Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes. That said, sometimes Republicans indulge in a bit of overkill. Take one of Rick Santorum's backers from the priestly class (no really, take him, I don't want him). Rev. O'Neal Dozier of Florida wants Mitt Romney to renounce his "racist Mormon religion" before it makes the Republican party look like a "racist political party."
You're a bit late to that party, pal.
Dozier went on to "substantiate" his claim in the release, pulling verses from the Book of Mormon to show the church's so-called racial bias and history of discrimination. Dozier also sited several statements included in "Mormon Doctrine" by Bruce R. McConkie and the "Journal of Discourses" by former prophet Brigham Young, which the pastor says shows the racial bias of the church.
Interesting that they should choose to put substantiate in quotes, but oh well. As a skeptic, this sort of elementary exercise in
holy book research isn't news to me. And it's worth pointing out that the history of protestant xianity also includes some indulgence in the so-called "Curse of Ham." They
share a history of apologetics for slavery. But since the mormon church's history is more recent, preachers like Dozier apparently think it's more of a worry.
"(We) believe that a Romney Presidential nomination for the Republican Party would widen the racial divide to a point of no return, because the Republican Party would be viewed as a racist political party. Romney's nomination would cause the erroneous view that has long existed in the minds of black people, that the Republican Party is prejudice to become a reality."
And this is where I have to stop and just laugh. An
erroneous view?
Become a reality? Talk about recent history! If pastors like Dozier are worried about the history of the mormon church, worry
more about what the candidate you've endorsed has said during this presidential primary season. Oh, it's been
so long...let's go back to January 5th. Of this year.
Appearing on John King USA on Wednesday evening, Rick Santorum denied he said he didn’t want to make “black people’s lives better” during a pre-caucus campaign event Sunday in Sioux City, Iowa. “I’ve looked at that quote, in fact I looked at the video,” Santorum argued. “In fact, I’m pretty confident I didn’t say black. What I think — I started to say a word and then sort of changed and it sort of — blah — mumbled it and sort of changed my thought.”
One of Rick's deer in headlights moments, when he realized someone was probably recording him and he choked on his own prejudice. That was the best they could do, three days after the offensive remark, to come up with some BS explanation for conflating welfare recipients with black people. It's not as if that message was at all difficult to pick up on. And if that wasn't bad enough for an example, the upcoming primaries in some southern states has revealed where the 'Obama as secret muslim' idea has flourished. Among other things.
PPP asks Republicans in Alabama, "Do you think Barack Obama is a Christian or a Muslim, or are you not sure?" Guess how many say Christian? 14%! Among the remaining 86%, "Muslim" slightly leads "not sure," 45%-41%. ("Not sure" may by the demographic Rick Santorum is reaching out to when he accuses Obama of peddling a "phony theology.")
But the Alabama Republicans are a thoroughly trusting lot in comparison with their Mississippi brethren. Among Mississippi Republicans, just 12% say Christian, 52% say Muslim, and 36% aren't sure.
The article also reports most Republicans in those states do not "believe in evolution," as usual characterizing it as some article of faith analogous to organized religion, instead of a mountain of evidence in support of a well established theory. You know, a
theory. Like gravity is a
theory. Someone with a sense of bitter humor must have added those poll questions about evolution and interracial marriage.
So sorry to say, Rev. Dozier...your worries about the Republican racist political party are, to say the least, a day late and a dollar short. But by all means, wage your own religious war amongst yourselves. The rest of us will just have to busy ourselves with running the country, somewhere other than into the ground.