Monday, December 18, 2006

Mitt Romney And The Warren Jeffs' Trial - Must See Court TV Not Good For Governor Big Love

The Gang of 500 considers Mitt Romney to be a top-tier Presidential candidate. I believe the Gang's consensus opinion about Governor Big Love is wrong and I explain why here: http://greenmountainpolitics1.blogspot.com/2006/12/mitt-romney-has-gone-seoul-searching.html

If Romney's (mostly) self-inflicted wounds aren't terrible enough Warren Jeffs, a polygamist church leader accused of forcing a 14-year-old girl to marry his older cousin in 2001, is about to stand trial on charges of rape by accomplice.

The Jeffs's trial will have a profoundly negative impact on the candidacy of Mitt Romney. I cannot understand why more political operatives are not talking about this.

Jeffs is the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) FLDS traces its roots to early Mormon theology and the practice of plural marriage. FLDS members consider Jeffs a "prophet of God with dominion over their salvation". It's not surprising then that Jeffs also considers himself a prophet of God and plans on proving that fact, and his innocence, at his trial.

Warren Jeffs has nothing to do with Mitt Romney. The mainstream Mormon church, which Governor Big Love is a part of, has next to nothing to do with Jeffs's FLDS sect.

It will not matter one bit.

The organic Freak Show about to start in a St. George, Utah courtroom has everything: A psycho cult leader/oppressed followers who talk to the press/child rape/child brides/weirdo interviews with "former" FLDS members on Larry King Live/Jon Krakauer discussing "Under the Banner of Heaven" on Oprah/24-hour trial coverage on Court TV. On and on.

The trial will continue for several months. The New Hampshire Primary is 56 weeks away.

How can we expect Governor Big Love to explain the nuances of his Mormon faith when he is still unable to explain the generalities of his religion?

We do not.

This trial will hurt him. Terribly.