Crossing the Mormonism Rubicon

In the wake of Mitt Romney’s victories in Arizona and Michigan, it now seems more than likely that he will eventually capture the GOP nomination. When he does, he and the GOP will have to deal with the rising tide of anti-Mormonism, mostly from outside the party but from within it as well.

The media has suggested America is in the middle of a “Mormon moment,” highlighting the fact that there is a Mormon presidential candidate (there were two until Jon Huntsman dropped out), a critically acclaimed Broadway musical poking fun at Mormonism and a general discussion about Mormon theology and culture. But it is not all pleasant press.

Prominent commentators have ratcheted up the anti-Mormonism in recent weeks. Last month, Charles Blow of The New York Times tweeted, “Stick that in your magic underwear.” Salon’s editor, Joan Walsh, recently tweeted that “Romney’s saving the soul of America — so he doesn’t have to baptize us after we’re dead.” CNN’s Tricia Erickson said, “It is my opinion that an indoctrinated Mormon should never be elected as president of the United States of America.” Bill Maher stated, “By any standard, Mormonism is more ridiculous than any other religion.”

Mormonism presents a real political problem for Romney and the GOP. As Byron York explains:

Twenty-seven percent of Democrats say they wouldn’t vote for a Mormon, while 18 percent of Republicans say the same. For independents, the figure is 19 percent. …

Perhaps the most striking news in the Gallup survey is the durability of anti-Mormon bias. For more than 40 years, Gallup has asked a simple question: “If your party nominated a generally well-qualified person who happened to be a Mormon, would you vote for that person?” In the most recent survey, 76 percent of those polled said they would vote for the Mormon candidate, while 22 percent said they would not.

In 1967, when Gallup first asked the question, 75 percent said they would vote for a Mormon, while 17 percent said they wouldn’t. The results were practically the same as they are today.

Perhaps this is why critics of Florida Senator Marco Rubio have been trying to tie him to Mormonism. A recent article about Rubio’s Mormon childhood went viral and gave opponents an opportunity to question the viability of a Romney-Rubio ticket.

When Mitt Romney ran for Senate in 1994, his opponents quickly brought his religion into the race. His Republican challenger’s campaign manager called Romney a “rich white Mormon.” His Democratic opponent, the late Senator Ted Kennedy, famously focused on Romney’s leadership experience within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, both as a Mormon bishop and as a stake president.

Mormonism will certainly be an issue in the general election if Romney is the nominee. Liberals will focus on the supposed disproportionate power that Mormons hold in government, business and elsewhere. They will paint Mormonism as the “GE of religions,” as Newsweek’s Walter Kirn did in a recent article. It will be a protest marriage between Occupy Wall Street and religion, a particularly nauseating but possibly effective combination.

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