| Heard
on the street: Providence residents weigh in on Romney
and religion
By Maddie Wilson
March 9, 2007 | PROVIDENCE -- Americans should focus
on Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's "hideous, revolting
idea for a health care plan" instead of his religious
views when considering him for president, according
to one Providence resident.
Laura Fisher said citizens should not consider a presidential
candidate's religious views when voting, but rather
their policies, such as Romney's health care plan. She
said most Americans do not heavily consider a candidate's
religious beliefs, and this was shown when Romney was
elected governor in Massachusetts.
"If you can win governor in Massachusetts, it
doesn't seem like [religion] would be a problem,"
Fisher said.
Other Providence residents, responding to an informal
survey on Romney and his religion, had a variety of
responses.
Resident Darlene Henderson also said citizens do not
consider religion because beliefs "do not play a role
in what they are capable of doing and what they can
bring to the table."
"A voter needs to look for qualifications, experience,
values, and what the candidate stands for," said Henderson.
Providence resident Michael Lewis and City Council
member Trent Rasmussen, however, said Romney's religious
views will be a factor for voters even though they shouldn't.
"When there's a Mormon, people suddenly think it's
bad," said Rasmussen.
Lewis and Rasmussen said that most people do not accept
Mormons because they do not know very much about what
they believe.
"If people would look into the fundamentals of the
Mormon religion, they wouldn't have a problem with them,"
said Rasmussen. He said that a positive stamp would
be placed on the Mormon religion if Romney was elected
because people could learn more about Mormon beliefs.
Lewis, however, said that no stamp of approval would
be placed on the Mormon religion if Romney was elected.
Rasmussen said that he takes some consideration of
a candidate's religion when he votes.
"It has some bearing on how my opinion would
be, but not much," said Rasmussen.
"What he would do for us as a community, his goals
and objectives" also matter, he said.
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