Mitt Romney: You are a bad Mormon

I just heard the Mitt Romney consession speech.  And as a Mormon, I am incredibly offended.

We are taught from youth to "do what Jesus would do".  That when you are in the service of your fellow man, you are only in the service of your God (as taught by the Book of Mormon).  The words of Jesus that even as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my bretheren, ye have done it unto me.

Instead, Romney's campaign ending speech was full of hate.  That those who are poor should suffer - it's they're own damn fault for being such lazy sots.  Ignoring again the words of King Benjamen:

16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

17 Perhaps thou shalt say: the man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and I will not give unto him of my food, nor impoart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just-

18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he had done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

(Mosiah 4:16-18, Book of Mormon)

Romney's last speech in his campaign was against the evils of Liberalism, and how it would expand Medicare, Medicaid, and the ways we try to help the needy, those who either can not provide for themselves (single mothers, those with ailments), or can not do so because of a lost job or other reasons.  He talked about how countries that do well do so because of their culture, while ignoring that in places like Canada, Britain, France, and the like have health care and systems to provide aid to all who need it - and enjoy a higher standard of living than in the United States, were we allow *millions* to go without health care.

He spoke about the need to continue the War on Terror, and peddled fear.  Ignoring that perhaps we have caused our own oil dependency, and blamed it on Chavez and Putin and others - and his solution?  Well, use coal!  After all, going from one dependency to the next doesn't fix the problem.  Changing the structure of our cities so more people can use public transportation (oh, noes, teh evil - public works!) actually does.  I saw it in Utah, the most conservative state, embrace public transportation - and the entire state benefited.

Romney spoke about protecting marriage and stopping the evils of pornography.  Ignoring the 11th Article of Faith, given by the Prophet Joseph Smith to explain our beliefs to the world:

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almight God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may

Instead, Romney would force his religious beliefs upon others in the name of "protecting marriage", once again scapegoating someone else (teh gays, oh noes!) instead of having people look and decide for themselves what they will believe and worship - or not.

It's ironic - in part of his talk me mentioned how we have never taken land as part of our wars.  Well, other than Texas, and the mid-west I guess, if you don't know your history.  But then to blatantly ignore Iraq, and how we *have* claimed land, and property, and oil, and businesses, and forced the new Iraqi government so sign contracts that gave away their resources to US companies.  Yeah, we didn't take land for ourselves during the 20th Century - instead, we waited until the 21st and used the War on Terror to justify taking what we wanted from a country that had never attacked us.

So I'm sorry - but if his speech is the center of Conservative ideals, then I'm proud to be a Liberal.  I'm proud not to demonizing people for their beliefs.  I'm proud to let people believe how they will.  I'm proud to be willing to give up some of my income - even with three children to support - to help those in need.

And if Mitt Romney is going to speak out against those ideals, then yes, I believe he speaks against the faith he and I profess to believe in.  And I am ashamed to have him count him as a fellow member.

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