The Wall Street Journal’s Amy Chozick looks at the efforts by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to connect with Catholic voters in Pennsylvania, noting that Catholic voters in the Democratic campaign have generally favored Clinton, even in some states she lost:
Some Catholic Democrats say that Sen. Clinton’s emphasis on specific solutions is similar to Catholic social teaching, which urges its followers to use the doctrine as a way of bring about positive social change particularly when it comes to alleviating poverty.
Meanwhile, some Catholic voters and politicians say Sen. Obama, who talks often about finding religion as an adult at Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ, now the center of the Rev. Wright storm, has a broader stump speech that is closer to a Baptist or evangelical sermon.
Previously, Ric Locke and I have discussed this sort of stylistic difference as one of the obstacles Mike Huckabee faced with Catholic voters in the GOP contests. David Mark also wrote about this phenomenon for the Politico, which drew a swift complaint from Camp Obama.
In the WSJ piece, Christopher McNally, the Pennsylvania chair for the Catholic Democrats and an active Obama supporter, also theorizes that Catholics are more comfy with Hillary because of the “nun theory,” which holds that Catholics are more accustomed to strong-minded female leadership because of the prominent role of nuns. I guess that in some ways, Clinton does remind me of Mother Mary Stigmata, but I am fairly sure Clinton would gladly take my money.
I’m sure The Penguin would want nothing to do with the likes of Hsu…
I’ve given up trying to figure out why people vote the way they do. Hell, I’m trying to figure out how Clinton got elected to the Senate in the first place. Only thing I can really come up with is name recognition.
Sister Mary Elephant.
Sister Bridget Mary Clitoris
Karl got linked by The Economist.
Sr. Mary Margaret Panzer.
1st grade.
80 kids.
One 18 inch ruler.
Guess who won.
Sister Mary Charles Bronson. Way to go Karl.
Dan, we’ll need more dick jokes, stat!
Eh, even more than other churches I think you find that many people who self identify as Catholic do so not out of faith or personal attendance, but because they went to a Roman Catholic Church as a youth and hit the pews once a year for Easter or Christmas.
True, Christopher. The serious Catholics won’t go for either one because of that whole sticking-scissors-into-babies’-skulls thing.
Actually the Catholics I know around here (Southeastern PA), even the very pro-life ones, continually vote Dem despite that. It somehow becomes less of an issue if they think they will be getting something personally from voting Dem (and with the semi-strong unions here, they often are).
In the end, we Catholics (at least in SE PA, the ones I am familiar with) are trained in school and church to be, well, to be Socialists. It’s not called that, but that’s what it is. We’re very comfy with socialist ideas because of that, and we’re very comfy with soft socialists like Hillary (and Sister Attila and Father Feeley). In Catholic parochial school when I went through it, standing out was not considered a good thing. Being more intelligent or gifted (in ways other than the much-beloved basketball), you were constantly reminded that you should not be proud, that you have more God-given responsibility to help others . . . but most importantly, that it’s best to not be *too* different.
Aside from that, the so-called “Reagan Democrat” Catholic around here is still, in his or her heart, a Democrat. They may be registered “R”, but if they’re Catholic, they’re not really Republicans. I include myself in this of course. I’m a registered Dem right now actually! To try to do whatever I can to stop the Clintons from getting into power again.
As Ed Rendell, who would know, said – Pennsylvanians for the most part would not be able to relate to someone as . . . let’s just say exotic as Barack Obama. He’s going to have a very tough race here.
It’s simply a procedure. No different than an appendectomy. Just ask Gloria Steinem.
Good for thinking Catholics! That means they use their brains! If the Democrats choose Obama, it is very simple, people I know and I will vote for McCain.
BlackOrchid you make Roman Catholics sound like Liberal Jews.
Well I think we are a lot like liberal Jews!!!!
We’ve got the guilt thing down too. Actually I guess we’re amateurs when it comes to that.
Sister Mary Justice – Fourth Grade – We received none.
Actually, MCPO Airdale, you probably received it in spades.
I’m not Roman Catholic, but the injustices I had inflicted on me by my parents and teachers (who were also my dad’s colleagues) I see – in retrospect – as being very well deserved.
Know thyself; and admit it already. :)
A-hem.
Isn’t it kind of interesting to see that the Pew Forum on Religious and Public Life decides to do a banner campaign this week? Saw it on Drudge today. Pew has certified Baracky and his hate whitey church as a teachable moment it seems.
Here’s their Baracky page. Great pic of him grinning like an idiot. But there’s something of a Baracky hearts Jesus bibliography there too.
Here a Time one from 2006…
*Here’s* …
But anyway. The point of all that thing is – notice Barack’s dilemma … “I had no community or shared traditions in which to ground my most deeply held beliefs.” Tomorrow morning he’ll tell us that shared traditions – traditions shared with old school people like Wright – are not what he’s about at all.
How did she come?
* years in White house – that was a greate experience to make connections and to improve dirty tactics. That is what she got and One and ONLY experience, that we probably should count just with Minus.
No matter: Catolic or Protestant or …whoever, we are not in religion dispute, but in the Future of the State. let’s do that, but not collect gossips, which Clinton’s spreads all over.
be just above that
hf,
People keep trying to steal my thunder. Soon. Very soon.
With Florida officially out of the picture Hillary Clinton can’t even come close to a win. Why is Obama still on the defensive today? He’s falling right into her trap. Why is he still on the defensive. Everyone knows the thing about his pastor is blown out of proportion. Most folks have pastors who say things the majority disagrees with. My priest preaches against birth control and I still go to church. Big deal. Anyway, with Florida out of the picture Obama should be declaring victory and requesting that Hillary gracefully bow out now! The south doesn’t respect a “spoiler” and Hillary can’t win anything in the south as of today. My understanding from relatives is that, California is also tiring of her will to rip apart the Democratic party at all costs. But if Obama doesn’t get off an declare victory soon he will appear weak and that will destroy him… and the Democratic chances of a White House victory.
uh, most people’s pastors don’t tell them to hate America. there’s kinda a difference between that and preventing pregnancies.
What Hillary Clinton did in 1999 when New York City’s Roman Catholics were outraged and asked her to intervene against the hateful artform (paid for by tax money) that was aimed against their religion? Museum of Modern Art in Brooklyn exhibition displayed Virgin Mary covered in elephant dung and surrounded by indecent images. Museum where this has happened was supported (back then) by our tax dollars. So Hillary listened to the Roman Catholic concerns, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights called the Virgin Mary painting “Catholic-bashing garbage”, but she ignored them, and let it go in the name of free speech. White House Press Correspondent Joe Lockhart told the media that President Clinton supports his wife’s position regarding the exhibit. If this art happened to target any other religion while being funded by the tax payers money at the same time, there would be a definite uproar.
[…] previously noted, Obama speeches and rallies have a more evangelical vibe that does not particularly resonate […]