10/9 2012 Values Voter Summit

During the October 7 Values Voter Summit, the First Baptist Church pastor, Robert Jeffress, conveyed to reporters his distain for potential Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s religious views. He expressed the responsibility of Christians to abstain from voting for Mitt Romney because he is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or Mormonism. Jeffress described the religion as a “cult” and explained that a Christian demographic would benefit from voting for a Christian presidential candidate rather than a non-Christian candidate. The CNN Political Unit reports Jeffress dialogue during CNN’s "The Situation Room”, “I think Mitt Romney's a good, moral man, but I think those of us who are born-again followers of Christ should always prefer a competent Christian to a competent non-Christian like Mitt Romney. So that's why I'm enthusiastic about Rick Perry." Jeffress then went on to describe the Southern Baptist Convention as officially declaring Mormonism a cult.

Following the event, CNN reporters attempted to record a statement from Mitt Romney’s campaign representatives but received no comment. CNN also contacted Mormon spokesman Michael Purdy who declined the request stating that he would not comment on a “political event” (CNN Political Unit). In an attempt to thwart inquiry regarding these slanderous remarks against Mitt Romney, Texas Governor Rick Perry’s campaign officials stated that pastor Jeffress was not asked to introduce the Governor and that Perry does not support claims depicting Mormonism as a cult (CNN Political Unit). However, Tony Perkins, one of the organizers of the Values Voter Summit, stated that Perry and his campaign were informed two weeks prior to the event and agreed to have Jeffress introduce Governor Perry. Perkins then confirmed that neither the organizers or Perry’s campaign were notified of what Jeffress would say during the Governor’s introduction. Jeffress also stated that his words were not unusual or unexpected because the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or Mormonism has historically never been recognized as a sect of Christianity. The pastor affirmed his assertion that responsible Christians and conservatives should not support Mitt Romney by stating, “religion aside conservatives have plenty of reasons, leaving Mormonism out of it, not to be energized by Mitt Romney's candidacy” (CNN Political Unit). Perhaps if questioned, Jeffress would not be averted to outlining the nature of these reasons.

Pastor Jeffress' comments essentially outweighed the remarks of Perry, Herman Cain, Rep. Michele Bachmann, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and former Sen. Rick Santorum, all of whom addressed the conservative gathering Friday (CNN Political Unit). However, Governor Perry joined his supporter Jeffress in slandering Romney’s religious and moral values by stating, "For some candidates, pro-life is an election-year slogan to follow the prevailing political winds” (CNN POLITICAL UNIT).

Links: CNN Political Unit. http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/08/politics/perry-response-mormonism/301956-101.html?hpt=po_bn1