This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Re ("Obama scores ... worst with Mormons," July 12): This evaluation is troubling to me as a Mormon.
Certainly the LDS Church's stand supporting Proposition 8 in California plus further opposition to gay marriage affected the decline. However, early in Obama's first term, those of us who attended Town Hall meetings in Utah could see that efforts by groups such as Americans for Prosperity were successful in radicalizing those meeting against the President.
Mike Lee's town hall performances suggest a silent acceptance of such radicalization. The assertions of Kenyan birth, forged birth certificate, socialist agenda, death panels and an attack on Medicare were not loudly debunked by any of our Republican congressmen, but seemed to be encouraged.
Joseph Smith taught that the "glory of God is intelligence." Because so many us are misled, not just by half truths and innuendoes, but by downright lies ... we may have some work to do with our God-given intellects.
Karl Swan
Roy