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Why Is The Media Obsessed With Mormons?

http://www.captainsquartersblog.com
posted by tom6a 517 days ago | status: published

"The New York Times features yet another editorial by yet another journalist giving yet another slate of advice for Mitt Romney to address his "Mormon problem". This time Newsweek's Kenneth Woodward, their reporter on religion, offers all of the reasons that Americans are apparently hysterical about the prospect of having an LDS president."

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Peter also wrote up a commentary on LDS News Watch about Woodward's article:

http://www.ldsnewswatch.com/2007/04/09/ny-times-op-ed-piece-describes-the-lds-church/

written by cboyack 517 days ago

Well said, Captain. The whole "OMG MORMONZ" campaign is getting a little old. And, again, Reid did not have to face the "MORMONZ" problem. I think Orson Scott Card put it very nicely in that editorial he wrote a few weeks ago.

written by Hhhhh 516 days ago

The media has been obsessed with Mormons since the time Mormons began to exist, that is to say, almost 200 years. Recall that the early years of Mormondom were fraught with newspaper editorials and articles claiming to expose the Mormons, etc. When Joseph Smith ran for President, the media remained obsessed with Mormons. The media sent reporters to Utah to report on the Mormons' new homeland. The media obsessed over polygamy in the 1800's, and the obsess over it now. The media was obsessed with Mormons during the Salt Lake Olympics. Jerry Springer and the talk show circuit were obsessed with famous polygamist Tom Green. Tom Hanks and HBO produce a TV drama about fundamentalist Mormon polygamists. Mitt Romney's campaign is almost always covered by the media from the "Mormon angle". Mitt Romney could be a two-headed 9 foot tall bearded woman, but the media would still find the Mormon angle most interesting.

I myself remain fascinated that the media is so fascinated by Mormons. But for some reason so is the general population. When I was not a Mormon, I once met a guy in my high school who was Mormon and I was amazed that here, in my presence, was a real live Mormon. He was the only Mormon in my school and I could hardly believe that we had one. Many years later, when I joined the Church, people would react similarly when they found out I was Mormon. No one really knew quite what it meant, but they were intrigued.

I have met with new clients and they have right away "detected" my status as a Mormon. I've asked them, "why do you ask if I am a Mormon" and they say "I just got the impression you were". But that begs the unasked question, "why is this significant? Do you ask other people 'Are you Pentecostal?' 'Are you Lutheran?""

For whatever reason, people are fascinated with Mormons and Mormonism. I consider it a Good Thing, overall.

The "Why?" part I cannot answer, unless to say that people's innate desire of trying to find "what is truth" leads them to be curious about us.

written by frozenchosenAK 516 days ago

I think the (liberal) media just has a fetish about Mormons. I have never got harassed by gays and transvestites as often as I did when on my mission.

written by Hhhhh 516 days ago

I don't think it is just the liberal media, though, as Christian/Conservative media often flog the Mormons. And as I mentioned, a large number of the general population have a certain curiosity about Mormons that defies reason.

written by frozenchosenAK 515 days ago

Why Is The Media Obsessed With Mormons?

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