Regarding “The McLaughlin Group” of Dec. 9, 2007, and broadcast in Utah on KUED and KBYU:
Lawrence O’Donnell’s comments regarding the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on “The McLaughlin Group” of Dec. 9, 2007, have no proper place in the political discourse of our nation.
I realize the slash and burn format of “The McLaughlin Group” encourages throwing sucker punches. Few regular viewers tune in expecting civility. Perhaps, Mr. O’Donnell thought his role on this particular episode was to demean Mitt Romney by demeaning his faith. If that is the case, he demeaned only himself with his bigoted tirade against the LDS Church.
Members of the LDS Church have seen religious bigotry for much of the Church’s existence. Simmering just below the surface, the ugliness has come to the top of the cauldron as an obstacle to Romney’s candidacy in a Republican Party that has overly relied on public piety as a political tactic. I was saddened to see a Democratic voice joining the GOP chorus calling for the rejection of a candidate for public office based on their religious beliefs.
There are many legitimate reasons to oppose Governor Romney's candidacy, which we do. His ever-changing positions on matters of public policy and his past job performance leave many areas for appropriate disagreement.
Mr. O’Donnell, Democrats in Utah do not associate themselves with your commentary. We reject it entirely. Utah Democrats refuse to become collateral damage because of your misguided attack on a Republican candidate for President of the United States. To do otherwise would undermine fine Democrats who are members of the LDS Church, most prominently on the national stage is U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
Members of the LDS Church claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. And, they honor the civic compact of our nation by believing in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
That’s how it is in America, Mr. O’Donnell. That is our social contract. I think you owe Mitt Romney, the members of the LDS Church, and the Democratic Party an apology.
Wayne Holland
Chair, Utah Democratic Party
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panelists on Doug Fabrizio's "Utah Now" discussed the O'Donnell's comments and Romney's speech. The program includes excerpts from "The McLaughlin Group." Listen to it or watch it on KUED's Web site.
2 comments:
Mr. Holland,
I appreciate very much your pointed response to Mr. O'Donnell's bigoted remarks recently about Mitt Romney and the LDS Church. It was offensive, and frankly astounding that such remarks would be made and allowed to go relatively unchallenged on national TV. I wish there were more integrity in the media when things such as this go on - across the board.
One challenge I have to your dig at Mitt Romney based on his "ever changing positions . . ." --I guess that means you'll reject Senator Clinton as a Presidential Candidate as well? She, like her husband, have frequently said and done whatever it took to get elected and stay in power. Recent things include support/non-support for the war and troops, support/non-support for drivers licenses for illegal immigrants, support/non-support for increased spending and taxes, support/non-support for government-run healthcare. The list goes on and on and on.
I certainly don't expect the Utah Democratic Party Chair to take a position supporting a Republican Presidential candidate, but your response to Mr. O'Donnell's bigoted remarks would have had far more power had they not been accompanied by just more of the same old politically-charged accusations that most politicos toss around whether they mean anything or not.
Lawrence O'donnell should apologize to the LDS church on the day when the LDS church apologizes for (and denounces) its past racist/segregationist teachings.
Until that day, Lawrence O'donnell owes no one an apology.
Post a Comment