That Same Old Line
“Political Neutrality” The LDS-Romney Connection: It may all be innocent, but it sure looks bad
By Amy Seigel, 10-25-06
It seems the national press has the LDS church scrambling to distance itself from the potential presidential candidacy of Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. In a story that was first reported by the Boston Globe, and later reworked in a rash of Salt Lake Tribune articles, the church’s involvement in Romney’s candidacy is thoroughly scrutinized—something that may prove detrimental to both parties. At issue are the somewhat shadowy circumstances surrounding emails from BYU professors intended to generate support for the Massachusetts Governor’s potential bid for the presidency in 2008, and the federal law prohibiting both the church and BYU, as tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations, from advocating on behalf of a particular candidate or political party.First came the Sept. 19th meeting, first reported by the Boston Globe, between Jeffrey R. Holland, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, and Josh Romney, one of the governor's sons; Don Stirling, a paid consultant for Romney's political action committee, the Commonwealth PAC; and Kem Gardner, a prominent Salt Lake City developer and one of Romney's biggest donors. While LDS Church spokesman Michael Otterson described the meeting as purely “a handshake and a chat—literally a courtesy call,” there was enough political conversation to merit Holland voicing his approval for a particular LDS-affiliated method of drumming up support for Romney’s campaign: using the alumni organization of Brigham Young University’s business school, the BYU Management Society, to build a network for Romney. Documents show that in the meeting, Holland, in fact, described the plan as a “perfectly reasonable” way of helping Romney.
This initial meeting was followed by a dinner, hosted by Stirling, Spencer Zwick, a top political aide to Romney, and the governor's brother, Scott Romney, where the specific means of networking was discussed further. Among those invited were Steve Albrecht, associate dean of the BYU business school, the Marriott School of Management.
Shortly thereafter, on October 9th, Albrecht and Ned Hill, the business school dean, sent an e-mail to 50 Management Society members and 100 members of the school's National Advisory Council asking for their support Romney’s prospective presidential campaign. This email, which was signed by Hill and Albrecht with their official BYU titles, began “Dear Marriott School Friend. We are writing to you as a friend to see if you have any interest in helping Governor Romney by volunteering to serve as a Community or Neighborhood Chair. Governor Romney's chances for success are significantly enhanced and energized by people, such as you, who are willing to help him at the grass-roots level throughout the United States.”
Alan Gluth, president of the El Paso, Texas, chapter of the BYU Marriott School of Management alumni association, was the first to call attention to the potentially illegal nature of the message. In documents obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune, Gluth makes it clear that while he is personally a “strong supporter of Mitt Romney and would love to see him run for President in 2008,” the email “appears to violate the political activity rules,” and “does trouble [him] somewhat from an exempt organization legal standpoint.” While Gluth believes that the email was sent “innocently,” he wanted to bring it to the attention of University officials before it fell into the wrong hands. “I would hate for some political action group to obtain the e-mail and throw this matter into a public forum, which, in turn, could cast the university in a bad light in certain political circles,” said Gluth.
Albrecht and Hill have since taken full responsibility for their actions in sending the email. In an interview this week, Albrecht said that “It wasn't something BYU did, it wasn't something I probably should have done, and it was bad judgment.” A spokeswomen for BYU also made it clear to the press that the professors did not have university approval in sending the email, and the university’s general counsel has since told Albrecht to halt his activities—no other action has been taken.
While BYU’s reaction to the controversy was relatively reserved, the LDS Church has been very quick to distance itself from the whole debacle. In an interview with the Globe, Stirling initially said that the church had “absolutely no connection whatsoever” with the so-called MVP, or Mutual Values and Priorities, program to promote Romney’s presidential campaign. However, when Stirling was pressed about the church leaders’ involvement with the program and the specifics discussed during that Sept. 19 meeting, Stirling acknowledged discussing the initiative, but was eager to dismiss its significance.
Regardless of this incident, however, it seems unlikely that Romney will have an easy time separating his political candidacy from his religion. As a means of setting some minds to rest, many Romney supporters are calling for the Governor to follow J.F.K’s footsteps. Kennedy, who faced this same question concerning his loyalty to Catholicism during the 1960 election, addressed it in a famous speech to Protestant ministers in Houston in which he remarked that “I am not the Catholic candidate for president. I am the Democratic Party's candidate for president who happens also to be a Catholic . . . I do not speak for my church on public matters; and the church does not speak for me.”
Many Mormons who support Romney’s campaign are concerned about a “Manchurian Candidate” backlash if the Governor does not take a more active role in convincing his constituency that he is not the puppet of some Salt Lake City scheme to put a Mormon into office. Thus far, however, Romney doesn’t seem to be terribly concerned with appearances in this regard. And while Stirling insists that the MVP effort is designed to target more than just Mormons, when asked if Romney's team had met with the leadership of any other denomination about the MVP program, Stirling said he didn't know of any.
While it’s not really the place of the “fair and unbiased” press to weigh in on such issues, I think it’s important that someone set the record straight: the LDS church doesn’t support Mitt Romney like the Christian Right doesn’t support George W. Bush. Dollars and bumper stickers aren’t the only way to endorse a political candidate.
What the IRS requires, in terms of political neutrality, is that tax exempt entities not back specific candidates—it’s perfectly okay for them to speak out on legislative issues and highly politicized topics such as abortion and gay marriage—but they cannot get involved in political campaigning. Now, I’m not saying that the Church has definitely violated its tax exempt status in officially, or secretly, providing Governor Romney with any direct support, but I am saying that the old line about maintaining “political neutrality” is pure nonsense, and anyone with any sense should be well aware of this fact. I think most of us have a pretty good idea of how many of the beliefs held by the Mormon Church filter out into the political realm—and I’d like to meet the person who can convince me that their position in this regard is truly “neutral.”
What this means for Romney’s campaign, only time will tell. The conservative Christian vote is one that Romney will have to be concerned with if he truly intends to with the GOP nomination, and it’s no secret that plenty of conservative Christians see Mormonism as non-Christian. With his MVP program keeping him close to his Mormon support base, Romney will have to tread carefully to avoid alienating the voters of the numerous other denominations he will have to win over in his bid for the presidency.
[End of article]
The Mormon Block Vote?
Voting decision are made in Salt Lake City and passed to Mo-Bots in the colonies from AZ to ID along the Mormon Corridor.
Fortunately, th Mo-Bots are decline in number as are the infestations of Mormon Crickets.
As a Mormon Democrat living in Salt Lake City, I can attest that I feel no pressure to vote a certain way from the leaders of the LDS church. Sure, lots of Mormons in Utah are Republican, but in the other states I've lived, Mormons weren't as party-specific as they seem to be here. In recent years, the leaders of the LDS church have repeatedly asked that people look at the issues and decide for themselves and have even gone so far as to plead with folks in Utah to NOT all vote for one party. I can't at all defend what may or may not have gone on in Jeffrey Holland's meeting with Mitt's campaign folks, but please know that something they talk about in private has no bearing on how I will vote. It's pretty insulting.
Comment By Used to be Mormon Mo-bot, 10-26-06Yeah Right Tawnya. It is insulting to think that the Mormon Church would want to control your vote. But it is true.
I recall with painful clarity the conversations that were had by missionaries who were my peers in south america. Democrats were outed and denigrated openly, to their faces--while we were in Uruguay to convert people to Jesus and Mormonism. It was horrible. Politics were a common topic, and democratic ideals were unacceptable.
I grew up with grandparents of both political parties. My democratic New Deal carpenter grandfather was accepted amongst his peers. This was not the case for my father. He had absolutely no tolerance for my grandpa's love of Jimmy Carter. (who aligns a hell of a lot closer to mormon ideals than George Bush--forgive me for even comparing the two--sorry Jimmy).
My father is the new Mormonism. Republicans are the light and the truth. Note the current political campaign Lavar Christensen (R) is leveling against his opponent Jim Matheson(d). Jim will aid the democratic party into a less moral society. These are the claims Lavar makes regarding a fellow mormon. A total disgrace.
In SUM:
The hell bent Romney campaign for the White House is based in recent Mormon Prochecy. Isn't this right Tawnya? The "church" declared that it would step in during the "last days" to save the US government from disaster. Mr. Holland and friends have much deeper roots in this prophecy. A convenient way to organize and gain political power and.......control in an immoral society.
To: "Used to be Mormon Mo-bot"
Sounds like your Republican Father has brainwashed you to the point you don't know if you are coming or going! I would probably be bitter too if I had been indoctrinated like that. What the LDS Church teaches and what people like your father choose to hear aren't always the same thing--keep that in mind! Sounds like we got bit carried away in your home when it comes to interpreting Doctrine.
You must have missed the Larry King Show on CNN when LDS President Hinckley stated Publicly that he has voted for members of both parties. Hearing that would give some members like your father a severe case of heartburn, but that is the position the Church takes whether you choose to believe or not. Keep looking for a conspiracy if it makes you feel better, but you won't find one. However, you will find plenty of people with bad judgement --just ask the BYU Business Dept.
Frankly, there are a lot of Mormon Democrats out there like Tawyna and I once you get outside of Utah County just ask Harry Reid! He gets my vote!
Thanks for your comments RJ. Unfortunately your condescending tone is all too familiar from people who are mormon church members.
Republicanism and mormons go far beyond my father, perhaps I should have avoided the example. Funny you have no comment for the missionaries I was surrounded with in Uruguay. I could list many other examples but used them as specific instances. Particularly the example of my devout mormon democrat grandfather--you have to admit that things have changed.
I know that there are people like yourself in the Mormon church, but you are an absolute exception. I think that you have to be honest about the problem including prophecy and the general state of the church.
My apologies if I came across as condescending. All to often it appears people start blaming "the Church" for their negative feelings/experiences when in reality their frustration should more appropriately be directed toward individuals who have problems who also happen to be members of the Church.
I spent 2 years as a missionary in another country so I will comment if you wish. Missionaries, for the most part, are 19 year old kids who generally go straight from their homes out into the World. It should be no surprise that they bring with them the ideologies they were raised with--rightly or wrongly. The fact that a 19 year old puts on a white shirt and tie and a name tag does not suddenly transform who they are. Many have been raised with a certain mind set and that doesn't just disappear. Ironically, some Missionaries start to think for themselves and they are much improved upon returning home. Missionaries are people too and are entitled to their opinions. However, I don't recall anyone at the MTC or the Mission President advocating that we spread a policitcal message. If that happened, then it should not have. Here again, we have individual's exercising poor judgment and yet it appears you want to blame the Church for that.
Yes, there is a problem with too many ultra conservatives. Don't think the Church is not aware of that. Tawnya is right--there is an effort to "mellow" some people out. The LDS Presidency issued a statement not to long ago indicating that principles of the gospel can be found in ALL of the major poliitical platforms. It is not to hard to read between those lines. Rumor has it that many of the leaders are quite pleased that Harry Reid is in the position that he is simply for the message that it sends.
Perhaps we need to go back in time again when Utah first became a state and divide each ward in half. Half of the congregation was instructed to vote one way and half the other. That would probably kill your father wouldn't it? So yes, over 100 years ago the Church did influence the vote--some people think they need to do it again to balance Utah out again. I am not holding my breath for it!
The viewpoint from a BYU Prof.
Will this make news in the corridor?
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5097304,00.html
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WST_Welfare_Blacks.html
Yeah, I guess you're right, "Used to be Mormon Mo-Bot". I guess "RJ" and myself don't know what we're talking about and didn't hear what we thought we heard very clearly in more than one public statement from the LDS Church President. I guess I'm just a fool after all. I was talking about the leaders of the LDS church, not various other members, like missionaries and Bishops. I know there are a ton of small-minded Mormons, believe me. I have no problem with you having problems with the LDS church at all. All I was trying to point out is the fact that I have not felt compelled to vote one way or another by the presidency of the church. I can only express what I've felt as a Mormon in Utah. I can't speak to your experience and wouldn't assume I know anything about you personally, so please do me the same favor. I admit, it's been hard living in Utah. I grew up in other states where Mormons were openly Democrat and Republican (and a few Greens) and there was no problem. In Utah it has been a little harder, but not because of the presidency...because of some of the members themselves and some parts of the LDS and anti-LDS cultures in Utah.
Comment By Tawnya, 10-31-06To "Used to be Mormon Mo-bot":
One more thing, I gotta say it was odd to see your comment to "RJ" begin with "Unfortunately your condescending tone is all too familiar from people who are mormon church members." I mean, your tone towards me in your first comment was extremely condescending. Maybe this forum adds to how easily people can misinterpret each other, but I just thought it was a little weird that you thought he was being condescending (which he probably did come across as) right after you wrote a very condescending post to me. Can't we all be friends and do our best to elect Democratic folks on November 7th and then in two years get that idiot GW out of office? I say, "totally!" So let's stop focusing on our differences and more on our similarities!
Mormon Block Vote? Hardly.
Please see http://mormonsagainstromney.org