# I'm Going to Attend President Bush's Talk Today To The KofC! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 3, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148 "2004-08-03T15:49:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/1 "2004-08-03T15:49:34Z")
I toyed with where to put this thread - most Bush threads here are GD or Pit material, and at its heart this is an MPSIMS. I am in Dallas this week as a representative of the Virginia Knights of Columbus jurisdiction to the Supreme Convention. President Bush will be addressing our convention this afternoon. To add a bit of GD flair, I’ll point out that a few days ago, the Democrats nominated the first Catholic to run for President in forty-four years; today, the Republican opponent addresses, by invitation, the leadership of the largest and most influential group of lay Catholics in the world. The candidate of 1960, John F. Kennedy, was himself a Fourth Degree Knight. Mr. Kerry is not a Knight. Interesting turn of events. In general, the Knights I’ve talked to here seem solidly behind Mr. Bush. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/2 "2004-08-03T15:51:36Z")
Did anyone else read the thread title and wonder why Bush was speaking at a Kentucky Fried Chicken place? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/3 "2004-08-03T16:01:32Z")
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t KofC pretty much a conservative Catholic organization? I was under the impression that they’re more conservative than Catholics as a whole, and that their almost singular issue is being anti-abortion. If that’s the case, then it makes sense that Kerry wouldn’t be a member, and that Bush would work with them. I’m not sure that translates into Catholics as a whole supporting Bush. And if Bush pulled a Southern Culture on the Skids, then we’d come full circle with **Eve**. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/4 "2004-08-03T16:03:40Z")
Interesting, seems the knights of Columbus here in Southeastern CT are mainly pro Kerry. Maybe it’s a geographic thing. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/5 "2004-08-03T16:07:17Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > Interesting, seems the knights of Columbus here in Southeastern CT are mainly pro Kerry. Maybe it’s a geographic thing. Are you a Knight? I’m just wondering how you reach that conclusion, since we do not officially endorse any candidate – we merely advocate issues. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/6 "2004-08-03T16:10:03Z")
**Bricker** , if they ask you to sign a pledge as a condition of entering the venue, will you sign it? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/7 "2004-08-03T16:11:26Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t KofC pretty much a conservative Catholic organization? I was under the impression that they’re more conservative than Catholics as a whole, and that their almost singular issue is being anti-abortion. Yes, and no. Yes, the Knights are more concervative than Catholics as a whole. No, our focus ranges across the board – of course, we are anti-abortion, but that’s hardly a sole issue with us. We are, for example, premier sponsors of Special Olympics, and in Virginia ther Knights are the biggest single contributer to the cause of assisting the mentally challenged. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/8 "2004-08-03T16:12:28Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > **Bricker** , if they ask you to sign a pledge as a condition of entering the venue, will you sign it? Depends on what the pledge says. “I am a Knight of Columbus in good standing.” - YES “I will vote for Mr. Bush in November.” - NO ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/9 "2004-08-03T16:14:10Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Yes, and no. > > Yes, the Knights are more concervative than Catholics as a whole. No, our focus ranges across the board – of course, we are anti-abortion, but that’s hardly a sole issue with us. We are, for example, premier sponsors of Special Olympics, and in Virginia ther Knights are the biggest single contributer to the cause of assisting the mentally challenged. Ah, okay. I mostly got that impression from the radio this morning, as I was sleepily bumbling about the house; I thought they said that the KofC focus most of their attention on abortion. Maybe they were saying most of the Knight’s social issue energy goes into abortion, inasmuch as the Special Olympics aren’t exactly a font of controversy? Daniel ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/10 "2004-08-03T16:14:27Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Did anyone else read the thread title and wonder why Bush was speaking at a Kentucky Fried Chicken place? yes ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/11 "2004-08-03T16:16:53Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Ah, okay. I mostly got that impression from the radio this morning, as I was sleepily bumbling about the house; I thought they said that the KofC focus most of their attention on abortion. Maybe they were saying most of the Knight’s social issue energy goes into abortion, inasmuch as the Special Olympics aren’t exactly a font of controversy? Perhaps. We spend more money on plenty of other issues than our anti-abortion efforts, but I agree that there’s no issue more contentious than abortion on our plate. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/12 "2004-08-03T16:41:42Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I agree that there’s no issue more contentious than abortion on our plate. I’ve had bad chicken at KFC myself, but calling it “an abortion on a plate” really goes too far. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/13 "2004-08-03T16:47:49Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Are you a Knight? I’m just wondering how you reach that conclusion, since we do not officially endorse any candidate – we merely advocate issues. No I am not a knight. The better half of the men in my family are however, and just thispast weekend my wife and I attended an outing put on my the Knights in our town. I had a chance to discuss the issue with quite a few of them and the majority, if not every single on is voting for Kerry. It’s a simple conclusion, however, I am aware this is not the norm for all knights. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/14 "2004-08-03T21:56:21Z")
You should drop **minty** a note. You two could meet in person, or you could meet some of the other DFW Dopers who are currently trying to plan a get-together to visit the Dallas World Aquarium. This wouldn’t happen to be the KofC over in Northeast Dallas, would it? Attended a wedding in a nice KofC hall there not long ago. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/15 "2004-08-03T22:17:17Z")
The event was in the Hyatt Reunion Hotel. Security was present but not overpowering. Everyone entering the venue had to pass through metal detectors. There was no request for pledge-signing of any type. Mr. Bush’s speech was very good. He spoke about his support for faith-based initiatives being on equal footing to apply for federal grants, and of course that received a great deal of applause. He also spoke about the defense of “Under God” in the Pledge, and since the Knights were the original impetus for that phrase’s inclusion, he was also well-received there. It’s hard to imagine to many in that room were planning to vote Kerry, given the number of standing ovations Mr. Bush’s speech received. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/16 "2004-08-03T22:25:32Z")
So, does “preaching to the chior” pretty much sum it up? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/17 "2004-08-03T22:29:36Z")
Well, yes and no. An example: Mr. Bush chose not to voice his support for the death penalty, which, I suspect, would have netted him some uncomfortable silence from the crowd. So it was “preaching to the choir” in the sense that he tailored his remarks to areas in which he and the Knights were in vociferous agreement, but you should not infer from that that the Knights are in agreement with all his positions. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2004, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/18 "2004-08-04T03:52:04Z")
I can’t resist asking, **Bricker** , did you get to wear the cocked hat with the feathers and the cape and the light sword? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2004, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/19 "2004-08-04T04:18:17Z")
Are you sure that isn’t the guys who ride around on the tiny little go-carts? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148/20 "2004-08-04T04:33:30Z")
Wait - I thought it was the guys who ride around in monster trucks and drink a lot. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-attend-president-bushs-talk-today-to-the-kofc/258148.md?page=2)