Obama surging among Catholics

[Joe Republic]

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/09/catholics-flee-romney-ryan-dolan.html

Obama leads 54-39, up from 49-47 in June.

Among white Catholics only, he's tied with Romney.  However, that's still an improvement on 2008 when McCain won that demographic 52-47.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Evidently these Catholics are not aware that Obama is waging a war against them bent on the ultimate goal of destroying all religion?

[Franzl]

Evidently these Catholics are not aware that Obama is waging a war against them bent on the ultimate goal of destroying all religion?

We've been brainwashed by the liberal media.

[afleitch]

Evidently these Catholics are not aware that Obama is waging a war against them bent on the ultimate goal of destroying all religion?

We've been brainwashed by the liberal media.

It's Lie-beral media Franzl. Lie-beral. Unless you're part of the Muslim Brotherhood too

[Joe Republic]

Evidently these Catholics are not aware that Obama is waging a war against them bent on the ultimate goal of destroying all religion?

Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the diocese of Springfield, IL, is just as concerned.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

You'd think that people who believe in social justice would support a 'every man for himself' agenda...the wonders never cease.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Evidently these Catholics are not aware that Obama is waging a war against them bent on the ultimate goal of destroying all religion?

Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the diocese of Springfield, IL, is just as concerned.

I would be concerned too if I was named Paprocki.

[Eraserhead]

Some of them probably realized his opponent is a Mormon.

[Wisconsin+17]

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Let's see. Vote for the pro abortion pro gay marriage Muslim or for the pro abortion pro gay marriage Mormon?

What a thrilling election.

We've been having this discussion at my workplace - lots of conservative Catholics there. We all feel that our last chance for a decent candidate was Santorum, and since he's out - lots of folks choosing to stay home.

Everyone is hunkering down for the next 4 years because we know it's going to suck, but Texas should weather the storm.

[Joe Republic]

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Let's see. Vote for the pro abortion pro gay marriage Muslim or for the pro abortion pro gay marriage Mormon?

Perhaps it's the Virgil Goode banner, but I honestly can't tell if you meant that seriously or not.

[pbrower2a]

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/09/catholics-flee-romney-ryan-dolan.html

Obama leads 54-39, up from 49-47 in June.

Among white Catholics only, he's tied with Romney.  However, that's still an improvement on 2008 when McCain won that demographic 52-47.

Any marginal gain in a reputable group of people  is good for a politician in a close election . Well, it was a close election until this week but could be again.

Evidently these Catholics are not aware that Obama is waging a war against them bent on the ultimate goal of destroying all religion?

Would anyone have expected a largely-liberal incumbent who keeps his religious beliefs to himself could win in part because his opponent seems to hold an ultra-secular ideology? The Catholic Church may be reactionary on sexuality, but it is quite liberal on economics, race relations, and foreign policy.

 

 

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Perhaps it's the Virgil Goode banner, but I honestly can't tell if you meant that seriously or not.

There was a thread a couple of weeks back in which he was fairly insistent about the point, but then trolling is trolling so who knows?

[Wisconsin+17]

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Most Christians I know would change their name to something that's Christian - not Muslim.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Enough said.

[7,052,770]

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Most Christians I know would change their name to something that's Christian - not Muslim.

 Perhaps you should expose yourself to more than just narrow-minded conservative Catholics...

[opebo]

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Let's see. Vote for the pro abortion pro gay marriage Muslim or for the pro abortion pro gay marriage Mormon?

Everyone is hunkering down for the next 4 years because we know it's going to suck, but Texas should weather the storm.

Haha, you should prepare to hide in the attic of an Hispanic family!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

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Most Christians I know would change their name to something that's Christian - not Muslim.

Well I for one find it impossible to quarrel with such a logically sound and brilliantly put argument.

[Phony Moderate]

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Most Christians I know would change their name to something that's Christian - not Muslim.

Well I for one find it impossible to quarrel with such a logically sound and brilliantly put argument.

How long until you learn to use the post quote function?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

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Most Christians I know would change their name to something that's Christian - not Muslim.

Well I for one find it impossible to quarrel with such a logically sound and brilliantly put argument.

How long until you learn to use the post quote function?

Ah, I no longer bother with learning anything.

[Wisconsin+17]

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I *am* a convert. My family isn't Catholic at all - they are Obama worshippers. I'm also the only one with a college degree.

[Wisconsin+17]

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FTFY.

[Phony Moderate]

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Most Christians I know would change their name to something that's Christian - not Muslim.

Well I for one find it impossible to quarrel with such a logically sound and brilliantly put argument.

How long until you learn to use the post quote function?

Ah, I no longer bother with learning anything.

Ooh...errr...oops. That was meant for our Texan friend. I suppose I'd be in the Irony Ore Mine now if it hadn't been wisely locked.

[TJ in Oregon]

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Let's see. Vote for the pro abortion pro gay marriage Muslim or for the pro abortion pro gay marriage Mormon?

What a thrilling election.

We've been having this discussion at my workplace - lots of conservative Catholics there. We all feel that our last chance for a decent candidate was Santorum, and since he's out - lots of folks choosing to stay home.

Ben does have good point minus the part about Obama being a Muslim, there are a lot of conservative Catholic out there sufficiently dissatisfied about both parties not to vote at all or to vote for a random third party candidate. I meet Catholics sometimes who are against Romney for the 47% stuff or that he supports abortion or gay marriage, against Obama for abortion/gay marriage/the contraceptive mandate/etc and then tell me they're going to vote for Jill Stein (Just another reminder that most people know nothing about politics). Or I'll meet people who tell me they're voting for Gary Johnson not because they agree with him on anything but because he's the third party candidate with the best chance and they are fed up with both parties. I haven't met anyone supporting Virgil Goode yet, but I'm sure they exist too.

Granted, I doubt that's the main reason for Obama's polling improvement among Catholics. Most of it is probably over economics. Remember a lot of Catholics are in that 47% and are just as offended (or more) by that than by Obama attempting to change the Church's teaching on birth control in a war of attrition. Also keep in mind most Catholics don't follow the Church's teachings on artificial contraception. Heck, most probably don't even understand it. I was never taught contraceptives were wrong growing up. I wasn't taught they were okay either; it was never mentioned at all. To expect that to drive the Catholic vote is probably a bit much to ask since abortion, which is still a far bigger issue didn't, never really did beyond some marginal way.

All of this being what it is, I still maintain that I have some moral responsibility to vote for Mitt Romney because he is by far the best of bad options. If I were to hold out for someone who supports Catholic teachings on every issue imaginable, I'd never be able to vote at all. I do not believe if elected president Mitt Romney would actually gut the government half as much as the GOP's current rhetoric calls for; remember he too is an opportunist in connect with how unpopular deep cuts would be. Not to mention the Democrats would filibuster to no end in the Senate. Mitt's never been one to stick his neck out too far; it's not in his character. He's a non-ideological beaurocrat who will take on the positions need to make it work. His chameleon like tendencies will never be endearing but they can be used to achieve a particular ends. Whether or not Mitt did the exact same thing in Massachusetts, he would very likely end the contraceptive mandate in ACA/ObamaCare/Whatever-the-heck-you-want-to-call-it. Why? It's not because he cares much one way or the other, but because the people who got him elected care. Likewise, Mitt Romney probably doesn't even have an opinion on abortion, but I am pretty certain whatever opinion he doesn't have will end up being far more pro-life that Obama. NARAL and Planned Parenthood are working to get Obama re-elected for a reason. They don't want to see a President Romney. That ought to tell you something.

Everyone is hunkering down for the next 4 years because we know it's going to suck, but Texas should weather the storm.

Ben, the next 4 years is only the beginning.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

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Most Christians I know would change their name to something that's Christian - not Muslim.

Barack Obama was born with the same name that he currently has, you see.

[Wisconsin+17]

Madisonian -

The trouble is that Romney's done the exact same thing as Obama. 4 more years and he's gone and we can replace him with someone else. If Romney wins - we won't ever have another conservative. And that's a worse outcome than 4 years of Obama.