Last week, I wrote about some weird emails I received inviting me to attend an event at the National Press Club unveiling a new book that would Swift Boat a major candidate. As promised, I skipped it but kept alert for the details.
Mary Ann Akers, who writes “The Sleuth” blog for WaPo, attended, along with “about a dozen reporters and four photographers who clearly had nothing better to do.”
A lapsed Mormon, Michael Moody mocked his former religion (in very nasty terms) and declared Romney unfit for the presidency because of what he sees as the Mormon former Massachusetts governor’s biggest conflict: his “blood oath” to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
And then came the “C” word: “The great American cult,” Moody said, characterizing the religion founded by Joseph Smith, a prophet to Mormons.
[…]
Instead, Moody spoke in more dumbed-down terms of how Mormons are beholden to living prophets, such as Gordon Hinckley, who can tip them off to the Second Coming. “The Mormon prophet — he is the man,” Moody said, adding that “they” — the Mormons — are “waiting for Hinckley to tell ’em: ‘Let’s go to Missouri and knock it off with an Osmond concert and build the new Jerusalem.”
I also got a fourth breathless update from Daryl Toor, the press agent for Revelation Press. The intro:
In 2004, John Kerry faced opposition from an unexpected quarter – his fellow Swift Boat veterans from Vietnam. In 2008, it’s Mitt Romney’s turn to be “Swift-Boated” – but this time, instead of unsubstantiated innuendo, Romney is “Swift Boated” with a comprehensively-researched, solidly fact-based book – Mitt, Set Our People Free! Like Toto in Oz, this book tears away the curtain and reveals the truth behind the Mormon Church and its beliefs about the U.S. Presidency – and what that will mean to “President” Mitt Romney.
This exciting new book – Mitt, Set Our People Free! – published by Revelation Press, reveals just how Mitt Romney’s sacred oath to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, known as the Mormons or the LDS – including a vow of obedience to the “Living Prophet,” the President of the LDS Church – will impact his ability to govern as President of the United States.
Jesus said that man cannot serve two masters – but if Romney is elected President, he will have to serve two conflicting oaths. American Presidents swear an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. However, this Presidential Oath is in direct conflict with Romney’s sacred oath to his Mormon Church – a blood oath which puts Romney’s life, fortune and obedience at the unrestricted service of his Church. This obedience is defined by the Church’s Living Prophet, the President of the Mormon Church and – as they believe – the literal Voice of God on earth.
(The email had weird machine language characters where the em dashes appear above but it cut and pastes fine. Likely a Mormon plot directed by the angel Maroni.)
These people are clearly buffoons. They continue to direct me to a website, http://www.revelationpress.com/, that does not exist. Their press release says the book is available at Amazon but they don’t provide a direct link. Nor does a search for the author or title reveal any results. Perhaps Hinckley and his evil minions are behind these plots?
I’m glad I decided not to walk the four blocks from my office over to the National Press Building for this one. Methinks I’ll pass on the book as well.
Ironically, however, I’m still not voting for Romney.
