Dave Astor, Editor and Publisher, December 20, 2007
NEW YORK — As an ex-Mormon, Arizona Republic editorial cartoonist Steve Benson has strong opinions about current Mormon Mitt Romney. He said the Republican candidate’s recent speech on religion should not be trusted by media people and other Americans.
In his talk, Romney said “I believe in my Mormon faith” while also noting that the church’s “teachings” would not influence his decisions if elected president.
“Yeah, right,” responded Benson, adding that “Romney also believes in misrepresenting what his Mormon Church actually espouses.”
Benson is the grandson of former Mormon leader Ezra Taft Benson.
He told E&P that, in his view, a Mormon believer is required by church doctrine (as dictated by the church’s “living prophet”) to “obey God’s commands” over anything else. He said “Romney, like all ‘temple Mormons,’ made his secret vows using Masonic-derived handshakes, passwords, and symbolic death oaths that he promised in the temple never to reveal to the outside world” — and that Romney also secretly vowed to devote his “time, talents” and more “to the building of the Mormon religion on earth.”
Oh boy — Skull and Bones with Magic Underwear!
I thought one of the funniest lines of the article was: “Most journalists don’t know about actual Mormon teachings and practices,’ noted the cartoonist, adding that they instead see the religion as perhaps ‘strange’ but ‘rather benign.’”
Steve Benson’s a great cartoonist, but he should know better that the Big Media ‘journalists’ these days don’t know much about anything, and they don’t bother to check.
Better to plod on in ignorance, writing a thousand words on someone’s expensive haircut or how low cut their blouse is, then to do a little research on ‘the Google’ on a candidate’s wacky religious beliefs. Welcome to the wonderful world of paycheck journalism.
Comment by RS Janes — December 20, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
For a more substantiative, detailed look into Mitt Romney not telling the truth (as opposed to an ad hominem attack – how’s that saying go? When you don’t have the facts, attack the messenger?) see
romneyforpresident.townhall.com
In addition to good documentation of the FACTS, there are lots of funny photos too!
Comment by ldsmissionary — December 20, 2007 @ 7:32 pm