Archive for the ‘Mormonism’ Category

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, left, meets with the Rev. Billy Graham, center, and his son Franklin Graham last week in Montreat, N.C. AP/ Evan Vucci

Evangelicals have been handed one more hint that it’s all right to vote for Mitt Romney, whose Mormon faith has long been considered beyond the pale of American Protestantism. From the Charlotte Observer:

This week, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association removed Mormonism from its list of religious cults.

The reclassification follows Romney’s visit to Graham’s mountain home last Thursday, a meeting that also included Graham’s son Franklin, who now runs the association for his 93-year-old father….

An article on the Graham website had classified Mormons, along with Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Unification Church, Unitarians, Spiritists and Scientologists, among others, as cults.

“Our primary focus at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has always been promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” Ken Barun, the …

Continue reading Billy Graham group removes Mormonism from list of cults »

TAMPA — From an Associated Press article advancing GOP presidential nominee’s acceptance speech, sometime around 10:30 p.m. this evening:

When the big moment comes, he’ll be standing in the Tampa Bay Times Forum on a stage that organizers rebuilt overnight. They replaced what had been a standard stage at the front of the hall with a section that pushes the podium toward the center of the floor, so Romney will physically stand among the crowd as he speaks.

“It brings him a little bit closer,” campaign manager Matt Rhoades said of the new arrangement.

Before Romney speaks, a parade of people from his past will take to the podium to walk through different phases of his life: his time running the private equity firm Bain Capital, his years running the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and his experiences as governor of Massachusetts.

Referred to inside the campaign as “character witnesses,” the speeches are designed to showcase the man who friends say inspires fierce …

Continue reading Tonight, Mitt Romney moves closer to his GOP base — literally »

Several years ago, there was a publishing house that failed to recognize the potential of a certain, young cross-cultural politician in Illinois.

The rights to “Dreams from My Father” were sold to another imprint for pocket change. Once Barack Obama decided to run for president, someone made a lot of money.

But it wasn’t the company that paid Obama to write his autobiography.

Now, another cross-cultural politician has written another memoir. This time, the publisher knows a long-term investment when it sees one. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., arrived in Gwinnett County for his book-signing last week with a team of roadies and his own bus, with his face plastered on the side.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio signs books at Discovery Mills in Gwinnett County on Thursday. Marcelo Wheelock, Mundo Hispanico/ Marcelo.Wheelock@mundohispanico.com

And this is a man who’s only getting mentions for vice president?

But seriously, it was significant that, on Thursday, while Louisiana Gov. Bobby …

Continue reading Don’t bet the farm on Marco Rubio as Mitt Romney’s running mate »

If you’re in Gwinnett County at lunch time, think about popping in on U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R- Fla.,who has a noon book-signing at Books-A-Million in Lawrenceville. GeorgiaPundit.com has helpfully linked to a map.

In this April 23 photo Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, campaigns with Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in Aston, Pa. AP/Jae C. Hong

Do not expect him to enlighten you on the vice presidential selection process as he signs “An American Son,” (Penguin Books, $26.95) In an interview this week, the Florida senator said he’s sworn off such talk. He’s also attempting to tread a very careful line on illegal immigration.

But religion is one surprising topic that Rubio, the son of Cuban emigres, is willing to discuss. His publicist encourages it, in fact.

Like many other immigrant families before them, the Rubios sampled the American cafeteria, moving from Catholicism to Mormonism to Catholicism to Southern Baptist – and back to …

Continue reading Your morning jolt: Marco Rubio on his brush with Mormonism »