John McCain Meets With Catholic Leaders in Philadelphia
Deal Hudson writes at InsideCatholic:
Sen. John McCain reached out to Catholic voters yesterday in Philadelphia at a gathering of Catholic lay leaders and clergy. The meeting, held at the venerable Union League on South Broad St., is one in an ongoing series being held nationwide by McCain and his Catholic surrogates -- Sen. Sam Brownback, Gov. Frank Keating, and former Vatican ambassador Jim Nicholson.My Comments:
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The first issue addressed by McCain was abortion. He said that the "noblest words ever written" were "the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." McCain believes that those words "apply to the unborn." He reminded the Philadelphia Catholics of his pro-life voting record, adding that he would "maintain that commitment" if elected president.
McCain talked about the "stark contrast" between himself and Sen. Barack Obama on the life issue -- the evidence being Obama's vote against the ban on partial-birth abortion and his opposition, as a state senator, to legal protection for babies born during an abortion procedure.
Introducing McCain was former ambassador Jim Nicholson, who described the need for outreach to Catholic voters as "self-evident." In Pennsylvania, 30 percent of the voters are Catholic, he said, and argued that "McCain would attract Catholic voters because his beliefs line up squarely with them on issue like protecting unborn life, defending marriage between a man and a woman, and the all-important appointment of judges."
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McCain also brought up the subject of defending marriage, saying that some in the room may differ with his view that this decision should be taken up first in the states. "But," he added, "if some federal judge rules that all the states must recognize the [gay] marriages in Massachusetts, I would be in favor of pursuing a Constitutional amendment."
[More]
Hmmmm. The subject of McCain's support for embryonic stem-cell research appears to have been glossed over. I certainly hope someone in attendance at this meeting asked him about it.
Labels: Constitutional Jurisprudence, Judiciary, Marriage, McCain, Pro-Life, Supreme Court, The Catholic Vote, Voting Your Values
posted by Pro Ecclesia 8:19 AM
8 comments
8 Comments:
Yep--he needs to be pressed on ESCR. He's hinted at a willingness to budge, but only hinted.
But will Deal appoint Alito-type judges?
Jay, did you read that McCain is still considering Bloomberg as a VP candidate? Now if that doesn't rub the pro-life crowd bonkers then I'm forming my own little party.
I mentioned this earlier, but Chris Matthews had a panel of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and high ranking members of EMILY's List and Planned Parenthood, respectively, on Hardball yesterday. They were alarmed that the Obama campaign isn't doing enough to make women realize that McCain supports the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
In a sense, they're right--it's been backburner. Abortion, along with other social issues, wasn't even a choice for me to choose as what is most important in the election when Quinnipeac polling called the house the other night.
Actually, now that I think about it, "same sex marriage" might have been one of the options.
"Jay, did you read that McCain is still considering Bloomberg as a VP candidate? Now if that doesn't rub the pro-life crowd bonkers then I'm forming my own little party."
Mccain is not putting Bloomberg on the ticket. But as to different factions in the party you have to treat them with respect and be diplomatic. NOt that Bloomburg has a big cheering section. BUt MCCain is doing this the right way.
I am praying for the McCain campaign for the obvious reason. But I do hope that McCain picks Brownback or Huckabee for his VP; they were the only two Republicans I supported before he won the nomination. I somehow doubt he will though. I'll pray for 2012 too.
I'll pray for 2012 too.
Bobby Jindal in 2012!!!
I wouldn't be surprised, assuming they would accept, if McCain puts either Jindal or Palin forward as Veep. There is much to criticize McCain about, and I have done so over the years, but one thing I have always liked about him is his daring, not an unexpected attribute in an old fighter pilot. I think he understands that in order to win this election he is going to have to capture the imagination of the public and raise the enthusiasm level of the rank and file GOP, and either Jindal or Palin would accomplish both goals.
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