John Kerry and Wes Clark are both Catholic

[JI7]

kerry is the first catholic to run on a major party ticket since john f kennedy. so just kerry himself being catholic is rare in itself. but if kerry picks clark we would have both catholics for the first time on the ticket. also, they both have jewish backgrounds. clark's father who died when he was a child was jewish although clark was raised catholic. kerry's grandfather was jewish, though he was raised catholic also. i'm not sure kerry's own father ever knew out about his father's (kerry's grandfather) jewish background.

so if kerry picks clark for vp or another catholic vp, how do you think this would play nationally and maybe in individual states ? or do you think it's not an issue at all ? it's certainly not as big as when jfk ran in 1960, but with close elections we need to take many things into account.

[Djinn]

1. I just think it's sad

that in a country that's big on "freedom" that someone's religious (or lack of) affiliation is such a big deal to so many voters. Doesn't even get mentioned in other western nations

[JI7]

3. Joe Lieberman in south carolina insulted for being jewish

i read of how lieberman was campaigning in south carolina. this was very early in the campaigns far before the iowa caucus. but one person came up to him and joe lieberman said something about needing his help or his vote. and the guy said he doesn't vote for jews. lieberman just smiled and left. i know a woman in north carolina who is jewish and had a gore/lieberman sign in 2000 and she heard someone say "why would anyone vote for a jew". i know there will always be some bigots, but i wonder how much affect it has overall.

[elperromagico]

12. Those people wouldn't have voted for a Democrat anyway,

so "Fuck 'em."

[grannyfran]

2. Both Catholic, but

Clark was raised in the Baptist Church, converted to Catholicism in VN and, I think, now attends an Episcopal Church. Hard to categorize him. Denomination doesn't matter so much anymore IMO, but any Dem running for office now has to be able to take the "faith" issue from the neo-cons. They use faith, no matter which denomination, as a wedge issue and as their personal domain. Faith is definitely an issue with some -- remember the chimp claims God put him in the White House.

[JohnKleeb]

4. not an issue then again I happen to be Catholic

If we picked Governor Blagoveich of Illinois, we'd have an Eastern Orthodox :D.

[JI7]

6. i think it could help in some ways

some catholics are liberal on economic issues, they tend to support welfare programs and higher taxes for rich. but they are conservative on social issues like abortion. i think kerry being catholic, and emphasizing economic issues would help him with voters. especially with bush ruining people's lives. that biblical quote kerry used really got the bush people angry because it was so true. one doesn't have to be of any christian faith to agree with that quote and how it applies to bush.

[Leilani]

9. Alot of those Catholics you talk about

are Reagan Democrats. Ethnic Catholics from industrial states, that are a swing group, moderate dems, or liberal Repubs.

They are not knee-jerk fundies. They are the kind of people who vote for Chafee, Shays in Ct. etc.

Clark, as far as religion goes is hard to pigeon-hole: Jewish father, raised Southern Baptist, converted to Catholisim, & now goes to a Protestant church.

But whoever runs with Kerry will be the victim of a smear campaign, & they'll make something up.

[incapsulated]

5. They're more likely to do a stealth smear on the Jewish angle

Because the rethugs are that kind of scum.

Remember what Clinton said: don't forget they were calling people in SC and saying "McCain has a black baby".

[JI7]

7. and you know they will go after kerry's "foreign" wife

she is an american citizen now, but she grew up in africa and has an accent. i know they will go after her for that. but she is so amazing all she has to do is go directly to the people and speak with them and they will easily see what a great person she is.

[incapsulated]

8. Yes, and..

They will figure out a way to tie it in with the French thing... somehow. :crazy:

[Leilani]

10. Oh right

"He looks French"

[incapsulated]

11. His family..

On his mothers side, are from France from way back. (I can't say this without thinking of the Coneheads, hehe)

Remember they tried to make an "issue" about the fact that some French minister was a distant cousin of Kerry's. Like this amounted to treason or something, lol.

Like I said, nuts. And stupid, backwards and evil.