Are White Catholics Obama's problem?

Energy Publisher ^ | 9-14-08 | Tim Meagher

[Darren McCarty]

The second major explanation for Clinton’s Catholic success versus Obama is Obama’s alleged elitism. During the primaries, numerous political commentators compared Obama to John Kerry, whose apparent timidity in the face of scurrilous attacks, fluency in French and taste for wind surfing marked him as a snotty wimp to some voters in the presidential campaign of 2004. Worse, perhaps, many political observers compared Obama to the alleged father of recent Democratic snobbery, Adlai Stevenson. Obama was thus seen in some quarters during the primary season, and still is seen among many, as distant, aloof, unconcerned, consumed by his own moral superiority, and not very manly to boot

It thus can be about policy, issues and programs, but it can also be about the way people talk, their sense of humor, even gestures – the distinction as that woman in Ohio said between talking with or for and talking at. Barack Obama still needs to figure out how Hilary Clinton morphed from being a hectoring school marm’ to Rocky Balboa against him in the primaries, and how the McCain campaign, more recently, has so successfully transformed him, even if it was only for a few weeks, into a Hollywood prima donna, girlish, pretentious and self absorbed. This is not just his problem. It has been a Democratic problem since Stevenson and cost the party dearly in elections in 1988 and 2004. But it is his problem now

Such anti-elitism is also not a specifically Catholic attitude, but Catholics, as noted, have long histories of battles between outside “goo-goo” reformers and inside resisting, tough guy, heroes. More important, white Catholics are strategically located. They form powerful blocs in states Obama needs and can win;

[Darren McCarty]

I don't agree entirely with it, but part of it is right on, and I liked the Rocky Balboa reference. The style contrasts that hurts Obama with many Catholic voters is certainly true.

One big thing however is missing, the big issue that unites active Catholics and evangelicals, Abortion.

[Larry Lucido]

No, Obama is Obama’s problem.

[Heartland Mom]

YES!!!

[Eddie01]

No. Karl Marx is Obama’s problem.

[RC2]

Ummmmmm.............White people are voting for a white guy? Aren’t the bulk of the black people voting for a black guy? What’s the problem?????

[marron]

I’m going to help them out. Obama was a very attractive candidate in his early days, I knew Repubs who were prepared to give him a chance for what he appeared to be. That chance grew as chances that McCain would win the primary grew; McCain was not most people’s first choice for party nominee and lots of people were looking for an excuse to teach the GOP a lesson.

So what happened? How did the candidate who was perfectly positioned to sweep past a demoralized GOP come to founder and sink?

He was done in by six body punches.

1. Wright
2. Saddleback
3. Putin
4. Ayres
5. Palin
6. Obama

Wright’s foul-mouthed rant cost him some of his blue-collar Dems. Saddleback cost him some of those evangelicals who might have voted for him. Putin woke people up; no one thinks Obama is tough enough for Putin. Ayres reminds people he is not post-ideological either; he’s left wing as they come. Palin firmed up the conservatives in McCain’s camp, the ones who were wavering.

And, number 6, Obama. Obama is his biggest problem. He is what he is, a lightweight who has no real experience doing or leading anything.

[marron]

No, Obama is Obama’s problem.

Nailed it.

[Dacula]

bump for later read

[frogjerk]

Are White Catholics Obama's problem?

Nope, Obama is above their pay grade.

[JohnnyZ]

Obama’s problem is with blue collar cultural conservatives. Many are Catholic, many are not.

[Trajan88]

This white (oops, make that olive - I'm of Italian heritage you know) Catholic... is B.H.O.'s "problem."

Why?

Answer: I'm a conservative... would never vote for a bleeding heart, socialist thug in a $3,000 suit.

See ya chosen "one;" don't be too upset.

[Prole]

Obama is America's problem.

Between Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, Daily Kos and Barack Obama, I have never seen a more despicable group of people trying to gain control of our Defense Department and nuclear arsenal.

[ishmac]

One big thing however is missing, the big issue that unites active Catholics and evangelicals, Abortion.

Yes, and one other thing: the bishops are making abortion more of an issue this time. Some bishops indeed always spoke out, but there seems to be a concerted effort this time. Maybe this is in response to Pelosi's scandalous distortion of Church teaching. They seem more outspoken as a group this time (something that should have happened long ago).

Statments by the bishops can have a big effect. The first time Jenny Graholm ran for governor in Michigan, she had a commanding lead (double digits) going into the last couple weeks of the campaign. Then Cdl Maida publically condemned her stance on abortion. In the last days before the vote, Granholm's support among Catholic females plummeted. Granholm won, but only by 3 1/2 percent.

[marlon]

This white Irish/Scots/English Catholic is right with you on that. Nobama, no Marxists street thugs for me either.

[Emperor Palpatine]

How ANY Catholic can vote for any democrat who’s pro-abortion is beyond me.

How can they still take communion?

Why don’t their bishops inform them that the catechism specifically states that supporting abortion in any form - even voting for a pro-abortion candidate for ANY office - is grave sin that can lead to excommunication and damnation?

[Salvation]

New video from CatholicVote.com

Powerful

http://www.creativeminorityreport.com/2008/09/new-video-from-catholicvotecom.html

[Salvation]

Running list of Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals who have spoken out against Pelosi, Biden et al CINOs.

Updated: American Bishops who have spoken against Pelosi

Here is the complete list of American bishops who have responded to Nancy Pelosi's comments so far:

1. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver was the first American bishop to respond
2. ... Bishop James Conley, his auxiliary, joined him
3. Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington DC responded twice, first in a press release and second in a statement to The Hill. He has also appeared on Fox News, I am told.
4. Cardinal Justin Regali of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued this statement through the USCCB website...
5. ... Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine, joined him
6. Cardinal Edward Egan of New York publised a strongly worded statement of his own
7. Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo issued a letter correcting Pelosi's claims
8. Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh and...
9. ... Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs have chimed-in
10. Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio, CNA reports has added his voice ...
11. ... Bishop Oscar Cantu, his auxiliary bishop, has joined him
12. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville has published an extensive letter
13. Bishop Edward Slattery of Tulsa has a detailed response
14. Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas has joined the USCCB's efforts
15. Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin is on-board
16. Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston mentions the USCCB on his blog
17. Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando has written at length
18. Archbishop John Nienstedt of Saint Paul/Minneapolis challenges Pelosi's statement
19. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, President of the US Bishops, has weighed-in
20. Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker, OR publishes in the Catholic Sentinel
21. Bishop Jerome Listecki of La Crosse, WI responds in a word document
22. Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland, OH will comment in his September 5th column (PDF)
23. Bishop Ralph Nickless of Sioux City, IA has one of the very best responses I've read
24. Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco has invited Pelosi to a "conversation"
25. Bishop Glen Provost, LA: "Catholic Church clear on when human life begins"
26. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn: "Judging the Candidates"

{Last updated on September 10th.}

Notes:

• Previous #23 has been removed. Bishop Joseph Gossman of Raleigh, NC is actually the bishop emeritus, and the new bishop, Michael Burbidge has not, to my knowledge, made a personal statement.
• Previous #16 has also been removed, it was an erroneous duplication of current #13.
• #26 was added September 10th, although he published his column September 6th

[Salvation]

Catholics CANNOT vote for anyone who supports abortion because they will be excommunicating themselves.

Read the links in http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2083137/posts?page=17#17

[narses]

Obama Doesn’t Want His Daughters Punished with a Baby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNzmly28Bmg

CNN on Obama’s Infant Born Alive Act Rejection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPZCXcTwZPY

Jill Stanek on Obama and Born Alive Infant Protection Act (MUST SEE)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIdbYjmbFzo

Obama Cover-up Revealed On Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Bill

http://www.nrlc.org/ObamaBAIPA/ObamaCoverup.html

Explosive Audio Found Obama arguing against BAIPA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypDwNpgIUQc

Babies left to die!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIdbYjmbFzo

[narses]

Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”