Bizarre, Politics

Romney’s Catholic Problem

By Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Just this past summer, American Roman Catholic bishops were decrying the Obama Administration for forcing its ancillary institutions like colleges and hospitals to pay for reproductive health services for its women employees. Lawsuits were filed, press releases were released, and commentators were assembled on cable news to express the outrage. The holy fathers even channeled Rev. Martin Luther King (never a favorite of the Catholic hierarchy — how could he be with that name?) calling for civil disobedience to contest the mandates of the new law. Letters were written to the flock (with approved language, of course) from the bishops bellowing, ““We cannot — we will not — comply with this unjust law.” The bishops even marketed a catchy name for their protest:  the flag waiving, patriotic sounding,  Fortnight for Freedom. (Yes, His truth was marching on in full display!)

The dire predictions from the Catholic leadership: Obama will have a tough time this fall among the RCs. Romney must have been reading the church bulletin because it was surely no coincidence that he chose Catholic firebrand, Rep. Paul Ryan, as his running mate. The not so subtle GOP even traipsed out anti-abortion, anti-homosexual, anti-Obama, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops, to deliver the closing prayer at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., next week.  Catholics were being seriously wooed with everything Madison Avenue and the Business Roundtable could muster.

But a funny thing happened on the way to Romney’s coronation.  A new Pew poll shows that Americans Catholics are embracing the incumbent’s campaign to the tune of 15 percentage points. Obama leads Romney 54% to 39% among likely Catholic voters in a poll released September 12 by the Pew Research Center for People and the Press.  That’s up from Obama’s two percentage point lead over Romney in a June poll by Pew. What accounts for the anti-establishment surge?

The Catholic vote is not as monolithic as some would have you believe. Obama won the Catholic vote in 2008 due in large part to the votes of Hispanic and African American Catholics. That coalition seems to be holding and Obama has drawn even with Romney among Caucasian Catholic voters. Add to that Obama’s edge among female voters (56% to 37%) and you get a serious headache for Romney strategists.

But how strong is Obama’s support versus Romney’s and how likely are voters to change their minds? More bad news for Romney. Pew finds that Obama has the strongest support of any incumbent since Bill Clinton and perplexingly for Romney his support is more positive than negative calling into question Romney’s negative ad blitz.

At this stage in the campaign, Barack Obama is in a strong position compared with past victorious presidential candidates. With an eight-point lead over Mitt Romney among likely voters, Obama holds a bigger September lead than the last three candidates who went on to win in November, including Obama four years ago. In elections since 1988, only Bill Clinton, in 1992 and 1996, entered the fall with a larger advantage.

Well, things can change, right? Pew says maybe not:

Compared with many previous elections at this point in the campaign, more voters this year say they are absolutely certain to vote for their chosen candidate. Only 22% of registered voters (and 18% of likely voters) can be classified as swing voters …

Romney faces an uphill fight but surely not an insurmountable one. His problem may be that some of his most trusted allies from the pulpit might be leading only themselves with the rank and file having a mind of their own.

Source: CNN and throughout.

~Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

105 thoughts on “Romney’s Catholic Problem”

  1. bettykath, I do routinely vote for 3rd party candidates however I know it’s quixotic. Many folks would also vote 3rd party but they are duped into thinking they’re “out of the loop” if they don’t abide the duopoly. My belief is if you had a staightforward “None of the Above” more people who feel like myself[and presumably yourself] would gladly check that box. That may be the best route to a viable third party. That’s just my opinion, I could be wrong.

    Elaine, I get the arguement, I have read the piece, and there is “some truth” to the argument as the paper states. However, as previously stated by Bruce, Obama threw good money after bad and it was political. They doubled down on 14, w/ our money.

  4. And let’s not forget the consistently raising number of Independents … up to 46% and growing even in this, an election year.

    These Independents are residing within all religious organizations and are less inclined to follow the dictates of a political party or any other institution.

  5. SwM,

    Yes but, “Southern Baptist researcher Ed Stetzer defines Mormonism as a “theological cult,” not the classic “sociological cult.” His research shows that a full 75 percent of Protestant pastors believe that Mormonism is either a cult or simply a different religion.

    Stetzer says he’d be concerned if the significant theological distinctions between Mormons and mainstream Christianity are blurred or overlooked in the name of political expediency.

    “I think it is more helpful to call Mormons another religion, distinct from biblical or historic Christianity, as just about everyone from Catholics to Methodists to Baptists have clearly stated,” Stetzer notes. “It’s a different religion that uses the same words to describe very different things.”

    However, common ground between Mormons and Evangelicals is their hatred of gays.

  7. Nick,

    “House Republicans investigating Solyndra have claimed that the Bush administration ultimately rejected the Solyndra loan, but that’s not quite the case. Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and news media point out that Bush energy officials wanted to get the loan closed on their way out the door — it was listed as the first of their “three highest priorities through January 15.” (Obama took office Jan. 20, 2009.) But the Energy Department’s credit committee held things up for more analysis.”

    *****

    The above paragraph in quotes was written by PolitiFact. It isn’t something that David Plouffe said. Read the PolitiFact article for yourself. Here’s the link again:
    http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/nov/17/david-plouffe/solyndra-loan-george-w-bush-david-plouffe/

  8. Mark,

    Your analysis of whether Mitt Romney will receive hope and help from the Roman Catholics is interesting and reasonable. I am not a practicing Roman Catholic, but I do read in your words several swipes at the Roman Catholic Church which then taints your credibility to make an interesting and objective point.

    To address at least two points, Roman Catholic clergy as a group are not against the Reverend Martin Luther King, or the Mormon Church. Differing on dogma does not make them enemies. They were hurtful and unnecessary references in this post.

  9. “LOL, Looks like 44% will vote for either Obama or Romney, the other 56% would vote for someone else or none-of-the-above.” (bettykath)

    Doesn’t it make you wonder … I mean, who would actually answer such a poll.

    I invite both you and Malisha to the corner bar where we can sit in silence, staring off into space, sipping our brew and occasionally mutter under our breath, “G*d D*mn Idiots” .

  11. ““Did [name] vote for or against [the bill]?”

    He answered YES.” (Malisha)

    lol … just makes you want to run down to the corner bar and sit a spell.

  12. Blouise 1, September 30, 2012 at 11:03 am

    There was a recent result from a poll question published in a Texas newspaper and, honest to god, it is markedly funny:

    “If the election were today, would you vote for Obama or Romney?

    Yes — 44% No — 56%”
    ——————–

    LOL, Looks like 44% will vote for either Obama or Romney, the other 56% would vote for someone else or none-of-the-above.
    ==========================

    nick spinelli 1, September 30, 2012 at 11:10 am

    Blouise, Until we have viable third/fourth parties, I’m looking for None of the Above!
    ————————-

    How do you propose those other parties become viable? They need your vote. How else are they to do it?

    Check out this link to find out about debates that include all the candidates. Check them out.

    http://www.onthewilderside.com/2012/09/29/presidential-debate-schedule-for-activists-occupiers-third-party-candidates-and-independents/

  13. There was a recent result from a poll question published in a Texas newspaper: “If the election were today, would you vote for Obama or Romney? Yes — 44% No — 56%”

    I LOVE IT! One time I testified in front of a state legislature, and then there was a bill defeated (I testified to get the bill defeated) and I wanted to know if a certain legislator had voted for it or against it. I e-mailed his office:

    “Did [name] vote for or against [the bill]?”

    He answered YES.

  14. Elaine,

    This is off topic….. Did you hear about the 3 city earth quake in Dallas and part of Tarrant counties….. They had been doing lots of natural gas drilling….. Wonderful if Fracking played a role…..

  15. If the polls are right, then Catholics should be congratulated for thinking for themselves.
    Now let us start taking on the real issues. Effective or not the Catholic bishops have continued to use their churches as politically bully pulpits for the Republicans. It is time to recognize that churches, if they ever did, no longer deserve the tax exemptions that they have been enjoying for years. As they pull out of schools, they have invested millions and millions to take over health care in this country. As a result many, many American women have no where to go for unbiased health care that focuses on their health as human beings rather than as entities whose bodies must be controlled by the church.
    The church has taken over many important social service providers so that now 60% of the church related non profits get 60% of their budget from the federal government while at the same time refusing to follow laws regarding discrimination and health care.

    Churches used to be places of solace and comfort. Now they are upfront and in your face telling you how to vote and telling the government how to run the country when it comes to women’s health. Did they criticize Ryan’s budge? Sure after many wondered out loud where they were on the issue and how a church that is supposed to be Christ’s representative could support such a mean spirited attack on the poor, the young, the elderly, the middle class, the working class–in short everyone who is not rich.

    It is time to recognize that everyone is entitled to believe what they want but when they decide that I should believe it to, run my life on their rules and pay for the privilege, all of our freedoms are at risk.

  16. Bruce, Listen to what Elaine is telling you .David Plouffe is the objective source on all issues Obama. Come on Elaine, this isn’t grammar schoool!

  17. Bruce, who is Elaine Bush? Did you sleep through English class?

    But beside your struggles with writing your milk tongue lets look at the real reason Solyndra failed. The Chinese have decided they want to own the solar market. To do this they use old technology and slave labor to produce cheap alternatives. So cheap that better products are not cost effective. No President is going to cure that.

    OTOH President Obama has started more trade actions against China in 3 years that Boy Blunder did in 8. Add to that Willard’s deep appreciation for China’s labor practices (he expressed real admiration, you may have heard the tape unless you get all your news from FAUX News) and that, in his book, Willard blasts President Obama for his trade actions and you have a pretty clear picture of which candidate will perform better for American industry.

  18. Candy Picker, So, your campaign slogan is, “Vote for Obama otherwise unmedicated, crazy people might kill you!” I’m guessing you don’t work in public relations.

  19. Bruce,

    Did the program that funded the Solyndra loan start under George W. Bush? David Plouffe says so
    PolitiFact
    11/30/2011
    http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/nov/17/david-plouffe/solyndra-loan-george-w-bush-david-plouffe/

    Excerpt:
    House Republicans investigating Solyndra have claimed that the Bush administration ultimately rejected the Solyndra loan, but that’s not quite the case. Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and news media point out that Bush energy officials wanted to get the loan closed on their way out the door — it was listed as the first of their “three highest priorities through January 15.” (Obama took office Jan. 20, 2009.) But the Energy Department’s credit committee held things up for more analysis.

  20. Bruce,

    There are many people not being treated for emotional issues. That was one of the cut backs under Bush. Step gently with those people or it could come back to bite you in the ssa. Look back now!

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