Last Monday, during a debate with author Christopher Hitchens, the typically unhinged Al Sharpton said, “As for the one Mormon running for office, those that really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don't worry about that; that's a temporary…situation.”
Mitt Romney wasn't pleased but, as you might guess, responded to the comment with class, forgiveness, and without pointing out that “anyways” isn't a word. A sharp (no pun intended) contrast to Big Al's response to Don Imus' inane comments a few weeks back.
Later, overrun by negative publicity, Sharpton “apologized.” Which consisted of about 17 minutes of Sharpton denying that he ever said anything offensive and that those who were offended had misconstrued, misunderstood, twisted his words, and taken them out of context. You see, when Sharpton spoke of “the one Mormon running for office” he was not speaking of Mitt Romney. He was contrasting himself with atheist Christopher Hitchens.
When that bit of spin induced nausea, he changed his story. “What I said was that we would defeat him [Romney], meaning as a Republican.”
At least he didn't say that we'd defeat him, meaning as a Democrat.
And if you don't follow that, you're an evil, bigoted, hate-mongering snivel.
Chauffeuring (I'll have you know, I spelled that right the very first try) my kids around today, thinking this story had run its course, I flip on the Sean Hannity show. And what do I hear? I hear Hannity going to the wall for the Mormons. It almost brings tears to my eyes…except that I'm driving an 800 ton SUV packed with kids and that's best done with clear vision. Here's a sampling of what nearly left me driving into the swale off State Road 73:
It [Utah] is a community that is rooted in its deeply held religious faith. And there's a very large percentage of LDS Latter-day Saints in the community. I have many of my closest friends that are Mormons that are LDS and I have found them to be, without exception, people dedicated to service, patriotism, family, God, faith, country.
You can see a discernible difference in a community that is rooted in the foundation where God is put first. I may have some minor religious differences, but the Bible tells us, “By their fruits, you shall know them.” And you can seen a discernible difference, it is an incredible community. I've got to tell you, my impressions of them are nothing but a thousand percent positive, of the people that I have had the great honor of meeting over the years.
Here's to Sean Hannity; loyal friend to the Mormon people.
This was a great read. Thanks for sharing. I particularly appreciate a positive about Sean Hannity, since I often hear such criticism.
All I could think of while I was reading that was, “Boy, I sure hope that I can live up to that!” I know that, sadly, I have not always been a lighthouse for the Gopsel. I hope I am changing for the better now, and that others that know me would be able to say these things about our religion based on my example. Very nice!
Thanks for letting us know what Sean Hannity said. That kind of loyalty is really heartwarming, and so refreshing. He certainly could have stayed out of the whole thing and no one would have said a word. Glenn Beck had a few words directly with Mr. Sharpton, and he did a great job, but since he is LDS that was more expected.
Welcome, JustRandi! Can you give us an idea of what Beck said? I couldn’t find anything on his sight about it.
That’s so nice to have someone give us good media for once. I think I like Romney. Is he related to Marion?
The main problem I have with Romney is the feeling I get of his character, both from people who have worked with and around him and from his behavior in the campaign so far. He doesn’t seem sincere in his beliefs. It feels in some ways like he freely uses the Mormon card where it does him good, and just as freely drops it when it doesn’t.
I’m beginning to realize that I hold politicians to way too high of a standard.
If I remember correctly, Mitt is Marion’s grandson.
Wow. Not too many people will go that far for Mormons in public.
Silver, I have a couple of associates who have worked with Romney and they had nothing but good to say. Thought he was a good guy with lost of integrity. One talked about him often doing things that weren’t good for him personally but were right anyway. What do you think he’s insincere about? Being a Mormon has always been a liability in most cases and I’ve never seen him hide it.
great words. thanks to mr hannity.
Glenn Beck had Mr Sharpton on and told him for about 20 minutes how personally offended he was. They went back and forth, but Sharpton was noticably uncomfortable most of the time. I want to like the guy(Sharpton). Sometimes I see him and I think he is sincere in his goals and “can’t we all just get along?” , but I’m afraid this one has done me in. He came off as really weasely. Sheesh.
You can read the transcript here http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0705/11/gb.01.html (scroll about halfway down) and they are rebroadcasting the show on Sunday at 7pm et
JustRandi, I don’t think I’ve ever ever ever heard Sharpton say he wanted people to “get along.”
Oregonian – it’s not that he hides it, but that he utilizes it when it’s convenient for him. As I’ve said, it’s just rumor, but the impressions I’ve gotten about him when he speaks have done nothing to dispel that feeling.
I’ve heard Romney make lots of references to his religion. How much is he supposed to say?
You’re right – CamBendy – – I shouldn’t have used the quotes as I have never heard him say those words.
The last few times I have seen Sharpton interviewed, he has seemed to me to be a softer version of the radical civil rights leader he once wanted to be, as if he actually wanted to try to understand another position, rather than just attack it. Just look in that transcript noted above and you will see him say things like:
“I think that it is something that we need to do in this country, is talk more — talk to each other more.”
and
“I would like to talk this out…”
I wondered at the time if he was sincere, or just trying to temper his image.
Sharpton displayed a number of odd, egotistical things in this episode. Three stood out:
(1) He impugned the LDS church. The Church wasn’t involved at all. Instead of apologizing initially, when called on his statement, he said he wanted to “dialogue” about the matter with church leaders. There’s nothing to chat about, here.
(2) Rather than do the right thing, which was to call Romney and apologize, he called Romney to tell him that he would call the next day to apologize. Nothing more than PR.
(3) After he said he was going to apologize to Romney (apparently at a later time when the press could fully cover it), he vilified Romney for, supposedly, trying to make political points over the matter.
Sharpton, along with Jessie Jackson, love to hang the “Reverend” moniker around their necks for display, but I have yet to ever hear what principles or values they stand for.
At first I was all puffed up on the issue too, but then I wondered if maybe he really didn’t know we believe in God? I am trying to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, because I have family members who really don’t know we believe in God, they think we believe in Mormon 🙂 But I still don’t think regardless of his knowledge on the matter, that he should have voiced it in such a situation. It is not p.c., and when you are in politics being p.c. should be quite the top priority.
What does bug me about the guy is that I know he has called and talked with Elders Eyring and Nelson, and apologized and is palnning a face to face apology and meeting with church leaders and yet yesterday I watched him on some show, not beck or hannity another one of those kind though, and he was defending his statements. So it is quite two faced to apologize to our leaders but then keep on defending yourself on the remark? I just don’t get it. But he did end with ” I know the Mormons believe in God” so yeah…
I don’t really believe that a guy whose living is made in the politics of religion (or the religion of politics?) is really that ignorant of what Mormons believe. He’s a Pentacostal and has probably preached the “cult of Mormonism” from the pulpit hundreds of times. Meaning that he knows what we believe and he also knows what to tell his congregation that we believe in order to keep them turned off to us. I’d be shocked if he hasn’t shown The Godmakers a handful of times as part of a “worship” service.
But, going along with your idea, if he really doesn’t know what we believe, what business does he have making claims about it?