Sunday, January 22, 2012
Polygamist Romney
NPR runs a fascinating feature this morning on the Romney origins. Mitt's father George was born in Mexico, in a colony of polygamist Mormons. The colony had been established by Salt Lake a couple generations earlier, as a sneaky way of keeping polygamy running after it was outlawed in America.
Most interesting implication, not mentioned in the story: This means George Romney was never eligible to run for President. His ancestors were Mexican nationals. They weren't just vacationing or doing missionary work or serving in the military. The 'Birther' question should have popped up before he even entered the 1968 primaries ... but it didn't. Back then, the media were pro-Communist as they are now, but they were timid about messing with party politics. (The FCC was far stronger then, wielding the Fairness Doctrine against partisan idiocy, so the media didn't want to piss off any potential Presidents.) Also, the Constitution wasn't a topic of daily discussion then. Our attitude toward it was Catholic; most folks trusted the high priests to know and interpret the laws. Bad mistake. ¶ 5:16 AM
Most interesting implication, not mentioned in the story: This means George Romney was never eligible to run for President. His ancestors were Mexican nationals. They weren't just vacationing or doing missionary work or serving in the military. The 'Birther' question should have popped up before he even entered the 1968 primaries ... but it didn't. Back then, the media were pro-Communist as they are now, but they were timid about messing with party politics. (The FCC was far stronger then, wielding the Fairness Doctrine against partisan idiocy, so the media didn't want to piss off any potential Presidents.) Also, the Constitution wasn't a topic of daily discussion then. Our attitude toward it was Catholic; most folks trusted the high priests to know and interpret the laws. Bad mistake. ¶ 5:16 AM
