The answers are guaranteed to be extremely boring and irrelevant. Hitchens himself knows what the politically correct answers would have to be. He's only pretending to be interested in hearing them because he likes to bash religion.

Do you think God is racist? No. Do you think blacks are inferior? No. Can you give us a thoughtful commentary on the evolution of Mormon attitudes towards blacks, women, and gays throughout the decades? Well [insert cautious platitudes here...] and in conclusion [more platitudes...]

Yawn... Most of us are not so interested in testing Romney's skill as an apologist for his faith --- and greatly appreciate the fact that he prefers to about other things instead.

Well said.

Mr. Romney is free to believe any nonsense he chooses are feels it expedient to uphold, whether it is that the world is flat, or the Garden of Eden is in Missouri, or that Jesus appeared to Indians, who are the lost tribes of Israel, or some con artist discovered golden tablets inscribed in a strange language in Ohio or somewhere. Mr. Romney can believe this nonsense of any other nonsense, as a free and private person. Unfortunately for Mr. Romney he is not a private person and is seeking the highest office int he land, and his beliefs do matter. If Mr. Romney holds these bizarre and patently false beliefs to be knowledge from God, it does matter to us, and it should indicate what kind of President he might be if elected.

Unfortunately for you...you COMPLETELY misunderstand what Latter Day Saints really believe about our doctrine, history, and more importantly, our beliefs about government. You COMPLETELY misunderstand our plight to obtain education...instead, you seem to prefer caricature. It's understandably more entertaining, but less intellectually satisfying.

Get educated on Mormonism or get out of town. We grow quite weary of defending ourselves to folks who seem bring nothing to the table besides random sniping and a few drops of mud.

Well said Russell. Well said.

"Donald Wolberg wrote the following post at 11/27/2007 11:43 PM: Mr. Romney is free to believe any nonsense he chooses are feels it expedient to uphold, whether it is that the world is flat, or the Garden of Eden is in Missouri, or that Jesus appeared to Indians, who are the lost tribes of Israel, or some con artist discovered golden tablets inscribed in a strange language in Ohio or somewhere. Mr. Romney can believe this nonsense of any other nonsense, as a free and private person. Unfortunately for Mr. Romney he is not a private person and is seeking the highest office int he land, and his beliefs do matter. If Mr. Romney holds these bizarre and patently false beliefs to be knowledge from God, it does matter to us, and it should indicate what kind of President he might be if elected. "

What? Seriously?

What kind of reasoning is that?

Those beliefs you stated above have absolutely no bearing on what kind of president he would be. If you want to know what kind of president he would be, look at his record as governor. Talk to citizens of Massachusetts. Look at his record as chairman of the Olympic Committee, or whatever that was. He has shown leadership that is on a completely different plane than the belief system that some think is strange. (I'm not voting for Romney, by the way. I'm a Mormon Democrat--how 'bout that?)

Please, I would like to think America has evolved beyond Hitchens-style religion-bating.

Hitchens, at least in his public life, is little more than a snide, smarmy, angry man with a very narrow agenda. The few smiles he has eaked out have either been after putting someone else down, or while snickering at someone's "absurd" belief system. Do you really want to follow that?

And speaking of holding influential public figures accountable for their belief system, has anyone bothered to ask Hitchens what horrific childhood trauma brought him to this malevolent, bitter state?

Given the man's history of viscerally charged, but substantially convoluted rhetoric, there's more than just dispassionate reason behind his spiteful attacks.

Before we are forced to be under the influence of this man for any longer, shouldn't we find out the story behind it all?

I say this, of course, with tongue dutifully planted in cheek.