Biden's Outreach to Religious Voters



I've been waiting for this. Biden just announced he has formed a branch of his campaign that will reach out to religious voters. There is a conventional wisdom Trump owns "religious voters." That Biden has announced this puts the emphasis on his welcoming personality. The press will give him and his announcement plenty of attention.

Publicity around this announcement will focus on abortion of course. In October of 2019 a priest in the South announced he had denied giving Biden communion because of Biden's liberal abortion views. My guess is Biden wants this to be discussed during the rest of his campaign.

The priest sent out a press announcement the day after Biden's visit proudly bragging he had refused to give the Vice President communion. Before that Biden had said nothing about it.  

So much of politics is about personalities and I think Biden is projecting an attractive one. He seems  comfortable about his Catholic faith. He carries always a rosary formerly carried by his son who died. His quiet way of practicing his faith makes priests who brag they will not serve him communion look like jerks. Recent Popes have served communion to Nancy Pelosi and John Kerry, both of whom favor abortion rights. Popes know politics. Some priests and Bishops do not.

Years ago political columnist George Will wrote the best way to make a policy popular is to wrap it around an attractive personality. If this is true the opposite is true also: a policy can be brought down if it is wrapped around an unattractive one(s). Maybe I'm influenced by my own desire for abortion rights, but I think this is happening right now over abortion. Nothing could be better for Biden and abortion rights than priests with their pious noses up in the air refusing to give him communion. Trump promising anti abortion judges who have not delivered is also unattractive.

Regardless of who ultimately wins, this is a wonderful political theater. Match ups of personalities at a particular point in history often determine an outcome before the campaign even begins. Those who bet on the wrong horse finish out of the money.

 

Comments

  1. tsmJuly 20, 2020 at 6:58 AM

    testing

    ReplyDelete
  2. tsmJuly 20, 2020 at 7:03 AM

    good morning.do I get a whiff of a double standard here? Trump standing outside of an arson damaged church was castigated for waving a Bible. egregious violation of the separation principle or whatever. yet a phony tony like Biden gets a pass for brandishing a rosary on the campaign trail.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jon LindgrenJuly 20, 2020 at 7:27 AM

    unknown -- "Biden gets a pass for brandishing a rosary on the campaign trail."

    Have you ever heard or seen him brandishing or showing this rosary in public? I never have. The only reason it has been mentioned in public is because Mayor Pete saw him with it during a break in a debate and told others about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tsmJuly 20, 2020 at 7:35 AM

      if the Lord Mayor saw him with it, it must have been public in some way other. and in any case, as you yourself wrote, it is a ploy to appeal to catholic voters. can't get more public than that. good try old chap.

      Delete
    2. Jon LindgrenJuly 20, 2020 at 9:02 AM

      Unknown -- More of your practice of misdirection and lack of a coherent point. Your started by saying Biden was showing off his rosary for political purposes as did Trump. Then, when you had no evidence of that you changed the subject. Please stop playing this little game of making up new arguments when your old one is defeated.

      Delete
    3. Matt NoahJuly 20, 2020 at 11:12 AM

      Seriously, Google search of 'Biden with rosary' shows multiple instances of him with a rosary in public. I don't think it helps or hurts him. Catholics like me only see it as a contradiction, the act of a hypocrite. Everyone will have their own view of this. Now, if Joe said a rosary in public, we'd have a bigger story. If he, Pelosi, Dick Durbin, Kirsten Gillebrand and all such Catholics would be seen together praying a rosary to end abortion, end religious persecution, end divorce, end child abuse, end domestic abuse, etc. ---- I would join them, as soon as I was revived after fainting.

      https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/democratic-party-candidate-joe-biden-is-given-a-rosary-news-photo/1156681080

      https://www.varietypittsburgh.org/vp-biden-making-a-difference/

      Delete
    4. Matt NoahJuly 20, 2020 at 11:16 AM

      When a President is seen doing the following:

      (1) Going to Church.
      (a) Obama - humble man,
      (b) Trump - phony photo op.

      (2) Visiting Arlington National Cemetery to honor the military.
      (a) Obama - respectful of our brave military men and women,
      (b) Trump - phony photo op.

      (3) Honoring a young student during the annual State of the Union speech.
      (a) Obama - uplifting and spotlighting the future of our nation,
      (b) Trump - phony photo op.

      Delete
    5. Jon LindgrenJuly 20, 2020 at 11:57 AM

      Matt-- I don't disagree the press makes judgements as to motives or mental weaknesses. I'd also say Trump gets his share of breaks.

      (1.) When Biden speaks he sometimes stubbles due to a life long stuttering handicap.
      (a.) Trump speaks with youthful vigor.
      (b.) Biden is old and confused.

      Delete
  4. Jon LindgrenJuly 20, 2020 at 4:53 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jon LindgrenJuly 20, 2020 at 4:56 PM

      To recent commenters who did not see their comments published, I am mostly not publishing generic insults. If you will take the time to explain your grievance as Matt has done it may well get published here.

      Delete

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