Previous Election Tested Racism in the US; This Election Will Test Religious Tolerance

Writer Alexander Genis reflects on whether Mormon Mitt Romney can win the White House.

Despite his defeat in South Carolina, Mitt Romney remains the Republicans’ only hope, even though they don’t like him. Rick Perry, whom the liberals call a rainmaker, fizzled out after it became clear that not all of the United States is like Texas, where voters appreciate his cavalry politics. (Prior to his exit, Rick Perry called the Turkish terrorists, forgetting that they are NATO allies.)

Newt Gingrich, who (as was once said about Virginia) had the greatest role in strengthening as well as weakening Washington’s power, is too burdened by sin. His sin is not adultery, for which all men (including presidents) are ultimately forgiven, but hypocrisy. We cannot put up with a poke in the eye from someone who turns a blind eye on his own faults.

Gingrich, who is intelligent, educated (a history professor) and a skilled writer and speaker, is likeable in his own way. For example, he is passionate, not only about women, but also animals, especially dinosaurs. What’s bad is that Gingrich had asked his second wife to close her eyes on the third. This did not stop him from making a speech the very next day about the moral decline of his contemporaries, starting with Clinton. This story, which surfaced on the eve of the South Carolina primaries, reminded me of Valery Popov’s story about a movie shoot. In that story, after a drinking binge, a director took harsh measures against and fired a sober lighting professional.

Maybe Newt Gingrich would have been a better president than a husband, but voters from both political parties are unlikely to let him try. The Democrats are opposed to the White House intervening in their personal lives, especially when it comes to such intimate matters as abortion or gay marriage. The Republicans do not want the White House to intervene in their personal lives when it comes to such intimate matters as prayer in school or the right to bear arms. Both sides have doubts about Gingrich, and so do the Independents, whose vote practically determines the outcome of the election. Only the candidate capable of convincing Independent voters that his party affiliation does not replace his common sense can win the election. This is exactly what the presidential candidate with the longest resume can accomplish. Mitt Romney is such a person: an extremely successful businessman, munificent philanthropist, savior of the Olympic Games and a worthy governor of the liberal state of Massachusetts. He is the candidate that suits everyone and no one, except Utah.

Romney is a Mormon, and the significance of this is difficult to understand for anyone who forgets that America is a Christian nation — 83 percent of Americans consider themselves Christians. In relative terms, this means that there are more Christians in America than Jews in Israel or Hindus in India. Not surprisingly, all U.S. presidents have been Christians. Romney may end this tradition, because although all Mormons consider themselves Christians, one-third of Americans disagree with them.

To convince the skeptics, the Mormons are currently leading theological discussions. The topics are purely theological. But while the priests are arguing about the Trinity (the Mormons deny the consubstantiality of the Son and the Father), everyone else is interested in the exotic (rather than doctrinal) aspects of the cult.

From even a kind American’s point of view Mormonism resembles unscientific fantasy. Mormons believe that Christ was in America, the Stone Tablets were in upstate New York, and New Jerusalem was in Missouri. Marriages take place in Salt Lake City and last forever. After death, the righteous will receive their planet and become gods. So as not to leave anyone out, they baptize the dead — for example, Anne Frank. And, of course, there’s polygamy, which has long been outlawed. Officially, the Mormons have given it up in exchange for Utah’s statehood. But in fact, the locals know where the polygamists live, because the latter have huge houses with a stadium in their yard, big enough for a horde of kids.

I myself have met Mormons twice. The first time was in Rome, on my way to America, when a pair of young missionaries came for my soul with their dry faith. (Romney did not have it any easier, because he urged the French to give up wine.) The second time, a Mormon had lunch with me. My old school friend, who settled in Utah, brought him. Getting ready for the ordeal, I found out that Mormons are not only restricted from drinking alcohol, coffee or Coca-Cola (though I’m also a proponent of this), but they also cannot eat hot soup. I served okroshka (cold soup) and hid the vodka, just in case. I expected the worst, but made a faux pas. My guest turned out to be a physicist and a humorist. Between the appetizers and anecdotes he had shown such leniency toward our errors that my friend and I ended up drinking and even smoking. Mormons are expecting the same tolerance from America this year, when one of them is, for the first time, halfway to Washington.

In the last presidential election, America was tested regarding racism. This time, the country will be tested on religious tolerance. If Romney wins the election, America will not become a less religious country. It will simply prove (as did Europe many years ago) that it’s capable of separating God and politics far enough to let a non-Christian into the White House.