During his commencement address to Liberty University's class of 2010, Mitt Romney said that, “Moral certainty, clear standards, and a commitment to spiritual ideals will set you apart in a world that searches for meaning."

Liberty University is a private, religious college, favored by people who are proponents of school prayer.  Such proponents generally claim that unless they are allowed to usurp parental authority and force other people's children to pray in the classroom, that children will grow up without any moral compass.   Well, let's take a look at how school prayer and a "commitment to spiritual ideals" worked out for Mitt Romney.

As a boy, Romney attended the elite preparatory Cranbrook School in Michigan. Cranbrook was affililated with the Episcopal church; students attended regular chapel services and religious classes.  Despite having to pray in school, Mitt Romney was fond of playing nasty pranks on fellow students and on others; in one instance, he chased down and tackled a classmate, cutting his hair while the boy screamed, because he didn't like his haircut.  Romney also frequently teased the boy because he thought he was gay.  In college, he illegally obtained a state trooper's uniform - possibly aided by the fact that his father was governor of Michigan.  He used to brag about putting on the uniform and impersonating a trooper so he could stop drivers on the highway (which is a felony).  Somehow, all of that prayer in school (and at home, might I add) didn't stop him from bullying fellow students and committing felonies. Despite attending compulsory religious classes and chapel services, Romney still grew up to be the type of person that many would consider to be less than moral.  His business practices while at Bain Capital were unethical; so was hiding money in offshore bank accounts.   Even the behavior he has exhibited during his presidential campaign has been unethical; he constantly lies and "misrepresents" his positions, including during the presidential debate held October 3:

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/10-most-shameless-romney-debate-lies-debunked

If a person can grow up with mandatory prayer in school (AND prayer in the home) and STILL grow up ethically challenged or "immoral", it shows that prayer in school does NOT make a difference.  Mitt Romney is living proof.