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Linda Ilene Solomon

Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief, The Vancouver Observer

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The Trouble With Godly Men Like Mitt Romney

Posted: 11/09/2012 8:53 am
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*This blog was previously published in the Vancouver Observer

Mitt Romney made a mockery of his claim to godliness. Obama took Wisconsin and Ohio Tuesday night to become 44th President of the United States and the fourth Democrat in the last 100 years to be elected to a second term, pushing back a well-financed, and powerfully religious challenger.

After weeks of blatant lies by Romney, six billion dollars of combined spending by the candidates, Obama prevailed, shunning what the New York Times has called "the politics of deceit." But it was an October surprise in the form of brutal hurricane Sandy that battered the East Coast and seemed to force the country to its senses that will be remembered in history as having decided the election.

This is not only a defeat of Mitt Romney, it is a defeat of the billionaire Koch brothers, Karl Rove, and of the notion that in American society the winner takes all. This is a victory for those who believe that government exists for the common good, for women and it is a victory for the very notion that integrity is an essential quality in the leader of the United States.

And what does it say about religion and the public discourse?

"I will never tell a lie"

I campaigned for Jimmy Carter in 1976. Carter's motto was "I will never tell a lie." As the Mittimeter registered more and more lies over the last months of the presidential campaign, it began to seem that the Republicans might be successful at ushering in a new age of American politics, pushing the boundaries of what had been acceptable in a candidate in the past, and worse, normalizing deceit, misogyny, and contempt for the not rich.

Mitt claimed to love his fellow man on the pulpit of the 2012 Republican Convention, and yet ridiculed their struggles in private meetings with the privileged. Mitt's prayerfulness and constant references to God during the campaign were deeply ironic in light of his dishonesty.

Carter, also a religious man, promised that he would clean up government corruption and speak honestly to the American people. He admitted to Playboy Magazine in an interview that he had "lusted in his heart" after women.

His Southern Baptist religious conviction came through in his belief in progressive ideals. Like Obama, he sought to include and believed that government had the power to help lift the struggling out of poverty and he believed that it should.

Mitt made a mockery of his own claim to godliness. Perhaps he will struggle with this in his disappointment these coming weeks, disappointment etched on his face as he gave his concession speech, revealing a man both vulnerable and real, a face he never showed during the campaign. Perhaps he will feel humiliated by not only the defeat, but by his lack of character leading up to it. On the other hand, he may simply take advantage of his enormous privilege to sail away on the yacht of self-deceit and use his position and wealth to shelter his ego from self-criticism.

If the former, he has the capacity to acknowledge how wrong this election went, and to use his enormous popularity with nearly half the American people to reform rather than ruin an already deeply damaged democratic system.

He truly owes an apology to his family, and to the American people for claiming to be a person of faith while blatantly lying and continuing to do so, even after called upon it, as in the last days of the campaign when he lied about Jeep outsourcing jobs to China, the climax to the opera of lies that made up his campaign.

When I took a year off from Northwestern University to campaign for Jimmy Carter, the South was still primarily Democratic. Carter defeated segregationist George Wallace in the primary elections. Wallace had been paralyzed by a gunshot wound and was in a wheelchair when he ran for office. I spent two months in Florida, coordinating Carter's campaign in Ft. Myers, Florida. Carter's victories were unexpected. Carter ran against Gerald Ford in the general election, Ford who had been appointed by Richard Nixon to take office after Nixon resigned.

Carter was the perfect Washington outsider, and his victory a surprise rich in hope. But once in Washington, Carter encountered a system that made making changes promised in the campaign difficult to impossible. My father was a sub cabinet member under Jimmy Carter, administrator of the General Services Administration, the landlord of the federal government so I had an insider's view of the frustrations newcomers to Washington encountered in trying to bring about new policies, and change.

Just as Obama's presidency disappointed his most passionate supporters, Carter's disappointed his. Yet as an ex-President, Jimmy Carter fulfilled the promise that inspired me and thousands of others to put our lives aside to work in his campaign. Carter lacked the personal and political resources to stand up to the power structure in Washington, D.C. Yet his enormous spiritual convictions illuminated his subsequent years.

Carter served for only four years before losing to Ronald Reagan.

In his acceptance speech, Obama thanked his supporters and volunteers, those who had been with him from the start.

Obama, with the next four years has an enormous opportunity to leave a legacy that will make those who went all out to get him where he is today proud.

It's a precious, hard-won gift, this chance, to leave those who donated their time, their money, their votes, with the knowledge that, "Yes, we could. And, yes we did."


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  • Barack Obama accompanied by First Lady Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia appears on stage on election night in Chicago. JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

  • Barack Obama

    President Barack Obama, with his daughter Malia wave toward the crowd at his election night party Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Chicago. President Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

  • Barack Obama

    President Barack Obama walks out of the stage with his wife Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia at his election night party Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Chicago. President Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

  • Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Sasha Obama, Malia Obama

    President Barack Obama waves as he walks on stage with first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha at his election night party Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Chicago. Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

  • Barack Obama

    President Barack Obama addresses the crowd at his election night party Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Chicago. President Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

  • Barack Obama

    President Barack Obama speaks at his election night party Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Chicago. President Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

  • Barack Obama

    President Barack Obama speaks at his election night party Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Chicago. President Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

  • Barack Obama

    President Barack Obama smiles during his speech at his election night party Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Chicago. President Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

  • Barack Obama

    President Barack Obama acknowledges the crowd at his election night party Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Chicago. President Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

  • US-VOTE-2012-ELECTION-OBAMA

    US President Barack Obama arriveS on stage after winning the 2012 US presidential election November 7, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama swept to re-election, forging history again by defying the dragging economic recovery and high unemployment which haunted his first term to beat Republican Mitt Romney. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

  • US-VOTE-2012-ELECTION-OBAMA

    US President Barack Obama and family arrive on stage after winning the 2012 US presidential election November 7, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama swept to re-election, forging history again by defying the dragging economic recovery and high unemployment which haunted his first term to beat Republican Mitt Romney. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

  • US-VOTE-2012-ELECTION-OBAMA

    US President Barack Obama and family arrive on stage after winning the 2012 US presidential election November 7, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama swept to re-election, forging history again by defying the dragging economic recovery and high unemployment which haunted his first term to beat Republican Mitt Romney. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

  • President Barack Obama accompanied First Lady Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia waves to supporters on stage on election night in Chicago. President Barack Obama swept to re-election Tuesday, forging history again by transcending a slow economic recovery and the high unemployment which haunted his first term to beat Republican Mitt Romney. JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

  • US President Barack Obama waves to supporters as he arrives accompanied by (from L-R ) First Lady Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha on election night in Chicago. JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

  • US President Barack Obama and family arrive on stage after winning the 2012 US presidential election. SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

  • Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney concedes defeat November 6, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts, telling supporters that he had called US President Barack Obama to congratulate him on his victory. (DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney Holds Election Night Gathering In Boston

    BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 07: Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, waves to the crowd while speaking at the podium as he concedes the presidency during Mitt Romney's campaign election night event at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center on November 7, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. After voters went to the polls in the heavily contested presidential race, networks projected incumbent U.S. President Barack Obama has won re-election against Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

  • Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney Holds Election Night Gathering In Boston

    BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 07: Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney greets supporters as he concedes the presidency during his campaign election night event at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center on November 7, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. After voters went to the polls in the heavily contested presidential race, networks projected incumbent U.S. President Barack Obama has won re-election against Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (Photo by Rick Wilking-Pool/Getty Images)

  • Mitt Romney, Ann Romney, Paul Ryan

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, left, wife Ann Romney, center, and Republican vice presidential candidate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., stand on stage after Romney conceded the race during his election night rally, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Boston. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

  • Mitt Romney, Ann Romney, Paul Ryan, Janna Ryan

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife Ann, left, and Republican vice presidential candidate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and his wife Janna, right, are joined by their families on stage after Romney conceded the race during his election night rally, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Boston. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

  • Mitt Romney, Ann Romney, Paul Ryan, Janna Ryan

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife Ann stand on the stage with Republican vice presidential candidate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and his wife Janna after Mitt Romney conceded the race during his election night rally, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Boston. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

  • Mitt Romney, Ann Romney, Paul Ryan, Janna Ryan

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife Ann are joined by their son Craig Romney, right, and other family members on stage after Romney conceded the race during his election night rally, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

  • Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney Holds Election Night Gathering In Boston

    BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 07: Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, speaks at the podium as he concedes the presidency during Mitt Romney's campaign election night event at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center on November 7, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. After voters went to the polls in the heavily contested presidential race, networks projected incumbent U.S. President Barack Obama has won re-election against Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

  • Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney Holds Election Night Gathering In Boston

    BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 07: Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, waves to the crowd while standing at the podium before conceding the presidency during Mitt Romney's campaign election night event at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center on November 7, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. After voters went to the polls in the heavily contested presidential race, networks projected incumbent U.S. President Barack Obama has won re-election against Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

  • Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney Holds Election Night Gathering In Boston

    BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 07: Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, waves to the crowd before conceding the presidency during Mitt Romney's campaign election night event at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center on November 7, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. After voters went to the polls in the heavily contested presidential race, networks projected incumbent U.S. President Barack Obama has won re-election against Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney Holds Election Night Gathering In Boston

    BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 07: Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, kisses his wife, Ann Romney, after conceding the presidency during Mitt Romney's campaign election night event at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center on November 7, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. After voters went to the polls in the heavily contested presidential race, networks projected incumbent U.S. President Barack Obama has won re-election against Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (Photo by Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images)

  • Barack Obama, Michelle Obama

    President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama walk off Air Force One after arriving at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

  • Barack Obama

    President Barack Obama greets first lady Michelle Obama on the tarmac as she arrives at Des Moines International Airport on Air Force One, Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, in Des Moines, Iowa, en route to a campaign event. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

  • Joe Biden

    Vice President Joe Biden hugs Anne Holton, wife of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine on the tarmac of the Roanoke Virginia Airport in Roanoke, Va., Monday, Nov. 5, 2012. Biden made a surprise visit to Roanoke arriving via Air Force Two with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine and U.S. Sen. Mark Warner. (AP Photo/The Roanoke Times, Kyle Green, Pool)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney waves to reporters after he took questions on his campaign plane en route from Pittsburgh to Boston, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. At right is senior adviser Kevin Madden. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Mitt Romney

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney arrives on his campaign plane at Boston's Logan Airport, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

  • Republican

    A spectator reacts to a change in the Florida early projections sen on a television during Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's election night rally, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Boston. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

  • Cean Orrett, 45, center, and Gareth Edmondson-Jones, 46, of San Diago, both recently married in New York, react to positive predictions for President Barack Obama as crowds watch election results in Times Square, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in New York. After a year of campaigning, polls have begun to close after Americans across the United States headed to the polls to decide the winner of the tight presidential race between President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/ John Minchillo)

  • Nancy French, from Columbia, Tenn., watches vote results displayed on a television screen during Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's election night rally, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Boston. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

  • Spencer Siady, left, and Vinay Cardwell, of Salt Lake CIty, react as disappointing numbers dis come in for Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney during election night party for the Republicans at the Hilton Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Steve Griffin) DESERET NEWS OUT; LOCAL TV OUT; MAGS OUT

  • A supporter reacts to voting results displayed on a television screen during Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's election night rally, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Boston. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

  • Mitt Romney supporters watch presidential returns during a GOP watch party, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

  • The Democratic party faithful gathered at the Minnesota DFL Party headquarters at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown St. Paul, Minn. to hear election results Tuesday night, Nov. 6, 2012. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak went crowd surfing, with his mother Loraine, after it was announced that Pres. Barack Obama had won re-election. (AP Photo/David Joles/ Star Tribune)

  • Arizona Democrats celebrate as President Barack Obama is declared the winner of the presidential race at Democratic Party gathering, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Tucson, Ariz.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

  • Supporters of President Barack Obama Shauna Harry, left, and Alana Hearn celebrate by leaping in the air at New York State Democratic Headquarters following Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

  • President Obama Holds Election Night Event In Chicago

    CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 06: Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama attend the Obama Election Night watch party at McCormick Place November 6, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama is going for reelection against Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

  • American Expats Gather To Watch Coverage Of The U.S. Presidential Elections

    LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama cheer while watching coverage of the U.S. Presidential Elections on on November 6, 2012 in London, England. U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney are in a virtual tie in the national polls. (Photo by Bethany Clarke/Getty Images)

  • President Obama Holds Election Night Event In Chicago

    CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 06: A supporter of U.S. President Barack Obama attends the Obama Election Night watch party at McCormick Place November 6, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama is going for reelection against Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

  • US-VOTE-2012-ELECTION-OBAMA

    Supporters of US President Barack Obama watch voting results on election night November 6, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. AFP PHOTO / Robyn Beck (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

  • President Obama Holds Election Night Event In Chicago

    CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 06: Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama cheer after networks project Obama as reelected during the Obama Election Night watch party at McCormick Place November 6, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Networks project Obama has won reelection against Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

  • President Obama Holds Election Night Event In Chicago

    CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 06: Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama cheer after networks project Obama as reelected during the Obama Election Night watch party at McCormick Place November 6, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Networks project Obama has won reelection against Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

  • Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney Holds Election Night Gathering In Boston

    BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 06: Spectators react to President Obama's projected re-election displayed on large televisions during Mitt Romney's campaign election night event at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center on November 6, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. Voters went to polls in the heavily contested presidential race between incumbent U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

  • US-VOTE-2012-ELECTION-OBAMA

    Supporters of US President Barack Obama celebrate as CNN projects victory for Obama on election night November 6, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

  • US-VOTE-2012-ELECTION-OBAMA

    Supporters of US President Barack Obama celebrate as CNN projects victory for Obama on election night November 6, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

  • US-VOTE-2012-ELECTION-ROMNEY

    Supporters of US Presidential candidate Mitt Romney watch as Fox News projects US President Barack Obama is re-elected on election night November 6, 2012 in Boston Massachusetts. AFP PHOTO/ TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

  • US-VOTE-2012-ELECTION-OBAMA

    US President Barack Obama supporters celebrate as CNN projected The President re-elected on election night November 6, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. AFP PHOTO / Robyn Beck (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Loading Slideshow...

  • Indonesian school children erupt into cheers on hearing the announcement that U.S. President Barack Obama had won the U.S. presidential election at SDN 01 Menteng elementary school to which Obama once attended in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Obama attended the school when he was a child while living in Indonesia. (AP Photo)

  • Cyclists ride on a beach passing by a sand sculpture congratulating U.S. president Barack Obama for a second term in office in Puri, India, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Obama captured a second White House term, blunting a mighty challenge by Republican Mitt Romney as Americans voted for a leader they knew over a wealthy businessman they did not. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout)

  • Sarah Obama

    Sarah Obama, step-grandmother of President Barack Obama, waves her walking cane towards supporters in celebration before speaking to the media about her reaction to Obama's re-election in the U.S. presidential election in the garden of her house in the village of Kogelo, western Kenya, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

  • Students hold a poster of U.S. President Barack Obama as they watch the US election vote counting at SDN 01 Menteng elementary school where Obama studied in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Obama attended the school when he was a child while living in the Southeast Asian nation. (AP Photo)

  • An American supporter of President Barack Obama holds a flag and sports a T-shirt which has a portrait of Obama and a phrase that reads 'Bangalore has hope' during a screening of U.S. elections coverage organized at a restaurant over breakfast in Bangalore, India, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Obama captured a second White House term, blunting a mighty challenge by Republican Mitt Romney as Americans voted for a leader they knew over a wealthy businessman they did not. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

  • U.S citizens celebrate U.S. presidential election results in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. President Barack Obama captured a second White House term, blunting a mighty challenge by Republican Mitt Romney as Americans voted for a leader they knew over a wealthy businessman they did not. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

  • A Kenyan supporter of U.S. President Barack Obama cheers as he watches a broadcast showing that Obama has won the U.S. presidential election for a second term, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Obama won re-election Tuesday night despite a fierce challenge from Republican Mitt Romney, prevailing in the face of a weak economy and high unemployment that encumbered his first term and crimped the middle class dreams of millions. (AP Photo/Sayyuid Azim)

  • A U.S. citizen reacts as he watches the live telecast of U.S. presidential election results in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Nov 7, 2012. Barack Obama captured a second White House term, blunting a mighty challenge by Republican Mitt Romney as Americans voted for a leader they knew over a wealthy businessman they did not. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

  • An empty champagne bottle and glasses are left after President Barack Obama's victory was announced Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Shanghai, China. Obama won re-election Tuesday night despite a fierce challenge from Republican Mitt Romney, prevailing in the face of a weak economy and high unemployment that encumbered his first term and crimped the middle class dreams of millions. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

  • Villagers ride motorcycles and wave branches to celebrate Obama's re-election, in the village of Kogelo, home to Sarah Obama the step-grandmother of President Barack Obama, in western Kenya Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

  • U.S. embassy staff, Iraqi guests, and ambassadors listen to the speech of U.S. re-elected President Barack Obama at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed, Pool)

  • Barack Obama

    A man reads a Spanish newspaper with the smiling portrait of U.S. President Barack Obama on his front page, in Pamplona northern Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. It is announced early Wednesday that Obama has been re-elected to be U.S. President for next four years. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

  • Indian Muslim students pose for photographs near cutouts of U.S. President Barack Obama, background right, and Republican candidate Mitt Romney during an event organized by the U.S. Embassy in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Obama captured a second White House term, blunting a mighty challenge by Romney as Americans voted for a leader they knew over a wealthy businessman they did not. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K.)

  • Indian students react to results on television networks during an event organized by the U.S. embassy at the landmark Imperial Hotel in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Obama captured a second White House term, blunting a mighty challenge by Republican Mitt Romney as Americans voted for a leader they knew over a wealthy businessman they did not. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

  • President Obama supporters gesture and celebrate upon hearing the presidential election results on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Singapore. Obama won re-election Tuesday night despite a fierce challenge from Republican Mitt Romney, prevailing in the face of a weak economy and high unemployment that encumbered his first term and crimped the middle class dreams of millions. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

  • U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos, center, and Japanese high-school students celebrate reports that President Barack Obama won the presidential election at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

  • Indian students react in front of photographers next to a cardboard cutout in the likeness of U.S. President Barack Obama after he was projected as the winner during an event organized by the U.S embassy at the landmark Imperial Hotel in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Obama defeated Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for a second term. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

  • U.S. citizens Jaspal Singh, right, and Jane Ludin break into a dance as President Barack Obama's win becomes certain, during a live telecast of U.S. presidential election results organized by the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Obama captured a second White House term, blunting a mighty challenge by Republican Mitt Romney as Americans voted for a leader they knew over a wealthy businessman they did not. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)

  • Indian students have their picture taken next to a cardboard cutout of President Barack Obama after he was projected as the winner of the U.S. presidential election during an event organized by the U.S. Embassy at the landmark Imperial Hotel in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Obama captured a second White House term, blunting a mighty challenge by Republican Mitt Romney as Americans voted for a leader they knew over a wealthy businessman they did not. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

  • A young woman poses for a photo with a cutout of President Barack Obama, right, beside a cutout of Republican candidate Mitt Romney, left, during an election night event organized by the U.S. embassy in Skopje, Macedonia, early Wednesday, Nov.7, 2012. President Barack Obama won re-election Tuesday night despite a fierce challenge from Republican Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

  • A shop assistant watches US President Barack Obama speaking on TV screen in Moscow TV shop, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)

  • A U.S citizen reacts as she poses for the media after watching the live telecast of U.S presidential election results in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. President Barack Obama captured a second White House term, blunting a mighty challenge by Republican Mitt Romney as Americans voted for a leader they knew over a wealthy businessman they did not. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

  • Guests watch live television coverage showing the victory of U.S. President Barack Obama, Wednesday Nov. 7, 2012, in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

  • Palestinians at a barber shop watch a televised speech by U.S. President Barack Obama after his vicotry, in the West Bank town of Jenin, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012.(AP Photo/Mohammed Ballas)

  • A Muslim woman poses for a photo with a cutout of President Barack Obama during a victory celebration for Obama in the U.S. presidential election in an event hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

 

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*This blog was previously published in the Vancouver Observer Mitt Romney made a mockery of his claim to godliness. Obama took Wisconsin and Ohio Tuesday night to become 44th President of the United...
*This blog was previously published in the Vancouver Observer Mitt Romney made a mockery of his claim to godliness. Obama took Wisconsin and Ohio Tuesday night to become 44th President of the United...
 
 
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pinkibus
1811 Fans
12:41 PM on 11/10/2012
The people of Westboro United think they are godly. Godly is as godly does. The poor of America fought for and got equal pay for equal work, coffee breaks, safe working conditions, a living wage. They did not get this from the rich by sitting down and accepting their fate. They fought for it. But the rich such as Romney found a source of slave labor and off shored as fast as they could. It was so much cheaper to make a pair of jeans in China for two fifty than it was to make the same pair of jeans in America where manufacturers had to pay a living wage rather than provide a bunk bed, poor food and pay that wouldn't buy a latte. Romney is for slave labor and Obama and the democrats are against it. Romney thinks it was wrong to kick the money lenders out of the temple. He thinks making money is great as long as he is the one who is making it. No free schools for him. No health benefits - you earn twelve thousand a year and that medical treatment that will save your life is a hundred thousand - tough.
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westcanguy
53 Fans
02:47 PM on 11/09/2012
The author has no credibility when she states that Romney made claims of Godliness. Not that Romney is a spiritual leader although he was a Pastor previously, you won't find any Christian with strong religious conviction, claim Godliness...Not even the Pope because they all acknowledge they are sinners and God is not.
Romney did not ridicule the struggles of his fellow man. We've all seen the tape of his private speech and he said that it wasn't his job to concern himself with the 47% of those who are Democrats or live off the government. How do you equate that to not loving your fellow man?
While I may not agree with how he stated that fact, he is correct. He shouldn't be wasting his time trying to convince the 47% that will already vote Democrat. Do you really think the Democrats really cared about the 47% of Republicans that were going to vote Republican? Of course not! Both parties went after the independent vote as well as urging the party faithful to vote.
You go on and on about all the lies yet you cite one.....Jeep outsourcing jobs to China. According to Forbes magazine, Romney did not say Chrysler was outsourcing jobs to China. He said Chrysler was going to start building Jeeps in China. The author herself either has a very slanted version of the truth or she herself is lying. She needs to be ashamed, not Romney.
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jsehgal
Micro-bio? There is too much to say!
205 Fans
02:36 PM on 11/09/2012
RE: "He truly owes an apology to his family, and to the American people for claiming to be a person of faith while blatantly lying and continuing to do so, even after called upon it, as in the last days of the campaign when he lied about Jeep outsourcing jobs to China, the climax to the opera of lies that made up his campaign."

His magic under wear forgave all the lies a few seconds after utterance.
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truenorth46
17 Fans
12:44 PM on 11/09/2012
The more I see of the role of religion in politics and public affairs, the more clear it becomes that it is a favourite tool for opportunists, scoundrels and charlatans of all stripes.

USA in particular has been going down a vary bad road where overt religiosity is a minimum requirement for certification as a true American. No speech can be given without some kind of god reference, or worse some kind of biblical justification. You can't even watch US pro sports without a bunch of "praise the lords" or "thanks to the almightys" on the field and after the game.
And you can't get elected without a "god bless America" after every speech and a hearty (if often phoney) declaration of devotion.

Romney and the Republican "religious right strategies" are just the logical outcome of an on-going campaign by those who would turn USA into a religious state.

And those who think separation of church and state is a wiser road have been far too quiet for far too long - afraid to appear "ungodly" and not willing to be seen going against this rising religious tide.

What is the logical outcome? Iran?
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gjemsek
3 Fans
12:13 PM on 11/09/2012
It's extremely hard for a person to "leave their bubble" if the bubble they live in continually reinforces what they do. Politicians, rock stars, celebrities, corporate CEOS and others in closed systems really have so little motivation to do so. Ms. Solomon's hope for some humility from Mitt Romney is shared by many, I'm sure, but the fall may not have been hard enough to produce that sort of insight or willingness to change. President Carter and Malcolm Fraser in Australia are two notable examples of politicians who have had a rough ride in their political journeys but nonetheless found humility and changed their thinking and their actions. Al Gore found a way to move from what may be the most painful defeat a person could experience to focusing his energies on something he could influence, so he is probably another example. When people access humility, however, I don't think it has to have any connection whatsoever with religion. Religions can inspire, but they are a bubble of their own, as interested in power and ideology as most political movements are. So if Mr. Romney is to come to terms with his deceit, he will have to do what all of us have to do when we are dishonest: face the consequences openly and be willing to take in feedback from a community of people who aren't "like-minded" with his own belief system but who somehow penetrate his awareness enough that he decides to move forward.
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GravffItti
40 Fans
11:04 AM on 11/09/2012
It doesn't say much about so-called christian 'values' when someone running for the leadership of the mightiest empire on the face of the planet blatantly, and without regret or remorse, uses lies, distortions, disingenuity and hypocrisy in his attempts to secure the position.

On the other hand maybe it says it all loud and clear.
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conductor274
123 Fans
11:04 AM on 11/09/2012
Now we need to duplicate this election in Canada and get rid of the liars and extremists in the Harper government. They are cut from the same cloth as Romney and his fellow republicans and rich donors.
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cbos
152 Fans
11:04 AM on 11/09/2012
Hopefully, politics of deceit is peaking now in Canada
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The Work Farce
49 Fans
10:46 AM on 11/09/2012
If President Obama had had more integrity and spirituality than egotism he would have resigned in protest years ago.
That would have sent the best possible message to the corporate, military and religious interests controlling government preventing Obama from doing the will of the people that he would not kow-tow to those corrupt forces but work with the people for the people to bring the changes he promised in his 2008 campaign, before he let down the entire world harder than any politician ever has.
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deebeck7765
166 Fans
10:01 AM on 11/09/2012
Very nice article. I hope the same.
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ScottinOttawa
24 Fans
09:57 AM on 11/09/2012
In today's world, religion & politics do not belong on the same stump. Religion once brought us together but now it divides us. Those who combine religion with a way forward in politics will find they become less relevant and to the voting public just as Mitt Romney and his republican colleagues did in this election.

Spiritual Agnosticism is the way forward for those who want to be effective in leadership. Spiritual Agnosticism is a philosophy that underscores the moral similarities of all religions and rejects the divisive differences between religions It doesn't matter what religion a person calls themselves a follower of, nor does it matter whether or not a person believes in God. When politicians represent themselves as spiritual agnostics, no longer do they have to lie and when they take the stump, they will be speaking for and to all.
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Whitey McWhite
58 Fans
04:53 PM on 11/10/2012
I agree it brought us together as in brought the black people over to North America to be enslaved. Religion is bad because it is based on nonsense.
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mbking
50 Fans
09:31 AM on 11/09/2012
Yes we did! And you spoke the truth so beautifully. Whether Mitt sees the truth or not is up to him, but this clearly was an election that brought truth as winner to the table.
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bigsyRB
57 Fans
09:27 AM on 11/09/2012
Great blog, you were certainly gentler than I with Romney in his defeat.
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Xdresser
7 Fans
08:55 AM on 11/09/2012
The problem is that religion is a cancer on humanity. More people are waking up to that fact.
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Sinkmyboats
17 Fans
08:26 AM on 11/09/2012
These so-called Christians in the Republican party are the antithesis of what Christ taught. Im an atheist myself, so if I'm wrong I will have some pleasure in hell watching them suffer. It would almost be worth it.
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