Deal Hudson, the noted conservative Catholic political activist (who served as George W. Bush's top advisor on the Catholic vote until forced to resign in a scandal regarding an underage girl) has noted:
"An editorial in the Jesuit's America magazine recently predicted that Sen. Barack Obama will profit by the upcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United States. The moment the Holy Father denounces the war in Iraq, it will provide a 'big opening for Sen. Obama,' according to Michael Sean Winters. Winters argues that Obama can 'invoke the foresight of John Paul II, a man still revered among American Catholics,' while contrasting himself to Sen. Hillary Clinton, President Bush, and, most importantly, Sen. John McCain. Winters also predicts that "Pope Benedict will put the Iraq War, and the thinking that got us into that war, back at the center of political discussion."
What does Hudson think of this analysis?
"Winters is undoubtedly right" he says.
Hudson still has the job of delivering Catholic votes for the right wing. But he admits that whatever success he had in winning a near even split of Catholic voters in the 2004 election, the situation in 2008 has an "instability among Catholic voters created by the Iraq War."
Over 20,000 Catholics have signed a petition calling for "an immediate and responsible end to the Iraq War" and the American Catholic bishops have called several times for a withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq.
In 2004 most U.S. bishops sat in quiet resentment as a handful (single digit number) of bishops talked about withholding communion from Senator Kerry (nevermind that the those with an actual pastoral charge for Kerry did not take this stance). Hudson suggests however, that some anti-war bishops are now prepared to "start a similar ball rolling with regard to Senator McCain for his outspoken support for the war."
It certainly is notable that when even the most highly politicized leaders among right wing Catholics admit that McCain will have problems explaining his position on the war to Catholic voters and that Senator Obama has a strong advantage on this issue.
8 comments:
Deal was the Catholic Karl Rove until he was caught having sex in his office with a student while his wife sat home. I know that makes no difference to adulterer McCain, but it says alot that conservative catholics still listen to him.
Although, if the Pope mentions the sanctity of life and abortion, it could drive votes away from Obama, as his record is so horrendous on abortion AND infanticide.
As I mentioned in the RCP blog, I think I'm going to start a blog called Catholics For Hitler. Here's why:
1) I'm not a single issue voter (While I personally value the sanctity of human life, we all know that politicians are never going to be perfect in terms of life issues)
2) Hitler was a great speaker and leader. He unified a country.
3) He got Germany out of a Depression.
And really, the only person he physically killed was himself.
Come on! Who's with me??
Come on! Who's with me??
Does Senator McCain beleive that Barack Obama is like Hitler?
Sorry, Carley, I'm already a member of Catholics for Mao Tse Tung. After all, he united a country, and looked out for the widows and orphans. He made sure the rich shared their wealth with everybody.
His Great Leap forward made sure that the food supply would never be dependent on private corporations or people.
::snark::
::snark::
Snark is right. This election is a difficult decision. I have a lot of time until November but the inability of McCain supporters to use anything but snark is sinking him in my mind. If you don't have reasoned, polite arguments for your candidate, I have to wonder.
Sorry, what made you think I was a McCain supporter?
carley, it's an old usenet debate rule that if you mention either Hitler or the nazis in a discussion you immediately lose the debate.
Also, resorting to snark/sarcasm usually means one has no rational argument at their disposal.
take care
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