Going after the "Roman Catholic" vote.

Blocking abortion is a position which the GOP is pretty comfortable with. And it's in accordance with the official position of the Roman Catholic Church. And the GOP is also in line with arguing against all things Obama, which encompasses the health care reform requirement that companies' insurance plans pay for birth control, even those companies affiliates with Catholic entities. (But not required of actual Church organizations like parishes.)

Fine. And thus I have a "more of the same" reaction when, with a vice-president pick like Paul Ryan (a Roman Catholic), that the GOP platform continues to be anti-abortion and Paul Ryan continues to be anti-abortion. It's internally consistent and makes sense.

Nor do I have a problem when the GOP invites Cardinal Dolan to deliver the closing prayer at its convention. Perfectly fine, the dovetail joint aligns.

But it would be great if the press explored whether or not this was a marriage of convenience, and whether the GOP is taking Catholics for a ride. Can the Press ask the GOP how it feels about capital punishment? The Church is also against that. Can the Press ask the GOP how it feels about a decision to invade Iraq in spite of the Church (allbeit not "ex cathedra") saying it was unjustified? Can the Press ask the GOP about the disconnect between Ryan's lack of charity and morality?

Can we get these questions answered? Do "Catholics" (as if they were some monolithic group...) want to rush into the embrace of a cheating man?

Home | | 8:58 PM
(DISCLOSURE: I work for Abt SRBI. My company does polling. My opinions should not be construed as representing those of my employer.)