Mormons and the Republican Party

What was it that convinced me I needed a blog? It was this article in The Economist. From the article:

"Now that the Mormon former governor of Massachusetts has abandoned the race and endorsed John McCain, will the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints—an important voting-group in several states—follow his lead?...

Mormons took a beating during Mr Romney's run. In a Pew poll from December, a quarter of Americans and 36% of white evangelicals expressed reservations about voting for one. A study from Vanderbilt University concluded that conservative Christians cited unrelated concerns about Mr Romney to mask their discomfort with his faith...

Much depends on the Democratic nominee. Hillary Clinton is reviled; Mr Obama is not. Much also depends on Mr McCain's eventual running-mate. Many Mormons believe Mr Huckabee used Mr Romney's faith against him, as when the former Baptist minister asked a reporter “Don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?” If Mr Huckabee is on the Republican ticket, there could be a latter-day revolt."

I've fully understood why it was that Mormons (such as myself) always identified so stringently with the Republican Party. The only thing I could think of was for the sake of social conservative issues (abortion, etc). Now, I can't help but wonder if the "Mormon coalition" might show some signs of fracture.

A few weeks ago, my wife showed me a blog post by another LDS blogger who, after watching a Democratic debate, agreed with her father, also making the decision at the same time, that if Romney didn't get the nomination, she'd vote Obama. I was appalled, after reading DOZENS of her comments, that many of her LDS readers felt the same way. My guess is that this is the case for one or two reasons.

1 - People sailed their boats too close to the Sirens and got drawn in. Really, Obama is a terribly gifted public speaker who promises a lot of feel-good change. (I admit that once, out of frustration with Mr. Huckabee, I offhandedly said to Robyn that if he got the nomination, I'd vote for Obama. The song was pleasant, my friends, but I stayed tied to the mast.)

2 - People confuse the Savior's commandment to feed the poor, etc. with a mandate to force a lot of richer people than themselves to feed the poor.

The reason so many Latter-day Saints sway toward Obama nowadays is likely a mixture between 1 and 2. But what will be very interesting is how far that sway actually leans in November. If you combine 1 and 2 with a general conservative distrust of McCain and some skepticism, documented above, of church members toward the Republican Party, you have the beginnings of some surprises on election day. Like the author of the article, I don't suspect that Obama will take Utah, but I do think he'll make a stronger-than-historical showing there. Further, a solid showing by a Democrat in Utah might give some closet Utah liberals the confidence to finally admit the party with which they identify, which could precipitate a much larger political and idealogical shift in the state.

Now, do I still hold Barack in such high esteem? As an orator and inspirer? No doubt about it. As a politician? Not so much. Besides, he sits left of Hillary. I don't see how a conservative could vote for him in good conscience.

I won't. But I'll get into that later.