http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/08/politics/perry-response-mormonism/
The recent polls for the 2012 Republican Presidential Nomination indicate that Governor Perry is falling behind Mit Romney and Herman Cain. According to the latest polls, Romney has 21.8% of the support, Cain has 16.2%, and Perry has 15.8%. The rest of the candidates are in the single digits. Most polls show this pattern, but ABC News does have Perry and Cain tied. Perry’s latest speeches and debates have not helped his cause, but what is making the biggest headlines in his party is something that he didn’t even say.
The Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Reverend Robert Jeffress introduced Governor Perry this last week, but the introduction was quite controversial. Jeffress made some harsh comments on Mit Romney and his religion, saying that Mormonism is a cult. As the leading candidate, Romney does have the target on his back. The other candidates are taking shots at him left and right. However, here, Jeffress may have crossed the line. Trying to come from behind, Perry’s party is trying to use whatever strategy available. Perry knows as much as we do that being a Protestant Christian helps his chances significantly and being a Mormon, in Romney’s case, can be a disadvantage. Perry’s campaign appears to be exploiting the fact that they have religion on their side. In addition, a key point to Jeffress’ introduction was making the distinction between Mormonism and Protestant Christianity. Jefress was making an effort to inform the public that Mormonism has nothing to do with Protestant Christianity. Further more, Jeffress used the work ‘cult’ to describe Romney’s religion because of the negative connotation that it has, especially in relation to Presidential Candidate. Regardless of what Perry’s campaign was trying to do, they might have taken it too far. This might play against Perry. The words by Jefress have been extremely controversial in the news. Especially with the favorable position that Romney is in, the harsh words from Perry’s party might give them the bad guy image, which is not what a Protestant Christian needs.
This post is very interesting. I was both shocked and appalled by the use of Romney's religion as a political tool against Romney's campaign. I also find it interesting that although this is an extreme example there are many more minor examples of this same strategy being employed by Romney's other opponents. More mild examples include people attempting to differentiate between Christianity and Mormonism. This false delineation is made by Romney's in an attempt to distance Romney from the general Christian public.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that Perry and his followers are trying to focus on the view of Mormonism as a cult. Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman, while never denying or hiding behind their religion, have never led a large public prayer asking God for forgiveness of the American people. Perry seems to be the one with more of a cult following of his religious believers than either one of the Mormon candidates.
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