The Game Changer?

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

Well, it looks like Mitt Romney has been playing the "Selective Family Album" game and kinda/sorta/oppsies forgot to tell everyone he is 1/4 Mexican.

And just did why did Mitt's father flee Mexico for the safety of the US?

In his public life Mitt Romney has said and written little about his ancestors' history in Mexico.  In one oft-repeated quote he said his family left the U.S. for Mexico to escape persecution for their religious beliefs.

In fact, Romney's great grandfather, Miles Park Romney, led that first expedition to escape not persecution but prosecution for polygamy, or what Mormons called ‘plural marriage.’

Well, this is rather awkward, from a race standpoint. So we have the Southern US. There is a strong showing of rather simple minded voters who are Crusading Voters for Christ and All Other Things White™.

Who they going to vote for. Mitt the Mex? Barrak the Magic Negro?

Or maybe that white guy Gary Johnson, the only real social liberal/fiscal conservative in the race.

God DAMN I love Southern Idiocracy.

Question: Game changer? If Mitt embraces his SOTB roots, will this swing brown skins to his camp? WILL ANYONE DEMAND TO SEE HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE?

ETA: This just in! Cain demands to know more about this polygamy thing!

Comments

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

Emilio Estevez?

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

(TIC) I'm shocked that you would think that because you hadn't heard of it, it didn't happen)

Seriously, Jeff pointed out it did come out. I don't remember it either, but I was a Gullianni guy back in 08.

I didn't get all caught up in who and what Obama's father was, or the birther nonsense, and I really don't see the big deal.

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

His religion should have no bearing on how well he will do his job in public office.

SO WHY THE FUCK DOES EVERY POLITICIAN SMEAR JESUS BLOOD ALL OVER THEIR FACES AS THE REASON TO VOTE FOR THEM??

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

I think it's a stretch, the same way I thought most of the "generational" arguments against Obama were. But that's me. I do my best to try and consider the individual, what they are, in spite of or because of their background.

Family is ONLY fair game when they are used as candidate prop

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

Family is ONLY fair game when they are used as candidate props. If a candidate trots out his family for photo op's, they become part of the national conversation as well.

Otherwise, keep them at home.

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

As it should be ;)

[chessdev.livejournal.com]

Good point!

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

I think what you are seeing here is a lot of TAT for the other positions' TIT, generally neutralizing snark attacks by both sides.

Not so much the focus of what is 'really' important.

Because we all know what's REALLY REALLY important is proving that guy on the internet WRONG!

heh

[chessdev.livejournal.com]

He most certainly DID! 5 minutes ago...when desperately trying to grab the
Hispanic vote after a very close run-off.....

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Haha, it's like that Chris Rock routine about the girl friend that complains if you pay too little attention ("you don't love me anymore"), or complains if you give her too much attention ("would you please stop suffocating me, give me some room!") ;)

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

I am SO behind the times~

[peristaltor.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was being a bit hyperbolic. I was referring, though, not to how people view me, but how they view atheists and agnostics in general. The picture ain't pretty (http://www.religioustolerance.org/atheist8.htm):

In her book, "The Last Taboo," Author Wendy Kaminer referred to an unidentified survey published in the 1980's. It showed that almost 70% of Americans agreed that freedom of religion applies "to all religious groups, regardless of how extreme their ideas are." But only 26% agreed that Atheists should be given freedom of speech to ridicule religion and God, "no matter who might be offended." 71% believed that Atheists "who preach against God and religion" should not be permitted to rent or otherwise use civic auditoriums i.e. lecture halls supported by general taxation.

(I emphasized.)

And that was from a religious website after a quicky Googling.

I see this as an echo chamber effect. People gather together and discuss. Those who aren't in the gathering don't get a place at the discussion, and are therefore absent to defend their position when topics pertaining to them arise. The more people chat within their groups, the less dissenting voices even enter their worldview. This is how demonization starts, IMNSHO.

That's why I speak up, not to be a prick, but to represent views many have never considered. That's also why the current kerfuffle over the New Atheists is largely missing the point: Yes, they're vocal and abrasive, dismissive and the like. But their points need to be considered whether or not others feel they need to consider them.

[dreadfulpenny81.livejournal.com]

WRONG! The groups are endorsing it because they're more concerned about the censorship issue and want the information allegedly being censored to spread. Never said anything about groups not speaking out all together. Got it? Good!

[chessdev.livejournal.com]

Uh -- the comment was about *your* statements, as well as just general implicit consent...not about other groups.

[politikitty.livejournal.com]

Im really nervous about Romney making it to the general. It will be a test balloon about whether we liberals support civil liberties because they matter, or instead as Johnson said, because black voters will vote Democratic for the next five generations.

I know there are liberals who think you should use any political weakness available. But if we're willing to throw the political progress of electing JFK under the bus, we're doing it wrong.

(and being a quarter Hispanic, that opinion regarding immigration is very common. Despite a long Democratic history, theyre a pretty conservative demographic So it won't hurt even if it's hypocritical. Especially since he doesn't need to make significant inroads into the Hispanic community.)

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

Do you think anyone here buys your backpedaling and attempts at revision? We don't, no matter how loudly you shout or get antagonistic and rude.

[dreadfulpenny81.livejournal.com]

Frankly, I'm getting sick and tired of being told what I'm saying when I know exactly what I said and I meant it. If you don't like what I have to say, that's your business but I don't appreciate people making false assumptions or putting words in my mouth. I can speak for myself just fine and I think I've proved that. Thanks!

[chessdev.livejournal.com]

Are you worried that Liberals may not vote for Romney because they 'haven't given him a chance'? That's how I'm reading your first paragraph - and assuming I'm not mis-reading it, I dont think it's much of a concern.

Liberals arent going to vote for Romney precisely *because* they've been paying attention to the things he says AND the platform of the party he is trying to represent.


Concerning the Hispanic issue in your last sentence - I hope this voting cycle around, they'll remember the anger and pure xenophobia that came out of the GOP this time around.

[chessdev.livejournal.com]

AH -- ok, I just had it "click" about what you were saying about Romney.

I assume (now that my coffee is kicking in) you mean the GOP will lock-step vote
for a candidate no matter *who* it is? If so - then yeah, I'm worried too, which
was particularly why a field of so many candidates like THAT was both funny and
worrisome...

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

Hey guys, let's keep it light, OK?

:)

[politikitty.livejournal.com]

No, I'm worried they'll argue conservatives and independents shouldn't vote for Romney because of the religion issue. Campaigns bring out negative campaign ads and I've had friends who think Romney's religion should be exploited to depress his support.

That's what concerns me.

I also hope the Hispanic demographic continues to vote Democratic, but that doesn't change the fact that they're currently a pretty conservative demographic.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

That you didn't catch the stories initially does not mean they were "hidden."

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

Has there been any complaints about too many people escaping religious persecution or something?

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

And besides, it just shows where he stands in the Senate, not where he stands ideologically overall. But telemann thinks the CBO actually counts outputs and not only inputs, so the confusion is understandible.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

If it's "upholding the law" -- remember the family left to avoid prosecution,

Avoid persecution. Anti-Mormon laws - including anti-polygamy laws - were put in place to drive the Mormons out, period.

It's like saying that if the US passed a law banning the building of any more mosques and a state said "Muslims aren't allowed here," the fleeing Muslims would be fleeing prosecution? Really?