Polls: 80% say they’d vote for a Mormon — but only 45% say most people they know would
posted at 11:28 am on December 11, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Very curious. From Gallup:
And from yesterday’s Times poll:
In other words, bias against Mormons is real — but it’s nowhere near as prevalent as people think it is. Just look at the spread as of June, before the sharp uptick in the Times poll. It’s an almost 50-point swing between people’s willingness to vote for a Mormon and their confidence in whether others are similarly willing. Any other explanation here besides the media blowing the Mormon issue out of all proportion?
It’s a testament to Mitt, of course, that the public’s willingness to vote for a Mormon has increased as they’ve become more exposed to him.
Exit question: Say, who’s at the bottom of the pile?
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Poor atheists.
Vizzini on December 11, 2007 at 11:31 AM
Man, Pete Stark is going to have a tough time.
sweeper on December 11, 2007 at 11:32 AM
YOU’RE ALL BIGOTS.
Allahpundit on December 11, 2007 at 11:33 AM
I thought the point of questioning people about what they think others believe was to enable the respondent to reveal his own prejudices without attribution or retribution.
JiangxiDad on December 11, 2007 at 11:33 AM
HAHAHAHAHA!
That made my day!
nailinmyeye on December 11, 2007 at 11:41 AM
Nope just 48% of us.
sweeper on December 11, 2007 at 11:43 AM
I’d probably vote for Allahpundit.
I sure as hell wouldn’t vote for those jerks who put up the “Imagine no religion” sign with the WTC in the foreground, or the ones in Wisconsin fighting for the “Holiday Tree.”
nailinmyeye on December 11, 2007 at 11:43 AM
If Christians swear in on a Bible, Jews on a Torah, and Muslims on the Koran… what would an atheist hold his hand on when taking office? It would look akward seeing them just hold their hand out in the air, and no one likes akward moments like that.
Besides, we all suspect that athiests have some kind of secret nefarious gatherings involving squirrel sacrifice, funny robes and Newcastle and we don’t want that kind of thing in the White House.
Hollowpoint on December 11, 2007 at 11:45 AM
How did an atheist rank so high?
By my calculations a homosexual atheist would be acceptable at 102%…but 99% unacceptable, a 3% spread. Greater then most elections are won or lost by.
How’s my statistical math…(although if still alive, Sammie Davis Jr. would be a shoe in)
right2bright on December 11, 2007 at 11:45 AM
I think that manlove for Hitchens improves your electability AP. :)
Free Constitution on December 11, 2007 at 11:46 AM
Ha! Hey, I’d vote for you, but you’d be the first president whose face no one has seen. :)
amerpundit on December 11, 2007 at 11:46 AM
All I know is it seems like it’s about time to go full steam ahead for Romney so we can knock Huckabee down… The Dems/media want him for the same reason many of us want Hillary… defeatability. I said it the other day, and it’s kind of stealing from a running Conan joke about no name-type candidates, and it’s not my reason for not supporting him, but I’m sorry, there will never be a “President Huckabee”.
Huckabee needs to be stopped or we’re dead in the water. Sadly, the media is still going to keep hyping the hell out of him.
RightWinged on December 11, 2007 at 11:46 AM
So, does that mean they’re saying, “Well, personally, I’d vote for a Mormon, but I don’t think many others would…”
Sounds like covering your @ss so as not to sound bigotted, right before you go out and vote for anyone but a Mormon.
Frozen Tex on December 11, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Here sits the Unknown President, governing the country and Commanding our armed forces in Blog form.
Frozen Tex on December 11, 2007 at 11:49 AM
OK, so as an atheist I start 48 points in the hole; however, I’m not Catholic, black, Jewish, female, Hispanic, Mormon, or gay, so I’m gonna go ahead and add back 97 points, m’kay?
That takes me to plus 49.
So vote for me.
saint kansas on December 11, 2007 at 11:51 AM
That represents trading one big government, naive on foriegn policy RINO for another. No thanks.
Hollowpoint on December 11, 2007 at 11:53 AM
‘High profile’ athiests appear to be giving ‘high values’ athiests a bad rap.
captivated_dem on December 11, 2007 at 11:55 AM
So, basically, an improvement…
amerpundit on December 11, 2007 at 11:56 AM
“If Christians swear in on a Bible, Jews on a Torah, and Muslims on the Koran… what would an atheist hold his hand on when taking office?”
Simple, Hollowpoint-a mirror.
Imagine me smiling.
Doug on December 11, 2007 at 11:56 AM
I thought the “what would my neighbor do” question was how pollsters get past the socially correct answer to how people would really act. Doesn’t that mean that only 40% of people would actually vote for a Mormon?
TexasDan on December 11, 2007 at 11:56 AM
I’m not digging Romney too much because of his immigration flips, and I’m a slight touch leery of his religion (have heard a lot that its more a cult than religion, but I admit to not knowing enough to make an informed decision). BUT, what’s most important is that one of our guys gets in and not a Dem. So, I’ll take the CHANCE that he’ll follow through on his new tough immigration talk versus a sure amnesty if a Dem gets in. There are things more important.
Though I’m not too sure I could say the same about Huck or McCain. But again, aren’t even they better than Shrillery or Hussein or Silky?
Darksean on December 11, 2007 at 11:58 AM
Has Romney come out and said that it would be OK for an atheist to be president or is he sticking by his stance that it has to be a person of faith?
bnelson44 on December 11, 2007 at 12:02 PM
Much of what the LDS believe is here:
http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,11-1-13-1,00.html
bnelson44 on December 11, 2007 at 12:05 PM
I e-mailed his campaign spokesman about it a few days ago. Reply:
“Governor Romney’s speech was about his views on religious liberty, our country’s grand tradition of religious tolerance and how faith would inform his Presidency. Governor Romney believes that all Americans make valuable contributions to the future of our country.”
Allahpundit on December 11, 2007 at 12:07 PM
And how surprised would we all be when Allahpundit emerged as the first black, homosexual, atheist woman to ever be elected POTUS!
Zetterson on December 11, 2007 at 12:10 PM
What do you take that to mean?
bnelson44 on December 11, 2007 at 12:12 PM
Nothing. They’re totally ducking the question by claiming, essentially, that they’re only talking about freedom of religious conscience, not freedom of conscience generally.
Allahpundit on December 11, 2007 at 12:13 PM
I don’t think Romney would ban atheism, AP.
packsoldier on December 11, 2007 at 12:16 PM
Bingo. Some serious bias against Mormons showing up in this poll. You can find lots of studies about how to detect this “hidden bias”. We tend to overlook our own biases, but are surprisingly adroit at finding them in our own peers.
RW Wacko on December 11, 2007 at 12:17 PM
I would have guessed a homosexual would be at the bottom. It’s possible people like Christopher “God Is Not Great” Hitchens haven’t done much good PR for atheists, at least not the good PR that Mitt has done for Mormons.
These things should be taken into account with the poll, Allah. The prominent atheists these days have made their opinions on religion very clear, so much so that it’s likely believers are worried about losing religious freedoms.
Esthier on December 11, 2007 at 12:18 PM
Maybe the respondents are answering the question more honestly and “projecting” when they answer the question about people they know, whereas they are reluctant to admit to a pollster that they themselves wouldn’t vote for someone because of their religion.
I’m not sure this is good news for Mitt.
DaveS on December 11, 2007 at 12:19 PM
They should have just lied, and said, sure, dude, it would be okay. Instead, they have one pissed off blogger on their hands. Really, though, its the law of diminishing returns. He’s already milked the social cons for all he can. Now he’s actually gonna start costing himself votes if he isn’t careful. Has to chap his hide that most of the social cons are abandoning him for the resident lib in the race, Sir Huckleberry.
RW Wacko on December 11, 2007 at 12:19 PM
The poll just shows that Americans are uncomfortable at OPENLY showing their bias against Mormons, Jews, etc. But they don’t have that problem with those who are living in sin, meaning gays and nonbelievers. Wish they would ask about beer-guzzling porn fans, so I know where I stand in the grand pecking order.
RW Wacko on December 11, 2007 at 12:23 PM
But isn’t what he was talking about? Religious freedom had a lot to do with this country’s founding. People then were free to not believe if they chose to, but people weren’t free to believe in a different idea about the same religion.
Esthier on December 11, 2007 at 12:27 PM
So, you’re saying you’d rather have President Hillary? I’m not saying I’m some Romney fan, but the point Huckabee doesn’t stand a chance in a general election. RINO or not, this is an anyone but Hillary election. Sorry, but that’s the way it is.
RightWinged on December 11, 2007 at 12:37 PM
This is so deep in the weeds it means nothing. I wish everyone would read any poll with some scepticism instead of reading the poll and running around and saying oh boy did you read this poll.
KBird on December 11, 2007 at 12:59 PM
I’m saying that after watching the way the Republicans in Congress and the White House have performed lately, “none of the above” is looking more and more attractive the way things are shaping up.
The “anyone but the Democrat” philosophy is what got us the politicians that made the mess we have now. I’m fed up with fighting my own side and am thus much less willing to compromise by voting “anyone” than in past elections.
Roughly half of eligible voters in a typical Presidential election don’t vote. I’ve voted in every one since I was 18 years old, but don’t really have a problem joining them this time if we can’t nominate a candidate with a reasonably conservative record.
Hollowpoint on December 11, 2007 at 1:44 PM
Yes. Everyone thinks they’re superior to those around them: More intelligent, more moral, more tolerant. It doesn’t necessarily mean that these are hidden significant prejudices of their own, just that they perceive these prejudices as being more significant in others than in themselves. It’s why Kerry won the Democratic nomination in a landslide even though he was the least likeable candidate. Voters assumed their neighbors wouldn’t vote for Dean or Edwards, so they voted for the “most electable” candidate. I guess we’ll see whether Republicans fall into the same trap this time around.
calbear on December 11, 2007 at 1:58 PM
One less chiseling job on Mt. Rushmore – saving the environment, while still having a great president. Even Nobel winner Mr. Albert Gore woud approve.
Entelechy on December 11, 2007 at 2:13 PM
So again, you’re on the record as saying you’d rather have President Hillary Clinton, and that you’ll essentially be voting for her.
RightWinged on December 11, 2007 at 2:52 PM
Yea well, that’s nice. UNFORTUNATELY, a faith in “god” who used to be a man like we are who attained his “god” moniker by being a good Mormon…and a faith in a “jesus” who was born Lucifer’s brother, has NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO WITH THE REAL GOSPEL MESSAGE OF THE GOD OF THE BIBLE, NOTHING to do with the God of the Bible, and NOTHING to do with the Jesus Christ who actually died in our place.
No, it was NOT some brother of the devil sent by a god that used to be a mere man that died on that Cross. And no,Mormonism has NOTHING to do with Christianity other than that it has taken the names of persons of which the Bible speaks, and changed them into other people in order to revolve a false religion around them.
Would any redeemed by the blood of the REAL Jesus Christ vote for a Mormon? How do you pull the lever for a person following a false religion, a person that is, according to the Bible, spiritually dead to the God and obviously brainwashed into following a religion of lies while the truth of God’s Word(the REAL God of the Bible) is hidden from them.
The actual sad fact is that we are seeing everything that stands against the real God of the Bible coming “out” in these days, the rise in American atheism, the rise of pro homosexuals and their lackeys, and now even the Mormons are seemingly “out”, all trying to do the exact same thing…make what they WANT to do and believe “normal” rather than what it truly is…perhaps man really is “waxing worse and worse” and the end times of which the Bible speaks is just a tiny bit closer than we think.
NRA4Freedom on December 11, 2007 at 2:59 PM
I’d vote for Mitt in a heartbeat.
davenp35 on December 11, 2007 at 3:40 PM
And I said that exactly where? If I’d rather have Hillary as President, I’d vote for her. I won’t.
A vote for nobody is just that- a vote for neither candidate. The Republican candidate doesn’t automatically deserve my vote, especially if they haven’t earned it.
Hollowpoint on December 11, 2007 at 3:58 PM
Sorry, but the times we live in are too important. I’m not being a dick, but I am being realistic… If you choose to do the “principled thing” and not vote because the GOP candidate isn’t conservative enough, you might as well be voting for Hillary, because you are actively assisting her. People need to look at where the country could be after 4-8 years of Hillary. Do you think we can recover from that very easily, if at all? Look at how the number the media has done on the Republican Party, forcing them to be the pu$$ies they are on a lot of issues… do you think it will get any better once they control everything.
Again, you can deny it all you want and think you’re sending someone a message by not voting… but all you’re doing is voting for Hillary.
RightWinged on December 11, 2007 at 4:43 PM
Let me put this in simple terms:
Voting for Hillary = Voting for Hillary
Not voting for Hillary = Not voting for Hillary
Me no want Hillary.
Me no want Rudy.
Me no want Mitt.
Me no want Huckster.
Me not vote for Hillary, Rudy, Mitt or Huckster.
Am I to believe that all 40%-50% of eligible voters who won’t be voting are all voting for Hillary? Nonsense.
Hollowpoint on December 11, 2007 at 5:04 PM
Looking at that last poll result, I wish I was gay.
That doesn’t make me gay, does it?
Enrique on December 11, 2007 at 6:22 PM
So, you’re saying you’d rather have President Hillary?
RightWinged on December 11, 2007 at 12:37 PM
I would. I’ll tell you why.
If Hilary’s elected, the Left will get what it wants from her and give her a pass when events on the ground force her to be hawkish. Plus, we can criticize her for the former.
If Huck’s elected, the Left will get what it wants from him but give him hell when events on the ground force him to be hawkish. Plus, we’ll be expected to defend him.
Who do I support? Mitt & Fred. If Huck’s nominated, I will not vote for him. Won’t vote for Hilary; I’ll either abstain or vote third-party protest.
Tzetzes on December 11, 2007 at 6:42 PM
NRA4,
So now you’re equating Mormons with
militant homosexuals and Godless atheists. Nice.
I’d vote for a Mormon, a homosexual or an atheist as long as they upheld the Constitution and my first amendment rights to practice my religion and talk about it.
Where do you get off putting yourself in God’s place and determining who is and who isn’t a Christian? Also, where do you get off telling anyone anything about Mormonism when you haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.
You deserve Huck and his touchy-feely nanny stateism. Better start eating some big macs, because Huck and the Dems will ban them. I can’t wait for Huck to give the Iranians a big hug too, because that’s all they need to change their minds about wiping us and Israel out.
drflykilla on December 11, 2007 at 7:17 PM
How anyone missed this nugget of laughter, I’ll never know…
Actually, I think he just meant that if you are a voter who stayed home instead of voting, then Hillary by default does not a have your vote AGAINST her. I could be wrong, but maybe that’s where he was going?
Califemme on December 11, 2007 at 8:23 PM
You can say that all day long, but if you did vote your vote would cancel out a vote for Hillary… if you don’t vote, that’s one more vote she has over the GOP nominee. Get it? So a “non-vote” is a vote for Hillary. Again, I don’t like it either, but that’s just the way it is. Even I’ll vote for whoever the GOP candidate is, and for me it really doesn’t matter at all, because I live in Vermont. We’re easily the most liberal state in the country and I can’t even see a day when we would vote for a Republican president… sad too, because my grandfather transferred up here to head up the VT’s division of the FBI in the 50s and it was a conservative state, but it’s gone downhill since the 70s and only gets worse by the day. Whether it’s civil unions, secession movements, probation for child rapists, highest taxes per capita in the nation, HOWARD DEAN, Burlington mayor openly stating that he wanted (though failed) to make Burlington a sanctuary city, Truthers gone wild, daily anti-war protests on Church St., etc. This is moonbat heaven… Still, I’ll vote.
So, if your state doesn’t have the potential to go either way, I probably wouldn’t care if you didn’t vote Hollowpoint… But if you’re somewhere like Ohio or Florida, etc. where each vote matters, I think if you really don’t want Hillary, you owe it to yourself and the country to vote for anyone but her. Just my opinion. As bad as our choices are, I find it hard to envision a comeback from a Hillary presidency. Just look at how the media has controlled what we think about things while the GOP was in power. Again, once they take it, how do you think we’ll get it back?
RightWinged on December 11, 2007 at 9:07 PM
People tend to think of themselves as more reasonable than their neighbors. Maybe they will go into the voting booth thinking that it’s time to prove it. This can only be good news for Mitt.
WasatchMan on December 11, 2007 at 10:14 PM
“Equating” has nothing to do with it. I am just observing the obvious.
It’s a free Country, vote for whoever you want to! For me, voting for a follower of an all too obviously false religion just isn’t going to happen, sorry.
Considering that the Bible is God’s word, and considering that God clearly defines within its pages what constitutes Christianity, and considering that Mormonism doesn’t even begin to align itself with the truth contained in the Bible, no one needs “put themselves in God’s place” to determine anything of the kind…all one need do is compare the lies of Mormonism to what God says is the truth in the Bible, and Mormonism far too easily fails the test.
Furthermore, someone saying that they put their faith in “jesus christ” doesn’t mean a whole lot when the “jesus christ” that they are speaking of is most obviously NOT the same Jesus Christ of which the Bible speaks.
I may have actually forgotten more about Mormonism than you quite possibly know, but regardless of that, considering that I am not one of the dead to God spiritually blind people sitting around believing all sorts of silly non Biblical nonsense instead of what God actually says in His word, I am thinking that it just may actually be you who is clueless in all this. Either way, either prove me clueless or stow it, because calling me that without proving it just makes you look silly.
I am pretty certain that we don’t need to worry about Israel, since God already tells us what is going to happen over there. And, what makes you think you won’t be saying “President Hillary Clinton” next year at this time anyway…
NRA4Freedom on December 11, 2007 at 10:43 PM
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