I think you need to read and consider some of the criticisms of the speech. Just consider them. A lot of people (myself included) heard an undertone of bigotry towards secularism. If you don't have religion, you can't be free. Sounds a lot like a preacher, not a Presidential candidate. Americans have an equal right to believe in what they want, even if that is nothing.
Here is an example of what I am talking about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIvLTxXp1k8 Excellent analysis, with historical perspective, and even some props for Romney, but an acknowledgment that religion was never intended to influence policy or decide who is or is not a good American.
Okay, tell me something I don't know. His religion isn't. His faith is. Religion is just an organized portal for faith. Everyone - every president - has faith. (Or should.)
Ok, but he didn't talk about faith, he talked about religion, and in particular, secularism. A President must be willing to see the rights of all citizens EQUALLY under the law (and behavior of governance) regardless of their religion, or lack thereof. Kennedy spoke about how religion was a private matter. Romney really did a weird turn when he started speaking about religion being a public matter.
*shakes head* He was saying he would see all religions equally (so long as they weren't violent or anything of course - are you saying we should accept radical Islam?)! Not that he was going to discriminate against anybody. HENCE HIS SPEECH.
My only problem with having someone very religious in the white house right now is because we let Bush tear down a lot of the separation of church and state. I've been saying this all along (not online), that if Bush kept doing that, next thing we know another, even more aggressive religion will be able to have too much power over us through the laws. I don't even want Huckabee in right now because he votes based on his faith. There is someone else out there who doesn't want to push his religion or use it in the White house for power, but rather wants to use the constitution as a guide for the laws + get back the separation of church and state. How about Romney/Huckabee 2012 ;P
First time to disagree with you GTech, but... http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/12/huckabee.mormons/index.html#cnnSTCText At least he's apologizing, but I think it's more of a political act than anything else.
'Hey you know what? If you'll give me national television time, I'll make you a God speech, and I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll throw in an offering and an altar call to throw in with it.' LOL At least its really about faith and not politics
what Romney was actually saying in that speech is "I'm a freakin' mormon but at least I'm not an atheist. I'm just as fanatical as you are"
Yep. "You can vote for me, I stand for god, faith, and religion like you, just a slightly different brand. It's those damn secularists we need to worry about, I'm a good ol' boy."