Obamary '08

Head over here for some great discussion.

There is obviously so much more to be said about this.

One thing that makes me laugh are the comments from people like Matthew who seem hung up on this idea that (and I'm paraphrasing here, but the message was clear) if a Mormon votes republican they are just sheep, following tradition. I wanted to respond to many of these issues but realized I did not want to start an attack or argue back and forth with any of these commenters. I merely wanted to express some feelings on these issues to get them off of my chest. So, here goes....



I think it's a foolish judgment to label republican Mormons as "uninformed". There are PLENTY of WELL-INFORMED, intelligent individuals on BOTH sides of the platform who are active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Just because YOU grew up "completely uninformed" does not mean the rest of the church did. (No matter WHERE they live.)

"But, concentrated groups of Mormons(i.e. Utah, Arizona, Idaho, California), have a tendency to feel righteous security in following their peers, politically, without thoroughly researching what they believe, politically, for themselves. This certainly applies to Dem AND Repub voters, ALL over the nation.

I grew up in an EXTREMELY liberal college town in the outskirts of LA county. Believe you me, I've known MANY groups of US citizens who felt "righteous security" in following their liberal peers. Maybe that's hard to believe if you happened to grow up in a conservative town?
Yes! There is plenty of diversity in the world, and (gasp) even in the church!!!


I found this quote to be absolutely LUDICROUS: "Hence I declare, don't hate me, good Christians and citizens of the world are..... secretly...... Democrats, if they really incorporate their core value system into civic life."

Ummm no... We have great Mormon leaders on BOTH sides of the platform. They are good Christians who really incorporate their core value system into civic life. Lets keep it that way. I find it disgusting when fellow church members try and pit themselves against their brothers and sisters based on what political party they affiliate themselves with. To declare that only Democrats incorporate their core value system into civic life is just inane. There are too many flaws in that ideology. You could debate back and forth on several issues. Each party supporting or coming in conflict with different core values that we share as church members.

I think Rep. Eni Faleomavaega, a nonvoting member of Congress from American Samoa, sums it up best in this quote: "I believe the LDS Church needs representation in both the Democratic and Republican parties. For too long there has been a misconception that LDS Democrats and Republicans do not share the same values. But this is not true. Our values are the same, but our political philosophies are different."


I ALMOST have nothing more to say on that. But then there is this little run down that had me, literally, laughing out loud.
"Christ's teachings parallel so many of our most pertinent issues we face today:
1. treating all people with equal respect and love(civil/gay rights)
2. peace before violence(world diplomacy)
3. loving thy neighbor as thyself (immigration, welfare, taxation)
4. humility(world involvement, not dominance) 5. feeding the poor(proportionate taxation) These are all Democratic ideals.

Ok, honestly? "Democratic ideals"??? Because someone who votes Republican does not have those ideals? Again, we have the same values, folks. It's HOW WE GET there that we differ in.

The Republicans lean in the opposite direction of the same Christian teachings:
1. treating all people with equal respect and love (denial of certain rights for certain citizens)
2. peace before violence(war without true cause, besides money and power)
3. loving thy neighbor as thyself (deportation of hopeful immigrants)
4. humility(strong handed dominance and superiority in the world community)
5. feeding the poor(economic tax system that makes the rich richer and the poor poorer) "

This sort of "democrats are more 'Christ-like' and Republicans are more 'evil' game is dangerous water to tread . ANYONE can skew politics to paint a picture in either direction.

Because treating all people with equal respect and love(civil/gay rights) equals making marriage for all people a constitutional 'right'? Since when is marriage a civil right?? You can have civil rights for ALL people without demanding recognition of gay marriage. Also, you can certainly treat all people with equal respect and love without promoting "gay rights".

I just had to chuckle at the people who commented with reasons why gay couples MUST have marriage rights to be fully protected under the law and have full civil rights. This is just not true. Any sob story that is told about great aunt so and so who could have lost their adopted child and blah, blah, blah is complete drivel. I don't mean to sound callous. The reason it is drivel is that there ARE ways for these adoptions and legal rights, etc., etc., etc., to be fully protected. They might have to be done in a different way. But you know what? That's what life is about. We are all different. "Equal" DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN "the same."

peace before violence(world diplomacy) Republicans are not peaceful people, they are always resolving things through violence. MMMmmmmhmmmm.. Don't EVEN get me started on the hate crimes my family endured for having a political sign in their yard that was in favor of a bill that would protect a value that we all share as Mormons. Heinous. Violent. There are SO many more accounts of these situations. On a personal level AND a worldwide level. 'Member Bosnia? People were being killed there... we used "violence" to help end that. What about the holocaust? I think about Mormon. Captain Moroni. Nephi. What do you do when others are being wronged and massacred? Hold hands and pray for peace? Or might it be possible that we occasionally have to FIGHT for peace as well?

Loving thy neighbor as thyself (immigration, welfare, taxation) Again, the assumption that "loving they neighbor" means that you must support the Democrat party? I have much more to say on this (scroll down if you wish to jump to that part)

4. humility(world involvement, not dominance) puh-hah! This makes me chuckle. Too short-sighted a comparison to even elaborate on. Christ taught humility, meaning we should not ever take an active stance to protect freedom around the world? wuh??? Freedom is GOOD. Why would we not help promote that for our brothers and sisters throughout the world????!

5. feeding the poor Do you HONESTLY believe that Democrats feed the poor and Republicans don't? I have a used car I'd like to sell you..... Also, see number 3.


The comment made by Nathan stressing that "Christ COMMANDED us to give", therefore, we must vote for a party that makes it the responsibility of government to do this?? The commandment is for US (the PEOPLE!) to do this. Dems and Repubs can keep this commandment and not share the view that it's the governments job to do it. Plus, they can both be temple worthy!!!!! Scary, isn't it? (snicker)


The basic difference between Democrats and Republicans is the issue of big government or small government. Generally speaking, democrats believe it is the governments job to take care of everyones social/welfare needs. This requires bigger government (which requires bigger taxes to pay the bigger government) to handle all of the things it "needs" to take care of. Republicans believe these issues are not the responsibility of the federal government. (Heartless, huh?) Keep the taxes lower, the government smaller. Private citizens are still free to reach out and care for social/welfare needs of those around them. Either individually, or by forming organizations, etc.

Again, you can paint a political picture to glorify either side. Paint with me now:



What about Satan's idea on how the plan of salvation should be carried out?? He had good intentions right? Following Satan would ensure that everyone would make it back. Oh, and all the glory to him, too.

So if you think that the government should be in charge of forcing everyone to give, then you are like Satan!!! We share the same plan of giving and caring for poor and needy. But Dems will make sure that EVERYONE gives and cares through their system. That way, everyone will be taken care of (and the Democrat party can also take the credit for it!).

Repubs believe that people need to use their own agency to follow the commandments of giving/caring for the poor and needy. Private citizens, organizations and religious bodies are allowed to continue these much more effective ways of caring for the poor and needy. We can use our agency to freely bless those around us who are in need. We are free to support churches and organizations who care for the poor and needy. We are free to get off our butts and care for the poor and needy ourselves, with God's help! We don't have to have our charitable good works orchestrated by the government!!!!

Dems equals satans plan.... Rebups equal plan of salvation!!!

See how I just did that??? I can spin the "democratic ideals" to compare them to SATAN! duh-duh-duh

(YES- the paragraphs above are SARCASM. Please don't bore me with ignorant comments trying to debate this ridiculous paragraph!!!)

My other favorite spin is when I'm told that the Democrat ideology is akin to the law of consecration. Uh, no, folks. Put simply, when MEN are carrying out a plan like this, it ends in tyranny and socialism run a muck. When the Lord is at the head it works. Never, in history, has a plan like that worked when run by men. If the prophet of the Lord is running the country (again, folks, Mitt does not count) then this works. However, he does not. Men run this country. There will always be corruption. No matter what party controls the executive office, the government is susceptible to corruption. Let's keep as much control out of the governments hands as possible. Let the people govern themselves and be judged accordingly!

If there is a debate to be had it should be on political ideology... not what party is more "righteous". I found the comments made by people who were annoyed by the "righteous republic" to be completely hypocritical in thinking that their political ideology is somehow more godlike than another!!


My point being, again, " Our values are the same, but our political philosophies are different."

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

and GOD BLESS MY RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH IN AMERICA!