Voting for Mitt Romney

[Adrift]

I have to admit, though I've served in the military, and think the democratic process in this nation is a grand idea, I've never once voted, and probably won't vote in the upcoming election. That said, what do you think are the possible repercussions of voting in either major candidate?

[Cow Poke]

Well, first, I'm not voting for anybody this election. I'm voting AGAINST Obama.

[Soyeong]

That would be interesting if we could convert our regular vote into a negative vote, though it'd make recounts a royal pain.

[Adrift]

Well, first, I'm not voting for anybody this election. I'm voting AGAINST Obama.

My poll is up now. Sorry about the delay, but it was because I needed to add a fifth alternative. Thanks for your answer CP. Can you explain exactly what you mean that you'll be voting against Obama? Do you mean that any vote for any other individual or not voting at all signifies a vote against Obama?

Also, have in mind that I'm extremely naive when it comes to the current political landscape. I don't currently watch TV, nor do I listen regularly to radio (the radio in my car died, and I haven't felt the need to replace it). This poll is mostly based on a distanced curiosity about where folks stand. I will say that I think electing a Mormon to office may reinforce public opinion that Mormonism is a legitimate and mainstream belief system rather than a Christian cult, however, support for Obama may be just as problematic for mainstream Christian orthodoxy. Its a bit of a conundrum that I admit not much understanding of.

[Cow Poke]

Yeah, I wish the poll contained a "Vote Against..."

I have a hard time getting exited about voting FOR Romney, but I definitely don't want Obama to have a second term.

[Cow Poke]

My poll is up now. Sorry about the delay, but it was because I needed to add a fifth alternative. Thanks for your answer CP. Can you explain exactly what you mean that you'll be voting against Obama? Do you mean that any vote for any other individual or not voting at all signifies a vote against Obama?

In order to vote "against Obama", I have to vote, and the only way to accomplish that is to vote "for" whoever opposes him. That appears to be Romney at this point. In fact, it can't just be vote against "anybody" who opposes Obama, but the person MOST LIKELY to defeat Obama. That leaves Romney.

Also, have in mind that I'm extremely naive when it comes to the current political landscape. I don't currently watch TV, nor do I listen regularly to radio (the radio in my car died, and I haven't felt the need to replace it). This poll is mostly based on a distanced curiosity about where folks stand. I will say that I think electing a Mormon to office may reinforce public opinion that Mormonism is a legitimate and mainstream belief system rather than a Christian cult, however, support for Obama may be just as problematic for mainstream Christian orthodoxy. Its a bit of a conundrum that I admit not much understanding of.

I think you hit the nail on the head, Adrift. I have to weigh "having a Mormon in office" as opposed to "keeping Obama". It honestly is a case of the lesser of two evils, in my opinion. The fact is that, even though I obviously believe Mormons to be WAY OFF as far as religion is concerned, the bulk of their political and family values seem to be much more compatible with mine than Obama's are. Yes, it's quite a conundrum!

[Adrift]

Yeah, I wish the poll contained a "Vote Against..."

I have a hard time getting exited about voting FOR Romney, but I definitely don't want Obama to have a second term.

In the 18 years I've been able to vote, one of the reasons I've never voted is that its always seemed to me the choice between the lesser of two evils, which I refuse to accept. If you had the choose between the lesser of two evils, Obama or Romney, who would you vote for? For me, at least Obama, regardless of how liberal he may be, and how inauthentic his belief really is, at least plays lip service to Christian belief, Romney, however conservative his beliefs are, is not a Christian... What are your thoughts. Thanks!

[rogue06]

In order to vote "against Obama", I have to vote, and the only way to accomplish that is to vote "for" whoever opposes him.

That would be an ABO vote (Anybody But Obama).

[Adrift]

II think you hit the nail on the head, Adrift. I have to weigh "having a Mormon in office" as opposed to "keeping Obama". It honestly is a case of the lesser of two evils, in my opinion. The fact is that, even though I obviously believe Mormons to be WAY OFF as far as religion is concerned, the bulk of their political and family values seem to be much more compatible with mine than Obama's are. Yes, it's quite a conundrum!

I guess I should have waited for your answer before posting my last post. After 4 years in office, and knowing that we've probably had men in office who've played lip service to Christianity just as a sourly as Obama over the last 2 centuries, would having Obama in office a further 4 years hurt the legitimacy of orthodoxy in the U.S. as badly as having a Mormon in office, do you think? If you were presented the same scenario, but with a Muslim, or an open atheist, with the same seeming family values as Romney, would you vote for them rather than a weak orthodox Christian?

[Cow Poke]

I guess I should have waited for your answer before posting my last post. After 4 years in office, and knowing that we've probably had men in office who've played lip service to Christianity just as a sourly as Obama over the last 2 centuries, would having Obama in office a further 4 years hurt the legitimacy of orthodoxy in the U.S. as badly as having a Mormon in office, do you think? If you were presented the same scenario, but with a Muslim, or an open atheist, with the same seeming family values as Romney, would you vote for them rather than a weak orthodox Christian?

That's a really tough question, Adrift. I haven't wanted to look at it that hard - though I do need to. I think my concern is that Obama has run his first term knowing that he has to run for reelection. I am haunted by Obama's message to the Russian President, something to the effect "just wait til after the election when I will have greater flexibility." When I think of the supreme court appoitments Obama can make, the executive orders he can issue.... a second Obama term really scares me.

On the other hand, Romney hasn't shown any "Mormonistic" leadership in his Governor role, and there are plenty of checks and balances in the process. In a way, this may bring more scrutiny on Mormonism in a way they don't WANT.

I enjoy your input, and it's good to talk this through --- I'm certainly open to input! In fact, I NORMALLY do "early voting" in Texas, but have not yet, because I'm still praying/thinking through a number of issues.

[Adrift]

That's a really tough question, Adrift. I haven't wanted to look at it that hard - though I do need to.

That's fair.

I think my concern is that Obama has run his first term knowing that he has to run for reelection. I am haunted by Obama's message to the Russian President, something to the effect "just wait til after the election when I will have greater flexibility."

Again, I'm completely naive in these matters. What is this message in reference to? Are we talking about Putin here (is he still in office?). What do you think will be the long term consequences of Obama's flexibility if he were in office a further 4 years?

When I think of the supreme court appoitments Obama can make, the executive orders he can issue.... a second Obama term really scares me.

How so?

On the other hand, Romney hasn't shown any "Mormonistic" leadership in his Governor role, and there are plenty of checks and balances in the process. In a way, this may bring more scrutiny on Mormonism in a way they don't WANT.

What do you think about the legitimacy that will be imparted towards Mormonism if Romney is elected president? Do you think that people will be more willing to turn a blind eye towards the factuality of Mormonism if the leader of the free world is a Mormon? An alternative though is that the X, Y, and upcoming Z generations are already cynical about orthodox religious claims. If the claims of Mormonism are unquestionably lumped together with belief in orthodox Christianity, do you believe this will effect the responsiveness of orthodox claims in some way? For example, I can see someone assuming that if certain claims about Joseph Smith are obviously false, then won't this give credence to the belief that orthodox claims for Christ are also false. I'm not sure if I'm really expressing the issue I have here, but I think that this could end up being very detrimental to Christian belief in this nation which is already seeing a downtrend.

In the end, I believe that God is in control, and that whatever happens happens for his greater good, but still...

I enjoy your input, and it's good to talk this through --- I'm certainly open to input! In fact, I NORMALLY do "early voting" in Texas, but have not yet, because I'm still praying/thinking through a number of issues.

I truly wonder if we're reaching end times, and, though I find myself an outside observer, I'm troubled about the repercussions either way.

[Cow Poke]

lemme mull this for a bit. Good questions!

[Jedidiah]

What do you think about the legitimacy that will be imparted towards Mormonism if Romney is elected president?

I have a hard time worrying about this. We went through this a couple (grin) years ago with Catholics. I don't see any difference in the attitude in this nation toward Catholics since the Kennedy presidency.

[Adrift]

I have a hard time worrying about this. We went through this a couple (grin) years ago with Catholics. I don't see any difference in the attitude in this nation toward Catholics since the Kennedy presidency.

The difference in my mind is that Kennedy was obviously, for all intents and purposes, an orthodox Christian. Now he may not have been a practicing Christian (the evidence seems to be against that, retrospectively), but would you be okay with an atheist as head of state with good morals?

[Cow Poke]

The difference in my mind is that Kennedy was obviously, for all intents and purposes, an orthodox Christian. Now he may not have been a practicing Christian (the evidence seems to be against that, retrospectively), but would you be okay with an atheist as head of state with good morals?

Still mulling, but you have to ask "as opposed to" .... who was the other candidate? And, I know I'm making a huge generalization here, but the Democrats would, IMO, be much more likely to nominate an atheist than Republicans would. Which is odd, because the Democrats, AFAICT, WERE the "God and Country" party years ago.