By Mike Taibbi, Michelle Balani, and Mario Garcia
Rock Center
Heading into the New Hampshire primary, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has a strong lead in the polls as he continues his effort to become the Republican nominee challenging President Obama in the fall. That would mean, of course, that the 64-year-old Romney would be closer to The White House than any Mormon ever has been.
If Romney secures the nomination, he would also be the first presidential nominee whose father was born in Mexico.
It's a little-known fact that there's a whole branch of Mitt Romney’s family living south of the border, including his second cousin Leighton Romney, and about 40 other relatives descended from religious pioneers who first traveled to Mexico 125 years ago. These days, the Romneys of Mexico enjoy pleasant and productive lives in two remaining settlements: Colonia Juarez and Colonia Dublan, just 175 miles south of the border.
“He's got a great pioneer heritage starting with people that crossed the plains going from Illinois to Utah, and then on from Utah down to Mexico," Leighton Romney told NBC’s Mike Taibbi in an interview to air Monday night on 'Rock Center with Brian Williams.' “So there's a great heritage there of people that had to fight for what they believed in and for people that had to travel to different places and learn different things. I think there's a vast amount of experience that he could draw from there.”
Jonathan Ernst / Getty Images
From governor's son to presidential contender, a look at the life of Republican Mitt Romney.
In his public life Mitt Romney has said and written little about his ancestors' history in Mexico. In one oft-repeated quote he said his family left the U.S. for Mexico to escape persecution for their religious beliefs.
In fact, Romney's great grandfather, Miles Park Romney, led that first expedition to escape not persecution but prosecution for polygamy, or what Mormons called ‘plural marriage.’ After polygamy ended, the family remained in Mexico. Mitt Romney's father, George, was born in Colonia Dublan, one of the colonies in northern Mexico that the Romneys settled in after their arrival. His mother, Lenore LaFount Romney, was born in Utah.
When Romney’s father was five years old, the Mexican Revolution broke out and his parents moved back to the United States to avoid the violence. Mitt Romney was eventually born in Michigan. But the other branch of the family – leading down to Romney's cousins Leighton, Mike and Meredith – stayed behind in Mexico, their numbers growing. The Romneys chose to remain in Mexico because they established good lives for themselves and their families there. Most of them are now dual-citizens.
“We certainly have a love for both countries,” adds Leighton. “I can sing both national anthems and tear up at both of them. I think that having two countries that you love and two countries that you can serve or be a beneficiary of their service is a great thing.”
The Romneys living in Mexico are well aware of their wealthy and famous relative’s popularity in the Republican primary race. They support their cousin's candidacy and they hope that Mitt will be more open about the issue of his religion and Mexican heritage during the campaign. It’s a family history they’re proud of, despite the fact that Mitt Romney has never come to visit.
If Romney does get the Republican nod, and the media spotlight of a presidential campaign points south toward Mexico, it will probably land on many of these unknown Romney family nuggets, and on Mormonism itself, the religion shared by Mitt Romney and the cousins he doesn't know. That part is okay with Romney's cousins.
“We're Christians, complete in every sense of the word. I don't think that any candidate for any office would shy away from their religion. I think it's something to stand up and be proud of,” Leighton said.
Editor's note: Mike Taibbi's full report, 'Romney's Roots,' airs Monday, January 9, at 10pm/9c on NBC's 'Rock Center with Brian Williams.'
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This must be why Romney hasn't shown us his birth certificate.
Hi any son or daughter of a Mexican today born in the USA can apply and get Mexican citizenship, this is not for the wealthy, and so can any son or daughter born abroad of an American parent apply to be a US citizen, as long as his parent lived in the USA long enough to pass on citizenship, or was serving the US govt overseas. If child underage, parent may apply for child. This is more or less standard practice in many countries today. Each country has its own rules. The US Panama Canal Zone, now non existent, was considered US territory and even issued its own US stamps.
All this in the US is considered a birthright and is not contingent on getting a green card or immigrating to the USA. Those who get a green card and become citizens are naturalized on the date they are accepted and have all the rights and duties of a citizen, except being President.
Our founding fathers were mostly British subjects by birth, but because of the declaration of independence became US Citizens. As far as I know, they did not individually and formally renounce their British rights, yet they served as Presidents. In those days there was very much less government mandated paperwork.
President Obama's mother was definitely a U.S. citizen, and any child she gave birth to would have been a U.S. citizen, even if she gave birth on the moon. That should have been enough to shut up birthers.
I remember a story--published in the Reader's Digest--during the Cold War of a man whose U.S. mother gave birth to him in Soviet territory, and was able to claim his right to live in the United States as he was a U.S. citizen.
Elk. I guess the point from my perspective in relation to your comment about the woman giving birth in Soviet territory is that Mitt's family left the USA for Mexico in 1886. They were not on an extended vacation and suddenly gave birth. My grandparents left Spain 80 some odd years ago - doesn't mean I can go back today and demand that I am still a citizen!
I want to see Mitt's birth certificate.
Unlike the President, I'm sure he would be willing to give you a copy.
You better repent, floridamom. You be lyin'.
You are also out of your league. You aren't smart enough to be posting here.
Try Fox News' site.
Mainstream media is officially dead. It was supposed to be another check and balance to keep government honest and protect us against tyranny. However, the media is no longer honest. Sad. Wake up America. We are growing ever closer to having missile parades...I'll bet Barry looks stunning in Communist red.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You......this article is a perfect example how the media can contrive, twist and turn something that is completely innocent into a negative in the attempt to destroy someones character.
@PV
You mean like Fox twists and contrives stories about Obama?
It's ashame how some of you are so jealous that a man is sucessful. The man worked for what he has-which is what some you lazy people who pretend to be Americans should do. Why do so many hate people who are rich? They worked for what they have and no one has the right to take that away from them. I am a poor person and I am glad for people who have done well for themselves. I frankly don't care about what money can buy me. If you manage your money correctly-you can have things too-it called live within your means. Stop hating people for their hard work and get off your butts and go to work for what you want. Mitt Romney is a very intelligent man and has the ability to put this country back on track-anybody with a brain can do that or would you people prefer that Obama continue using you as his pawns in his game to turn this country to a socialist country and then you have no more rights or freedoms. Exactly what has Obama given any of you? It's time people stop with the gimme gimme-go work for what you want!
Kanic, I don't know what you read but the rest of us read a different article. We (the rest of us) were reading about Romeny having relative's in Mexico.
What were you reading?
Kanic, liberal Democrats make most of the money in this country. The conservative Red States are for the most part welfare states. Liberals are as capitalistic as anyone. They do not begrudge others' wealth unless it was obtained by sleazy means (see Dick Cheney, Halliburton). Got it yet or do you need further explaination?
Mr. Redner,
For what it is worth, it is not the time or place for the Republicans to get back into the White House!!! Look at what they have done to our economy for the past several years when there has been a Republican President!! Republicans are not for the middle class of folks and yes, they just love the big corporations. From what I have been reading and hearing from reliable sources, large corporations get by without paying any taxes at all!! How do you like those apples? Have you heard about the recent new comedy program on t.v.? The program is called "meet the Republicans running for President of these United States!!!!!!!"
With all due respect, wouldn't it be more accurate to say that it is not the time or place for any Republican or Democrat to be in office since both parties have had a significant role in destroying this country. You can blame Republicans for what happened on Bush's watch, disregarding his Democratically controlled Congress and/or you can blame Obama for what is happening disregarding his almost Republican controlled House and Democratically controlled Senate. But, to blame all Republicans when people like Barney Frank have made money off some of the most evil of all corporations - Fannie and Freddie, is absurd in my book.
Not to mention what your loverboy Newt made from Fannie & Freddie (1.6 million) while bashing others who did it.
It's the hippocrisy, Floridamom.
Why are you defending Mitt if you hate all this corruption so much? Why aren't you supporting Buddy Roemer?
Consensual plural marriage is illegal but homosexual marriage is the way of the future?
Mormon Polygamy always ends in the women and underage girls being abused. See Warren Jeffs.
Plural marriage is a choice (usually) and a sick cult behavior.
Homosexuality is something you were either born with or you may have been raped or molested by someone as an adult or child and be unable to trust the opposite sex.
I, as a woman, can not imagine if I had been raped or molested by a man that I would ever want a man to touch me ever again. So where would I get my love and affection? You would want me have to be touched by a person who repels me?
This hasn't happened to me but if it had I would certainly understand it and I would not want some holier than thou type making rules for me to be raped all over again.
I can name at least 6 girls I went to high school with that looked to me like they should have been born male. I'm sure that most of them went on to be lesbians. If not, they would have had a very lonely life waiting for a man. Is that what you dorky bible thumpers would wish for them?
The loony left is out in force on this one. The are proving who the really intolerant and bigoted group is. They are attempting to mar the republican candidate because of his link to Mexico and his association to a religion. The libatards are not only incapable of critical thinking but are transparently hypocrites.
obama is a complete failure, to the infinite regret, he has allowed iran to become a existential menace into perpetuity for the bleak future he has made for America.
It's so funny how the tea baggers and conservatives hate a taste of their own medicine.
Yep. White GOP Mormon Anchor Babies are ok, brown Mexican Anchor Babies - BAAAAD!
Whose the hypocrite?
Main Points of the Article:
1. Romney is a Mormon
2. Mormons used to practice polygamy
3. Mexico!
4. You better stick with Obama
If anyone with a decent mind can handle more than one wife, than have at it, they are very brave individuals!
Women are smaller and more easily intimidated.
This is just too precious!!! If I read this right, he's the great grandson of a polygamist, the son of a man that fled his adopted country rather than take a side in its revolution, AND - HE IS ACTUALLY AN ANCHOR BABY!!!! Gotta love it!!!!!
Come on people! My husband also had ancestors who were mormon pioneers and settled in Mexico. However, those are cousins and does not mean that he's mexican or anything like that. Didn't you read that his dad is a US citizen? Many US citizens live abroad and have children, they have the right to become citizens right away. Why don't you research first and stop insisting with the issue of poligamy? It is something that we modern mormons do not practice (meaning members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints which is Romney's church). Some mormons in the past insisted to continue the practice and they LEFT our church; they created their own religion and nowadays they do not have siginificant numbers in their membership.
His old man was born in Mexico. He came to the US to avoid their revolution. Did his old man become a citizen before or after Mitt was born - wheres the citizen certificate / date to compare with the birth certificate? If before ok. If after, Mitt's an anchor baby. Today his old man could be sent packing back over the border and Mitt could stay. Exactly what the GOP insists on.
Reading up on George Romney - he would be considered a ultra-left socialist liberal by today's standards. Yet he ran for Prez in '68 and was in nixon's cabinet.
Now he's in for it!!!! With this,he just lost all republican votes he could get. To republicans,having anything to do with a Mexican ancestry is akin to being charged with child molestation. How long will it take for the Newt to go on Fox and request that he be "sent back to Mexico?"
It is obvious to me as a Latter-day Saint, that MSNBC had one thing in mind in putting this article up on its website today. That is, to bring the religion factor into it and to try and bring Mitt Romney down by tying him to perhaps less than accurate information about his ancestors. Just like Kennedy, Romney's religion is being questioned as a measuring tool for President, totally ignoring the fact that his religion, by law, cannot keep him from being President.
It's obvious to me as an ex-Latter Day Saint that you choose to miss the point of this article. It is also obvious to me that your Mormon religious training has conditioned you to miss a lot of points.
You can't fool me. Joseph Smith was a sicko and so is everyone who believes his hokey story.
the Minor vs Happersett case from in which the Supreme Court defined a NBC as one who has 2 parents which were citizens at the time of the subject’s birth. We also cited 3 other cases in which the Supreme Court, previous to the Minor case, said the same thing.
Since Romneys father, at the time of his birth, was not a U.S. citizen, nor did he ever become one, according to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1875…romney is NOT a Natural Born Citizen.
Except that he was born in Michigan.
As long as Mr. Romney does not try to sell out this country to the wetbacks like Obama has promised to do.
I would like to ask every republican to quit reading and writing any comments on this piece of @!$%# site; just let the Libs have it. Who cares!!!!!
Yeah, go back to Fox if you want to hear lies and have sunshine blown up your butt.
Why wouldn't he be proud of his background and history? does he speak Spanish? He should!
Because polygamy is a sick cult instituted by the Mormon cult's founder, Joseph Smith. Mormons follow the sick teachings of JS and would still practice plural marriage today if it had not been outlawed. The fact that Mormons have cleaned it up a little doesn't change the fact that they are pretty sick cookies. Mormons aren't taught the real story, just the sugar coated version.
How long is it going to take for some people to understand that every American's Family came from somewhere, sometime in the last 300 years some later some sooner and not all are AVITARS from England. ( From many ONE )
I wonder how long before they ask for his Birth Certificate ???
At least he has the other women according to his faith and not like the others whom are supposed to be working late or on a business trip.... Get it Limburger!!!
I agree, we are all from somewhere. Some of us chase ancestors and some of us do not really know. Big deal. I don't care as long as he is legal here.
Where his lineage is doesn't matter to me. Inforcing our laws and supporting our country does!!!
Agree with your general premise, but its not the point here.
Well the T-vangelicals are really going to hate him now.LOL!
Let's see here. The majority of legal voting Mexicans are probably Catholic. Thence, they don't like or trust Mormons, the Pope told them how to think (maybe). So, at this point Obama has the upper hand. And, maybe Mitty has a second even a third family in Mexico. Now, if (by some fluke) he is elected, we are sure to see hoards of gov't regulations allowing our neighbors to the South unlimited entry into the U.S., causing even a greater burden on we the tax payers. Then, being contrite, Mitty will cede Arizona, Southern California, and probably New Mexico back to Mexico in turn for 7,000 acres of potable farm land, to be worked by U.S. citizens that just happen to be on welfare. Mitty's cabinet will be filled by rich Mexicans, who can't speak English, and the Supreme Court will be loaded with old gray padres that have multiple hidden children. Oh well my rant is over for now.
He's part Mexican?! It doesn't even look like he could handle Pace Picante Mild. I would pay good money to see him hold a round table discussion with a bunch of carnales!
He's lily white and his father was born in Mexico. The article doesn't say if anybody in his family intermarried with the locals.
Re-Elect Obama, quit being so factual. You have to mix some BS in the mix or the republitards heads will explode. Just say that Jaaaaaazuuuus told you to say that.
A long history of doing what ever to get around the law!
Is Romney's father a citizen of the US, if not ... Romney's not eligible to be President ... Oh wait ... neither is Obama ... How'd that happen ... ummgawa ... I loves Gubba'mint
If Romney really was born in Michigan, he's eligible.