Why Jewish voters might like Mitt Romney
Among Jews, on the other hand, Mormons ranked at the very top of the approval list—and Jews viewed Mormons more warmly than did any other respondents in the survey. For those who speculate that this positive attitude might connect with the fervent support for Israel by members of the LDS church, Putnam and Campbell point out that evangelical Christians similarly love Israel, but American Jews in no way love them back. Indeed, in their study, Jewish participants gave evangelicals an even lower rating than they gave to Muslims. For those who like to think of Jews as savvy and insightful about our self-interest, it’s tough to explain why we offer less approval to a faith community that overwhelmingly wants to support us than we do to a religious tradition that has spawned tens of millions of angry adherents who say openly that they want to kill us…
There’s also a special historical affinity between Jews and Mormons that may play a role in Romney’s relative popularity in the Jewish community. Joseph Smith, the prophet and founder of the LDS church, qualified as a committed “restorationist”—eager to facilitate the return of the Jews to their ancient homeland. In his fascinating book Power, Faith, and Fantasy [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00509CS7O/thedaibea-20]], Michael B. Oren, who is Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., writes of the first Mormon pilgrimage to Jerusalem. In 1841, Smith sent his “personal apostle” Orson Hyde to the ancient Jewish capital. “Climbing the Mount of Olives, Hyde erected an altar and beseeched God to ‘restore the kingdom unto Israel—raise up Jerusalem as its capital, and continue her people a distinct nation and government.’ Mormons would later integrate that prayer into their liturgy and, on the site of Hyde’s altar, build a branch of Brigham Young University.”
Blowback
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Mormon baptism of Jews?
Good luck with that one
liberal4life on April 7, 2012 at 6:29 PM
Because he’s rich?
/sarc…kinda
Good Solid B-Plus on April 7, 2012 at 6:31 PM
Could it be mitt actually likes Israel, unlike bho by his words and actions?
L
letget on April 7, 2012 at 6:33 PM
You need fresh material.
Del Dolemonte on April 7, 2012 at 6:34 PM
Interesting.
But I’m still trying to figure out why anyone would like him.
Just Sayin on April 7, 2012 at 6:35 PM
Michael, you’re missing the forest because you’re looking at trees.
Unlike the current office holder, he’s not a raging anti-Semite.
(Just to preempt all the trolls, what do you call someone who supports the destruction of Israel?)
ironbill on April 7, 2012 at 6:36 PM
Probably combination of Mormons being discriminated against and their savvy as a group in business/wall street.
IR-MN on April 7, 2012 at 6:38 PM
There you go Del.
bazil9 on April 7, 2012 at 6:42 PM
Medved has it right-Mormons religiously have a lot of affinities with Jews, while at the same time believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior. Our 10th article faith states that we believe in the literal gathering of Israel, and the restoration of the 10 tribes. We love the Jews as being part of the House of Israel. We believe that the Lord loves the House of Israel, and that all people can become part of the House of Israel, through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Mormons believe in the Old Testament as being as relevant as the New Testament. I don’t know if this helps at all, just a little Mormon doctrine moment for all y’all.
Kristamatic on April 7, 2012 at 6:51 PM
Anti-Mormon bigotry?
And I thought liberals were so tolerant, “celebrated diversity” and all…
Wethal on April 7, 2012 at 6:53 PM
No problem, just start with a sonogram.
cozmo on April 7, 2012 at 7:00 PM
Netanyahu was working at Bain Capital before he got involved in Israeli politics. How much Zionist conspiracy via Bain will we be hearing down the road?
galtani on April 7, 2012 at 7:04 PM
As for the Mormon baptism of Jews, I would be happy to try to explain this common talking point. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believe that everyone needs the ordinance of baptism in order to be saved. It would be a really unjust God that would condemn people who had never had the opportunity to be baptized. This is why Mormons have Temples. We believe, that in the temple, we can do vicarious baptisms for people who have already passed away. Vicariously=I can do a baptism for a member of my family that has died, and cannot do the ordinance for themselves. Members of my church look at this as a service that they can perform for another person, because we firmly believe in the after life, and feel that those people who we are doing the ordinance for can choose to accept the ordinance, or decline it. It is not in any way like we have baptized them against their will, as they retain their free will. It is a big job to try to baptize everyone in the whole world,who has ever lived, which is why Mormons are anxiously engaged in doing the geneology of their families to find ancestors who may need ordinances done. But we believe anything is possible, with God’s help.
Kristamatic on April 7, 2012 at 7:05 PM
Hey L4L! Prayers for the baptism of the aborted unborn. Part of the “war on women”?
Wethal on April 7, 2012 at 7:07 PM
Do you believe people will become ‘gods’ when they die?
liberal4life on April 7, 2012 at 7:08 PM
Did Jesus Christ have wives when he was on earth?
liberal4life on April 7, 2012 at 7:09 PM
I’m Jewish and went to high school in Salt Lake City. Every Mormon I know has standing permission to baptize me vicariously if they feel like it. I figure that if I’m wrong it’ll help, and if I’m right it won’t hurt, so bring it on. I’m frankly baffled by why it would upset anybody.
Fabozz on April 7, 2012 at 7:14 PM
L4L, I decline to get into a discussion you because I do not throw my pearls before trolls. If anyone else would like to respectfully discuss LDS doctrine, I’m going grocery shopping, but I will check the thread when I get home.
Kristamatic on April 7, 2012 at 7:15 PM
Do you believe in the First Amendment’s freedom of religion clause?
Wethal on April 7, 2012 at 7:17 PM
Fabozz, I find it to be true that when people of other faiths get to know us, they realize we are harmless and not super scary demon baby eaters, like some in the media like to portray us as. I think the media likes to demonize Mormons because we tend to be conservatives.
Kristamatic on April 7, 2012 at 7:17 PM
When Nobel prize winning economist and religious non-believer Milton Friedman was dying, Peter Robinson of NRO told Friedman that he hoped he wouldn’t be offended, but that Robinson was praying for him. Friedman graciously said “thank you for thinking of me.”
Wethal on April 7, 2012 at 7:20 PM
Because Mormons are a small minority. Jews will still break about 80-20 for Obama.
Smart.
ddrintn on April 7, 2012 at 7:23 PM
I thought that’s one of the reasons that Jews hate evangelicals: the idea that evangelicals only view Jews as abstractions to fulfill Biblical prophecies concerning Israel.
ddrintn on April 7, 2012 at 7:26 PM
Sadly, this is true, and I can’t even begin to offer you a rational explanation as to why. Fortunately, the Jewish vote is so tiny that it barely matters who we vote for.
Fabozz on April 7, 2012 at 7:30 PM
Not to mention that most of the states where we make up a decent chuck of the vote are going Dem no matter what, like NY and California.
Florida, and to a lesser extent Pennsylvania and Ohio, are where the Jewish vote can actually make a difference.
Good Solid B-Plus on April 7, 2012 at 7:33 PM
There is a really good Doc called “New York Doll” and the LDS church is featured in.
It really shows them in a great light and those of us with LDS friends already know a lot of it, but it would be good for the younger Gen to see and learn about what a great church it is.
boogaleesnots on April 7, 2012 at 7:34 PM
But are they the right height?
Stoic Patriot on April 7, 2012 at 7:38 PM
Someone who’s more popular with Jews than evangelicals are?
ddrintn on April 7, 2012 at 7:40 PM
^ I guess I should say “white evangelicals” I would imagine that Jews as a group are OK with black evangelicals. Or even black liberation theologians like Jeremiah Wright.
ddrintn on April 7, 2012 at 7:43 PM
Fabozz on April 7, 2012 at 7:14 PM
Perhaps this will be a partial explanation.
Unfortunate, but there it is…..
someone2 on April 7, 2012 at 7:45 PM
Inquisition? Isn’t that Catholicism?
ddrintn on April 7, 2012 at 7:49 PM
Don’t bet on it. Mitt doesn’t scare ‘em, and they know in their hearts that Barack is NOT a friend to Israel or the Jews.
Rational Thought on April 7, 2012 at 7:58 PM
At LEAST 70-30. I’d bet the farm.
ddrintn on April 7, 2012 at 7:59 PM
So how do evanglicals “scare ‘em”, by the way? The looming threat of a Baptist pogrom?
ddrintn on April 7, 2012 at 8:01 PM
liberal4life on April 7, 2012 at 6:29 PM
I’m Jewish and I don’t care.
If you don’t believe that it holds any power-then it doesn’t matter.
Mitt/Somebody 2012!
annoyinglittletwerp on April 7, 2012 at 8:06 PM
ddrintn on April 7, 2012 at 7:43 PM
Cradle conservative here. Not all Jews are idiot leftists(but I repeat myself).
annoyinglittletwerp on April 7, 2012 at 8:08 PM
@ ddrintn on April 7, 2012 at 7:49 PM
nope. Italy, circa 1848.
Nasty case.
someone2 on April 7, 2012 at 8:21 PM
I will never understand this. Any of our Jewish commenters care to shed some light?
Kataklysmic on April 7, 2012 at 8:22 PM
I will never understand this. Any of our Jewish commenters care to shed some light?
Kataklysmic on April 7, 2012 at 8:22 PM
I was born/raised Reformed Jewish conservative. My father used to say that leftist Jews had the ‘ghetto’ mentality. I see it as many Jews being leftists first-Jews second.
annoyinglittletwerp on April 7, 2012 at 8:26 PM
Interesting. I guess for many on the left, politics is enough of a religion that it supercedes religious heritage or worship of God.
Kataklysmic on April 7, 2012 at 8:45 PM
I don’t either and I’m not Jewish, but maybe more American Jews should spend more time in non-evangelical western Europe, where anti-Semitism is on the rise.
ddrintn on April 7, 2012 at 8:48 PM
You pretty much answered your own question.
lexhamfox on April 7, 2012 at 9:04 PM
Hmmm…I don’t see any answer there. The suggestion wouldn’t change the minds of Jews. They’d still pretty much (in general) hate American evangelicals with the intensity of a thousand suns, while rationalizing everyone from lefty anti-Semitism in Berlin to Muslim hatred of Jews in Tehran.
ddrintn on April 7, 2012 at 9:09 PM
*everything, not everyone
ddrintn on April 7, 2012 at 9:10 PM
Ahhhhhh….wait a second…you’re pulling out that hair-trigger anti-Semitism detector and thinking that I was saying “JEWS NEED TO GET OUTTA HERE!!!!!” Right? Wrong.
ddrintn on April 7, 2012 at 9:13 PM