The former Massachusetts governor likes to portray himself as both sober, and in touch with Joe Six Pack America. For instance, Romney has been sporting Carhartt work clothes while hanging with working folk in diners but never in bars or other establishments that may serve the “devil’s brew.” Thus, you won’t find this strict Mormon enjoying in any drink that contains either alcohol or caffeine; while also shunning smoking and being around people who do not strictly enforce dating rules if they’re not married. In turn, those other folk wearing Carhartt jackets and overalls may enjoy a beer or two, or three or more this holiday season and New Year’s Eve, but not Mitt whose given name is a Willard. In fact, many other teetotalers who also are forbidden to drink alcohol like Romney, think “it’s kind of cool that he’s now the designated driver for the GOP that’s infamous for drinking high end booze and wine,” says a Republican college student named Jared who’s also Mormon.

“Basically, the Mormon’s believe that Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820 with the purpose of restoring His Church and its purity, while other religions allow drinking and partying that’s not part of Joseph Smith’s teaching for the true religion,” the student explained.

Teetotaler president may be praised for his teetotalism

If Romney becomes president in 2012, “it may be a great thing for the country because way too many Americans drink way too much in our view,” explains Jared, a Mormon student in Eugene, Oregon. Jared goes on to explain that the Mormons have “very strict rules against drinking and smoking. When I dated a girl and we’re at a party, they’re watching us very closely because multiple wives may be allowed in certain Mormon sects, but there are extremely strict rules for dating outside of marriage.

Overall, Jared explained that “the top rule for Mormons is to never, ever drink alcohol. It’s really horrible if anything with alcohol touches your mouth,” adds Jared during a recent interview for Huliq.

Thus, Romney is bound by his Mormon religion to practice teetotalism; where a person both practices and advocates being called a “teetotaler,” as they’re dubbed up in the state of Utah that boasts the largest Mormons and teetotalers in the nation.

In fact, Romney knows all these Mormon rules after this official biography states that he “served as a Mormon missionary in France.”

Romney called one of the top Mormons

Moreover, as a “sixth-generation member” of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Romney’s official biography states that he is “descended from a genealogically interconnected political family sometimes known as the Pratt-Romneys.”

In turn, both the Pratt-Romneys and other strict Mormons believe that – according to page 289 in the “Journal of Discourses) that “No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith,” who is believed to have had “27 wives beside Emma Smith.” And, of course, Smith did not drink alcohol or make merry over Christmas and New Year’s.

Also, as fans of the popular “Big Love” TV drama that aired on HBO between 2006 and 2011, about a fictional fundamentalist Mormon family – that included the family elder running for political office like Romney – the issue of “plural marriages” and “never, ever drinking alcohol” is a main theme of the show.

Thus, such Mormon beliefs that “men resurrect their wives” – where a Mormon man “if he is worthy will become a god on some uninhabited planet out in the universe, and then as a the god of his own world will at his own discretion resurrect those wives who were faithful and obedient to him” – are viewed by Romney and other Mormon elders as making complete sense. After all they’re as sober as a judge when it comes to following the teachings of Joseph Smith.

Romney as “sober” as they come

Romney, 64, is believed to have never had an alcohol or caffeine beverage; while also not allowing a cigarette to be smoked by his lips or to even say a discouraging word as part of the core beliefs of his Mormon religion that’s now the fourth largest religious denomination in America.

During Romney’s college days, his official biography boasts that “he kept a well-groomed appearance” while in college during the Sixties when, of course, he never smoked pot, drank beer or partied with others. In turn, Romney is credited with “many converts” with the “nominally Catholic, wine-loving French people” that were part of this Mormon French Mission that he attended to for “30 months” in the late Sixties.

In fact, Romney’s official biography notes that “he was promoted to zone leader in Bordeaux (one of the most famous wine growing regions in the world) in early 1968; while then in the spring of that year became assistant to the mission president in Paris, the highest position for a missionary,” even while resisting the evils of wine and other spirits that are plentiful in this part of the world.

Of course, Romney had to miss out on fighting in Vietnam that was going on at this time.

However, in June 1968, “an automobile Romney was driving in southern France was hit by another vehicle, seriously injuring him and killing one of his passengers who turned out to be the wife of the mission president.”

The biography noted that “Romney was not at fault in the accident,” and later became the co-acting president of the Mormon mission in France. The biography goes on to state that Romney “rallied and motivated the others and they met an ambitious goal of 200 baptisms for the year,” thus helping those French wine loving local to quit alcohol and follow the teachings of Joseph Smith.

Republicans “boozing” while enjoying “the good life”

Go to any Republican victory party in this town of Eugene or any other part of the country and you will see GOP and Tea Party candidates slurping expensive cocktails and bottles of wine. Not that there’s anything wrong with that given their victories in the midterm election – or current goals to defeat President Obama -- but just how much booze has been both purchased and consumed by these conservatives over many long election campaigns would raise more than a few eyebrows.

Thus, with Romney now as the “GOP designed driver,” those who’ve witnessed the Republicans drink and party like nobody’s business, it may be refreshing to have Mitt in the house to curb all this GOP drinking in a time of recession, say other Mormon Republicans.

Young Republicans infamous for their booze-soaked bashes

A running joke in Republican circles is the term “office supplies” that’s code for lots and lots of booze and fine wines. In fact, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has a long history of investigations into Republicans claiming expenses for “office supplies” that were, in fact, hundreds of thousands spent on booze.

According to FEC officials, Republicans “legally” spent “millions” on various political parties since campaigning for the midterm elections began.

While these “millions” is just a drop in the bucket when it comes to the billions spent on the GOP’s various campaigns, it’s still significant, say analysts.

Moreover, the new breed of “Young Republicans” are making a name for themselves by hosting lavish “booze-soaked bashes” in the Hamptons, out in L.A. and down in Miami where hosting a good party is a kin to a successful political campaign.

“These Young Republicans are learning the ropes, and that means organizing hundreds of cocktail parties – at lavish locations – during an average year-long political campaign,” says political analyst Meg Summers.

Democrats enjoy their beer in Alpine, Oregon

Alpine is one of nearby Eugene’s “bedroom communities.” It’s where middle class workers live to escape the high taxes in Eugene. And, it’s where a lot of Democrats hang out at the famous “Alpine Tavern.”

While Republicans enjoy the “good life” and all that expensive wine and single malts in art lined mansions and hotel ballrooms, Democrats in this part of the country go for the mainstream tavern life that’s high balls, shots of cheap booze and draft beers.

For example, the Alpine Tavern recently featured $2 pitchers of beer over Christmas to ease the pain for Democrats who are

dealing with their “hope” and “change” fading from the political landscape.

While Democrats also like to party, history notes that it’s the Republicans who’ve made it a sort of art form and a way of life on the campaign trail.

Drinking and politics are part of America’s history

During this long year of campaigning for the midterm election, Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin presented an unusual program on PBS that discussed “the long history behind mixing drinks and politics.”

Kearns Goodwin noted that Republicans are legend for driving their poor wives to the bottle after endless cocktail parties that candidates must attend to raise money.

She also noted that enjoying the “high life” is not just a Republican perk.

For example, she noted that “FDR (President Franklin D. Roosevelt) had a cocktail party every single night during World War II. He would make these crazy martinis for the guests.”

At the same time, such heavy drinking by politicians can create serious problems for both candidates and their family members. Kearns Goodwin referenced the recent documentary “Betty Ford: the Real Deal” as an example of how booze can catch up with those in politics.

The documentary states that Betty Ford is probably “the most famous political wife who had problems with drinking.”

For instance, Betty Ford said her routine as a politician’s wife was her “five o’clock drink at a neighbor’s house, then another fixing dinner and then a nightcap watching television.”

The result was Ford’s now famous admission that she had a serious drinking problem while she was First Lady. The “Betty Ford Center” has now become the industry standard for the top facility for people with substance abuse problems in America.

Republicans are usually rich, and hence they enjoy “the good life”

GOP spends millions on booze

“The difference between say a party for the Democrats in Eugene and a Republican bash is the types of food and drink. Democrats will have draft beer and hot wings or something, while the Republicans tend to enjoy what they call ‘the good life,’ and that means sipping hundred dollar bottles of wine surrounded by expensive art and lots of caviar and expensive eats,” says Eugene bartender Lance Argentini who worked expensive Republican parties at the local country club, and Democratic gatherings in back yards of candidates.

“There’s a huge difference in the way they party,” adds Argentini. “If I’m called to cater a Republican party, it’s my best white shirt, black bow tie and slacks so I look the part serving martini’s to the guests in suits and even tuxedos. Then, if the call is for one of the local Democrats, it’s more like tapping a keg and helping serve ribs or something. There’s a real class difference between these groups, with the Republicans have the deep pockets for sure,” adds Argentini.

In addition, the bartender noted that older Republicans have “a sort of look” that says they’re a veteran political boozer

Thankfully, Romney and other Mormon elders are bound to change that once Mitt’s in the White House.

Image source of Mitt Romney explaining that he’s clean and sober. Photo courtesy Wikipedia