Catholic Vote Up For Grabs

[Bombtrack]

President Bush's meeting with the Pope "could cut both ways politically," the Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire reports.
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB108629683037628333,00.html?mod=politics%5Fsecondary%5Fstories%5Fhs

"The president, hoping to blunt Kerry's edge among fellow Roman Catholics, welcomes the session with the aging pontiff. It also highlights the Catholic leader's opposition to the Iraq war and his veiled criticism of 'how dignity is profoundly offended' by Abu Ghraib abuses."

A must-read Knight Ridder piece notes Catholics are "the country's largest religious denomination, 65 million strong. They're a major presence in election-battleground states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania. And they're split evenly between Democrats and Republicans, the only denomination so closely divided."
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/special_packages/election2004/8830813.htm

[prodigal_green]

1. this Catholic's vote

is NOT up for grabs.

[nini]

2. Mine either..

I don't know any Catholics that would vote for that asswipe, but then I don't associate with right wing morons either :-)

[UrbScotty]

4. Same here

That makes at least four of us.

[onehandle]

3. Not mine.

This Catholic looks for the D in the voting booth.

[wellstone dem]

5. This Catholic votes Pro-life

by voting anti-war, pro-gay marriage, pro-taking care of poor children, anti-death penalty, pro-environment.

My vote is not up for grabs.

[Michigander4Dean]

6. Not this Catholic's vote.

:-)

[JETS]

7. Oh yes, the political chessgame

where Catholic bishops will soon become Bush Inc. pawns

[Padraig18]

8. Catholics will split 65-35 *or better* for Kerry.

Take it to the bank.

[louis c]

9. Catholics

As a former Catholic, I suggest that the Church not get involved in politics at all. They should stick to what they know best, conspiring to cover-up for pedophilia.

[LonghornJack]

10. Add One More...

...to the stack. This Catholic's vote is in the Kerry column!

I read about the RNC campaign's contact with church organizations in Pennsylvania, asking them to become pro-active in the voter registration area. Seems like these guys out-sleaze themselves every other day. Now they want to use church pulpits to pry out more votes for chimpy. Any church that cooperates had better watch out for their tax-exempt status.

Help is on the way!
Go Kerry!

[JohnKleeb]

11. I think Kerry will do better among Catholics than Gore did

Catholic for Kerry here.

[Justice]

12. The Catholic Vote - I don't think it is so up for grabs

Alot of Catholics who voted for Bush in 2000 did so because of his whole - bring values back - and their dislike with what Clinton did with Monica. Like it or not, that was the reason.

What has changed since then? A mind blowing, gut wrenching scandal within the church, shaking us to our very core. George Bush's invasion of Iraq, deaths of Americans and Iraqis in a needless war, and the prison torture scandal - which is digusting, degrading and unAmerican. There is the Valeri Plame outing, and a belief among many that George Bush will do absolutely anything, anything, to gain an edge.

So I think the reason many Catholics voted for Bush is gone, kaput. I think many Catholics are horrified by the lies, and the war (lies and war are sins too, ya' know?)

In my extended family, 4 of the 15 adults voted for Bush. 2 in upstate NY. I know one of them is horrified by the war, and will not support Bush, and the spouse is very "quiet" about Bush (nothing good to say). Since NY will go for Kerry, no reason to discuss.

The other 2 live in NJ, work in NY and watched the Trade Center smoke from their living room window. They may be tougher. I remember arguing with on of them before the Iraq war - what it came down to was they believed Saadam had WMD and I did not believe. I have not discussed it with them since. If NJ is really as close as some polls predict, I will discuss it with them - but if NJ is headed for Kerry, I will likely not.

Many of my family live in NH - and do discuss the issues. Our family goal is to put NH in Kerry's column. Only a few EC votes, but it could make the difference.

[Padraig18]

13. I know at LEAST 100 *-voting Catholics from 2000 who will vote Kerry.

You've analyzed the situation admirably. Many Catholics who voted for * in 2000 have seen the whirlwind their votes reaped, and won't be repeating their mistake this year.