Sunday, September 30, 2007

Analysis: Do you think the country is ready for a President Romney?

Check out the article that you can link to via the following Hypertext Markup Language:

Mitt's Mission
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21049285/site/newsweek/

36 comments:

newkirk said...

I don't think that the country is ready for Mitt Romney to become president. I think that if Mr. Romney is shy, or evasive when answering his questions about his faith then maybe he shouldn't be our president. I do not think that the people of America are ready for a mormon president, i know I'm not.

BrookeS said...

Change, in this country, is often dealt with in very strange ways. Many Americans accept change with open arms; others are hesitant to quick changes. I personally believe that Mitt Romney is not ready to serve as the first Mormon President. After reading the article, I got the sense that his religious views would be his main guide in leading the country, verses intuition. If a president guides his/her country based solely on personal views on faith, they are putting themselves before the needs of their country. This is one factor that the US should not have to worry about during these times of war.

Vlad said...

I don't think the country is ready for Mitt Romney because of his religion. I personally don't care about a person's faith but as long as they don't push their views onto the public, then they are fine in my book. Mitt Romney is not that type of a man and I'm guessing many voters will sense that and thus, not vote for him.
Also, the guy is 60 but he looks like he's in his 40s. Strange?

Alex D said...

The country is ready for Mitt Romney. The upcomming presidential race is bound to be one of firsts weather it be the oldest presidant or the first women. Many people wouldn't care about Romney's views if it wasn't stressed so much by the media. Romney's stance on the issues are not ultra religous and some may say that he was even pro-choice at one point. He has shown in that he knows how to handle a government and can help a state with lots of flaws get back on the right track. The analysis question asks if America is ready for Romney, and if his numbers in Iowa mean anything, it looks as if they are.

jamieg said...

I think it's a bit sad that the country doesn't seem to be ready for Mitt Romney purely because of his religion. It sounds like there's quite a bit of ignorance surround Mormonism (as I'm sure there is with almost any less-than-mainstream religion); however, I don't think this should play a part in his presidency, especially if he doesn't want it to. Unfortunately, I think it will.

Also, the article is very confusing if you misread "LDS" as "LSD," which I did quite a few times.

Angelina said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Angelina said...

I have a question, In the article it says that he was born and raised a Mormon, and is very religious, but then way is he so hesistant when the interviewer asked him about it?

arletap said...

Whether or not the country is ready for Romney does not even come close to the bigger issue at hand: Is Romney ready for the country?

A man unable to find his own stance on his own principals can hardly be expected to be a representative of the people. It would be impossible to know what to expect; so drastically do his ideals change that a following is hard to establish.

Pro-choice to pro-life. Gay rights to no gay rights, (in reference to this idea, however, he still wishes equality for homosexuals. Conundrum?). It's no surprise flip-flopper has been stamped on his forehead.

And the war. The war. More troops in Iraq? That alone allows me to believe that (fortunately) nothing too productive will come of his campaign.

Somehow, everything is just awkward about this candidate. Mormon, but hides his faith. Conservative, but only when convenient. And Vlad's right. His youthful appearance quite frankly creeps me out.

Ha, looks like I have a lot to say this time around. I can't help it. He's always struck a nerve with me. I think it was when he said his sons were "showing support for our nation" by getting him elected. Gee, Romney. Thanks.

Johnny B said...

Angelina. A lot of factors have an impact on whether people follow you and in return, get you elected. Religion is one of those factors. If he gets elected as President, he'd be the first ever Mormon President.

After saying that, I don't think that America is ready for him. Not everybody will get stuck on his religion, but the way he hides it definitely doesn't help.

Vlad said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Alex D said...

How come it's ok to talk about Romney's religious views and how america is not ready for a Mormon, but if anyone even points out that Hillary Clinton is a women they are instantly condemed as a sexest?

Alex D said...

A new poll came out with the question
Do you believe America would be a better place if we lost the war in Iraq.
19% of Democrats said yes
5% of Republicans
7% of Independts

what do you guys think?

I personally have never been more shocked or outraged.

Vlad said...

Alex, how about this poll...

"I would rather have as President of the United States...
68% George Bush
31% Mahmoud Ahmadinejad"

Source: DailyKos (very biased, radical website)

aly mac said...

I personally would like to see Mitt Romney have a chance at being elected our president. I believe our country should be more open to different religions and should base our decisions on how a candidate stands on issues. I do, however, feel he will have a very difficult time being elected because the Mormon faith isn't in the mainstream religion of our country.

Unknown said...

As tired as I am from homecoming last night (I hope you all had a fun time) I've decided a post to this blog is necessary.
I don't think our country is ready for "President" Romney. I think America is way too judgmental to have a Mormon president at this time. I personally wouldn't be the first in line to vote for him- and similar to what Sarah said, I'm not ready for a Mormon oresident either.

jzurko said...

I personally couldn't care less if Mitt Romney were a Mormon, a Buddhist, a Muslim, a Jehovah's Witness, or an atheist. I don't think that America is ready for President Romney not because of his religion but because of his political views. And, personally, I think the less candidates talk about their religion in their campaigns the better. I don't care if you go to church every Sunday or if you worship a pagan goat. All I care about is - how are you going to run this country?

With that said, America is not ready for Mitt Romney the candidate. If a man can make a complete reversal on issues like abortion rights and gay rights just in time for an election, who is to say he has any mind of his own at all? But if Romney would make any effort to push his religious views on the public and base policy on his religion instead of reasoned logic I would have to be his fiercest opponent. And, unfortunately, I think this might be the case for Governor Romney.

So. All in all. President Mitt Romney = bad idea for America.

Anonymous said...

I don't think Mitt is ready to lead the country. He seems very insecure and unsure about his past and his religion. He doesn't seem to have the confidence to lead strongly but not too stubborn, which is what I think this country needs right now.

amandak said...

Alex- The difference between judging Romney for his religion and judging Clinton for her sex is that sex plays no role in a person's decision making or ability to govern. A person who is very relgious like Romney says he is will likely govern according to their faith, and although I myself am a Christian, I think that faith has no place in American government.

MorganJ said...

I do not believe that the United States are ready for a "President" Romney. As stated before, the American mind tends to be very judgmental, especially in the views of religion. In general, I don't think anyone is ready for Mitt Romney to be our president, not even Mitt Romney.

It is ridicules to believe that someone who cannot comfortably talk about his/her religion and switch view on very controversial issues (in time for an election) could be capable of running an entire country.

America needs someone who is confident in his/her views and well as him/herself. Romney is clearly lacking in each category.

Jbyko10 said...

I don't think the country is ready for anything new. More people want a Democrat in office then a republican. And when the people were asked what democrat they wanted, the results were neither of the candidates. So no, i do not think we are ready for a President Romney. Romney would run this country with his religion, and many Americans would not be for that. But, he actually may be the only candidate that knows what he is talking about.

KellyH said...

I don't believe the country is ready for Mitt Romney to take office. If he's not even strong enough to stand by his religion and talk about it, how is he going to be strong enough to stand by decisions he would make as President? I'm sorry, but if Romney's going to be evasive about answering questions about something he's lived with all his life, there's no way America will be able to fully see who he is enough to vote him into office.

It's not because he's Mormon that the country isn't ready for him; the country isn't ready for Romney because he's not ready to open up.

ericag said...

The one thing that bothers me the most is religion in government issues. I fully understand religion does influnce people's views on life, but religion can not be a factor in government. I don't think that Romney will be able to put the religious factors to the side and rule a country. I'm not sure the country is going to be prepared for whomever gets elected.

newkirk said...

I still do not think that the country is ready for a president Romney. If he cannot share certain things about his past it makes you wonder what else he is trying to hide.

Erica Lane said...

My opinion doesn't differ very much from the others. I believe Romney's religion would definitely get in the way of his governing a country. We need a leader who has strong beliefs and morals, yet not one who is so extreme to a point that (s)he will be narrow minded on certain subjects and not listen to what the people have to say. For a country that does not have an official religion, I believe it would be discomforting to have such a strongly religion-oriented president. What's more is his religion specifically. While Mormon is not the most popular religion, it is not widely understood, and that could make the lazy and the ignorant even more uncomfortable. Heaven forbid.

coyoeuglly said...

I personally find that someone else's religion would have absolutely no baring on their ability to be president or not. If he were say, an idiot, I would not vote for him. But honestly, if you make a joke around politically correct people about someone's religious views, you'll never hear the end of it. But, apparently, politically informed people have a problem with other people's religious views. Ironic, huh?

CoreyA said...

That was really weird. I do not know who's account was signed onto my cousin's computer(what I'm using right now) seeing as he does not have an account on this site and all. But I expected it to let me to ask me to log on when I posted but it did not. Weird...


I personally find that someone else's religion would have absolutely no baring on their ability to be president or not. If he were say, an idiot, I would not vote for him. But honestly, if you make a joke around politically correct people about someone's religious views, you'll never hear the end of it. But, apparently, politically informed people have a problem with other people's religious views. Ironic, huh?

katiekso said...

I agree with many of my fellow classmates when I say that I don't think that this country is ready for a President Romney. The chief reason I feel this way is because of his deep religious views. I think that, if he were president, many of his decisions would be made based on his religion and there is supposed to be a division of church and state in the U.S.A.

Jake_H said...

I do not think that America is ready for Romney. Most Americans would not aorove him being morman. Many Americans do not aprove of presidens who are of a more common faith. Not enough of the public understands the morman religion and its practices, thus making it seem out of place. I also believe that his hesitant answers show that he does not stand up for what he truely believes.

jamieg said...

I really almost feel bad for Romney. He's trying to downplay his religion because he knows that if he appears to be making his decisions based on his religion, then people will dislike him for that. Consequently, everyone is drawing all of their attention to his religion. If he is open and proud of his religion, then people will say he is too Mormon--because heaven forbid we have a president who bases his choices on his religious beliefs, that would be new--and if he refuses to talk about his religion, then people will say he is a flip-flopper who needs to take a stronger stance on his choices. He really can't win, and I will be extremely shocked if he becomes president.

Anonymous said...

Obviously, if controversy has spread about Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney more than a year before the election, Americans are concerned about his religious status. Not only is his religious status an issue to Americans, the way he deals with his religion worries citizens. Maybe because he has been accused of flip flopping, and maybe because he deliberately avoids talking about his personal life, Americans, including me, do not feel comfortable with his personality. In interviews, he is vague on the subject of his personal life and especially his religion. In my opinion, it seems as if he is trying to hide something about his life. If he is a proud Mormon, he should not be afraid to show it. I think the public would rather see a man who stands by his beliefs rather than hiding them. American is not ready for a President Mitt Romney.

rebeccas said...

The way you are perceived really matters in a presidential election. First impressions and gut instincts tend to stick with people even if there are contradicting facts. When people for some reason get a disliking for someone, even if they don't know why, it sticks. It makes them wary. Romney comes off fake and plastic. My first thought that came to mind when viewing a speech by him was that he reminded me of a Ken doll. It has stuck ever since. In my opinion, the country is ready for a democratic candidate. So, that means Romney is already set off to the side for me and many others.

Johnny B said...

I pretty much agree with little parts of everyone. It was said that religion shouldn't have a major affect on government. I agree. Religion usually does create certain ideas which will most likely somehow affect Mitt Romney. It was also said that the Mormon religion isn't greatly understood. I agree with that as well. People aren't going to accept what they don't understand. And thirdly, it was said that a man [or woman] should stand for their beliefs and not hide them. Unless Mitt Romney actually opens up, America isn't ready for him.

CarolineB said...

It's too bad that this guy's religion plays such a big part on how he's percieved by the public. The media focuses on his religion, his fellow candidates focus on his religion, and now so are we. It's understandable that Mitt will let his religion influence decisions he makes, so does President Bush. Any person we put in that office is going to let his (or her) personal beliefs influence the way he or she feels about certian things. The reality is that we need a president who can evaluate how the country feels about issues, versus how a religion tells people to feel about issues. No matter the religion, or for that matter, sex, of our next president, I hope he or she can bring a revolution of change that will change people's minds about a "mormon" or "woman" president and just look at people as people, we are not defined by our religion or sex.

Lisa Marie said...

I believe the country may be ready for Romney, but I don't believe many will vote for him. I may be wrong. But I don't know many people who will change their ways or beliefs, I'm not saying they'll turn mormon. I do not believe that religion should take a stand on politics, and I do not belive that religion should talk about politics. But it happens every day. I know that older people who are strong catholics, will vote for a republican because of they're religion. I dont necessarily believe that we are not ready for him, I just don't think that many people will vote for him because of his religion.

Alex the Great said...

the link was dead, but from other knowledge about romney i think he is going to have a tough time getting elected. a single person can be openminded, but as a whole, people fear change.

cmorgan said...

What the United States needs in a time like this is someone that is strong willed and upfront about what they want done and won't shy away when a question is asked. I believe if Mitt Romney is evasive with his answering on the topic of his religion, he can very well do the same with the rest of his stances on our countries issues. I am not against Romney for being a Morman, all the better for him, but his religion should not be taken into consideration when making decisions for our country. So as for the question is our country ready for a President Romney, no i don't believe it is.