[Rooster Cogburn]

THANK YOU LUCONN! lol

[SuperJon]

That's the same list I found.

I agree it's the way it's always been done. I'd just like to find a better balance.

[jmdickens]

I'd like to hear the opinions of one of our resident Paul4lifers

I think it makes our school stand out and helps Romney with the evangelicals. Win, win for that.

I got to laugh at a lot of LU haters today after reading this because for the past few months they have bashed us for favoring Gingrich and not Romney because we hate Mormons. LOl. they were surprised.

[logic]

What will do more to reveal to the United States the mission of Liberty University? What will shine a bigger light to the great commission? What will get us (our mission) more mainstream recognition? Which person will command more TV cameras and media attention? What single person other than Obama himself could get more more media attention for this great university?


1. A Christian speaker no one has ever heard of outside BJU, or Pensacola?

or

2. The potential next PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES



Sometimes I do wonder of the rational thought of the crowd here, and I was quite disgruntled reading some of the facebook comments. We want EVERY PERSON in this entire country to -

1. Know who we are
2. Know what we stand for

This is a HUGE step in that direction. This is like football playing football on ESPN on a Saturday night at 8:00 PM against Alabama. This is HUGE for Liberty and our long term growth and goals of becoming a nationally known university. I applaud Jerry and the rest of the executive staff for making this happen.

Understand facts -

1. There are a lot of people out there who have never heard of Liberty University
2. We want to change that
3. This will help the cause



What selfishness that Romney doesn't line up with YOUR religious beliefs and YOUR political stance. YOU YOU YOU...Put your feelings aside and understand this is good for the university, even if it may not be "right" in your eyes.

[01LUGrad]

I added Franklin Graham to 2001. I don't remember a word he said, by the way.

I think you'll find that it's always been that way. Here's all I could find of some kind of historical list:

1985 Senator Bill Armstrong, R-Colorado
1986 Donald Hodel, Secretary of the Interior
1987
1988 Lt. Col. (Ret.) Oliver North
1989 W. A. Criswell
1990 President George H. W. Bush
1991 Rep. Newt Gingrich
1992 Pat Buchanan
1993 Dr. James Dobson
1994
1995 Sen. Phil Gramm
1996 Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
1997 Billy Graham
1998 Dr. John Borek Jr. (outgoing President of the school)
1999
2000
2001 Franklin Graham
2002
2003
2004 Karl Rove
2005 Sean Hannity
2006 Sen. John McCain
2007 Rep. Newt Gingrich
2008 Chuck Norris
2009 Ben Stein
2010 Glen Beck

It's not a new trend. So obviously, you can not like that, but that's just the way this school is. Since before you decided to earn your degree from here.

[belcherboy]

Liberty gets prominent Christian leaders just about every week in convocation. I think would rather have a chance to hear a potential POTUS, even if he is not a christian (as long as he doesn't have the moral standards of a Bill Clinton). Just my two cents.

Liberty gets prominent Christian leaders every week in convocation. That is completely true.

There are 14,000 graduates. Let's say half of those walk at graduation (that's a conservative number I think). That's 7000 graduates.

Of those 7000 graduates, I'd saying about 3000 are resident undergrad students. (That may even be on the high side.)

Of those 3000 resident undergrad students, maybe half of them go to convocation regularly.

You're down to 1500 people out of an expected 34,000 people that attend convocation and hear the prominent Christian leaders regularly.

So, because 20% of the graduating students and 4% of the attenders of commencement regularly hear prominent Christian leaders, it's not worth it to have a Christian leader be the speaker at the world largest Christian university that trains champions for Christ?

I just want to make sure I follow your logic.

Yes, I believe my logic is sound. If you can make it 2-5 years at Liberty and NOT attend at least 50 convocations, then you really probably don't care to hear from a Christian speaker anyway (seeing as you willingly skipped convocation for several years).

I guess by your logic, the University needs to take "one more shot" at those who didn't hear enough Christian speakers during their tenure at Liberty. In spite of the fact that they could potentially have the next POTUS speak at their commencement 6 months before the biggest election in the world of which he is a major candidate.

[SuperJon]

When I was at Liberty I skipped convo. I wish more than anything I would've gone to hear some of the speakers that were brought in.

What selfishness that Romney doesn't line up with YOUR religious beliefs and YOUR political stance. YOU YOU YOU...Put your feelings aside and understand this is good for the university, even if it may not be "right" in your eyes.

This is stupid. If we were a secular school then yes, your point is correct. We are a uniquely distinctly Christian school. My religious belief is the same as the school.

[jbock13]

Attacking people over convo is stupid. When I was a freshman, I hated it. Now as a junior, I enjoy it. It's a great break in the day to worship God, especially important for me because I work on Sundays and am not able to attend church regularly.

[Purple Haize]

How could you turn down someone who will probably be the next POTUS? It should be seen as an honor for him to speak here. Yes I would even say the same about Obama if he were to speak here.
It is a great thing for Romney because this is a battleground state. He could have chosen UVA or any of the NOVA schools but he is coming to LU. I'd love to go hear him speak but we will be out of town. Great for Liberty, great for Lynchburg, great for Romney!

[Purple Haize]

This is one reason why I didn't even consider walking. Liberty is still a whore for political power and will sell itself to whatever antichrist it can to gain influence.

Romney is a despicable, spineless, godless piece of trash. Jerry Jr. should be ashamed and should apologize publicly for this pathetic publicity stunt.

Yet you chose to go to school here
I thought there was only one Anti Christ? Yet you say we have had many. How can that be?
Your last sentence is completely inappropriate, and ignorant.

[thepostman]

How did Ron Paul get brought up in this?? Geez...

Its Liberty commencement and historically this isn't anything new for them so I don't understand why anybody would really be upset about it. It is what Liberty has always been.

[phoenix]

It's a huge deal to pull in Romney because of his political position, but I would rather have someone who isn't part of a religion that's completely opposed to Christianity. We're training champions for Christ. On a day where we send those champions out into the world, there needs to be an actual Christian giving them their marching orders.

Just a thought:

2012 - Mormon conservative politician
2011 - Christian entertainer
2010 - Mormon conservative political commentator
2009 - Jewish commentator/entertainer
2008 - Christian entertainer
2007 - Unethical Catholic "conservative" politician
2006 - Christian conservative politician
2005 - Catholic conservative political commentator
2004 - Unchurched conservative politician

[jbock13]

We got another one!

[thepostman]

We got another one!

I think I would be annoyed if I had to be around you on a regular basis, thankfully its only on a stupid message board

[thepostman]

It's a great get. I mean, yes, he's a cult member, a big government proponent, a war monger, and a social liberal who supports abortion. Oh yeah, and he pretty much invented what we know as Obamacare. But still, great get.

And he's going to get absolutely pounded in November. Give me a break.

I see where you are coming from but it's a commencement speech. Whether I like him or not he is a high profile figure in America right now. Its the way Liberty has ALWAYS been and will continue to be.

[Purple Haize]

BYD. The 'painfully obvious' comment is a tad condescending. People see things from many perspectives and while you see Romney in that light it makes it neither true or absolute. You are dead on that this is a good get for both the University and Romney.
It is only natural that as you get older the views of your youth. I have also found it more beneficial to disagree without being disagreeable.

[logic]

Until this country gets smart enough to elect a true Libertarian we have no choice but to support big government Republicans. Just the way it is. Still better than the alternative. Romney is no Chris Christie / Ron-Rand Paul but he is the best option we have. Leave it at that and understand how much publicity this will bring the university and in turn our mission.

Not sure how/why some of you only see politics here and not see an incredible media opportunity to spread the name of Liberty University.

It was said before - those of you not understanding "why Mitt Romney?" are ill versed on the history of Liberty - it was afterall politics and TV that built this city. (Haize that one is for you)

[phoenix]

All I could think of when I found out is "I'm glad I'm not walking." And this right after I posted that I was sure it would be someone I wanted to hear.

[BJWilliams]

Until this country gets smart enough to elect a true Libertarian we have no choice but to support big government Republicans. Just the way it is. Still better than the alternative. Romney is no Chris Christie / Ron-Rand Paul but he is the best option we have. Leave it at that and understand how much publicity this will bring the university and in turn our mission.

Not sure how/why some of you only see politics here and not see an incredible media opportunity to spread the name of Liberty University.

It was said before - those of you not understanding "why Mitt Romney?" are ill versed on the history of Liberty - it was afterall politics and TV that built this city. (Haize that one is for you)

I thought we built this city on rock and roll...

As for BYD's point...there comes a time when people have to think for themselves. I dont 100% agree with the political views (whenever I actually take time to care about politics) either. If you dont take time to formulate your own opinions on the issues that matter the most to you, youll go through life as a glorified yes man.

[jcmanson]

Not sure how/why some of you only see politics here and not see an incredible media opportunity to spread the name of Liberty University.

glad someone gets it

[jbock13]

We got another one!

I think I would be annoyed if I had to be around you on a regular basis, thankfully its only on a stupid message board

I'm a nice guy though, I swear

[Purple Haize]

BYD. Just remember it is NEVER too late to chage your grade!
You do not know all of my political views. Obviously I am a big Romney supporter. Is he the perfect candidate for my tastes? No. But I also realize the perfect candidate does not exist. Obviously, you and I disagree in our views of foreign policy, but I chalk that up to us seeing first hand different sides of the same coin.
I respect your differing opinion, I just disagree with some of them. Which is how I'm sure you meant to phrase it.

[skywalker5291]

Congrats to Liberty for getting such a large name to speak. To bad this is creating such a division on campus and its not a political argument from what i can tell it more along the lines of people dont want him here bc he is a Mormon.

Now while I dont agree at all with him on pretty much anything it would still be cool to hear him bc he is famous. Just like I would like to hear Obama speak as well. My only thing is I hope he stays away from anything political. If he does start campaigning then he doesnt need to be there.

As for Convo tomorrow im very excited. They will announce this to the students tomorrow and also Mark Driscoll speaks as well. This could be the most polarizing Convo i have ever heard in my 3 years.

[flamesfan30]

good point. i haven't looked forward to convo this much since that one week we had jon macarthur, wes stafford and david platt back to back!

i know i will be giving pastor mark a standing ovation, and im actually pretty happy with the romney pick. of all the people theyve had in the past 4 yrs, id rather have Romney than any of them (ben stein, glenn beck, randall wallace)

[thepostman]

I was more upset when Newt spoke