Let the Games Begin - Who Gets the Catholic voter

An article in The New York Observer signals the significant work the Democrats have already undertaken to woo the Catholic Voter. For a breakdown of the Catholic votes in the 2004 election, where the Democratic nominee was a Catholic look here.

Here are the important facts as I see them:

1. For the first time in nearly 100 years the majority of Catholics voted for a Republican presidential candidate.
2. The switch of Catholics casting their votes for Republicans instead of Democrats is a long-term major trend (not a one-time event) that began in the 1970's.
3. There are two reasons for this trend; an increase in wealth among Catholics and a variety of social issues like abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, and pornography.

It is generally perceived that the increase in the number of Hispanic Catholics in the electorate will benefit the Democrats. the conventional wisdom is that they are new to this country and therefore will enjoy the government benefits that have been the bread and butter of Democratic politics. This may be true, however there are still the social issues as well as the ever increasing conservativeness of the Church.

Here is the beginning of an interesting article that I linked above....

Clinton Makes a Pitch For Catholic Voters

By E.J. Kessler

The hunt for the great American Catholic voter of 2008 started in earnest last week, led by none other than New York’s junior Senator, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Speaking about a Republican-passed immigration bill that would make it a felony to be in the United States illegally, or to aid an illegal immigrant, Mrs. Clinton said, “It is certainly not in keeping with my understanding of the Scriptures, because the bill would literally criminalize the Good Samaritan and probably even Jesus himself.”

... OK, I can't take anymore of that! When Hilliary Clinton starts interpreting scripture she comes off like a complete phoney. It didn't work for Kerry, and I don't think that it will work for Hillary.

Of course, it shouldn't come to anyone's surprise that Cardinal Mahoney and a cadre of dissenting has-been bishops are a key element of Hillary's bid to be President. They continually confuse the issues and create disorder in the Church.