A Last Farewell to Mitt

Stephen Mack's assertion that "religion makes a virtue of alienation" (Stephen Mack) can't be more true in the wake of Mitt Romney's withdrawal from the Republican primary. A successful businessman attributed with saving the Salt Lake City Olympics of 2002, a moderate and relatively well-liked member of the GOP, the governor of the typically "blue" state of Massachusetts, and an all-around good-looking guy, Mitt Romney seemed to be the perfect Republican nomination for the next US President. (Wall Street Journal)

But then there's the fact he's Mormon.

According to the Washington Monthly, "We would all like to believe that a politician's religious affiliation isn't an obstacle to higher office." But of those polled, 17% of Americans admit to having qualms electing a Mormon to the white house, compared to the substantial yet significantly lower 4% of people who found electing a Catholic to the white house unacceptable before John F. Kennedy. This, coupled with the composition of the Republican voting block (30% are declared evangelical Christians), Mitt Romney's religious affiliation seems to be his Achilles heel. (Washington Monthly)

Romney's forced withdrawal from the presidential race ultimately raises an age-old question, how separate are church and state? This question was first posed by Roger Williams, a dissenter of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and subsequent founder of Providence. He argued that our democracy requires a "hedge or wall of separation between the Garden of the Church and the Wilderness of the World". (Stephen Mack)

However, this separation can hardly be absolute when it comes to political public intellectuals or figures, and I argue that all politicians are public intellectuals. (see Public Intellectual? Who, Me?) Religion undeniably forms who we are and how we view the world. It is an institution partially created and spread to enforce moral codes and respect that are required in civilized society. Essentially, a good afterlife is the reward for showing kindness to your neighbors. But, one must argue the extent that a public intellectual can use religion as a communication or even unification tool. Edward Said of Columbia University defined a public intellectual as someone who has "personal commitment to an ideal". However, that ideal "must also have relevance for society". Applying this notion to the political public intellectual, one should keep in mind that religion can be central to one's outlook and attitude. However, "when you make public arguments, you have to ground them - as much as possible in reason and evidence...otherwise you can't persuade other people". (Peter Beinart as rephrased by Stephen Mack)

Essentially, a politician cannot be expected to deny the part of his character that is formed by religious affiliation. However, if he expects to lead such a diverse country, he must be able to communicate in a universal language to the people; a language that cannot be religious. He must "communicate his ideas to the world, not just to fellow intellectuals" or people of the same faith. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

And to be fair, Mitt Romney made no attempt to hide his religion, nor any to advocate it. He honestly admitted, "The respect I have for American values flows from the faith that I have." (Wall Street Journal) But also squelched fears saying, "No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes president he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths." (CNN)

Stephen Mack summed up the argument of the religious aspect of public intellectuals when he said, "A more important challenge would center on how religion is being used, not whether it is used." It is absurd to ask public intellectuals to ignore, or at least appear to ignore, their religious affiliations in the same way it would be absurd to ask the American people to completely disregard a presidential candidate's religious background. But there should be boundaries. A politician cannot base public policy on the religious doctrines of his church. It would be unethical to attempt to outlaw abortion based on the fact that one's personal faith does not support it. And while the American people have the right to analyze the effect that one's religion will have on their governing practices, that should not be the sole qualification for a presidential candidate. Unfortunately for Mitt Romney, I believe it was a deciding factor for some Republican voters. It certainly seems to be the case for that block of evangelicals who are now unhappy with the relatively moderate McCain. Mitt Romney was obviously the greater of two evils. And while I find fault in his policies and the Republican party in general, I find fault in the American public for continuing to headline his religion throughout the the primaries, at a time when there are arguably much more important topics to be discussed.