John Embry Commentary

My Man Mitt

With the Iowa Caucus less than two months away and a gubernatorial race under our belts in Kentucky, more attention is now turning to the presidential election of 2008.  It's about time.  With increased attention on the '08 hopefuls, maybe more Republicans will wake up and take notice of who I believe is the best candidate for the party and the country - Mitt Romney.

So far, Mr. Romney, who has already pumped millions of dollars into his campaign, is running well behind Rudy Giuliani in most national polls, though he's currently leading in Iowa and New Hampshire. 

What seems to be the problem?  On paper, Mr. Romney appears to be the ideal candidate.  He's is a solidly conservative candidate who has proven his electoral prowess by being elected governor of arguably the most liberal state in America - Massachusetts.  He is a committed family man with a wife and five sons.  He turned around the financially-floundering 2002 Winter Olympics and made it a success.  He has cut taxes and has effectively addressed the health care issue in his state.  So, what gives?  Well, the obvious "problem" with Mitt Romney, though many rank-and-file Republican voters won't admit it, is that he is a Mormon, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Did you think John F. Kennedy effectively put to rest the religious question (i.e. litmus test) during the 1960 presidential campaign by tackling the issue head-on and explaining, among other things, that Americans weren't voting for a head church leader, but rather a president?  Guess again.  Unfortunately, Mr. Romney's religious beliefs are anathema to many conservative voters who make up a significant portion of the Republican base.  They tend to stereotype Mormons as cultists, non-Christians, who practice polygamy and are generally wacko.  They won't tell you that publicly, but many feel that way privately.  Now, I'm definitely not an expert on Mormon theology, though I have read parts of The Book of Mormon and some of Brigham Young's teachings.  Do I agree with all things Mormon?  Of course not, though I do consider the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be a Christian-based religion, which is apparently a big leap for some folks.  Nevertheless, my choice for president does not necessarily go through the relatively narrow prism of my religious beliefs.

So, nearly 50 years after JFK battled the "Catholic" issue, Mr. Romney must confront and defend why he's a Mormon.  That's a sad predicament in a country that considers religious freedom a centerpiece of society.  In fact, it is surprising and a little disheartening that some of my fellow Republicans may agree with Mr. Romney down the line on the issues but then balk at supporting him strictly because of his religious beliefs.

As a practical Republican who would like to see the GOP keep the White House, the reluctance to embrace Mr. Romney solely because of his religion is discouraging.  As syndicated columnist Kathleen Parker pointed out in a recent column, it is Mr. Romney who has the best chance of uniting all wings of the Republican Party - something that must be done if the GOP nominee has any chance to retain the White House and stop the Hillary Clinton bandwagon, the Democratic front-runner.  Can Republicans put aside religious differences and unite behind a strong conservative candidate with solid credentials for governing?  Time will tell.