"Obama's opponents on the Catholic right placed a large bet on his Notre Dame visit. And they lost."

[wndycty]

Ouch. . .the last paragraph of EJ Dionne's column today:

-snip-
By facing their arguments head-on and by demonstrating his attentiveness to Catholic concerns, Obama strengthened moderate and liberal forces inside the church itself. He also struck a forceful blow against those who would keep the nation mired in culture-war politics without end. Obama's opponents on the Catholic right placed a large bet on his Notre Dame visit. And they lost.
-snip-

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/17/AR2009051701773.html

[Adelante]

1. Yes, they did

:)

[Historic NY]

2. Especially the eye of Newt.

[saltpoint]

3. This president appears to be far more fluid than his detractors

and likely will be enjoying significant political support over a long period.

I like it that agile Obama vanquished nutcase Randall Terry in less than two paragraphs. I hope Terry has a nice plane ride home after a week of squawking in South Bend.

[Clio the Leo]

4. He pulled the wedge back some.....

"(Barack Obama) believes in the Constitutional freedoms that have made our country the envy of the world, and he will never sacrifice our basic liberties, nor use faith as a wedge to divide us."

[customerserviceguy]

5. I'm pretty sure they didn't think they'd get it cancelled or the invitation rescinded

but they did get the visit a very high profile. Notre Dame will find out if that means anything when it totals up contributions over the next few years.

The Catholic right wing was trying (and will still try) to send a signal to those who wish to cooperate with our new President.

[redqueen]

10. Actually lots of rightwing bishops did just that... called on ND to cancel the event.

So... yeah.

[customerserviceguy]

11. I would have been very surprised if it had happened

Calling on ND to cancel this was the predictable reaction from the very most conservative of the hierarchy, but it went unnoticed that the majority of bishops and cardinals did NOT call for rescinding the invitation.

[redqueen]

12. It was only unnoticed

because the M$M didn't trumpet it the way they did the other side.

[msongs]

6. at least the reactionaires still can rely on the big O to enforce "Don't ask don't tell" nt

[wndycty]

8. That will change, give it time. He is president not king

:kick:

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. Obama won the Catholic vote

Obama won St. Joseph county.
Obama won Indiana.

In that context, the whole kerpuffle seems absurd.

[goclark]

9. Obama was superb and out slicked them