What are Mormons doing in the Times food section?

In fairness, it found the Cod in a fairly grumpy state, but Moskin's piece on the New Mormon Cuisine bothered me a little bit. You may know that one of the frontrunners for the Republican presidential nomination belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, a relatively recent Christian sect with some unusual features and a rather colorful history. Some of the more unusual aspects of this church, or perhaps of its history, make some folks uneasy about the idea of a Mormon president. Recently, the Mormons have ramped up an aggressive advertising campaign around the theme of "I'm a Mormon," which seems to be aiming to make Mormonism seem more familiar and less threatening as one of their own is running for President. The timing, indeed, reopens some of the questions about the LDS church's status as a religious, rather than political entity that came up in the wake of Prop 8 in California. 

There needs to be a food section every Wednesday, I guess, but it's hard not to see Moskin's article as participating in the same kind of effort as the "I'm a Mormon" campaign, in that the aim of the article seems to be to make Times readers more comfortable and familiar w/ Mormon culture. In other words, the article will help Romney, to some degree. Some say Bruni had a hand in W's rise to the presidency -- perhaps Moskin can do the same. 

Comments

[Frolic (aka Todd Price)]

Personally, I think all religions are kooky. Mormonism just lacks the comforting patina of antiquity.

It's ironic, though, to be telling the Times to knock this whole dispelling of prejudices business, lest it undermine the reelection of the nation's first black president.

[Frolic (aka Todd Price)]

"knock off"

My kingdom for a blog comment editing feature.

[Addison]

Thank you. That Bruni book is really awful.

[Marco]

@Mormon.org, the first photo I saw was of a man and a woman. The text reads "Stanley never sleeps...". What does one think of next? Not heritage pork or the materiality of print.

[Marco]

Using Todd's in-browser comment editor, @Mormon.org: "Stan hardly sleeps. He's thinking about his next great invention...high-thrill amusement rides."

[Todd Price]

Marco: Oh my god (or whatever the Mormons call their deity), thanks for bringing that Mormon.org link to my attention. Funniest thing I've seen all week.

[cheap ugg boots]

Wow!! I can’t believe it took me so long to find you! THANKYOU!

[Amy Bowen]

Oh my heck!