If it were a catholic thing then it would be predictable during all of American history, and for the future, which, of course it is.
Correlation is not causation. Hispanic, Asian and Black voters of non-Catholic religion strongly indicate against causation.
If we are to make an argument for causation from correlation, then logic requires a comparison and look at the strongest correlations.
Based solely on correlation, a causation is much more likely to be the result of the higher number of non-white Catholics vs the more white makeup of non Catholics in the sample. We see this most obviously in the difference between white and non-white Catholic votes.
Correlation is much stronger for other factors than Catholic/Protestant. Let’s just take white/non white. (Remember that white includes a large range of possibly relevant ethnicity as well):
Here’s Fox’s Exit Poll results..
Vote by Christian, whites and non-whites
Obama Romney
White Protestant/Other Christian 30% 69%
White Catholic 40% 59%
Non-white all 80% 18%
The best predictor of vote here is non-white vs. white.
The best predictor of vote regarding Christian religion in total is church frequency:
Obama Romney
More than once a week 36% 63%
Never 62% 34%
The best predictor of vote regardless of religion is race/ethnicity.
Obama Romney
White 39% 59%
Black 93% 6%
Hispanic/Latino 71% 27%
Asian 73% 26%
Other 58% 38%
If we base our actions on the major voting correlation factors, the answer to the ‘Catholic Problem’ is obvious:
Kick out the non whites (along with a lot of the Irish), unmarried women and young people.
:)