Free Republic

Kamala’s Humorless Hatred for Catholics ContinuesApparently, Kamala’s hatred for Catholics is no laughing matter; and, apparently, she will not abide being made fun of—even for charity.Allow me the grace to be able to take a joke to discover in life a bit of joy, and to be able to share it with others. —St. Thomas More It is a decidedly Catholic quality to take oneself lightly and bring levity to the heaviest situations. In the heat of American politics, therefore, it is fitting that a Catholic event be the occasion for some lightheartedness. But Catholic animus on the Left is...

Former President Donald Trump called out his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris’ contentious history with American Catholics after she became the first major-party presidential nominee since 1984 to skip a beloved Catholic event. The Archdiocese of New York’s Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner (“Al Smith Dinner”) raises money for various Catholic charitable organizations that benefit children. While the dinner is held annually, it receives particular attention during presidential election years when both of the major parties’ candidates attend and take turns making comedic speeches. Trump – who had addressed the dinner in both 2016 and 2020 – has confirmed his...

Cardinal Timothy Dolan slammed Kamala Harris' surprise move to skip the annual Al Smith dinner, while sending a warning about the last candidate who sat it out. The dinner benefitting Catholic Charities traditionally has been used to promote collegiality and good humor, with presidential candidates from both parties appearing on the same night and trading barbs. Donald Trump has attended the dinner in both 2016 and 2020, while Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden - albeit online - also attended when running for president. Dolan, the Archbishop of New York City, said he was 'disappointed' in Harris' decision to instead campaign...

It's been a few days of updates on the Al Smith dinner, an annual Catholic Charities event that is taking place this year on October 17 in New York City. While Vice President Kamala Harris will not attend, former and potentially future President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will be there. Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York who hosts the event and sits in between the two nominees at such dinners, is also weighing in on Harris' move. The Trump War Room was all too happy to share a clip from Fox News of Dolan addressing...

As Twitchy readers know, Kamala Harris skipped the Al Smith dinner. Of note, she is the first presidential candidate to do so in 40 years (since Walter Mondale skipped in 1984) which is really not a great look for a candidate many people already don't like or trust. Chuck Schumer must know this because he tried smoothing things over with Cardinal Dolan about her missing the dinner. In other words, he gossiped about Kamala behind her back to make excuses for why she wasn't there. And gave up a bit too much info that Dolan was more than happy to...

In the most predictable news from the most unpredictable presidential race in history, Kamala Harris has declined to attend the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York next month. The historic Catholic fundraiser has always been a rare moment of genuine levity, especially in election years when both major-party nominees traditionally roast each other with mocking speeches. But not this time. Harris told organizers she won’t be there because she says she needs to focus on her campaign. Oh, give me a break!

Ouch: It seems Kamala Harris is so afraid of having to be spontaneous in public that’s she’s skipping this year’s Al Smith dinner on Oct. 17. A charity event that raises millions for the city’s unfortunate, the dinner has hosted the major-party rivals every four years (with just two exceptions) since 1960, when Richard Nixon dared to join John Kennedy, the first Catholic presidential nominee since Al Smith himself, on Catholic “turf.” The candidates are supposed to deliver light jabs at each other in their dueling addresses, which plainly can be written in advance — but the program apparently has...

President Trump has agreed to speak remotely Thursday at the New York Archdiocese’s first ever virtual Al Smith fundraising event amid the coronavirus pandemic, church officials said Monday evening. The Archdiocese has also extended an invitation to former Vice President Joe Biden, who is Catholic, and is hopeful he will also agree to speak at the 75th annual fundraiser, the first being held remotely and not taking place at a location with speakers and hundreds of guests.

President Trump has agreed to speak remotely Thursday at the New York Archdiocese’s first ever virtual Al Smith fundraising event amid the coronavirus pandemic, church officials said Monday evening. The Archdiocese has also extended an invitation to former Vice President Joe Biden, who is Catholic, and is hopeful he will also agree to speak at the 75th annual fundraiser, the first being held remotely and not taking place at a location with speakers and hundreds of guests.

House Speaker Paul Ryan lampooned President Trump at a charity dinner Thursday night, mocking his Twitter habits, his former top advisor Steve Bannon and his Big Apple roots.

NEW YORK, October 21, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) – Tensions were heightened going into the New York Archdiocese's high-end Al Smith Dinner Thursday night as rival presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were set to appear side by side just one day after facing off in the heated third and final debate of a particularly polarized campaign. With Clinton and Trump as special guest speakers, the 71st annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York raised a record $6 million-plus. The $3,000-per-plate affair brings out high-profile guests during election years as well as joint...

While each candidate delivered some biting comments while taking a turn behind the dais at the Al Smith Dinner, "there were some very touching moments" in private, Dolan said, describing one right after he asked both of them to pray with him. "After the little prayer, Mr. Trump turned to Secretary Clinton and said, 'You are one tough and talented woman,'" Dolan said. "He said, 'This has been a good experience, this whole campaign, as tough as it's been.'" Clinton then returned the compliment. "She said to him, 'Donald, whatever happens, we need to work together afterward,'" Dolan said.

Last night there was somewhat of a ritualistic dinner held. It was the Al Smith dinner, a white-tie affair, and a ritual that Presidential candidates, very late in the game, have usually taken part in. This year was no different, with both Hillary and Trump sporting their white-tie best. But this is not your usual sort of passe' thing. No, it's a benefit, and as are many benefits in New York it was stuffed with priestly types and an extraordinary price tag -- but, as is frequently the case when there are so many with a priestly bent headlining the...

Trump called out Hillary for her lies and corruption during his speech. He also dropped a few references about the Wikileaks documents Donald Trump: Hillary is so corrupt. She got kicked off the Watergate Commission. How corrupt do you have to be to get kicked off the Watergate Commission. Pretty corrupt. Hillary is and has been in politics since the 70s. What’s her pitch? The economy is busted. Washington is failing. Vote for me. I’ve been working on these problems for 30 years… We’ve learned so much from Wikileaks. For instance, Hillary believes it’s vital to deceive the people by...

Fox Business. Some dinner.. Trump roasting Hillary pretty good.

Alfred E. Smith Memorial Dinner Presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump deliver remarks at the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City.

Alfred E. Smith Memorial Dinner: Presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump deliver remarks at the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City. I'm told this will be carried live on C-Span and Fox Business News @ 8:30 pm ET From Terry Golway Every four years in late October, the presidential candidates of both major parties dust off their white tie and tails to take part in one of the great closing rituals of the long campaign: a gala dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in honor of a New York governor who gave voice to immigrants...

Last night I was invited to dinner by Al Smith IV, the great-grandson of Al Smith, who was a former New York governor and the first Catholic nominated for president. Al shared some jokes while introducing Obama and Romney. He also poked fun at Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a man of considerable girth, who sat between the two candidates. Al joked that they were separated by a “vast expanse.” The banter throughout the night reminded me of another man of great girth, namely G.K. Chesterton. Standing 6 feet 4 inches and weighing around 290 pounds, Chesterton’s size gave rise to a...

Video at source and youtube. Of course we're down to the final months of the president's term, as presidents... (LAUGHTER) ...as President Obama surveys the Waldorf banquet room with everyone in white tie and refinery, you have to wonder what he's thinking. So little time, so much to redistribute. (LAUGHTER) And don't be surprised if the president mentions this evening the monthly jobs report where there was a slight improvement in the numbers. He knows how to seize the moment, this president. And already has a compelling new campaign slogan, "You're better off now than you were four weeks ago."...

Tonight was the annual Alfred E. Smith Dinner where the candidates take a humorous break from the campaign trail. But I gotta say, I was pleasantly surprised at how funny Romney was as he delivered line after line, mostly about the president. In fact he landed some pretty hard blows on the president, namely one where in using the Sesame Street reference he said that President Obama’s remarks “are brought to you by the letter O and the number 16 Trillion.” Ouch! And there’s a lot more where that came from. My bet is that even though it was all...