Is this an unrealistic fear, or am I on to something?

[SoCalCoug]

I've seen things posted here and elsewhere regarding the difficult time some LDS people have had with the church's strong stand on Prop 8 in California. I admit, it caused me some consternation, as I have a gay brother who is now married to a guy. I've been dealing with the church's stance against homosexuals for years now, on a personal level, and I have opinions and thoughts that don't coincide with the church's position on the issue.

This polarizing issue to me has highlighted a trend that frankly disturbs me, in U.S. politics. Although I admit I tend to favor democrats, I am not a member of either political political party, and I think the reason I haven't registered as a democrat is that I don't buy completely into the party platform, just as I don't buy completely into the Republican party platform.

Maybe it started with Clinton, maybe Bush-Gore was the primary catalyst, but I think the political rancor between the parties right now is worse than I've ever seen. My personal opinion is that the rancor is stronger coming from the right toward Obama and the democrats - perhaps it seems that way because it's a democrat in office, but I don't think so. I think a lot of it comes from the proliferation of right-wing radio and television talk shows - there are just a lot more of those than there are for the left.

I remember when Bush was inaugurated following that hotly-contested 2000 election. But I don't remember the rancorous backlash from the left that I saw from the right after Obama was elected. I remember hearing talking heads calling Obama a failure, and recall thinking in response, "At least let him get through the first hundred days in office." My opinion is it was a designed effort to sway public opinion against Obama. There were old guys sitting at the post office and stores with posters of Obama-Hitler during his first year in office - I don't remember seeing anything comparable regarding Bush. Sure, there were probably things like that, but they seemed to me to be more isolated.

So after that long, rambling preamble, here's my concern. I have jokingly (but not completely) referred to the "Church of the Republican Party" for years. This is because I see people, particularly Republicans, turning Republican vs. Democrat into "Good vs. Evil." An extension of that is the the question I've seen debated many times on CB, "Can you be a good Mormon and a democrat" - there appear to be many LDS who answer that question with "No."

Because of this, particularly after the very polarizing Prop 8 campaign, is the political rancor, the close identification of LDS members with the Republican party, and the constant disparagement of "Liberals" and the "Left wing wackos" by the conservative media and public resulting in good people who have divergent political view to reconsider their religious beliefs?

Republican LDS members may not name call non-republican members directly, but those who aren't staunch Republicans certainly hear it all the time. Deny it if you will, but the ties between the Republican party and the church are extremely close, so much so that those with more moderate or liberal views (I can state this from my own experience) start to wonder if the church's principles are really in line with what they believe.

I know what some of you are thinking: well, the Democrat party's ideas aren't all in line with gospel principles, either. That's absolutely true. But then the Democrat party isn't ideologically aligned with the Church. I don't feel like rejecting the Democrat party is rejecting my faith; I can't say that regarding the Republican party.

My fear is that the close ties between the Church and the Republican party, as well as the hate coming from the far right toward "liberals" and others who lean left of center is having a negative effect on some LDS members' faith and alignment with the church. I fear that as the rancor gets worse, and as the ties become stronger (i.e. President Romney) it's going to become more significant.

[Katy Lied]

politics 100 years ago was way way worse. Gone to the White House Ha, Ha, Ha.

[Sullyute]

If it is any consolation, the Church did not hold its annual pre-Utah legislative session meeting with influential law makers this year. It is the first year that the media is aware in which is has not happened. So maybe the Church is starting to pull back some on the political side of stuff.

[YOhio]

Though I disagree with some of the minor points in your post, I agree with your larger point. It is harmful to the church and members when people begin to question the worthiness of others based on their political affiliation. That said, this isn't unique to Mormonism. It's also a pretty common for American Jews, Evangelicals, and black churches to have their religion/culture attached to a political party/platform.

[UtahDan]

I think the backlash seems bigger because the right has a bigger megaphone through all the outlets you mentioned. I remember very well many liberal friends by the end of the Bush years inhabited a fantasy world where the President is both omnipotent and responsible for everything. Also, he was doing everything wrong. It is the same fantasy world that many conservatives I know now inhabit and inhabited by the end of the Clinton era.

I think it is human nature to get focused on a single person or thing as the source of a problem. But government in particular is much more complex than that, starting with the fact that the president has far, far less power to affect outcomes than these people think. Though in fairness, politicians fans these flames by taking credit for things that they didn't bring about.

[SoCalCoug]

I think the backlash seems bigger because the right has a bigger megaphone through all the outlets you mentioned.

Exactly.

I remember very well many liberal friends by the end of the Bush years inhabited a fantasy world where the President is both omnipotent and responsible for everything. Also, he was doing everything wrong. It is the same fantasy world that many conservatives I know now inhabit and inhabited by the end of the Clinton era.

I was in that world by the end of Bush's terms in office - but at least for myself, and perhaps 9/11 had a lot to do with it, I supported him at the beginning, and at least intended to give him a chance to prove me wrong. I clearly remember the anti-Obama vitriol beginning in force from day 1. He never had a chance with the right wingers.

I don't remember that with Clinton, or George H.W. Bush.

[Moliere]

My sample size is so small that I cannot make an accurate statement as to whether or not the rhetoric is getting worse. I doubt you could either.

But I share the same fear as you if there is a "President Romney". I'd be afraid that many church members would expect support for him simply because he is Mormon. I hope if he does become president that we works as a moderate, which he is, and passes legislation that emphasizes compassion as well as financial restraint.

[wally]

A few years ago (here in Utah) I registered as a democrat just to irritate my lds brethern during a presidential primary. It was funny going to vote. The lady working the voting location actually lowered her voice when she looked and saw I needed a democrat ballot. I would probably register as a republican if I lived amongst liberals.

[Eddie]

The backlash has been around forever. I first remember it with Carter and Ford, then Carter and Reagan...and on and one.

You might not have been in on the Bush bashing from the moment he took office, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. It just means that you tend to be more level-headed than the dorks who started at it right away.

And the right wing folks might have a slightly larger megaphone when it comes to talk radio hosts. But how much crap did we hear from others regarding Bush? How many of the Hollywood crowd jumped on him from the beginning? He was going to ruin the country! They were moving to Europe from the moment he took office!

I guess I'm just saying that I disagree. I don't see members of one party as being more cordial or less likely to rush to judgement.

It is like asking who has the worst fans - BYU or Utah. Sorry, but both have fans that suck.

All that aside - I do agree with the concept that judging a person's worthiness based on the politician they support is crazy. And as the Republican party is much more represented in the LDS church, it is much more likely for Democrats to be looked down on than vice-versa. And that is a problem. But I really have to disagree with the idea that one side spews more vitriol than the other or that once side is much more patient and waits to see what a person does before judging. No way. Both sides have their idiots of all variety.

[SloanHater]

...

I think you have an unrealistic fear. In fact, I'm not a big Romney supporter, but I think it would be very interesting to see him and Harry Reid work together on issues. I think that would do more to reduce the Glen Beck rancor than any talk given at General Conference.

[UtahDan]

I don't remember that with Clinton, or George H.W. Bush.

It began with Clinton. Remember all the impeachment talk? That was the genesis of moveon.org . I remember people being in far more of a lather over Clinton than over Obama, but that is just me. I don't recall that with Bush 41 either, however.

[UtahDan]

It began with Clinton. Remember all the impeachment talk? That was the genesis of moveon.org . I remember people being in far more of a lather over Clinton than over Obama, but that is just me. I don't recall that with Bush 41 either, however.

But I agree that it began earlier on with Obama. I don't know, maybe it has gotten worse over the last 20 years.

[creekster]

But I agree that it began earlier on with Obama. I don't know, maybe it has gotten worse over the last 20 years.

Thomas Jefferson was accused of fathering a child with his slave. This allegation is STILL controversial. I dont think the rhetoric is worse.

[UtahDan]

Thomas Jefferson was accused of fathering a child with his slave. This allegation is STILL controversial. I dont think the rhetoric is worse.

No I don't mean to say the rhetoric is worse. I agree with you it was much worse at the founding of our country. Bill Saphire wrote a great book called Scandalmonger about that. I guess what I mean is that the endless drone of "he does nothing right and everything is his fault" seems to be louder and more persistent. More platforms and more access to them probably.

[Paperback Writer]

But I share the same fear as you if there is a "President Romney". I'd be afraid that many church members would expect support for him simply because he is Mormon. I hope if he does become president that we works as a moderate, which he is, and passes legislation that emphasizes compassion as well as financial restraint.

My fear is that President Romney would take a large amount of criticism if/when he tackles entitlements, government waste, tax reform, etc. We are a nation of special interests. Get rid of this social program but don't touch my mortgage interest deducation. The reforms the USA needs are extensive and any president who attempts to tackle the fiscal problems will be in the crosshairs of every special interest and many citizens.

I worry Mormons will take a Romney victory as an affirmation of their religion instead of keeping an arms-length distance. And when the sledding gets tough, a Romney presidency could become unpopular and subject to criticism. And by extension, that criticism will flow to the LDS church and its members because they so readily embraced Romney as a validation of their religion.