Romney’s Ascension?

A reader sent a stirring account of Romney’s speech at the Red Rocks amphitheater outside Denver, in which the audience of 10,000 was tremendously moved and so was Romney. Then, back stage, Romney stepped away from the crowd of supporters to be alone for a moment, the crowd sensed something extraordinary happening, and Romney prayed to God aloud. I found it all very inspiring, but also questionable, and I replied to the reader:

This was an e-mail without an author’s name attached to it that was sent to a blogger and posted by him. No offense intended, but as far as publishable journalism is concerned, this is cr*p.

Did singing angels also come down from heaven and alight on his shoulders?

And notice that the unnamed author of the e-mail does not even claim to have seen Romney’s prayer:

“It was described as something very peaceful and powerful that came over that backstage area for a moment.”

So the unnamed author of the e-mail was not present at the event that he describes. He didn’t see the prayer. He’s an anonymous person repeating something he heard from other anonymous people. It’s pure cr*p.

UPDATE, October 26, 4:06 p.m.:

I see that Lucianne Goldberg has posted the anonymous e-mail as though it were legitimate journalism. And it has led many of her commenters to dissolve in thankful tears that God has chosen such a wonderful man to be our president. Such is the suggestibility and sentimentalism of the Republican base.

Only one L-dotter sees through the obvious unbelievability of the story:

Reply 32—Posted by: paloalto, 10/25/2012 6:47:35 PM

FTA: “And the governor, he lowers his head and his eyes shut tight and you could see him take a slow deep breath and then he lets it out and says quietly, but just loud enough for some to hear, “Lord, if this is your will, please help to make me worthy. Please give me the strength Lord.”

I’m sorry, this just doesn’t ring true. My impression of Romney is that he’s a private man. He may have prayed silently, but I really have a hard time believing he prayed out loud, or that he prayed loud enough for anyone to hear him. I just don’t believe it.

[end of L-dotter’s comment]

It’s like the story of George Washington kneeling in the snow and praying at Valley Forge. It’s possible that Washington, though he believed more in Providence than the God of Christianity, did pray during those desperate days. But that he would do it publicly and so dramatically (kneeling in the snow before the eyes of his officers and soldiers) would be totally out of character for him and is not believable.

- end of initial entry -

The reader replies:

I cannot argue with your reply. But I put my faith in God:

But if you shall indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and an adversary to your adversaries. (Exodus 23:22.)

Ran M. writes:

I agree with you that the prayer attributed to Romney is a fabrication. As a Mormon, I can attest that the “quoted” prayer is not a Mormon-style prayer. Mormons are taught to pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ, so our prayers often start with “Dear Heavenly Father,” and end, virtually without exception, with “In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

LA replies:

Well, that disposes me more favorably to Mormonism, since in the traditional Christian liturgy all prayers are addressed to the Father, in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ. I believe low church Protestants and evangelicals pray directly to Jesus.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at October 26, 2012 11:59 AM | Send