Monday, January 8, 2007

Mitt Romney, A Mormon Running for President

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who recently declared his intentions to run for president in 2008, is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- a matter that may cause some problems for him on the campaign trail. In this piece from Weekend Edition Sunday (1/7/07 - 5:02), John Ydstie speaks to John Green of the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

Musings
  • The discussion begins with parallels with John Kennedy's run for President in 1960, and attitudes towards his being a Catholic. Can we understand today the concern with Catholicism in 1960?

  • For the most part, Mormons are a paradox: quintessential Americans who seem to be strangers to most Americans. What makes that typically Americans? What makes them different?