Mitt Romney’s Favorite Novel Is L. Ron Hubbard’s Battlefield Earth

By on August 17, 2012 in News 20

Just when America thought it couldn’t be any more confused by Mormonism, Romney went and said this. To be fair, he added that his favorite book overall (nonfiction included) is the bible, an answer which all Republican presidential candidates must give from now to eternity. A nugget from the New York Times five years ago:

“What’s your favorite novel?” is a perennial campaign question, the answer to which presumably gives insight into leadership. A “Moby-Dick” lover may understand the perils of obsessively chasing of a goal. A fan of “To Kill a Mockingbird” may well focus on racial justice.

When asked his favorite novel in an interview shown yesterday on the Fox News Channel, Mitt Romney pointed to “Battlefield Earth,” a novel by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. That book was turned into a film by John Travolta, a Scientologist. A spokesman said later it was one of Mr. Romney’s favorite novels.

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  • Liam_McGonagle

    Is this from the cover of the commemorative Paul Ryan 2012 issue?  Bit reminiscent of the borderline queer photos being shared of Ryan on facebook today.

    Not that there’s anything wrong with that.  I just find it a bit ironic that such a traditional Roman Catholic as Ryan seems to have become something of a gay icon.

    Or maybe not that ironic.  Whatevs.

    • Vlad the Inhaler

      This is the thing about irony:  its most skillful practicioners are entirely untutored.

    • Anarchy Pony

      o____0

  • zombieslapper

    LOL, what a loser!

    • Liam_McGonagle

      I was not in the least surprised by this.  My experience with observant Mormons is that their most salient characteristic is the indulgence in exactly the type of bland crypto-racist fantasies of Hubbard’s mythos.

      You don’t have to have degrees in comparative religion or literature to see Hubbard’s trying to update the old Hebrew tribal mythologies for 20th century American exceptionalists. 

      And the ideal reader WOULDN’T have such a degree–because they’d vomit all overthemselves in disgust before they got a chance to finish the books.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Larry-Cox/1448297700 Larry Cox

        More idiocy about Hubbard. I am sure none of these people has studied his writing or even tried to learn how to help someone using any of his techniques.

  • Anarchy Pony

    I like the cover art. You ever notice in all the sort of older sci fi art, they all have characters posing with weapons that appear to be firing at nothing, for no apparent reason?

    • Matt Staggs

      He’s firing at your soul. Or rather, the Thetans infesting your soul.

    • Jesus Borg

       Actually they  phallic symbols. They are both held at crotch level shooting jizz basically.

  • Simiantongue

    I read it. Horrible piece of pulp fiction.

    The thing about Battlefield Earth is that Hubbard was egotistical, maniacal, self centered, and boyish in his understanding of, well, almost everything. But what’s most interesting is that Hubbard had a keen understanding of lying, devious behavior and “evil” impulsiveness. Which were his strongest character traits. It showed in his fiction as well as non-fiction.

    It’s not very hard to understand why sociopathic people would be drawn to Hubbard’s fiction. Not that everyone who enjoyed Battlefield Earth or any other Hubbard title is sociopathic, but it’s an interesting indicator combined with other clues in their behavior. Such a pervasive disregard for others, a lack of compassion.

    For instance, if someone were completely incapable of seeing why you shouldn’t keep an animal on the luggage storage area atop a vehicle for extended periods of time. Not being capable of understanding why the dog may have been frightened to the point of defecating on itself. Or perhaps screwing the greater portion of the population for the benefit of a very few interests.

    No single instance in itself can said to be conclusive proof of a sociopathic personality but added together it certainly raises my eyebrows.

    • GH Wickser

      It’s amazing how you can sound like such an expert on L Ron Hubbard and his religion when you probably don’t know a thing about either. But what else would you expect from just another run of the mill small minded ignorant liberal.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Larry-Cox/1448297700 Larry Cox

        I’m a liberal and a Scientologist. I loved Battlefield Earth. What you probably have above is a shill.

  • Eric Reber

    Well, when I read this at age 13 I thought it was awesome and felt really good about finishing the 1000+ page epic. That being said, it is Sci-fi Pulp Fiction and delivers well when read from the perspective of a pubescent teenager. It is no surprise that something that appealed to me at that age is the favorite of a man Romney’s age. 

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Larry-Cox/1448297700 Larry Cox

      I read it when I was about 40 and loved it. To denigrate it as “pulp fiction” possibly means you haven’t read much of that, either. Why would one, if it is of such poor quality, eh?

  • Miracles

    OMG that was the boringest of boring stupid sci fi ever written.  I hated that book so much.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Larry-Cox/1448297700 Larry Cox

      OK: Tell me how it ended.

  • Someonesname

    REALLLY?!!REALLY?!!!!!

  • VaudeVillain

    Crappy late 20th century science fantasy dressed up as religion. Crappy late 19th century science fantasy dressed up as religion… Mitt certainly is a man of singular taste.

  • zz zz
  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Larry-Cox/1448297700 Larry Cox

    I don’t even support Romney. Glad to hear he liked the book. Not really that important, is it?