Joe Klein: "Roman Catholics" Against Clinton

[DeepModem Mom]

TV Newser: Monday Mar 03, 2008
Joe Klein: "Roman Catholics" Against Clinton

Portfolio's Jeff Bercovici writes about last night's first in a series of discussions moderated by CBS' Jeff Greenfield at the 92nd St. Y (in New York City). It included a panel of political commentators — Newsweek's Jonathan Alter (of NBC/MSNBC), Time's Joe Klein (of CNN), and National Review editor Rich Lowry (of FNC).

Bercovici reports that Alter denied widespread bias against Sen. Hillary Clinton (and received "loud boos" from the crowd), but Klein put the anti-Clinton bias on a certain religious group, and named names.

"I do believe there's something weird a few of our colleagues have (against Clinton)," Klein said. "They tend to be Roman Catholics, actually. People like Tim Russert, Chris Matthews, Maureen Dowd. They've had it in for Bill and Hillary Clinton since Monica Lewinsky."

Lowry cited last week's MSNBC debate when discussing the bias against Clinton. "I thought it was obvious that Tim Russert and Brian Williams were harder on Hillary Clinton," he said.

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/politics/joe_klein_roman_catholics_against_clinton_78872.asp

[gateley]

1. Oh, Jesus Mary and Joseph!

I'm Catholic and believe me, most of us don't judge people on their sexual escapades (like RWers do). And it's not like the Catholic Church can cast the first stone... :eyes:

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Yeah -- I need a little more info from Joe on his thinking. nt

[xchrom]

2. you can connect those same people with

the general conservative turn this country has taken since reagan.

conservative catholicism has had it's own role to play in pushing the rudder right in this country -- and not all of it can be blamed on william f buckley or rehnquist.

conservative catholic thinking -- though running low on the radar screen -- is as important and i would argue more -- as the evangelical movement -- because if nothng else it doesn't reject reality and rigorous intellectualism.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

4. The media hardly ever gets it right about Catholics, lots of right

wing and left wing, with plenty in the middle.

[Drunken Irishman]

6. Catholics are a big reason why Clinton won both elections.

And why Kerry and Gore lost theirs.

[IowaGirl]

5. I really wish we could have seen Obama answer more of

the questions before Hillary. Then it would have been easier to assess his knowledge on the topics. As it was, he pretty much only had to say, "I agree with Senator Clinton." Though it did confirm that Hillary was up to snuff.

[Rageneau]

7. TV pundits are Catholics like matadors are Spanish.

I noticed this a long time ago, but don't know what to make of it and never heard anyone mention it before now, but -- increedibly -- I estimate that well over 85% of all TV political talking heads are Roman Catholic. If I were more conspiracy-susceptible, I'be be even more suspicious.

Bret Hume, Kato Bierne, Tweety Matthews, Mark Sheilds, Bill Press, Bill O'Reilly, Geraldo Rivera, Margaret Carlson, Dowd, Eleanor Clift, Russert, Hannity -- those are off the top of my head, but I know the list is at least three times that long.

Any insight into this anyone?

[DeepModem Mom]

10. The only thought I'd have is, I think, too far in the past to be an answer --

and that is the political power and participation of (Roman Catholic) Irish, Italians, etc., as immigrant groups in our big cities. I'm thinking of those great figures like LaGuardia, and JFK's grandfather, the Mayor of Boston "Honey Fitz." There had to have been dinner table conversations about politics, and, from that, an interest. But that's maybe way too far in the past?

[pnwmom]

11. Yeah, but there are Catholics, and there are Catholics.

It's a huge church -- as big as all the Protestant churches put together -- with a huge range of opinion.

[TomClash]

8. That's three people

and none of them are exactly devout Catholics. It's one thing to claim media bias but to out three people and describe that as a group is quite bizarre.

[OHdem10]

9. Ordinary Catholics like me, support Hillary. One of her identifiable

voting blocs of support are Catholics.

That DC Group has some other problem. Tell Klein it is not
their Catholicism. Their Narcissism maybe.