The Papal Party? Guess Again Howard Dean
The Swamp
You like the pope? Then you’ll love the Democrats.
At least that’s what Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean appeared to suggest today, in his party’s weekly radio address. The former Vermont governor opened his address this morning with a welcome to Benedict XVI, making his first visit to the United States as pope.
“His visit reminds us of the Catholic values of social justice, working for the common good, and caring for those most in need,” Dean says. “These are also the values of the Democratic Party.”
In fact, when described more broadly, the pope’s values don’t line up easily with either of America’s major parties. Like most Republicans, he opposes abortion and embryonic stem-cell research; like most Democrats, he’s against the war in Iraq and the death penalty.
Those issues make up what Bendict’s predecessor, Pope John Paul II, was talking about when he coined “The Culture of Life.” President Bush has used the phrase in a narrower sense, focused on abortion and embryos.
Benedict has been careful, visiting Washington and New York during this political season, to avoid even appearing to weigh in on the 2008 election - beyond saying that religious believers should be allowed the freedom to express their faith in public life.
Dean spent the rest of his address on John McCain and the economy. The complete address follows.
“Good morning. I’m Governor Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
“I want to start by offering Pope Benedict XVI the warmest welcome as he travels here in the United States. He’s in our thoughts and prayers while he visits America. His visit reminds us of the Catholic values of social justice, working for the common good, and caring for those most in need.
“These are also the values of the Democratic Party. We face challenging times in our country and our world. Our troops are in Iraq, many on their second or even third tour of duty. The gap between the most fortunate and everyone else is widening. As we elect our nation’s next leader, it’s important that we choose someone who understands the struggles that so many families here at home face as they try to make ends meet.
“As I listen to Senator McCain’s remarks about the economy this week, I heard more of the same Republican policies that George Bush has brought us for the last eight years.
“This year, more than a quarter of a million Americans have already lost their jobs. Since the Republicans have occupied the White House, 7 million more Americans have lost their health insurance. Wages have fallen, gas prices are at record highs, and even groceries cost more than they have in the past 17 years. And America has the largest budget deficits in our history.
“Senator McCain believes that we’re better off. On the campaign trail, Senator McCain talks about spending American tax dollars responsibly. But how could he think he’ll pay for a $12 billion a month war in Iraq, make the Bush tax cuts permanent, and give additional tax cuts to billionaires without making our deficits even bigger?
“So far in this campaign, we’ve heard very little straight talk from Senator McCain. He was against the Bush tax cuts before he was for them. He was for comprehensive immigration reform before he was against it. He was for campaign finance reform before he said it didn’t apply to him.
“Next week, Senator McCain will embark on what he’s calling a “compassion tour.” We haven’t seen much compassion from George Bush, and I don’t think we’re going to see much more from Senator McCain.
“Privatizing social security, denying our children health care, adding $8 trillion in new deficits, no plan to turn our economy around or help people keep their homes. We honor John McCain’s service to our country, but John McCain is not the right choice for America’s future.
“This November, voters do have a choice. If you want more of this Bush economy, if you want to see our troops in Iraq for a long period of time, we can stay the course with Senator McCain.
“But the Democrats have a different vision for America’s future. Both of our candidates for president have a plan to get us out of Iraq responsibly, so that we can invest in the American people and American jobs.
“We have a history of balancing budgets, the only party to do so in the past 40 years. Both of our candidates will turn our economy around with fair and honest tax policies. We’ll help people keep their own homes and finally have a health care system that makes sense for all of us.
“But most importantly, both of our candidates will restore America’s moral leadership at home and around the world.
“I’m Governor Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Thanks so much for listening.”
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First, the JackAss isn’t Govenor of anything.
April 19th, 2008 at 4:47 pmSecond, being Catholic myself, the Dems don’t have that much in common with our faith.
Catholics don’t agree with abortion or those bastards at Planned Parenthood (where is the planning or parenthood when there’s no child?)
As far as caring for those in need, he wants to take our money to support those who don’t want to work for a living. c’mon Howard, cut the bullshit.
Compassion Howard- you think its lacking in the republican agenda? …… Oh wait there it is out there on fine display amongst your two jr. senators on the presidential campaign trail. Long live operation chaos!
April 19th, 2008 at 9:03 pmTrying to score papal points won’t get you any closer to God, Howie. Just shut up
April 19th, 2008 at 9:23 pmHonestly I almost puked reading that. Pure politics.
The views of Cardinal Retzinger, Secretary to Pope John Paul II, now Pope Benedict XIV, have been publiched for more than 40 years and have been disputed by so many that only illiterates without TV could be unaware of his views.
Those familiar with the views of John Paul II know that there is not the smallest difference between their views, the result of studying the same Philosophy and Theology and the correct use of logic. Historical detail: The teacher of the greatest Catholic philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas, was St. Albert The Great, from Cologne.
That so many write as if this is the first time they ever heard of his views would be astonishing, except that many Catholics also disagree with the belief of our Catholic Church and seem willing to follow the steps of Monk Martin Luther, who diagreed with the Pope and started a church.
My teacher of theology assured us that if you believe in something and refuse to follow your faith and ideals, you will be unhappy while, mentally, alive; failure to change your mind and follow your ideals will send you to hell -if you believe in one.
No, my teacher was not the Infallible Pope speaking “ex-cathedra” on matters of Faith and Morals, he was teacher in a Catholic University. From the confused views in their oratory, I think that:
First, the clarity and correctness of the views of Dean Howard need no support from my limited English.
Second, if the comment writer is not Catholic, I have nothing to agree, or disagree.
To explain: If I say “I do not believe the Earth is round” this tells you Nothing about what I believe, therefore, you have nothing on which to base a logical argument to the contrary. To find a contradiction, the Principle in common must be idetified, an alternative favor by some, is fear.
When you write a vituperation against something and you DO NOT include a principle that you believe, you have only expressed an OPINION, a personal opinion, which, I hope, you think others are interested in learning. (Why?)
If you are against the Beliefs or Dogmas of the Catholic Church I would recommend you ask a local Priest to instruct you on the Catholic Faith but, you might want to note that others that tried it became Catholic. One was a learned follower of the Jewish Religion that became one of the two major philosophers in the 20th Century: Maritain and Gilson, also Catholic.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:47 pmIf you attend instruction and you are familiar and unafraid of logic and following the truth, wherever they lead…
Like they say “change your mind, change your life.”