Dear F,
You make a good point.
When Romney bet Rick Perry
$10,000.00 during a primary debate, he completely contradicted his Mormon faith
which opposes every form of gambling, including state-sponsored
lotteries.
As you further point out,
gambling magnate Sheldon Adelson has already pumped $10,000,000.00 into
Romney's campaign - with more to come.
Question: As a practicing
Mormon, "should" Romney try to overturn government lotteries, just as
many Christians perceive a moral obligation to overturn abortion legislation
and deny access to contraception.
The following article is
posted at "What Mormons Believe" http://whatmormonsbelieve.org/mormons_gambling.html
Gambling
Gambling is found everywhere in society; poker, horse and dog races, at the grocery store, slot machines, and even in the home. Gambling is a game of chance that takes without giving value in return. Gambling puts money or other things of value into a pool and then redistributes it on the basis of a roll of the dice, a spin of the wheel, or a drawing of a number. Nothing of value is produced in the process.'1
The Mormon Church has always opposed gambling in every form, including government-sponsored lotteries.
Mormon prophets and leaders have counseled the members over time, to avoid gambling of any type. Doing so, leads one away from righteousness and into the hands of Satan. The Mormon belief is that it is an addictive behavior and leads only to destructive habits and practices. It undermines the value of work and motivates one to think that they can get something for nothing. In time, the gambler will deny themselves, as well as their family the basic needs of life. They will oft times steal from others to finance their addiction, which in turn leads to stealing, robbery, etc.
Government-sponsored lotteries have intensified the gambling issue. The National Foundation on the Study and Treatment of Pathological Gambling says that, 'lotteries may serve to introduce gambling to those who otherwise would shun it. People who have never bet before, seeing a state-run lottery with the [imprint] of government upon it, might buy a ticket; buying the first lottery ticket might be compared to a future drug addict taking his first puff on a cigarette. It's a starting point.'2
Mormon prophets and leaders have counseled the members over time, to avoid gambling of any type. Doing so, leads one away from righteousness and into the hands of Satan. The Mormon belief is that it is an addictive behavior and leads only to destructive habits and practices. It undermines the value of work and motivates one to think that they can get something for nothing. In time, the gambler will deny themselves, as well as their family the basic needs of life. They will oft times steal from others to finance their addiction, which in turn leads to stealing, robbery, etc.
Government-sponsored lotteries have intensified the gambling issue. The National Foundation on the Study and Treatment of Pathological Gambling says that, 'lotteries may serve to introduce gambling to those who otherwise would shun it. People who have never bet before, seeing a state-run lottery with the [imprint] of government upon it, might buy a ticket; buying the first lottery ticket might be compared to a future drug addict taking his first puff on a cigarette. It's a starting point.'2
And in 1985, then Governor of Florida Bob Graham, stated that, 'what the lottery says about success is the wrong message…' Catholic priest, Monsignor Joseph Dunne expressed his opinion in that, 'why should [children] get an education when with a little bit of luck they can win a bundle of money for life? That's what lotteries are doing to our youth.'3
Mormons do believe that they shouldn't participate or encourage others to gamble. When local and federal government legislations are considering passing laws dealing with gambling, Church leadership has encouraged members to put a voice in opposing such issues. Current Mormon Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley has urged the members of theMormon Church to do the following: "We urge members of the Church to join with others with similar concerns in opposing the legalization and government sponsorship of lotteries."4
For more information on the Mormon Church or Gambling, please see the following websites:
Gambling
What do Mormons Believe
Gambling
What do Mormons Believe
1 "Ensign", LDS magazine, "Gambling – Morally Wrong and Politically Unwise", Oaks, Jan 1987
2 "Christian Science Monitor", Custer, 1985
3 "Gambling and Lotteries", 1986
4 "Letter from the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", 1986 http://whatmormonsbelieve.org/mormons_gambling.html
On Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 2:10 PM, VF wrote:
Dear AGeorge Will likes him as does that gambling mogul who hosted him this weekend in Vegas who is pledging 100 million. Aren’t Mormons against gambling? Mitt even proposed that infamous $10,000 bet. Does he also waffle on his faith?love
From: Alan Archibald [mailto:alanarchibaldo@gmail.
To: Vito, Frances
Subject: More Good News! Re: According to Gallup poll, Ryan worst VP choice since Dan Quayle in 1988
5 reasons GOP insiders are quietly panicking over Paul Ryan
POSTED ON AUGUST 15, 2012, AT 7:14 AM
Rep. Paul Ryan R-Wis., Mitt Romney's vice presidential running mate, speaks during a rally on Aug. 11 in Manassas, Va. Ryan might be secretly worrying Republicans because of his unpopular budget proposals and Medicare plan.Photo: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer
Best Opinion: Politico, Daily Kos, Daily Beast...
Republican political professionals have been dutifully, even enthusiastically, singing the praises of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and the man, Mitt Romney, who boldly tapped Ryan as his running mate, say Alexander Burns, Maggie Haberman, and Jonathan Martin at Politico. Well, "don't buy it." Once you get them off the record, there's "an unmistakable consensus" among Republican insiders that Ryan poses an unnecessary, possibly fatal risk for Romney. Here are five reasons the pros who run Republican elections are quietly panicking over Romney's VP pick:
2. He alienates more voters than he entices
Lots of conservatives are very excited and energized by the Ryan pick — "Rush Limbaugh and Rupert Murdoch appear ecstatic about his elevation,"says Howard Kurtz at The Daily Beast. But the House GOP budget wonk also "has a long paper trail that could alienate moderate swing voters." Ryan's Medicare plan alone poses special dangers for Romney in senior-rich Florida, a must-win state. And Florida has another group Romney just threw out by tapping Ryan: Jews, says Peter Beinart at The Daily Beast. The GOP's big push to siphon off Jewish voters might have worked if Romney had stuck with his earlier fiscal and social moderation. "Indeed, were he still the Romney of a decade ago — pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-gay rights, and pro-universal health coverage — he might be on his way to grabbing 40 percent of the Jewish vote. But any trace of that Romney died when he chose Ryan. The race for the American Jewish vote is now probably over," and Obama won by default.
Lots of conservatives are very excited and energized by the Ryan pick — "Rush Limbaugh and Rupert Murdoch appear ecstatic about his elevation,"says Howard Kurtz at The Daily Beast. But the House GOP budget wonk also "has a long paper trail that could alienate moderate swing voters." Ryan's Medicare plan alone poses special dangers for Romney in senior-rich Florida, a must-win state. And Florida has another group Romney just threw out by tapping Ryan: Jews, says Peter Beinart at The Daily Beast. The GOP's big push to siphon off Jewish voters might have worked if Romney had stuck with his earlier fiscal and social moderation. "Indeed, were he still the Romney of a decade ago — pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-gay rights, and pro-universal health coverage — he might be on his way to grabbing 40 percent of the Jewish vote. But any trace of that Romney died when he chose Ryan. The race for the American Jewish vote is now probably over," and Obama won by default.
3. Americans hate Congress, and Ryan ties Romney to it
Before picking Ryan, "Romney had run an outsider campaign and kept a healthy distance from a historically unpopular Congress," says Russell Berman at The Hill. Now, he's "tied inextricably to congressional Republicans." We don't know yet "whether voters' disdain for Congress will in any way rub off on their assessments of Ryan," says Gallup pollster Frank Newport. But it can't be good for Team Romney that in the latest Gallup poll, a historically low 10 percent approve of Congress, versus 83 percent who disapprove.
Before picking Ryan, "Romney had run an outsider campaign and kept a healthy distance from a historically unpopular Congress," says Russell Berman at The Hill. Now, he's "tied inextricably to congressional Republicans." We don't know yet "whether voters' disdain for Congress will in any way rub off on their assessments of Ryan," says Gallup pollster Frank Newport. But it can't be good for Team Romney that in the latest Gallup poll, a historically low 10 percent approve of Congress, versus 83 percent who disapprove.
4. Ryan makes some tough congressional races even tougher
There are two groups of Republican operatives anonymously trashing Ryan, says Steve Benen at The Maddow Blog: One faction fears he will help lead Romney to defeat and the other "believe[s] Ryan will hurt the party up and down the ballot." GOP House and Senate candidates, especially those in tight races, just "don't know how to run with the 'kill Medicare' guy near the top of the ballot," and many of them are conspicuously distancing themselves from Ryan. As one top GOP consultant tells Politico, the addition of Ryan is "very not helpful down ballot — very."
There are two groups of Republican operatives anonymously trashing Ryan, says Steve Benen at The Maddow Blog: One faction fears he will help lead Romney to defeat and the other "believe[s] Ryan will hurt the party up and down the ballot." GOP House and Senate candidates, especially those in tight races, just "don't know how to run with the 'kill Medicare' guy near the top of the ballot," and many of them are conspicuously distancing themselves from Ryan. As one top GOP consultant tells Politico, the addition of Ryan is "very not helpful down ballot — very."
5. "GOP pros" are just known to panic for no good reason
This type of off-record griping is "an ancient Washington game" among political operatives, says Rick Moran at American Thinker. "The 'I told you so' pros" won't get stung if Romney wins, and if he loses they can "point at this piece — and others like it down the road — and claim prescience." In fact, "I'm reassured — indeed, encouraged — indeed, buoyed!" by the GOP hacks trash-talking Ryan, says William Kristol at The Weekly Standard. The "pseudo-sophisticated conventional wisdom" from these cowards is "a terrific contrarian indicator" of the state of the race: "When 'GOP pros' are most full of fear and apprehension about Republican prospects — for example, Reagan in 1980, Gingrich in 1994, and the Tea Party in 2010 — Republicans tend to do well."
This type of off-record griping is "an ancient Washington game" among political operatives, says Rick Moran at American Thinker. "The 'I told you so' pros" won't get stung if Romney wins, and if he loses they can "point at this piece — and others like it down the road — and claim prescience." In fact, "I'm reassured — indeed, encouraged — indeed, buoyed!" by the GOP hacks trash-talking Ryan, says William Kristol at The Weekly Standard. The "pseudo-sophisticated conventional wisdom" from these cowards is "a terrific contrarian indicator" of the state of the race: "When 'GOP pros' are most full of fear and apprehension about Republican prospects — for example, Reagan in 1980, Gingrich in 1994, and the Tea Party in 2010 — Republicans tend to do well."
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