What Romney’s Osama-Obama Fuss tells of his Mormon Hypocrisy
By Amin George Forji
In what appeared to be a well intended joke, GOP presidential candidate, Mitt Romney surprised his audience by confusing fellow Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama with Osama bin Laden.
“I think that is a position which is not consistent with the fact,” Romney joked. “Actually, just look at what Osam — uh — Barack Obama, said just yesterday. Barack Obama calling on radicals, jihadists of all different types, to come together in Iraq. That is the battlefield. That is the central place, he said. Come join us under one banner.”
In fact, Romney twice repeated the commotion, and at least three people are said to have left the room at once, apparently in protest of indecency on the part of a presidential candidate. So far, neither he nor his campaign has made any apology to Obama.
The Obama campaign responded thus:
“Apparently, Mitt Romney can switch names just as casually as he
switches positions, but what’s wrong-headed is continuing a misguided war in Iraq that has left America less safe. It’s time to end the
divisiveness and fear-mongering that is at the heart of Governor
Romney’s campaign.” Read a statement by Bill Burton, the Obama’s campaign spokesperson.
Many tabloids focused on the issue throughout Tuesday, with many suggesting that it was not an accident. Romney has on previously confused Obama with Osama bin Laden, and has was photographed in a controversial picture with someone wearing a t-shirt that read Obama bin Laden, last year.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ykux7o5YvEM
If Romney’s recent statement was a mistake, it will mean he has obviously been joking of Osama as Obama in his private live. If intended as upheld by the press, well then it tells something of the Mormon priest.
Romney has used his Mormon faith in this campaign to justify why he is the right candidate to step into George Bush’s religious shoes. But what does these recent jab of his tell us about his character? In brief, someone’s militancy to any faith says nothing about his or her character. No other candidate negatively criticizes other running mates in the raw way Romney does. This has been his major tool in every debate.
But above all, it raises dust on one serious biblical warning. Everyman will give account of every silly word spoken.
Are such comments not very embarrassing for someone who has for years moved from door to door in white shirts and red ties trying to convert souls to the Mormon faith? What has he been preaching? Hate? Love?
One thing is certain. Romney is so incensed that he will say anything to win he nomination.
It is obvious that Romney generally despise Obama for on each occasion that he has remembered to call his name rightly, it has been either for fun, ridicule or criticism. At a rally in Iowa last month, one supporter in a question and answers series jokingly asked Romney: “Why not make Obama your TV ad?” The comment came after Romney’s criticism of Obama’s decision to talk to US friends and foes alike:
“In one week, he went from saying he’s going to sit down, you know, for tea, with our enemies, but then he’s going to bomb our allies,” Romney said “I mean, he’s gone from Jane Fonda to Dr. Strangelove in one week.”
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30 users commented in " What Romney’s Osama-Obama Fuss tells of his Mormon Hypocrisy "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackIt is the same thing that the Clinton machine has been pushing. The email that is been sent around that says Obama is Muslim. HIllary Clinton is a Republican inside, just like a wolf in sheep clothing.
Nonsense, the names are remarkable similar. You cant blame the guy for mixing them up. I’ve heard others do exactly the same thing.
Romney’s remarks show his complete lack of either intelligence or both. Probably both.
Ha ha. I meant lack of intelligence or class. Maybe this public speaking thing isn’t so easy afterall.
Obamas irreducible confidence, his undeiable intellect and not least, his compelling biracial life story has transformed Obama into America’s most alluring new political face.
To voters of various political persuasions, perhaps, just perhaps, here is the anitdote to what has ailed our fractured national leadership. Here is a pragmatic politician who also possess a capacity to dream. Who speaks convinciingly of a better tomarrow at a time when Americans are profoundly worried about tomarrow.
Here, at last, is the magnaetic leader who conveys the perfect blend of confidence, character and, in his own words “HOPE”
People dont come to Obama for what he has done, they come to him in hopes of what he can do.
Romney is everything the oppisite. While Obama brings out who he is as a man and a politician and welcomes the unity of the world. Romney slips in the Osama gag over and over. It is not funny. And not appreciated.
Romney is gonna give Bush a run for his money in the biggest buffoon in the Republican party.
Can you imagine Romney vs. Obama in a debate? That would be a dream. No wonder they all want Hillary to win, they have no Ammo against Obama.
If this is a reflection of the lame foreign policy experience Romney has in defending America, he has no business leading any precinct leave alone the country. Might bomb one of those cities in America called Lebanon or Cairo without knowing the difference. The leader of the free world must understand the whole world. Spare us your ignorance
Ted Kennedy made the same mistake. You must be really desperate for something to write
Eric:
The names are similar?? That might fly if Romney hadn’t said “Barack Obama” twice, using Obama’s first and last name.
“Barack Obama” sounds nothing like “Osama bin Laden.” This was an attempt to smear Senator Obama.
Was it an inappropriate comment? Of course. Should he have said it? Of course not. Was it unique? Not in the slightest. It was MUCH less offensive than the comments made about him by multiple campaign managers in the other camps.
If you want to attack his Mormonism so blatantly, at least do it in a reasonably intelligent manner. This simply is sophomoric - and I don’t even support the man.
Lighten up! To anybody who thinks the Mormon Church will run the country under a Romney presidency, I have two words for you to consider: Harry Reid. The Senate majority leader is a devout Mormon and as philosophically different from Romney as it is possible to be.
Hey Eric, what part of “Barack” is remarkably similar to “Osama Bin Laden”?
Hey said “Barack Obama” twice in this statement. That’s no mistake.
This is a ridiculous article and the author’s conclusion are not based on logic at all. I’m ashamed to have just read it.
I believe Mr. Romney knew exactly what he was doing in trying to link Senator Obama with Usama bin ladin.
I’m embarrassed for Mr. Romney that a man of his stature would feel the need to stoop so low as to try to gain political points that way.
I don’t believe it reflects on him as a Morman - it reflects on him as a human being and as a candidate for the office of President.
>>> Romney has used his Mormon faith in this campaign to justify why he is the right candidate to step into George Bush’s religious shoes.
And exactly how did he do this???
I imagine Romney was exhausted, as all candidates probably get. I’ve said worse than Romney when I’m tired … just not in front of a camera. Romney is most certainly not a buffoon. He is arguably the most articulate candidate running.
Obama himself has made his own slips of the tongue: He gave a ridiculously high death toll for the Kansas tornadoes: 10,000. (Much more than Katrina and the 2001 terror attacks combined, and many, many times the actual number.)
What is really galling is Forji’s attack on Mormonism. How exactly does Obama’s absurd statistics reflect on his faith? It DOESN’T, and Romney’s slip doesn’t either.
Ugh. This article reeks of Mormon bigotry.
INteresting…not one Mormon has commented on this post…looks like I get to be the first. Stereotypes, a priori assumptions, ad hominem attacks, they’re all here. I can say, as an orthodox, educated Latter Day Saint (who also served as a missionary) that if Romney was joking about the Obama, Osama similarity, I would be quite offended. Maybe I would have walked out myself.
In any case, you REALLY need to read up on Mormonism. Any educated reader will see through the distortions, so you only betray your own ignorance.
I agree that everyone should read up on Mormonism. Did you know the Garden of Eden was located in Jackson County Missouri? Or that Native Americans were one of the lost tribes of Israel? For more information I would view South Park’s season eight episode “All About the Mormons?”
If South Park is your source of information about Mormonism, you really are ignorant. Romney’s comments, if intentional, are uncalled for and he should apologize. The author is clearly claiming that that this is a reflection of his Mormon beliefs. It’s amazing that bigoted people like this author don’t get called to task. Is he going to apologize for his clearly insultive comments or is he a hypocrite?
lmwilker:
Is this the “best and the brightest” that Mormon critics have to offer? Is this the brilliance of a scholar or even of an educated layman? If you believe your comments demonstrate any nuanced understanding of the complex theology of Mormonism, then you need a reality check. Your accusations barely deserve response–mostly because you haven’t convinced us that you would appreciate good sources and sound criticism. ANyone who goes to South Park for a serious commentary on ANYTHING, doesn’t deserve a place in the civil dialogue of our national discourse.
Amin George Forji, Who are you? What do you know of Mormonism? Why are all of Romney’s actions the result of his Mormonism faith? Do YOU want to be wholly defined by one aspect of your life? I dont believe Romney does either; I know I dont! And I’m sick of reading this bigoted trash.
Watch South Park for good information about the Mormons? Unbelievable how people will hear only what they want to hear and believe only what they want to believe. Hateful people do indeed love to hate. I guess if someone believes Mormons are bad and South Park says so, it’s good enough for them. South Park… Unbelievable… I guess in this day and age you can advertise your ignorance and bigotry to much larger audiences than in days past.
That’s garbage & this is much ado about nothing. There is one letter difference between the two names. I’m sure many have made this mistake and the fact that this has become an issue shows how scared the democrats are that Romney might get the nomination. They know that none of their candidates stand a chance in a side-by-side debate with him.
Romney has something that Republican candidates have been missing for years - intellect.
As for those who still think that bigotry towards Mormonism is cool, get over it. We’re sick of hearing about why your church is better than their church.
If we each have to give an accounting of our every silly word, the author of this juvenile screed is gonna have one loooooong appointment at the bar of eternal justice.
To JonM: “As for those who still think that bigotry towards Mormonism is cool, get over it. We’re sick of hearing about why your church is better than their church.”
Hmmm, funny you should say that, since that very concept is among the basic tenets of LDS thought.
Joseph Smith was visited by an angel who informed him that ALL the current religions/churches were corrupt, and he was re-instituting THE ONE TRUE CHURCH with Little Joey as the sole authority, the “prophet, seer and revelator”.
It’s a little disingenuous for modern Mormons (Latter-Day Latter Day Saints, if you will) to come off all sanctimonious about other religions saying that THEIR church is better.
I think everyone is missing the forest for the trees. It is inconcievable that he would miss saying BARACK OBAMA and OSAMA BIN LADEN… Perhaps if he only said Obama or Osama, then its a slip. But to use the mans FULL name, it was deliberate. I don’t care who has what belief, but this campaign is nothing but dirt and mud-slinging. I don’t want you to tell me whats wrong with the other guy…tell me what YOU are going to do for this country.
If you cannot say something good about a person, then say nothing at all…..the candidates ALL could take a lesson from that….
The problem is that many of you cannot tell the difference between a slip of the tongue and genuine religious bigotry. Here you are making a big deal over an easy slip of two names that are remarkably alike (quite by coincidence) while assuming that it had something to do with Romney’s Mormonism. Come again? This must be the biggest non sequitur in the history of the world. Romney says “Osama … er, Obama,” and it becomes proof that his Mormonism makes him unfit to run for office. Is suggest a simple course in basic logic. Even one day in class ought to cure y’all from the obvious nonsense being spouted here. If you cannot see how truly contemptible your logical lapses are, then it’s time to get out a mirror, take a long, hard look, and breathe deeply of your bigotry.
>>> Joseph Smith was visited by an angel who informed him that ALL the current religions/churches were corrupt, and he was re-instituting THE ONE TRUE CHURCH with Little Joey as the sole authority, the “prophet, seer and revelator”.
It’s a little disingenuous for modern Mormons (Latter-Day Latter Day Saints, if you will) to come off all sanctimonious about other religions saying that THEIR church is better.
Interesting. Republicans can say they are the right party, as can Democrats. Catholics are allowed to claim direct authority from God through the pope. Jews can claim to be the chosen family of Abraham. Muslims are allowed to separate themselves from infidels. Jehovah’s Witnesses are allowed to claim their interpretation of the Bible as perfect, and Seventh Day Adventists claim to be the true worshippers of the Sabbath. Baptists and other evangelical Christians are going around labeling certain believers in Christ as non-Christian cultish devil worshippers, and athiests label all of them as foolish, gullible idiots. And no one seems to mind any of this.
Then there are the Mormons, who in the words of our current leader, Gordon B. Hinckley, say bring all the good you have, and let’s see if we can add to it. And the MORMONS are the sanctimonious ones? Though Mormons make that bold claim, they take no offense when others make similar claims. Because we believe we have the truth? Don’t all churches believe the same? Shouldn’t they? Or why should they even exist?
We (Mormons) don’t claim the church is true because we made it that way, or because our worship is better or more sincere. We just claim to have the truth as God intended it because he revealed it. That isn’t arrogance. That’s belief that God speaks to his children, and that he is not a God of confusion, but a God who has a consistent message of truth for them. And we don’t take offense when other religions claim to have greater truth than our own. They should claim it, or they shouldn’t believe what they believe. Is it arrogant to believe truth from God is better than a hodgepodge of popular religious opinion?
Any worshiper in any faith who doesn’t have the same degree of confidence that what he believes is true has no business claiming to be a full believer in his creed. He should start getting serious about studying his own faith, or start looking elsewhere, because following a faith one doesn’t believe is completely true and fully compliant with God’s will and truth … that would be rather insincere and senseless.
Someone who gets upset that someone else claims to have found truth is clearly upset because he hasn’t found the truth himself yet. Ought he not get busy looking?
Look for Romney to do a 180 on us. Don’t vote for this turkey.
And worse yet, don’t even think of voting for Obama, the “Manchurian Candidate.” {Look up this reference to the brilliant novel and fantatstic movie based on it. It DOES apply to Obama.}
Illogically and unfairly targeting the Mormons and then taking what they say and believe and feel out of context is exactly how Jesus was treated. Mormons are NOT anti-gay; they are simply in favor of a particular definition of the word “marriage” because it affects everything they believe in. It is beginning to appear, however, that there are many “anti-Mormons” in this country. Very disappointing, but this was all prophesied by Joseph Smith. In fact, Joseph Smith said eventually the whole world would turn on Mormons and Jews. I hope that’s a long ways off…
JST John 15:18
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
JST John 15:19
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
JST John 15:20
20 Remember the word that I said unto you. The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
JST John 15:21
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
JST John 15:22
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no cloak for their sin.
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