Science & Mormons, Jon Huntsman & Mitt Romney

“To be clear. I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy."

That tweet from former Utah Governor and US Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman sure lit a firestorm of controversy.

After, all you can't be a Republican and believe in science, right?

Apparently. After all, as The Daily Beast points out, the only other Republican candidate to accept climate change and evolution is former Governor Mitt Romney.

Yep, the two Mormons in the race are the two science believers.

Well, until Mitt flip flops on this issue, but for the time being, he believes!

The Daily Beast points out that a 2008 Pew poll found that only 22 percent of Mormons believed in Evolution. I'm sure the percentage of Utah Mormon politicians that believe in Evolution is about the same, but those 22% are Democrats.

Similarly, the Utah Legislature doesn't believe in Climate Change. They even passed a resolution saying so. And several science professors from that liberal school in Provo called BYU sent them a letter of disapproval.

My favorite quote from the article:

In general, says John Bell, a professor of physiology and developmental biology at BYU, he and his colleagues teach students that evolution is not a take-it-or-leave-it theory, but rather a fact that can fit comfortably into an orthodox Mormon world view.

Bell puts it this way: “Religion doesn’t make an attempt to explain the mechanisms of how the world works; it tries to give meaning to it. Whereas, with science it’s the opposite; we’re trying to figure out how the world works. You don’t’ have to feel insecure about your faith just because you’re trying to engage in good science.”

Jon Huntsman, and Defining My Own Mormonsism

Much has been made about Jon Huntsman's statement in a Time Magazine article about his relationship to the LDS Church. Namely, his statement that his membership in the Church is "tough to define."

Now, the simple answer is that Mormonism is harder to define than other religions. You can be a "Christian" without having a home church (George W Bush). I have a friend who self-identifies as Baptist despite the fact that he's a Presbyterian Youth Minister. There's a running joke that you are a good Catholic is you attend Mass on Christmas and Easter.

However, in Mormonism, you either are or you aren't in the minds of most Mormons. In fact, there is a growing trend to try to break Mormons into one of two categories. Columnist Robert Kirby tried years ago to break us into 5 kinds of Mormons. However, the reality is, there are varying degrees of Mormonism.

I created several Mormon "character", and then asked 7 friends of various backgrounds to try to define that character's Mormonism. I based each "character" on a real person. For each friend, I got 7 different answers.

Well, except for the one I based on Mitt Romney: the person who is well-known as a Mormon but has said publicly that "I don't know that he has spoken to anyone since Moses and the bush or perhaps some others." That one was pretty universal.

However, it was shocking how different the answers were. I think I might widen the survey a little more and put the questionaire out there for everyone to take, getting a broader range of answers.

My favorite was the definitions of the following character "32 single male, raised in the Church. Comes from two-parent family where Mom was the primary breadwinner. Democrat who votes for Republicans sometimes. Believes Government should not be defining marriage. Attends Temple once every 3 weeks, attends church weekly, but sometimes skips Sunday School."

That one was me. I got 9 definitions from those 7 people.

I don't know what type of Mormon Jon Huntsman is, nor do I really care. All I care is that he's a good person.

Because, after all, that's all that really matters.

Huntsman Still More Popular Than Jesus

Even since Governor Huntsman's declaration last week that he supports the Common Ground bills in addition to Civil Unions, the right has been in a tizzy, saying that Huntsman doesn't side with 60% of Utahans on the issue.

I've been wondering about that one. It didn't seem completely right.

So, I've been anticipating this poll from Dan Jones for KSL/DesNews:

In a new Deseret News/KSL-TV poll, 67 percent of Utahns said the governor's recent announcement supporting civil unions either made no difference or gave them a more favorable opinion of him. Thirty-two percent said their opinions of the governor were negatively impacted by his announcement last week.

So, only 1/3 of his constituents think less of him because of this.

Probably the third that didn't know he was a moderate.

Overall, however, with 80 percent of Utahns still approving of the job Huntsman is doing, the governor's "political bombshell" seems to have created minimal fallout away from Capitol Hill.

Sure, that number was 90% last month, but 80% is pretty dang good. I'd bet that Jesus wouldn't even get 80% approval ratings in Utah.

Now, here comes the question of civil unions:

Forty-seven percent of those polled supported civil unions compared to 42 percent who did not, according to the survey.

OK, the difference is within the margin of error, but it looks like more people in this state favor civil unions than oppose them.

-Bob

Gov Huntsman Needs to Come Out of the Closet

No, not that closet, even though I had someone tell me last night they thought he was, you know, not straight.

And I don't mean Jason Chaffetz's closet, either.

What I mean is that Jon Huntsman needs to come out and admit what he really is.

A Democrat.

Hold a press conference, and let the Republicans know that since they don't want him any more, he's leaving.

And joining the other team.

Pulling a Jim Jeffords, if you will.

Heck, he'd be more of a leader than our party has seen in a really long time.

So, go ahead, Republicans. Tell Jon Huntsman he isn't a good Republican.

'Cause we'd take him in a heartbeat.

For more on Huntsman's Democratic credentials, check out this from Paul Rolly:

The latest clue to Huntsman's true political identity came Monday in a Salt Lake Tribune story when a spokesperson said he
favored having a domestic partnership program in Utah in which same-sex couple could claim many of the same rights afforded to married couples without the declaration of marriage.
If that isn't enough to make the Utah Republican hierarchy lose its vouchers, he also believes in cap and trade agreements and other initiatives to reduce pollution, a softer, more humane approach to illegal immigration and a relaxation of some of Utah's stringent alcohol control laws.
Holy Buttars.
He even believes in bonding and dipping into the rainy day fund to save education and health care programs.
A close look at Huntsman's policy positions should convince anyone that he fits the political profile of the moder, conservative western-style Democrat.

Sutherland: LDS Church is Wrong

OK, so they didn't come right out and say that, but let's connect the dots for two seconds.

On November 5, 2008, Elder L Whitney Clayton, who headed the Church's involvement in California's Proposition 8, told the Deseret News that the church "does not oppose civil unions or domestic partnerships," that involve benefits like health insurance and property rights. That stand was outlined in a statement the church posted on its Web site earlier in the campaign. Three months later, the Church has not refuted these claims.

In fact, on January 21, 2009, LDS Church leaders met with Republican Legislative Leaders. When pressed for a position on the "Common Ground" bills, the legislators were referred to prior statements issued by the Church. This version of events has not been refuted by either the Church nor by Legislative leaders.

On February 9, 2009, Governor Jon Huntsman came out in support of the Common Ground Initiative, including civil unions.

So, you would think that groups that consist primarily of members of the LDS Church that use religious arguments to defend their positions would applaud the Governor for siding with the Church, right?

As if.

Reference this message I received via Facebook tonight from Jeff Reynolds of the Sutherland Institute:

On Monday, February 9, 2009, the Salt Lake Tribune reported that Governor Huntsman, through his spokesperson, had expressed his support for the "Common Ground Initiative" and said he was in favor of civil unions for same-sex couples.

In response, Sutherland Institute issued the following statement: "We're not surprised. Public relations, not policy, is his strong suit. He had to be dragged to the altar of Amendment 3, and everyone has known, since then, that Governor Huntsman would rather be nice than right."

Responsible citizens wishing to express their disappointment to the Governor's position on this issue may contact his office at 801-538-1000 or you can simply leave a comment for him at http://governor.utah.gov/goca/form_comment.html.

The Governor needs to know it's important to be right on this issue, not nice.

Click here, and send the Governor a message thanking him for showing courage and standing up for what's right.

"Governor" Huntsman Can't Be Bothered to Govern -- it's Friday, you Know.....

Out of Context:

At the end of Friday's legislative session, Rep. Gordon Snow was appointed to lead a committee to let Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. know that lawmakers had finished their work and were ready to adjourn and head home.

After a while, Snow returned to report to his colleagues: The committee went to the governor's office "but as you know, it's Friday, and you know what happens on Friday," Snow said. He was referring Huntsman's recent initiative, closing state offices on Fridays in an effort to save money and energy.

"He left us a note thanking us. He'll be back on Monday and find our note," said Snow.

Really, Governor? You ask the legislators to come back to work a couple of days, but you can't be bothered to give up a little time on a Friday to hear their report?

What about other times we need a Governor on a Friday? We'll have to wait until Monday?

-Bob

KCPW Announces Election 2008 Debate Series

KCPW is pleased to announce our Election 2008 Debate Series taking place in October. To date, candidates in six different races have agreed to participate. The series includes a gubernatorial debate between Governor Jon Huntsman and Democratic candidate Bob Springmeyer the evening of October 16 at the Salt Lake City Main Library.

With the exception of the debate between Speaker Greg Curtis and Mr. Jay Seegmiller, all of the debates will take place at the Tessman Auditorium of the Salt Lake City Main Library at 210 E. 400 South. They will air live on KCPW 88.3 FM and 105.3 FM and online at www.kcpw.org. We will be adding additional debates shortly.


Tuesday, October 14th, 7 to 8 p.m.
House District 49
Sandy Public Library, 10100 South Petunia Way
Greg Curtis, Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives (R)
Jay Seegmiller (D)


Thursday, October 16th, 11 a.m. to noon
Senate District One
Carlton Christensen (R)
Luz Robles (D)


Thursday, October 16th, 7 to 8 p.m.
Governor
Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. (R)
Bob Springmeyer (D)


Wednesday, October 22nd, 11 a.m. to noon
House District 24
Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck (D)
Dr. Joe Jarvis (R)


Wednesday, October 29th, 7 to 8 p.m.
Salt Lake County Mayor
Mayor Peter Corroon (D)
Michael Renckert (R)


Thursday, October 30th, 11 a.m. to noon
Salt Lake County Council At-Large Seat A
Councilman Randy Horiuchi (D)
Capt. Steve Debry (R)

Republican: Corroon Great, Huntsman, not so much

And to think, Corroon is Salt Lake County Republican Chairman James Evans' #1 target...

From today's DNews:

In a meeting last night with the members of our Republican precinct, we all noted how pleased we've been with our county mayor, Peter Corroon — a member of the Democratic Party. We all were particularly impressed by his willingness to stand up and say "no" to funding of the soccer stadium in Sandy. Mayor Corroon has won our admiration. He has proven himself to be a man of principle, and it would seem that he understands the roles that government should and should not play in our society.

Interestingly enough, in that same meeting, we all similarly expressed our dissatisfaction with the performance of our governor, Jon Huntsman Jr. — a member of our own Republican Party. After Mayor Corroon rightly refused funding for the soccer stadium, Gov. Huntsman and the complicit Republicans of the Legislature arrogantly approved the requested stadium funding, in spite of public opinion to the contrary.

Kudos to Mayor Corroon for upholding common sense, the ideals of the Constitution and the Republican Party platform. As for Gov. Huntsman and the Republican leadership in the Legislature, there are many of us who have had enough of your spendthrift, left-leaning ways.

[...]

To Mayor Corroon: Should you decide to run for governor, send me an e-mail and you'll have not only my vote but my financial support as well.

Jon Huntsman will *NOT* be McCain's VP, so let's stop talking about it!

The latest local media hype-story has been that Governor Jon Huntsman could possibly be picked as John McCain's running mate. The theory goes that he comes from a rich family, has bucked a good chunk of his fellow Utah Republicans in endorsing McCain over Romney, and his LDS faith appeals to many conservatives.

However, this is baloney. I'd bet dinner that Huntsman will not be selected as McCain's Vice President. Here's why:

1) He's from Utah. Utah is Arizona's neighbor. Usually, you pick someone from another part of the country from you, not someone from an adjacent state. Furthermore, the VP candidate will probably be from a state where the Presidential election is expected to be close. While an Obama-McCain election will be closer in Utah than any presidential race in the past 20 years, if the Republicans are that worried about losing Utah, they're in more trouble than it's worth.

2) He is up for reelection this year. With a 75% approval rating, why does this matter? Well, he simply cannot run for Governor and be the VP nominee. Utah Code 20A-9-201:

(2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), a person may not:
(i) file a declaration of candidacy for, or be a candidate for, more than one office in Utah during any election year; or
(ii) appear on the ballot as the candidate of more than one political party.
(b) A person may file a declaration of candidacy for, or be a candidate for, President or Vice President of the United States and another office, if the person resigns the person's candidacy for the other office after the person is officially nominated for President or Vice President of the United States.

He would have to drop out of the race in September after the convention. If he drops out any time after 5:00 PM March 17, the Republican Party cannot replace him on the ballot unless he drops out for medical reasons. Should they try that, it would cause problems with the VP campaign ("He's not medically able to run for Governor in Utah, but can be a heartbeat away from the presidency?")

3) Jon Huntsman is not as conservative as the conservative branch would like. Furthermore, there's that pesky Mormon thing. See: Mitt Romney,

So, who do I think will be on McCain's short list?

A) Mitt Romney. He's looking for a job.

B) Mike Huckabee. He's the anti-McCain. Will bring the party together.

C) Tim Pawlenty, Governor of Minnesota. Comes in to the right of Huntsman. MN is a swing state.

D) Condi Rice. Helps counter the uniqueness of either a Hillary or Obama candidacy. Especially helpful if the Dem nominee isn't known until August.

Anyone you think should be on the list that I've missed?

-Bob