Losing the Catholic Vote? (Obama)

Town Hall.com ^ | 1/30/2012 | Carol Platt Liebau

[KeyLargo]

January 30, 2012

Losing the Catholic Vote? By Carol Platt Liebau 1/30/2012

The Obama administration has picked a fight that is downright wrong -- and may have real political implications for the President's reelection.

The Department of Health and Human Services has issued an edict that, under ObamaCare, effectively all employers will be FORCED to offer health insurance that covers subsidized contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs. This means that Catholic employers (like hospitals and universities) and other Christian entities would be forced to contravene their own teachings in order to provide their employees with health insurance.

The Catholic Church is so outraged at the decision (and understandably so) that its bishops distributed a strongly worded letter that was read yesterday at Catholic masses across the country. (The administration's policy is so shockingly extreme that, yes, even EJ Dionne -- one of the President's most fervent apologists -- has rebuked him for it).

Note that this isn't the first time that the Obama administration has shown appalling disregard for the sensibilities of religious people. In a recent case, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled against the position adopted by the Obama Justice Department, under which the administration was trying to claim for itself (rather than religious institutions) the ability to determine which employees should be considered "ministers" of any particular religion.

Although the letter that was read from pulpits across America yesterday may indicate the existence of a troubling pattern on the part of the administration, it also threatens to sensitize otherwise disengaged people of faith to participate in the 2012 elections. And keep in mind that Catholics are the biggest "swing faith" in the country, and contributed mightily to the Republican blowout in 2010.

Carol Platt Liebau is an attorney, political commentator and guest radio talk show host based near New York. Learn more about her new book, "Prude: How the Sex-Obsessed Culture Hurts Young Women (and America, Too!)" here.

[KeyLargo]

[Biggirl]

Could Obama awoken a sleeping giant?

[Grunthor]

“Losing the Catholic Vote?”

One can hope, but as long as he is for social justice, what he calls “fairness” it is doubtful.

[pray4liberty]

I hope every single Catholic that voted for this fraud is sorry now....

[Plumres]

I can not see how you can be a Catholic and vote for a Democrat. I was at Mass yesterday and the priest called Obama argent. I almost stood up in church and cheered. If the whole Catholic Church voices their opinion against the Administration, it may be enough to rout the assclown out of office!

[ArrogantBustard]

I hope every single Catholic that voted for this fraud is sorry now....

If I knew any, I'd try to find out.

All the 0bama voters I know in the real world are either Protestant or unchurched.

[pray4liberty]

Maybe if more of us stood up in church and cheered our priests would get even bolder.

[budj]

Every Bishop should start formal, written, excommunication of every Catholic politician who supports this or fails to cause its repeal. The Church needs to get very serious NOW!

[budj]

Every Bishop should start formal, written, excommunication of every Catholic politician who supports this or fails to cause its repeal. The Church needs to get very serious NOW!

[freeangel]

“Could Obama awoken a sleeping giant?”

Not likely if most are like my mom.

[AustinBill]

The Catholic Church in America has been sewing this field for a long time by coddling CINO politicians. Looks like Obama finally “crossed the line” and it will be very interesting to see how this plays out. Of course don’t expect any coverage of this in the MSM.

[Salvation]

Losing a lot of other votes from other religions.

50 percent of Catholics (Catholics make up about 22 percent of the U.S. population.) approve of his presidency, down from 67 percent in his first six months in office.

DOWN 17 POINTS

 

among non-Catholic Christians, who make up 55 percent of the U.S. population, had fallen from 58 percent to 43 percent.

DOWN 15 POINTS

 

Mormon respondents, who represent about two percent of U.S. adults, fell from 43 percent to 26 percent

DOWN 17 POINTS

 

About 78 percent of Muslim respondents approved of the Obama presidency, down eight percentage points from when the question was first asked.  (86)

DOWN 8 POINTS

 

atheists, agnostics, and members of other non-Christian religions, who comprise about 13 percent of the U.S. population -- While about 75 percent of these respondents approved of President Obama at the start of his term, their approval declined to about 64 percent.

DOWN 11 POINTS

 

Jews were the religious group third likeliest to approve of President Obama, giving him 61 percent approval. This too is a decline: in January-June 2009, their approval rating of the president was 77 percent.

DOWN 16 POINTS

 

Overall, 48 percent of Americans approve of President Obama’s job, down from 63 percent in the first months of his presidency. Gallup claims that its survey of over 276,000 adults claims an overall margin of error of plus or minus one percent.

DOWN 15 POINTS

 

 

[Salvation]

Don't pick on just the Catholics? What about the evangelicals or Jewish votes?

Obama won the overall religious vote, 52 percent to 46 percent, reversing President George W. Bush’s 51 percent to 48 percent “values voter” victory over Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry in 2004. Obama also won the Catholic vote, persuaded young evangelical voters to choose him and began to squeeze shut the so-called “God gap” yawning between religious Democrats and Republicans during the Bush era.

How will the roughly 9.1 million evangelical Christians who voted for Obama vote in the next election? Will Obama's actions compel the 31.2 million evangelicals who didn't vote in the 2008 election to vote next time?

Obama Receives 77% of Jewish Vote-- More Than Kerry
White US Catholics move toward GOP, Hispanic Catholics toward Democrats
Among Catholics, Obama job approval rating decreases to 50 percent

[who knows what evil?]

How can ANY Catholic support Obama? He SUPPORTS abortion!

[Marathoner]

One of those evangelicals in 2008 was my brother in law, who got brainwashed with all this Jim Wallis sojourners BS. I hope (and think) he’s since seen the light.

[KeyLargo]

Obama: The most polarizing president. Ever.

[Aevery_Freeman]

Please, all FReepers with the ability to clearly communicate a thought (most of you), write a Letter to the Editor of your local paper, talk to your neighbors, blog, anything to support Catholics in this fight.

There is a reason that Religion is in the FIRST Amendment to the Constitution, faith is that d*mn important for if a man is not free to believe, he is not free.

[georgia peach]

He is not alone.I wonder if this will wake up other Catholics.

[KeyLargo]

Prophecies of Barack Obama?

http://www.cogwriter.com/barack-obama-prophecy-antichrist.htm

[nolongerademocrat]

I think so. It appears this Pope has a courageous heart. And he is willing to stand against Obama. I commend all Catholics for standing up against this government.