UC's Luke Perry pens piece for The Conversation on President's criticism of Mitt Romney

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UC's Luke Perry pens piece for The Conversation on President's criticism of Mitt Romney

Romney and Trump AP - Luke Perry article

Businessman Donald Trump endorses presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2012 in Las Vegas. AP/Julie Jacobson

Mitt Romney has been one of few prominent Republicans to criticize Donald Trump, beginning with the 2016 presidential campaign. He did so again recently in response to Trump’s critical comments about John McCain.

In The Conversation US, Luke Perry, professor of government and politics and director of UC's Center for Public Affairs and Election Research, wrote an interesting piece on Mitt Romney and his criticism of President Donald Trump.

Perry writes:

“I can’t understand why the President would, once again, disparage a man as exemplary as my friend John McCain,” Romney tweeted.

Why is Romney staking out a lonely position as a Republican Trump critic?

Among the answers floated by observers are that he still wants to be president or he fundamentally misunderstands how to influence Trump’s political behavior, or both.

To date, though, there has been little mention of Romney’s religion. I’m a scholar who has studied the role of religion in U.S. politics, and I believe Romney’s Mormon faith is central to understanding his concerns about Trump’s character and leadership.

Donald Trump is arguably the least religious president in U.S. history and has displayed a penchant for moral relativism over bedrock beliefs.

Had he won the 2012 presidential campaign, Romney would have arguably been the most religious president ever.

Of course, Romney is personally motivated, politically calculating and pragmatic, like most national political figures. But he is also immensely devout. You cannot fully understand Mitt Romney without recognizing this.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon) asks adherents to regularly contribute significant amounts of time and resources to the church.

As I document in my book “Mitt Romney, Mormonism, and the 2012 Election,” Romney’s family has deep roots in Mormon history, tracing back to the conversion of his English ancestors 175 years ago. Romney has been a respected religious leader dating back to his mission in France, where he distinguished himself by assuming an expanded leadership role after surviving a deadly car accident, which killed the wife of the mission president.

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