in his White House run should read Blogfather Hugh’s book. He has no axe to grind other than he wants a Center-Right Republican in the White House. As for myself, I’m a charter member of the Al Davis Republican Caucus. In other words, “Just Win, Baby”.

There are rumored reports of a host of evangelical Christians who are said to be unwilling to vote for a Mormon in any circumstance. I, for one, believe any Republican candidate would be vastly superior to another Clinton presidency. I just happen to think that of the current crop of Republicans, Mitt has the best background, intellect, and skill set for the Big Chair. That he sings from the same hymnbook that I do, while allowing for easy harmonization, is fundamentally unimportant to me. That’s how the Founders set it up, and I think they had principally sound judgment in doing so.

Well done, Blogfather.

Labels: hewitt, hugh hewitt, LDS Mormon Romney, missionaries, Mormon

Labels: fundraising, hugh hewitt, Tucker Carlson

(quick tip for Hugh from a family of professional singers: mug full of hot water, 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, one heaping tablespoon of honey, balance to taste and sip).

We are all going to be learning about the Latter Day Saints, should Mitt Romney gain the nomination. One side benefit of a Mormon candidacy for the president would be sustained attention to a fascinating religious group, comprising a distinctive thread in the American tapestry. To be blunt, this is a group of people who stick to traditional values and thrive brilliantly. Their success speaks for itself, epitomized by Romney himself. The more people who look closely at the Mormons, the better off we will be. There are implications to be drawn, and nothing teaches like example. Work hard, be thrifty, save, give, emphasize family, and have kids are values that transcend any one religion.

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

Elder Nelson in D.C. last summer
Credit: Meridian Magazine

Labels: book, damon linker, elder nelson, hugh hewitt, mitt romney, Mormon, mormonism

Labels: book, hugh hewitt, mitt romney, Mormon