I’m a committed, active Mormon. So, does that mean that I should vote for Mitt Romney? Does that mean I will?
I’ll give you a hint: the answers are “no” and “no.” Allow me to me explain…
A Political Pancake
When it comes to politics, if I know one thing it is this: no matter how hard you press the political pancake, there’s always two sides. Translation? There are pros and cons to every political situation and every candidate.
Barack Obama, for example, is a charismatic speaker that has broken down enormous racial barriers. In one election cycle, he brought a renewed sense of hope and forever changed how the world views America. I remember going to Ghana in 2010 and seeing hundreds of posters of Obama. Before that time, I had never considered how seeing an African American become president was inspiring to the African people.
But for all of his successes abroad, Obama’s domestic and economic policies are dismal. He has added trillions of dollars to our National debt, exacerbated political division, and tepidly leads through soft TV interviews with “Entertainment Tonight” and late night talk shows. On top of that, few would argue that ObamaCare is what they wanted, or hoped for.
Now for Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney is an exceptional candidate with an impressive resume. Through the company he started he’s made numerous businesses extremely successful. In 2002, he turned the Salt Lake City Olympics around, transforming scandal and bankruptcy into praise and prosperity. He delivered on many of his campaign promises as Governor of Massachusetts-a state where only 15% of the population is Republican-proving that he can work across the aisle. His track record alone suggests that he has what it takes to turn the tide of division into a drive towards economic prosperity.
Regardless of all of this, I am not a fan of Romney’s foreign policies. His blunders abroad (particularly in London) hint at his inexperience in dealing with foreign countries. Furthermore, the aggressive position he’s taken towards other countries is disheartening. I believe that Obama’s open hand towards the Middle East has done much to encourage the Arab Spring. A closed fist will only recreate cultural tension.
But Romney is a Mormon.
Yes, Romney is a Mormon. So what? Does that mean that I should vote for him? Nope.
Stephanie Meyer is a Mormon, does that mean I should read “Twilight”? Sick, no!
David Archuleta is a Mormon, does that mean I should buy all of his albums? No way!
Jef Holm is a Mormon, should I start watching “The Bachelorette”? Not a chance.
So when it comes to Mitt Romney, or any other political figure, I won’t vote for them based on what faith they profess, I will vote for them based on their character. As Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed to live in a nation where people were not “judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character,” we could easily replace the phrase “the color of their skin” with “their religious affiliation.”
So no, the fact that I’m a Mormon does not mean that I will vote for Mitt Romney. I’ll vote for him because of his amazing character and impressive accomplishments. And because I believe he can turn this country around.
