Thank you for encouraging me to continue to educate pro-life conservatives.
Some may not know how Clinton defeated Dole, among Catholics “it was 54 percent for Clinton, 38 percent for Republican Bob Dole, and 8 percent for independent Ross Perot. That’s not the whole story. While Clinton ran worse among many voter groups in 1996 than he had in 1992 (including seniors and youth, at opposite ends of the age spectrum), he did better among Catholics: a gain of 2.3 million votes compared with Dole’s gain of 400,000 and Perot’s loss of 3.3 million. Of the 23 states with a Catholic vote above the national average, Dole carried only two: Texas and Colorado. Had Dole run just a little better among Catholics, his supporters surmised, he might well have been elected.”
In the meantime, it sounds like you're not clear on the mechanics of a presidential election, so perhaps I can help there too. In this country, we elect presidents through an electoral college, not by simple majority. In the 1996 election Clinton won there 379 to 159. The top 5 closest states that Bill Clinton won and Bob Dole lost were, in order: KY, NV, AZ, TN & FL. Other than AZ (30%) none of them are more than 25% Catholic. So, no, if Catholics had voted the same as other Christians in the 1996 election (they went for Clinton 50 to 41 percent), it is not likely that the election would have gone to Dole in any event.
But it is illustrative of a deeper point: The cultural fabric of our national politics. By that I mean that the region than a person comes from, and their ethnic and socioeconomic background is a much better indication of a person's religious affiliation than their religious habits. For the most part. Jews and a few minority religious groups are the notable exceptions who predictably vote in as a liberal block. It is for exactly that reason that among the strongest of all conservatives are conservative Jews: They have to be. Same goes for conservative blacks. And conservative Hispanics for that matter. Ever met a first generation Cuban immigrant?
But, again, this is really not the most helpful conversation for you right now. What you need to be reminded of -constantly -is the fact that you log on every day to FR and seek out threads that have any association to Catholicism. When you get there, you pick pretty much the same exact fight with a different stranger, day after day after day. Until then, you've got yourself a the mental health equivalent of a sobriety coach. I am writing a paper for grad school right now, so I'm spending a lot of time on my laptop. Every time you return to your negative behavior, I am going to keep reminding your mistake. It's a win/win, I think, because it will help keep me focused on my work. If I have time, I may even start checking on your behavior on other threads. Make a valid point, I'll leave you alone. Return to your compulsive habits, I'll be there to support you. I'm that kind of guy.
You may think you're helping yourself with delusional claims about educating pro life conservatives. But everyone that I am aware of on this website is pro life. Everyone is equally disgusted with men like Mario Cuomo. Its quite evident that you know that deep down. You don't like yourself very much and you are lashing out at strangers because you think it will help. It won't. You need to come to terms with what, exactly, it is that bothers you about Catholics and Catholicism and be honest about it. Then you need to find something different to do with your time every day. I would suggest volunteering to help with a political campaign (you're clearly motivated, and I don't doubt your political convictions), but there are endless opportunities for anyone with time to contribute.
My prediction is this: When you come to terms with whatever it is that is bothering you personally, life will get better for you. If you don't you will continue on this cycle of self-destructive behavior. The choice is yours.
But I'm rooting for you Ansell.