# Why Is Obama Pissing Off Catholic Voters Unneccesarily? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 9, 2012, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286 "2012-02-09T06:06:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/42 "2012-02-09T16:12:44Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > My thought is that Obama is cynically using the issue to crank up the Republican social conservatives and get them out in support of their man Santorum, knowing the independent morons (not saying all independents are morons, but a lot of them are, and those are the ones the parties focus on) can easily be brought back into the Democratic fold by quashing the regulation once the Republican nominee has been chosen. If Obama is doing that, then he’s doing something monumentally stupid. [First of all](http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/february_2012/50_oppose_gov_t_mandate_for_religious_organizations_to_provide_contraceptives): The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the government should require a church or religious organization to provide contraceptives for women even if it violates their deeply held beliefs. Fifty percent (50%) disagree and oppose such a requirement that runs contrary to strong beliefs, while 10% more are undecided. So the decision will hurt with more voters than it will help. Presumably more of those all-important swing voters are in oppose camp than in the support camp. If Obama thinks it’s wise to give the middle finger to that many voters merely to manipulate the 'Pub Primary process, it would indicate substantial stupidity on his part. Second, contrary to what some in this thread are asserting, it’s not the case that only Republicans are upset about this decision. In fact, pretty much all the major voices on the Catholic left, people who can usually be trusted to smile on anything that the Democratic Party does, [have expressed outrage at this](http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/obamacare-vs-catholics_620946.html). Expecting them to simply forget it as the election draws near is not a smart thing to do. As for the idea that Obama can reverse his position later in the year, that would look embarrassing, especially since he already has reversed his position; previously he promised Catholics that he would not attack them in this way. Third, why would Obama want a bruising primary fight between Romney and Santorum? Obama knows from personal experience that bruising primary fights aren’t necessarily bad for a candidate in the general election. Fourth, if we’re looking for a reason why Obama did this, it’s not hard to find. Part of Obama’s base consists of people who despise religious conservatives in general and the Catholic Church in particular. Those people will cheer on any attack against the Catholic Church. Obama did this to pander to that part of his base. No more elaborate explanation is needed. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/43 "2012-02-09T16:18:02Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Is he the only one who’s said this? He had a couple guests on at the time and they were going along with him, but I’ve heard nothing from anyone else suggesting that the co-pay is the issue. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/44 "2012-02-09T16:20:11Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > The latest Rasmussen Reports You can stop right there. The results are going to be skewed in a way that favors Republicans. Other pollsters asking less loaded questions will get different results. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/45 "2012-02-09T16:21:06Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > So the decision will hurt with more voters than it will help. There are cites saying the opposite upthread. > [@](#): > > Fourth, if we’re looking for a reason why Obama did this, it’s not hard to find. Part of Obama’s base consists of people who despise religious conservatives in general and the Catholic Church in particular. Those people will cheer on any attack against the Catholic Church. Obama did this to pander to that part of his base. No more elaborate explanation is needed. I’m sure you have some outstanding cites for this. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/46 "2012-02-09T16:22:45Z")
It gets worse. They apparently want the mandate removed for _all_ businesses. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2012-02-08/catholics-contraceptive-mandate/53014864/1](http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2012-02-08/catholics-contraceptive-mandate/53014864/1) > [@](#): > > The White House is “all talk, no action” on moving toward compromise, said Anthony Picarello, general counsel for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “There has been a lot of talk in the last couple days about compromise, but it sounds to us like a way to turn down the heat, to placate people without doing anything in particular,” Picarello said. “We’re not going to do anything until this is fixed.” > > That means removing the provision from the health care law altogether, he said, not simply changing it for Catholic employers and their insurers. He cited the problem that would create for “good Catholic business people who can’t in good conscience cooperate with this.” > > “If I quit this job and opened a Taco Bell, I’d be covered by the mandate,” Picarello said. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/47 "2012-02-09T16:24:12Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > You can stop right there. The results are going to be skewed in a way that favors Republicans. Other pollsters asking less loaded questions will get different results. Particularly, the question asked by Ramussen didn’t distinguish between religiously affiliated groups (which the new policy affects) and actual Churches (which it doesn’t). The poll I cited does do so, and found that people support the regulation for affiliates and don’t for actual Churches. So the two polls don’t really contradict each other, but the Ramussen poll conflates something thats actually happening and is generally supported with something that isn’t supported by the public and isn’t happening ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/48 "2012-02-09T16:32:46Z")
But the point is buttressed by the utterly objective and non-partisan _Weekly Standard_! So what do you got to say now, Mr. Liberal Smarty-pants! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/49 "2012-02-09T17:05:27Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > [It](http://publicreligion.org/research/2012/02/january-tracking-poll-2012/) might not mean that, but the majority of Catholics do in fact support the new rule, even when the polling question is phrased to stress that it would force Catholic affiliated institutions to provide insurance plans that cover contraceptives. Except that number is different when likely voters are taken into account: > [@](#): > > Among Catholic voters, however, only 45% support this requirement, while 52% oppose it. > [@](#): > > “Non-white Catholics” are more likely to support the new rule then their caucasian co-religionists. I suspect that while Latino’s are more likely to be religious Catholics, they’re also more likely to be poor, and support for policies that make it economically easier for them to avoid having more children then they want over-rides concern for what the local Bishop thinks. I couldn’t find that in your cite. Can you quote that part? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/50 "2012-02-09T17:07:08Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > The much touted Latino vote is going to be very important, and guess what religion most Latinos are. They didn’t become Catholic within the last couple years. The fact that Catholic Latinos tend towards socially conservative views is something the GOP has failed to connect on for years and years, being more concerned with draconian immigration policies, race-baiting and economic policies that favor the wealthy over the less-so. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/51 "2012-02-09T17:11:27Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > No. > > St. Bart’s hires Sarah Cohen as an office manager with no expectation that she is part of the flock or is following the church’s teachings, since the duties of an office manager are primarily non-religious. Sarah is covered by the same insurance policy as Maggie O’Shaugnessy, the fifth grade religion teacher, and Ramon Seville, the CCD teacher, who are both Catholic because those jobs have a primary religious function. While that’s true, I think part of the reason the Bishops are so upset about this is the majority of Catholics don’t agree with the Catholic Church’s position of birth control and do use birth control, and so they’ll end up providing birth control to their members. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/52 "2012-02-09T17:11:29Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I couldn’t find that in your cite. Can you quote that part? The first and third bullet point. > [@](#): > > Roughly 6-in-10 Catholics (58%) believe that employers should be required to provide their employees with health care plans that cover contraception…Only half (50%) of white Catholics support this requirement, compared to 47% who oppose it. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/53 "2012-02-09T17:14:45Z")
Did Obama impose this rule in the last two weeks? Who made it an issue now? Why? Perhaps the Bishops expect some other scandal next week and want to preempt it. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/54 "2012-02-09T17:18:21Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Fourth, if we’re looking for a reason why Obama did this, it’s not hard to find. Part of Obama’s base consists of people who despise religious conservatives in general and the Catholic Church in particular. Those people will cheer on any attack against the Catholic Church. Obama did this to pander to that part of his base. No more elaborate explanation is needed. There are a lot more religious voters whom Obama needs to court for votes than there are atheistic voters. If Obama is pandering to the god-hatin’ voters, then he’s going to \*lose \*more voters than he’d get. Or you’re just making stuff up. Which is it? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/55 "2012-02-09T17:18:27Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Women voters and other voters who want to see Democratic politicians stand up on these kinds of issues rather than constantly pulling back. Or pulling out. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/56 "2012-02-09T17:18:49Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Did Obama impose this rule in the last two weeks? Who made it an issue now? Why? > > Perhaps the Bishops expect some other scandal next week and want to preempt it. This week. It was Sebelius, not Obama, but she works for him, and he endorsed the move. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/57 "2012-02-09T17:31:55Z")
Frankly, I just don’t see numbers indicating this is going to hurt him to any substantial degree. The voters for whom this is going to be the ‘tipping point’ is likely pretty small potatos. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/58 "2012-02-09T17:39:34Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > Frankly, I just don’t see numbers indicating this is going to hurt him to any substantial degree. The voters for whom this is going to be the ‘tipping point’ is likely pretty small potatos. It only takes a few in a swing state like Ohio. And if the Church decides to make a big deal about this there might be sermons railing against the rule. That’s perfectly legit as long as they don’t mention Obama by name. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/59 "2012-02-09T18:01:27Z")
True, but who knows how many liberal/feminist/etc types might be motivated to go to the polls in support? Still not sure it amounts to much more than a wash, but I’m not also not sure it’s been polled very accurately. Mostly, I’m not sure anyone takes the bishops as significantly as they wish they still were. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/60 "2012-02-09T18:13:36Z")
**Quote evil captor** > [@](#): > > So it COULD be a deep ploy by Obama. I’ve seen no indication the Dems are capable of playing politics this well, is my only problem with the theory. > [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Fourth, if we’re looking for a reason why Obama did this, it’s not hard to find. Part of Obama’s base consists of people who despise religious conservatives in general and the Catholic Church in particular. Those people will cheer on any attack against the Catholic Church. Obama did this to pander to that part of his base. No more elaborate explanation is needed. Or it could be, y’know, that he’s doing it because it’s\* the right thing to do.\* But of course that’d be too simple… SS ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286/61 "2012-02-09T18:31:43Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Meh. I never find these “12-dimensional chess” theories particularly convincing. It posits a pretty close to inhuman level of insight on how the electorate will react to a given thing that I don’t think politicians (or anyone else) has. There’s no way to know a head of time if the boost to Santorum will be larger then the hit to Obama, or that a more successful Santorum candidacy will work out in Obama’s favor. Despite a lot of theories to the contrary, no real politician does these crazy machivellian bank shots to gain political advantage. Sorry, not buying it. Both Dems and Pubs have people whose job it is to think of exactly this sort of thing, and to put them in play. Do you not remember the Swift Boating campaign? It could possibly have resulted in a groundswell of support for Kerry, seen as an attack on a combat veteran on behalf of a draft-evading National Guard playboy – because that’s what it was. But the Republicans had carefully evaluated the media’s tendency to look “balanced” by stating both sides of an argument as if they were equally valid, even if one side if clearly and obviously NOT valid. So they did it, and it worked beautifully, a twelve dimensional bank shot that landed the king ball in the corner rook pocket. > [@](#): > > The Obama admin is enforcing this policy because they think encouraging contraception is a public good and one the public supports, even for Church affiliated groups. Bah. Obama has given the extended middle finger to progressives so often I think he does it by reflex now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-obama-pissing-off-catholic-voters-unneccesarily/612286.md?page=4)