A Baylor President once drew fire for not knowing the difference between a Mormon and a Baptist.  Jimmy Carter got into hot water with some Christians because he did not consider Mormons a cult.  Times are a changin.  Recently the Southern Baptist Convention refused to deal with a proposed resolution against Mormons.  It was deemed too controversial I would assume by the Resolutions Committee.

I have past experience with this committee, though it has, I am sure changed members. The agenda is similar.  I once proposed a resolution in San Antonio that churches and denominational leaders do not endorse political candidates.  This was never brought before the convention because the committee thought it was too controversial. A short few years later Bill Clinton was mentioned by name in a couple of resolutions, and it was not in a flattering manner. The recent refusal to pass a resolution against Mormons comes as no surprise.  Romney has more respect than fellow Baptist Clinton.  Which can best be explained as I am quoted by author Michelle Goldberg;  The religious Right will cross over theological lines to connect with someone politically, but will never cross over political lines to connect with someone theologically.

Ross Douthat, in his book, Bad Religion, How We Became a Nation of Heretics, notes another connection.  He writes about the strange adoration the evangelical right has with Mormon Glenn Beck.  He traces the roots of such a foundation to what he calls "messianism."  It is the use of nationalism connected with religious motivation to move the nation into foreign and domestic policy.  Beck used his end of times fervor, rooted in Mormon authors, to motivate the Religious Right.  At the Perry rally in Houston I beheld a woman wearing a tee shirt advertising the upcoming Beck national rally.   Douthat believes that starting with President Wilson, Presidents have used divine mandates to rally the nation.  He traces Messianic messages from Wilson to Obama.  He notes Beck helped lower the bar dividing Mormons and the Christian Right.  

Another explanation might be found in David Barton's fantasies.  Barton teaches that below the belt ethics trumps any economic, racial, doctrinal or social position.  Thus, one's view on gay marriage and abortion trumps all other ethical positions.  The pastor of First Baptist Dallas has expressed his disgust for Romney, but will choose him over Obama.  You will note the trump card with the addition that lowering taxes on rich members at Dallas is apparently more important than theology.  Richard Land, now head of the social policy division of the SBC, recently claimed he was not aware of that much difference between Mormons and Christians.  He got away with something Carter never enjoyed.  If journalists think the Christian Right is going to abandon the GOP because it is led by a Mormon, they will be surprised.  Their apocalyptic fear of Obama, urged on by the likes of Beck, will motivate them.