Democrats Have Bigger Anti-Mormon Problem Than Republicans

[Scott Lloyd]

Interesting political commentary here to the effect that anti-Mormonism is more pronounced in the Democratic Party than it is in the Republican, this despite the prominent anti-Mormon bigotry that has surfaced in the Evangelical wing of the GOP of late.

Here's a notable quote:

One reason Democrats may be more anti-Mormon than Republicans is that Democrats, on average, are more secular. Devout Protestants, Catholics, and Jews may be more tolerant of Mormonism because they understand from firsthand experience the comfort and strength that religious commitment brings. Many secular Democrats, by contrast, may start with the assumption that religious orthodoxy produces irrationality and intolerance. I don’t think, for instance, that there’s any way to understand the hostility that many liberals felt toward Joseph Lieberman in the 1990s—long before he became associated with the Iraq War and the John McCain campaign—without understanding their hostility to what they perceived as his moralistic Orthodox Judaism. Democrats may exhibit greater suspicion of Mormonism, in other words, because they exhibit greater suspicion of all organized religion. It’s just that anti-Mormonism is still socially acceptable enough to confess to a pollster.

Anti-Mormonism does seem less socially acceptable among Republicans this go-around than it was during Romney's 2008 campaign.

One can only hope Democrats become more enlightened, but with the likes of Larry O'Donnel and Bill Mahr continuing to shoot off their mouths, I'm somewhat pessimistic, though, to its credit, the Obama campaign has indicated its unwillingness to make Romney's religion an issue.

Edited April 23, 2012 by Scott Lloyd

[Freedom]

I for one welcome it. I have never had more missionary opportunities than when the mainstream media started publishing questionable comments about the church.

[Buzzard]

Let's just bottom-line it. Lefties couldn't have cared less about us until Prop 8. Since they consider homosexual relationships to be morally equivilant to marriage, they are incensed and outraged about our defending traditional marriage. Whether you agree with what the church did in CA to be the right thing or not, it is what it is right now, and I don't know that their anger is going away anytime soon, President Romney or not.

[Mudcat]

Interesting political commentary here to the effect that anti-Mormonism is more pronounced in the Democratic Party than it is in the Republican, this despite the prominent anti-Mormon bigotry that has surfaced in the Evangelical wing of the GOP of late.

Here's a notable quote:

Anti-Mormonism does seem less socially acceptable this go-around than it was during Romney's 2008 campaign.

One can only hope Democrats become more enlightened, but with the likes of Larry O'Donnel and Bill Mahr continuing to shoot off their mouths, I'm somewhat pessimistic.

My speculation.

In generally LDS seem politically conservative.. but more importantly nearly all of them seem to be socially conservitive. The Christians in the GOP seem to identify with both aspects. I don't think a lot of democrats find LDS social conservatism as very appealing.

Though I do wonder how that poll would have turned out on the GOP side if it had been done prior to Romney's selection Ric Grennel (sp?), who is a homosexual and IIRC advocates for gay rights, as an advisor. I imagine there will be some fallout from the social conservatives in that respect.

Edited April 23, 2012 by Mudcat

[Scott Lloyd]

My speculation.

In generally LDS seem politically conservative.. but more importantly nearly all of them seem to be socially conservitive. The Christians in the GOP seem to identify with both aspects. I don't think a lot of democrats find LDS social conservatism as very appealing.

Though I do wonder how that poll would have turned out on the GOP side if it had been done prior to Romney's selection Ric Grennel (sp?), who is a homosexual and IIRC advocates for gay rights, as an advisor. I imagine there will be some fallout from the social conservatives in that respect.

In Utah, the state Democratic party is of late making an appeal to Latter-day Saints to come into the party tent. Long overdue, in my opinion, but perhaps Utah Democrats have at long last grown so tired of being essentially irrelevant in state politics that they are becoming more inclusive.

Edited April 23, 2012 by Scott Lloyd

[Calm]

According to Gallup, while only 18 percent of Republicans said they would oppose a Mormon candidate, among Democrats the figure was 27 percent.

My problem with this is that so many associate Mormons with a generally Republican/conservative position that the number made be more about assuming conservatism than it is about the religious faith.

How was the question asked? Just "would you vote for a Mormon" or "would you vote for a Mormon who held the same political goals as you do?" Unless we know this, I am less than confident about the poll.

Edited April 23, 2012 by calmoriah

[blueadept]

Let's just bottom-line it. Lefties couldn't have cared less about us until Prop 8. Since they consider homosexual relationships to be morally equivilant to marriage, they are incensed and outraged about our defending traditional marriage. Whether you agree with what the church did in CA to be the right thing or not, it is what it is right now, and I don't know that their anger is going away anytime soon, President Romney or not.

There has been a lot talk in regards to the Democrat Party adopting a plank in regards to recognizing gay marriage. I'm sure there will be a lot of folks that would reconsider their vote but I'm not sure they will automatically join the the Republicans especially if Romney is the candidate due to his religion. It will be interesting to see what these Democrats may do IMO.

[Mudcat]

In Utah, the state Democratic party is of late making an appeal to Latter-day Saints to come into the party tent. Long overdue, in my opinion, but perhaps Utah Democrats have at long last grown so tired of being essentially irrelevant in state politics that they are becoming more inclusive.

Off topic oddity, in Mississippi most of the conservative Christians vote democrat in state and local elections but vote GOP in the national ones. I guess it's that whole dixiecrat thing...

[Scott Lloyd]

My problem with this is that so many associate Mormons with a generally Republican/conservative position that the number made be more about assuming conservatism than it is about the religious faith.

How was the question asked? Just "would you vote for a Mormon" or "would you vote for a Mormon who held the same political goals as you do?" Unless we know this, I am less than confident about the poll.

According to Gallup's own website, the question was phrased as follows:

Between now and the 2012 political conventions, there will be discussion about the qualifications of presidential candidates -- their education, age, religion, race, and so on. If your party nominated a generally well-qualified person for president who happened to be a Mormon, would you vote for that person?

[cinepro]

Democrats might be more "anti-Mormon", but Mitt has a bigger anti-Mormon problem with Republicans than he does Democrats.

[Calm]

According to Gallup's own website, the question was phrased as follows:

Since the hypothetical candidate is nominated by the individual's party, it would seem to indicate that it is more about religion than political bias. That is disappointing. Edited April 23, 2012 by calmoriah

[Calm]

Democrats might be more "anti-Mormon", but Mitt has a bigger anti-Mormon problem with Republicans than he does Democrats.

It would be interesting to see what the more centrist Democrats would poll at, the ones that might be tempted to vote for Romney if he started to present himself more centrist and Obama leaned to the more leftist side of things....

[Scott Lloyd]

Democrats might be more "anti-Mormon", but Mitt has a bigger anti-Mormon problem with Republicans than he does Democrats.

Perhaps in the sense that Democrats are more likely to vote against the Republican, whether he is Mormon or not, than Republicans are, and thus Republicans are apt to be more discriminating (or discriminatory) in this particular race.

Is that what you mean?

[BCSpace]

One can only hope Democrats become more enlightened

Our doctrine is antithetical to their stances on the issues which is why there is more antiMormonism among them. The welfare state, homosexuality, abortion, the ideal situation for women to be the primary caregivers in the home, war, capital punishement, feminism (third-wave and higher), etc. etc.

So such enlightenment would be quite a change for them.

Edited April 23, 2012 by BCSpace

[altersteve]

Harry Reid would be disappointed.

[Scott Lloyd]

It would be interesting to see what the more centrist Democrats would poll at, the ones that might be tempted to vote for Romney if he started to present himself more centrist and Obama leaned to the more leftist side of things....

Democrats in the country don't seem to mind having a Senate majority leader who is LDS. But then, for some reason, the media and others don't seem as disposed to make an issue of Harry Reid's Mormonism as they do Romney's.

[Scott Lloyd]

Our doctrine is antithetical to their stances on the issues which is why there is more antiMormonism among them. The welfare state, homosexuality, abortion, the ideal situation for women to be the primary caregivers in the home, war, capital punishement, feminism (third-wave and higher), etc. etc.

So such enlightenment would be quite a change for them.

When the appeal from the First Presidency was read recently from Church pulpits in Utah for Latter-day Saints to attend the political caucuses for the party of their choice, the point was made that values compatible with LDS beliefs can be found within the various political parties.

(Edited to accommodate Nathair.)

Edited April 23, 2012 by Scott Lloyd

[altersteve]

When the appeal from the First Presidency was read recently from Church pulpits in Utah for Latter-day Saints to attend the political caucuses for the party of their choice, the point was made that values compatible with LDS beliefs can be found within both major political parties.

Agreed. There are several Democratic positions which are (in my opinion) actually more compatible with the gospel than many Republican positions.

[BCSpace]

the point was made that values compatible with LDS beliefs can be found within both major political parties.

I quite agree they can so found if one looks very hard. However, there are generally no actual positions that are compatible. The facts, contrariness to doctrine, I stated remain true and the hardcore Democratic base in addition is quite keenly opposed to religion in general. Those are the reasons why anti Mormonism is found in the Democratic party and to a greater degree. In the Republican Party, being a peculiar (weird) people and the evangelical "cult" labeling, are the primary factors for anti Mormonism there.

Edited April 23, 2012 by BCSpace

[Calm]

I quite agree they can so found if one looks very hard. However, there are generally no actual positions that are compatible. The facts, contrariness to doctrine, I stated remain true and the hardcore Democratic base in addition is quite keenly opposed to religion in general.

I see you have edited it to say "hardcore" base. I was going to point out that if the percentages reported of about 10% of Americans are atheists/agnostics and over 30% of Americans are Democrats, then to claim that the Democratic part is "keenly opposed to religion in general" would be counterlogical.

Since "hardcore" is too vague to evaluate, I won't.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_atheism

[Scott Lloyd]

I quite agree they can so found if one looks very hard. However, there are generally no actual positions that are compatible. The facts, contrariness to doctrine, I stated remain true and the hardcore Democratic base in addition is quite keenly opposed to religion in general.

Whatever. Here's a direct quotation of the First Presidency statement I indirectly quoted in my last post:

Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in the platforms of the various political parties. We encourage members to attend their precinct caucus meetings.

Edited April 23, 2012 by Scott Lloyd

[altersteve]

I quite agree they can so found if one looks very hard.

I think the Democratic Party's positions on things such as the overall good of the community, social cooperation, human rights, tolerance, and environmental sustainability are extremely compatible with the gospel of Jesus Christ and are not in any way contrary to our doctrine. You don't have to "look very hard" to see that.

You seem to think it's impossible to be a Democrat and a faithful, believing member of the Church, which is absolutely NOT true.

[BCSpace]

I quite agree they can so found if one looks very hard. However, there are generally no actual positions that are compatible. The facts, contrariness to doctrine, I stated remain true and the hardcore Democratic base in addition is quite keenly opposed to religion in general.

Whatever. Here's a direct quotation of the First Presidency statement I indirectly quoted in my last post:

Sure. Feel free to list them and lets compare with LDS doctrine.

[BCSpace]

I think the Democratic Party's positions on things such as the overall good of the community, social cooperation, human rights, tolerance, and environmental sustainability are extremely compatible with the gospel of Jesus Christ and are not in any way contrary to our doctrine. You don't have to "look very hard" to see that.

None of those are any different than what's in the Republican Party. The two parties have differences and such can be directly compared to LDS doctrine.

Edited April 23, 2012 by BCSpace

[altersteve]

None of those are any different than what's in the Republican Party.

This is irrelevant and I never said otherwise.