Race and religion
The media like to handicap the black vote and the Catholic vote as if each were a unified bloc. What’s wrong with that is obvious.
The terms ‘African-Americans’ and ‘Catholic Americans’ are used as definitions in identity politics and polling data. The identities need better exploration in the media.
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright controversy muddles the difference considerably, since he and like-minded pastors preach identity politics from a black theological frame of reference. His own church member, Sen. Barack Obama, had already directed the nation’s attention to a “post-racial” America when the racial controversy erupted. Now, race is a touchy topic and in the middle of most political conversations. It’s either claimed or blamed as a reason for voting preferences and outcomes. It’s declared off-limits as a subject for discussion by the Obama campaign, even by black commentators.
In the early evening news analysis after the West Virginia polls closed, Fox News’ Juan Williams commented on exit polling data from that state that showed voters opposed to Obama not on the basis of race but ‘on this man, what he stands for, culturally…the Rev. Wright thing’ and other issues, which is a very important point to make often, especially by prominent black voices. But Williams went on to lament that if he (a prominent black journalist and commentator) raises the point, he’s called “a ‘Tom’ and a crazy person”….and right about then he was interrupted for some polling update. Viewers would have benefitted from hearing the thought completed.
Should race determine the vote? In a word, No. Nor should it be used to control the conversation.
Now about religion…
The Church does not determine how Catholics should vote, on the basis of party or candidate. It does teach about moral issues to direct consciences in voting. The most fundamental issue of all, the Church teaches, is the right to life of all humans, essential for all other rights.
Both parties are reaching out to the Catholic vote which, if unified under the teaching of the Church, would start with the defense of human life and disperse from there in disagreement over other issues and the best policies to carry out solutions. It’s not unified. There are frequent headlines about Catholics being Hillary Clinton’s “secret weapon”, and stories about Barack Obama’s team of Catholic advisors.
Which brings up Carl Olson’s post at Ignatius Insight.
Bill Donahue of the Catholic League is not impressed with Barack Obama’s Catholic National Advisory Council. On May 2nd he said:
“The best advice I can give Sen. Obama about his Catholic National Advisory Council is to dissolve it immediately. Of the 26 Catholic former or current public office holders he has listed as either National Co-Chairs (5), or as members of the National Leadership Committee (21), there is not one who agrees with the Catholic Church on all three major public policy issues: abortion, embryonic stem cell research and school vouchers.”
Abortion and embryonic stem cell research, because they involve human life, are among the ‘non-negotiables’ for a voter’s conscience.
Donohue has been on top of both parties’ handling of Catholic matters. Which got results from the McCain campaign.
John Hagee, an influential Texas televangelist who endorsed John McCain, apologized to Catholics Tuesday for his stinging criticism of the Roman Catholic Church and for having “emphasized the darkest chapters in the history of Catholic and Protestant relations with the Jews.”
Comparison of Hagee to Wright isn’t valid because McCain has not been a member of Hagee’s church. But it did fire some outrage and offense. And prompted the action by the Catholic League.
In a letter to William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights, Hagee wrote: “Out of a desire to advance a greater unity among Catholics and evangelicals in promoting the common good, I want to express my deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful.”
As Donohue says, that takes courage and sensitivity. The right kind of sensitivity.