Tactics John McCain Would Disapprove of

http://www.tngop.org/wordpress/?p=113

McCain took a conservative talk show host who introduced him at a rally to task for inappropriate attacks on Obama, but it looks like the Tennessee GOP is doing the same thing.

It looks like both candidates at least give lip service to the idea of containing this stuff. Does anyone think they can be successful?

It depends on whether McCain genuinely tries to stay on top of sanctioning Republican supporters and individuals affiliated with the party. He did very well with Cunningham, but... we'll have to wait and see.

As for Obama, well, I think that he will have little to worry about so long as MoveOn.org and co. refrain from issuing any "General Betrayus" ads...

If McCain truly didn't know what kind of crap that guy would spew - which I doubt - he should have.

George Will has highlighted some other things of which John McCain would disapprove - at least the John McCain I keep hearing on the stump:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/27/AR2008022703205....

Again, this is all explained in John W. Dean's book Conservatives without Conscience.

Catholics: any thoughts on the Hagee endorsement, and, more specifically, the fact that McCain has, up to this point, eschewed a full out rejection of Hagee's views?

Here's one liberal's take on Hagee

and here's Bill Donahue's take, via Salon

Most of the Catholics that I know are voting for McCain for two reasons: foreign policy and federal judicial nominations.

To that end, the important endorsement is that of Manny Miranda:

http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=26757

If you are pro-life, you probably stopped voting for Democrats a while ago. The Dems lost a solid block of Catholics, who won't be returning anytime soon.

As to the Hagee endorsement - I'm a bit surprised. I guess the only one who doesn't see the handwriting on the wall is Mike Huckabee. Go figure.

Geneg is also Catholic - and about 180 degrees from me on the political spectrum. Let's see how long it takes him to blow me out of the water, here...

The issue says more about the press than anyone else. Farrakan, for being anti-semitic, black, and Islamic is shunned, while Hagee, a white, anti-semitic and anti-Catholic protestant, is viewed as the leader of an important constituency. The Press should treat the protestant bigot (or the Catholic bigot, which is Donohue's role) just as they treat the Islamic bigot.

I think McCain has realized that he will have to run this campaign with many distasteful supporters; he made a half-hearted stab at some semblance of decency, but it will take more than that. I'm coming around to the notion, though, that the Press needs to play a big role in containing the indecency. Don't hold your breath.

On foreign policy, I've seen the Church in this area be fairly outspoken on the Iraq war. Discussion of just war theory on Sundays hurts McCain.

Like Paul's campaign and Kucinich's campaign, shouldn't McCain and Obama be defined by their supporters and not their respective campaign platforms?

Yes of course. The fact that Kucinich saw UFOs and Paul was an antiWar Republican have nothing to do with why people think they are crazy.

Below are social teachings that US Catholics are reminded of around election time. While it often seems that abortion and cloning and marriage are the Church's main concerns, there are others such as peace, justice, and environmental stewardship.

Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person (e.g., cloning, war)
2. Call to Family, Community, and Participation (e.g., marriage, poor)
3. Rights and Responsibilities
4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
5. The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
6. Solidarity (e.g., peace & justice)
7. Care for God’s Creation

--United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml

And, to be fair, there are many others who are completely dedicated to the cultivation of a pro-life culture in this country, it isn't just Catholics, of course.

Here is Nat Hentoff's thoughts on the next President:

"There are many vital issues in this presidential ­campaign: Iraq, obviously—together with health care, ­education, and the deadly virus of terrorism. But the omission of the increasing assault on the value of ­individual human life in this nation leaves legal black holes and silence on the very meaning of life.

Although I am an atheist, I am also a pro-lifer, both with regard to abortion and the quality-of-life issues."

From:

http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=6065

Enevada, I am not going to blow you out of the water (which I seldom have success at when I try), nor will I attempt such a thing.

There is a major difference in your world view and mine when it comes to the Catholic Church and its teachings. Believe it or not, I subscribe to the teachings of the Church on all pro-life issues, not just abortion. I and the Church do not see eye to eye on contraception, but to paraphrase Abraham, show me ten Catholics in a hundred who don't resort to some method of artificial contraception.

Homosexuality and Same Sex marriage are different issues and I'm keeping my mind open to the Holy Spirit on these issues.

You put your faith in the Ten Commandments while I put mine in the Beatitudes, two different ways to approach the world.

We both want the same thing for our country and our fellow Americans, it's just that where we are going and how we get there (if ever) will be because we are pursuing different aspects of God's Kingdom. I want to welcome people with open arms to the joy to be found in Christianity while you want to hand them a rule book and tell them to learn it.

What does Paul say about the efficacy of rules for salvation?

Geneg,

I admit salvation - mine or others' - is not a great pre-occupation of mine. I need to get past Peter before Paul.

And you make some false presumptions on both my theology and my pro-life position, but that will be worked out in time. As I like to say, the Roman Catholic Church is the original big tent. We do want the same thing for our country, and we share a love and respect for our faith.

I hope that my mind never closes to the point that I won't learn from you and others - and, at any rate, you'll keep it entertaining. No small matter, that.

Gosh, that's nice, seriously! I'm verklempt. Please, discuss among yourselves.