State lawmaker: Mitt Romney ‘a nice man, but I’m afraid of his Mormon faith’
Today’s Marietta Daily Journal carries evidence that the GOP will yet have a debate over presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney’s faith, quoting state Rep. Judy Manning of Cobb County, a Newt Gingrich supporter:
“I think Mitt Romney is a nice man, but I’m afraid of his Mormon faith,” Manning said. “It’s better than a Muslim. Of course, every time you look at the TV these days you find an ad on there telling us how normal they are. So why do they have to put ads on the TV just to convince us that they’re normal if they are normal? … If the Mormon faith adhered to a past philosophy of pluralism, multi-wives, that doesn’t follow the Christian faith of one man and one woman, and that concerns me.”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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320 comments Add your comment
saintsation777
January 4th, 2012
2:49 pm
Look at teh bright side if you over 50!!! If Romney is elected, then it will be ok to marry an 11,12,13,14,15 year olds all a tthe same time since the mighty righteous GOP/tea party voted him as their nominee. LOL
Send to Rep. Judy
January 4th, 2012
2:49 pm
Dear Ms. Manning,
I consider myself a conservative and a Christian and no, I am not a Mormon. I find your statements quoted in the Marietta Daily Journal and the AJC to be ignorant and outrageous.
Why are you afraid of someone you do not know? By all accounts, Mitt Romney is a fine upstanding citizen who has many accomplishments. You can be afraid of him as a leader because he will apparently say anything to be elected but to say that he cannot lead the country because he is a Mormon reveals you to be incredibly shallow and unenlightened.
Judge not lest you be judged. It is people such as you that are the reason I am a follower of Christ but a member of no organized religion. Churches tend to draw boundaries around their own tribal beliefs and prevent their followers from experiencing all of God’s creation, including Mormons.
You have embarrassed the Republican party and our state. Please resign.
td
January 4th, 2012
2:52 pm
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2012
2:17 pm
I knew that last sentence would get rise out of at least one lib and it looks like two of you are bothered.
td
January 4th, 2012
2:54 pm
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2012
2:17 pm
BTW: Secular humanist socialist can not be Muslims either.
RxDawg
January 4th, 2012
2:57 pm
What concerns me is this narrow minded idiot represents my state. I could care less that Romney is morman.
Look before I leap...
January 4th, 2012
2:59 pm
@Michael 2:46
I think we are pretty safe from Mormon domination. They compose about 2% of the US population -steady since 1996 and only about .2 % of the world’s population.
scott
January 4th, 2012
3:00 pm
In a close election, the GOP will need people with similar views to be enthused about the Republican nominee. The economy seems to be picking up some steam. If this continues, it will be a very close election. There is a real danger if Romney is the nominee that a good chunk of evangelicals, no longer quite so ticked off about the economy, will be ambivalent about the choice. In 2008, much as she hurt the top of the ticket with independents, the choice of Palin for VP probably helped the downballot Republican candidates by generating enthusiasm with this crowd which was then largely fed up with Bush because of the economy. In the case of even mildly improved economic conditions, Romney will probably need to add someone who would excite both the evangelical and libertarian wings of the party while not turning off independents. Is there such a person?
MB
January 4th, 2012
3:00 pm
@David 2:02
Great post explaining many of the false doctrines of the LDS church. If you study the Bible it is clear that those who practice and believe in the Mormon faith are not Christians. I am not condemning anyone, I am just saying that Mormons are followers of false doctrine.
DJ Sniper
January 4th, 2012
3:01 pm
Oh wow, there’s the socialist thing again. Never heard that one before.
Mister mann
January 4th, 2012
3:04 pm
The only thing I have about the Mormon faith is that it was basically written by a con man. So we are going to elect a man to make the most important decisions of our country who believes in a religion thought up and enacted by a con man. I am supposed to believe this person is a good decision maker REALLY!
allen981
January 4th, 2012
3:05 pm
Hey MB, who told you it was ‘false doctrine?’ God? Your pastor? Your priest?
You were brought up to believe in Christ, as was I. But I have no moral standing to make a judgement of another man’s faith; I believe what I was taught to believe, as do millions of Mormons, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus.
Is Mitt Romney capable of leading this country successfully? Absolutely. And that is ALL that matters.
td
January 4th, 2012
3:06 pm
scott
January 4th, 2012
3:00 pm
The majority of the libertarian wing will either not vote or vote libertarian party. Some will vote for the Republican nominee but that will only be about 20%. Romney will more then likely pick religious conservative but I have been hearing rumors that they are looking at Rubio and Dr. Rice.
Samantha
January 4th, 2012
3:06 pm
I will NOT vote for someone who isn’t a Christian point blank!
Look before I leap...
January 4th, 2012
3:08 pm
@td
2 points
I am not a liberal. I am a fiscal conservative, social moderate and a smaller federal government.
You did not “get a rise out of me or DJ” We both pointed out that it is very difficult to take ANYTHING you say seriously when you keep coughing up your little hateballs.
So if your impetus for posting here is not reasoned argument or debate, but simply to troll, fine. I’ll just skip over your posts and please, feel free to do the same to mine.
The Bible Answer Man
January 4th, 2012
3:08 pm
Mormon’s and Christians have several major differences. God was once a man, who had a worldy body and has not always existed according to the LDS. The also deny the diety of Christ as well as tje Doctrine of the Trinity, One God consisitng of three parts. To the LDS they are three seperate beings…there are others…some minor reasearch is all it takes….
Married for Life
January 4th, 2012
3:08 pm
There is only one requirement to be a Christian—to follow the teachings of Jesus. Anything else is pure dribble created by exclusionists.
Spaghetti Monster
January 4th, 2012
3:09 pm
“I believe what I was taught to believe”
You are grown up now. Perhaps it is time for you to think for yourself.
Jeff is not kidding
January 4th, 2012
3:09 pm
Sometimes when I hear these religious bigots I think they deserve to have Obama for four more years. And maybe Hillary for eight more after that.
joe m
January 4th, 2012
3:10 pm
This woman has no right holding office with this kind of thinking. This country was founded on separation of church and state.
allen981
January 4th, 2012
3:11 pm
One more thing: have we forgotten that this country was created on a foundation of religious freedom? The early settlers were perceived to believe in false doctrine, and they came here to practice their religion as they saw fit.
Bottom line: If the Republicans nominate anyone other than Romney, Obama wins a second term. So, make your comparisons about this: would you prefer a conservative, family values leader like Romney, or a socialist, left wing Obama who will continue to do all he can to remake this country into a nation of weakness and despair?
That’s the choice, friends. Like it or not. Choose Paul or Santorum, and Obama wins. Choose Romney, and there’s a chance for the Republicans.
@David 2:02 & MB
January 4th, 2012
3:11 pm
Wow! Some guy posts a series of gross distortions about what mormons believe (probably just regurgitated bullet points from an anti-mormon website), and then another praises it. I’m guessing that either MB is also David, or MB is just completely clueless about what Mormons believe.
It’s also a dead giveaway that David isn’t very informed when he states that “Christianity does not believe in ….” There are over 30,000 Christian denominations in the world, all with different beliefs and practices! It’s nearly impossible to find specific beliefs or practices where all of “Christianity” agrees.
RxDawg
January 4th, 2012
3:12 pm
I will NOT vote for someone who is a christian!!
Just kiddin… sounds pretty stupid doesn’t it?
Patrick
January 4th, 2012
3:14 pm
That’s the stupidist thing I have ever heard. Stupid comments like that play to the lowest level of society and embarrass me to be a Republican.
allen981
January 4th, 2012
3:14 pm
Hey Spaghetti, I am thinking for myself. I’m valuing my beliefs as no more right or wrong than anyone else on the planet. The point was, our own faith is most likely dictated by our upbringing. Hopefully we’ve all taken time to make decisions on our own.
Ramblin
January 4th, 2012
3:14 pm
I met Ms. Manning, she represents my district. I once saved her two lost dogs in my neighborhood, called her and told her, I had them. She wanted me to bring them to her house. Unbelievably arrogant and rude! When she came to my house to pick them up, she acted like I had committed a crime and had stolen them, actually wanted me to put them in her car for her. She is old, arrogant, rude, & self-important. Would not vote for her ever, not even for Dog catcher.
Spaghetti Monster
January 4th, 2012
3:15 pm
“They also deny the diety of Christ as well as the Doctrine of the Trinity,”
Doctrine. That is stuff that was made up by MEN throughout the ages who decided how they wish to interpret the spiritual world and our place in it. Why is the “doctrine” of your brand of Christianity any better than the Mormons? If it didn’t come from CHRIST it is not part of Christianity.
Cobb Resident
January 4th, 2012
3:16 pm
Really? Is she kidding? So Newt can have two affairs and thats OK? I am so sick of people, including those in Iowa, voting for a candidate because of their religion. How about voting for their ideas and policies? This country is based upon religious freedom. Stop trying to convert everyone to your beliefs. I, for one, have my own and am not interested in becoming a follower of yours
Brian
January 4th, 2012
3:17 pm
@The Bible Answer Man
Your comments about what Mormons believe are not accurate. Mormons absolutely believe in the divinity of Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Ghost. It is true that they don’t believe in the details and doctrines that were outlined in the Nicene Creed, which was written a few hundred years after the books in the New Testament.
McDonoughMom
January 4th, 2012
3:18 pm
What a moron! She can spew her religious bigotry but will be among the first to defend the many times married serial cheater from those who hate Catholics.
TV
January 4th, 2012
3:20 pm
David:
People in that live in glass houses should not throw stone. If you were to research the LDS church you would know that the information stated is incorrect.
As you said (your answer is first and my reply with the correct information is between the **)
So lets see…
- Mormons believe in multiple Gods for other worlds, Christianity does not reply *WE DO NOT in other gods in other worlds. We believe in Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ the son and the Holy Ghost.*
- Mormons believe Jesus was created, Christianity does not reply* Jesus CHrist was created, he was sent from heaven to earth as we all are. The difference between Jesus Christ and ourselves is he is the son of God.*
- Mormons believe in multiple heavens, Christianity does not reply * It is that we believe in mutliple heavens, it is different levels of heaven*
- Mormons believe everyone (regardless of religion) goes to one of the heavenly kingdoms, except those who leave the Mormon faith. They are cast into “outer darkness”. reply *We do not believe that the only way to go to hell or outer darkness as you are calling it is to leave the religion. There are sins that will get to hell. Yes be believe that there are different levels of heaven, but if you read the bible it states that there are different levels. I believe that is in the book of Revelations. As far as calling hell the outer darkness it is just a nice way of saying it. **
- Mormons believe in baptism for the dead, Christianity does not. reply * in the bible it does talk about bapitisms for the dead, you should read the bible agian.*
- Mormons believe humans (of the Mormon faith) can become gods for other worlds, Christianity does not reply* we believe God created us in his likeness and wants us to be like him, however that does not translate into being God. You seem to read too much into things and misunderstand all.*
- Mormons believe the god of earth was once a man who became god, Christianity does not reply* we believe that Heavenly Father created everything, we do not believe that he was on earth then became god.*
- Mormons believe god must have a wife in order to become a god, Christianity does not reply* we do not believe will become god, but we will be god like. God created us in his likeness.*
- Mormons believe all humans existed prior to life on earth, Christianity does not. reply * you are created prior to conceception. Heavenly Father created you and chose who you would be, before you enter the world, so yes you did exist be for you were born.*
- Mormons believe Jesus and Lucifer are spirit-brothers, Christianity teaches that Jesus created Satan reply* Heavenly father created the angels and his son Jesus Christ so technically they are brothers. You and I are technically brothers but we dont seem to be claiming each other.**
- Mormons believe Jesus should not receive the same worship as God the Father, Christianity teaches Jesus should
receive the same worship as the Father. *reply I dont know where you heard this one but it is not true*
- Mormons teach that god curses certain individuals with dark skin, Christianity does not.. *the bible states that God cursed people with the dark skin. It is not a mormon belief it is a statement in the bible in Leviticus*
.- Mormons teach the Bible is incomplete for faith, Christianity teaches the Bible is reliable *reply We do not believe that bible is incomplete, we believe the book of mormon is a second book. If you feel like it is not possible to for this to be an addition to the bible, so be it. But just an FYI the bible was not written in order and things have been added so you can take that all the way and say the bible isnt true becuase book were added at later times..*
Q
January 4th, 2012
3:23 pm
@David,
there are differences between Pentecostals, Methodists, and Baptists. According to Pentecostals, you will not make it into heaven unless you receive the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other Tongues.
So, what’s your point??
td
January 4th, 2012
3:24 pm
Look before I leap…
January 4th, 2012
3:08 pm
I am a serious conservative poster the majority of the time. The majority of my post are greeted with personal bashing from the left so every once in a while I will give them a zinger or two to get their blood boiling. It is your choice if you want to skip over my post or not.
xxtian
January 4th, 2012
3:27 pm
does he wear the magic underwear? people see it as a silly faith, not christain. but is it any better than believing in talking snakes, asses, and bushes, witches, unicorns and giants? sounds like harry potter, but its the bible.
gm
January 4th, 2012
3:27 pm
Oh wait we should support the born again Christians like Newt, or how about the Baptist Christians like Cain, or maybe the Christians that were in the Klan, or how about the Christians that said slavery was ok.
I am not a Mitt fan, but not supporting him because of his relgion, shows the idiots hypocrites of some of the christians in this country especially the billl bobs of the south””’
chg
January 4th, 2012
3:28 pm
Wow. Ms. Manning is an ignorant bigot. Newt’s adultery, ethics, and temper worry me. People like her need to go crawl in a hole and keep their ignorant beliefs to themselves. Why would his faith affect his ability to lead this country? It’s not like the President can implement a state religion. Who cares what church he belongs to?
Utah Dawg
January 4th, 2012
3:28 pm
David…so there are theological differences between Mormons and standard Christianity…really1? So the point being that these differences make Mormons sound less credible because their religious beliefs sound wacky. News flash…all religions require a leap of faith and have aspects that sound less than rational to non believers. I will choose a candidate based upon their political positions and competence. Not where they sit on Sundays.
That said I would oppose a strict Muslim candidate not because of specific beliefs related to God but because of the lack of division between church and state that is integral to Islam.
BillS
January 4th, 2012
3:31 pm
I thought it might be nice to call her office or email her with some opposing views to her bigoted, ignorant ideas. But it seems her web site has been taken down, and her phone number is not longer reachable.
Scott
January 4th, 2012
3:32 pm
Mormons are not Protestants, but they are Christians. A restorationist branch of Christianity to be sure, that doesn’t accept the 4th century non-biblical Nicene Creed.
Spaghetti Monster
January 4th, 2012
3:34 pm
scott at 3:00
Evangelicals like enforcing religion and anti-abortion views on everyone else
Libertarians believe in live and let live.
While their views can co-exist in free-market economic philosophy, I see no possibility of overlap on the social side. This is the whole conundrum of the Republicans. They want to keep both groups under the tent but they let the evangelicals pick their nominee.
rooster
January 4th, 2012
3:36 pm
Yes, and the Catholic church used to hold inquisitions and burn people at the stake. I believe it has been several hundred years since that last happened. So Mormonism contains some weird notions, eh? Weirder than a god creating a flawed race of beings and then punishing them for being imperfect? And then having his son suffer and die because of it? Really?
It’s interesting that Jimmy Carter, an actual born-again Christian, never pandered to religion or used it as a political weapon, while another pol who was personally pretty much unchurched nevertheless counted on the Falwell pinheads to constitute a siginificant chunk of his base. Not mentioning names here, but the initials are Ronald Reagan.
I don’t care in Romney is a Wiccan, a Druid, or an Episcopalian as long as he keeps it to himself. I don’t care if he wears ceremonial underpants as long as he doesn’t show them to us. I do care that he knows poop from polish about what makes the economy work, unlike the incumbent and his leftist vanguard.
Ideology functions exactly like religion. That is, it substitutes faith for facts. There is absolutely no evidence that Romney thinks like that. It is, in fact, his dogged pragamatism that the right wing most dislikes. This is why they are no better for the country than the left.
I am sick of right-wingers who “know” when human life begins, and of left wingers who “know” that government is the answer to all questions. Give me someone who recognizes uncertainty and proceeds with a degree of caution and restraint. That would be a positive change after 12 years of Mr. W and Mr. O.
Rob
January 4th, 2012
3:36 pm
All of you are dumb hippie liberals. She can say whatever she wants. If all of you are so tolerant to other religions and views, why not be tolerant to intolerant people?
Look before I leap...
January 4th, 2012
3:37 pm
@BillS 3:31P
I wonder if the system was overwhelmed with calls and emails of support or was she being bashed?
I’d like to think the latter, but here in Georgia, you just can’t se sure.
My email bounced back about 15 minutes ago.
Bob
January 4th, 2012
3:37 pm
Manning should have kept her mouth shut. But then, she is a politician.
chg
January 4th, 2012
3:39 pm
judy.manning@house.ga.gov
Spaghetti Monster
January 4th, 2012
3:40 pm
Rob,
No one here called for her censorship, just her condemnation. The right to free speech does not relieve one from the consequences.
As an elected official, she also bears more responsibility for her pronouncements because she implicitly speaks for her constituents.
jay
January 4th, 2012
3:41 pm
what an intolerant pos
Lisa
January 4th, 2012
3:42 pm
I think Judy needs to run some ads to convince me SHE is normal? or sane?
td
January 4th, 2012
3:43 pm
Spaghetti Monster
January 4th, 2012
3:40 pm
The only people she is accountable to are the ones that put her in office. They will decide if she deserves being condemned or congratulated. It is really not the business of the rest of us.
BenB
January 4th, 2012
3:44 pm
Mormon is better than a Baptist. And she backs the adultery guy who got fined $300,000
for an ethics violation, Why is her quote even in the news? We don’t need religion or a discussion of anyone’s religion in this election! Period.
td
January 4th, 2012
3:45 pm
jay
January 4th, 2012
3:41 pm
what an intolerant pos
Why because she believes something you do not?