Which was basically the answer they gave, only to be given the headline "Candidates dodge question!!!"

Rho

 

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I watched the interviews. That was not the answer they gave. They both agreed with the statement made in the headline. Neither of them were presidential material and I am not sure who of the republicon pack is. Maybe someone will surprise me. I hope so because Obama's best argument is "look at the alternative"

 

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Re-watch them. Crowley went and found some pastor who called Mitt a non-christian and then asked if they agreed. A question the dodged very much the same way that you suggested.

Rho

 

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It is Saturday nite I am am not into minutiae. I'll just agree that's the way you see it. Maybe someday you'll agree that "unfair" questions are par for the course when you are running for President. How you handle those questions tells people a lot about you.

 

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Wake up and pay attention. Crowley didn't "find" s**t. Reverend Jackass introduce Perry at a conservative conference in Texas, walked outside, and told anyone who would listen that Mormonism is a cult and Romney isn't christian.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/08/us/politics/prominent-pastor-calls-romneys-church-a-cult.html

I suggest you use something other than Fox to determine what's actually going on here on this planet.


And for the record, us democrats have had a mormon as our senate leader for several years now, and have no problem with his religion, magical underwear and everything.

 

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These are the kinds of assumptions that keep you from being taken seriously.

Rho

 

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You know Rho you can gloss over it all you want but the Republicons do have a problem with their religious, libertarian, and business-like (old school republican) factions. They don't like each other at all. Romney and his religion is just one example.

Beating Obama should be a no-brainer with the economy where it is. Instead we have a Republicon party divided and if I were a Republicon I would be trying to unite the team around the very real possibility that the Democrats will have both houses and the Presidency soon.

Romney is probably the best of the pack but the real problem is that the pack overall is pretty mediocre. I voted for Reagan and then grew to dislike his polcies. I still liked him. If I had the choice of a beer with GWB or Al Gore I wouldn't have to think long. Again I hate GWBs policies but as a likeable beer drinking buddy I think he wins there. Al Gore would just dpress me.

None of the Repulicon field have that sort of charisma or likeability. Right or wrong that is important to win the Presidency.

 

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I'd be happier if Romney were more conservative than he is and had been more consistent in his political past, but he'll do as an alternative to Obama, for me, any day of the week (as would Gingrich).

I think that Santorum and Bachmann's (and to some extent, Perry's) social conservatism do make them less electable in the general election. However, the idea that a large block of evangelical christians will somehow refuse to vote for a mormon is ridiculous and is only being repeatedly brought up by the left to try to make up controversy where non really exists.

Rho

 

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No they really didn't. Neither of them answered the question the way I suggested. My response was simple, short, and did not imply anything about Romney's religious status.

You need to re-watch the interviews, or read the text.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/cain-bachmann-refuse-say-romney-christian

For one thing Cain distinguished Mormonism as separate from Christianity. He should not have touched it at all.

Bachmann dodged the question but talked about religious tolerance but if Romney is a Christian why is there a need for tolerance?

This all came up because three candidates especially Perry, Bachmann, and Cain, made a big deal out of their Christian credentials. A pastor introducing Perry had some choice words about the first religion to actually name themselves after Christ. Mormons have the best claim to the term "Christian" but they don't make a lot of noise about it like the evangelicals.


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"I'm not running for theologian in chief," Cain declared. "I'm a lifelong Christian. And what that means is that one of my guiding principles for decisions I make is I start with 'do the right thing.' I'm not getting into that controversy."

"But it will still beg the question that you dodged a direct question: Is Mitt Romney not a Christian?" Crowley asked.

"He's a Mormon, that much I know," Cain replied. "I am not going to do an analysis of Mormonism versus Christianity for the sake of answering that. I'm not getting into that..."

"Even knowing that it will looking like you are dodging it?" Crowley wondered.

"If that's what it looks like, I'm dodging it because it's not going to help us boost this economy and you know it," Cain said, adding that someone's religion was a "valid concern" when selecting a president.

Crowley later posed the same question to Bachmann.

"We have religious tolerance," the Minnesota Republican explained. "We understand that people have different views on their faith, and I have a very sincerely held view on faith and I think we just leave it at that."

"ou know that by not answering the direct question -- 'Do you think you think that Mitt Romney is a Christian?' -- you leave open the possibility that people are going to say you dodged a direct question?" Crowley noted.

"No, I think what the real focus is here, again, that on religious tolerance," Bachmann argued. "That's really what this is about."

 

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You are not on the extreme list Rho. You are not an extreme religiocon or libertarian. The Republicons need not worry about you. You'll weigh the candidates and choose the one who is closest to your point of view. It's the ones who don't vote or who vote third party because they didn't get their way in the primaries that the Republicns should worry about. There seems to be a lot of religocons, currently flocking to Santorum, and libertarians (Ron Paul) who will not be motivated by Romney. Leadership by people like Santorum, Giingrich, and Paul would help. I don't mean roll over but play like someone who wants to lead a team and if not at lead keep the team together and support the one who does lead.

 

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