comMITTed to Romney!

News that President Obama will be Notre Dame commencement speaker ignites widespread expressions of outrage

California Catholic Daily

South Bend, Indiana, Mar 21, 2009 / (CNA) – Catholic and pro-life organizations have responded to the announcement that the University of Notre Dame, one of the oldest and most prominent Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States, has invited President Barack Obama to deliver a commencement address.

The University of Notre Dame announced on Friday afternoon that President Obama will be the main speaker and the recipient of an honorary doctor of laws degree at the University’s 164th University Commencement Ceremony at 2 p.m., May 17, in the Joyce Center on campus.

According to the Notre Dame press release, “Mr. Obama will be the ninth U.S. president to be awarded an honorary degree by the University and the sixth to be the Commencement speaker.”

In response to the announcement, the Cardinal Newman Society launched a website, www.NotreDameScandal.com, including an online petition to Notre Dame president Rev. John Jenkins, CSC.

“It is an outrage and a scandal that ‘Our Lady’s University,’ one of the premier Catholic universities in the United States, would bestow such an honor on President Obama given his clear support for policies and laws that directly contradict fundamental Catholic teachings on life and marriage,” the petition reads.

Less than an hour after the petition was posted, it already counted the support of high-profile Catholics such as Philip F. Lawler, director of the Catholic Culture Project, Fr. C. J. McCloskey III, and Thomas N. Peters, blogger for the American Papist.

Patrick J. Reilly, president of The Cardinal Newman Society, also faxed a letter to Bishop John D’Arcy of Fort Wayne-South Bend, requesting his intervention.

Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League’s national director Joe Scheidler – himself a Notre Dame graduate — called on Fr. John Jenkins to withdraw the invitation to Obama. “Over the first two months of his administration, Barack Obama has established himself as the most pro-abortion president in U.S. history,” Scheidler said. “My alma mater should not be providing a platform for this president.”

“Starting from his first week in office, President Obama has enacted a string of executive orders, appointments and policy decisions that contradict Catholic teaching on the sanctity of life – a teaching that Notre Dame is supposed to uphold,” he added.

Scheidler is also calling on concerned Catholics, especially Notre Dame alumni, to contact Fr. Jenkins and urge him to withdraw the Obama invitation.

“Father Jenkins cannot expect pro-life Catholics to stand back and allow the most pro-abortion president in U.S. history to make a mockery of Notre Dame’s Catholic identity,” Scheidler said.

Austin Ruse, president of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM) told CNA, “The U.S. Bishops are very clear: pro-abortion speakers should not be given platforms or honors by Catholic institutions. Barack Obama is the most pro-abortion president in our history. One wishes that a venerable institution such as Notre Dame could remain stronger on important points of the faith.”

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs confirmed Obama’s commencement address at Notre Dame. The address in South Bend was one of three Gibbs mentioned. Obama also plans to speak to graduates at Arizona State University on May 13 and at U.S. Naval Academy on May 22.

According to Catholic analyst Deal Hudson, “Notre Dame knows this is going to create a firestorm – why else issue a press release late on Friday afternoon? Perhaps they are imitating the example of their presidential honoree who has been bringing in the weekends with one pro-abortion announcement after another.”

“Need I list the reasons why this is a terrible idea? Need I state the obvious reasons why this will feel like a body-blow to millions of Catholics across the country and around the world?” Hudson asked. He noted that the U.S. bishops’ document “Catholics in Political Life” (2004) states: “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”

“No statements or press releases will undo what Notre Dame’s position in the eyes of the world is in response: ‘Doesn’t matter.’ We’ve got THE ONE. So much for the One to whom the school’s namesake gave birth,” wrote National Review columnist Kathryn Jean Lopez. “At Notre Dame, the administration there just made a choice. They took a giant step away from their identity as ‘Catholic.’ They rather be of this world than the one they supposedly exist to bring people toward.”

On May 17, Notre Dame will confer degrees on approximately 2,000 undergraduates, 420 MBA students and 200 Notre Dame Law School students

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Here is the text of an email that I received from a very engaged grassroots political activist from So. California that I met at the St. Louis Republican Straw Poll in August 2007.

We have kept in contact since then, sending each other articles on Reagan and Romney and on conservative issues. I really appreciate Gwen giving me the heads up on this.

Please note the list of contact information at the bottom of the post, so that you can let these folks know that you think it is an outrage for a Catholic university to invite the most pro abortion president ever to occupy the White House to deliver the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame!

By Kathleen Gilbert

NOTRE DAME, Indiana, March 20, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - White House Secretary Robert Gibbs stated today that President Obama will give the commencement address at Notre Dame University this year. The school confirmed the announcement, stating on its website that Obama will also receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at the University’s 164th University Commencement Ceremony at 2 p.m. May 17 in the Joyce Center on campus.

In 2004, the United States of Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved a policy statement called “Catholics in Political Life,” which says, with reference to pro-abortion politicians, “They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”

President Obama has been called the “abortion president” by pro-life activists, and his appearance at the university would appear to violate the USCCB’s policy against honoring pro-abortion politicians.

One alumnus from the university has already expressed his displeasure in an open letter sent today to the president of Notre Dame, Rev. John Jenkins.

William Newton, a D.C. area attorney, wrote, “As an alumnus of Notre Dame Law School, I am deeply offended that you would invite President Barack Obama to speak at Commencement this year.”

Newton then lists the numerous pro-abortion decisions that Obama has made since assuming the office of the presidency. “This is the person that you feel is worthy to address the students and faculty of Notre Dame, in the shadow of Our Lady atop the Golden Dome, with the spires of the Basilica in the background?” writes Newton.

“Father Sorin must be wringing his hands in heaven, that his successor would approve this disgrace. Shame on Notre Dame for choosing to scandalize the faithful who continue to support the Catholic identity and mission of the University.”

Conservative commentator Kathryn Jean Lopez said on The Corner that the arrangement was “shameful.”

“Last week the president of the United States perpetrated an assault on human dignity. No statements or press releases will undo what Notre Dame’s position in the eyes of the world is in response: ‘Doesn’t matter,’” wrote Lopez. “We’ve got THE ONE. So much for the One the school’s namesake gave birth to.”

“I’ve been optimistic that the radicalism of this administration on life could be a real catalyst for renewal in many churches. At Notre Dame, the administration there just made a choice. They took a giant step away from their identity as ‘Catholic.’ They would rather be of this world than the one they supposedly exist to bring people toward.”

Notre Dame is among the most prestigious Catholic universities in America. The school’s Center for Ethics and Culture recently established a pro-life fund in an effort to bolster Notre Dame’s pro-life identity.

To contact Notre Dame:
Phone: (574) 631-5000
email form: http://president.nd.edu/contact-us

Daniel M. Boland, Ph. D.
Carlsbad, CA
(760) 632- 4914

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http://wonkette.com/387874/15000%252B-indianans-voted-for-mitt-romney-today

Can you imagine waking up in Indiana this morning, eating breakfast, maybe walkin’ the ol’ dog, not showering, getting in your car, driving to the local elementary school to vote in the Republican primary — the party that chose its nominee months ago! — signing in, showing your ID, getting into the booth and pulling the lever for Mitt “Willard” Romney? Can you imagine doing that? Can you imagine being that person, and having to live that person’s life every single day?

Can you imagine being the twit who wrote this article? Can you imagine sitting down at the keyboard and producing this drivel day after day?

On a more serious note, the Indiana Primary results reveal the same healthy skepticism that a lot of us on this site have. 23% of Indiana voters cast their ballots for someone other than John McCain.

Senator McCain can not dismiss a voter bloc that substantial. There are obviously deep concerns about the Senator’s conservative credentials. His campaign must resist the temptation to start the leftward drift or face the consequences at the ballot box in November.

~~John Cronin~~

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Although I have never been a big fan of George W. Bush, in my mind one of the most important parts of his legacy is the nomination of both Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Sam Alito. Once again these two outstanding jurists delivered a ruling that allows some sanity to prevail in our government.

You wouldn’t think that it was an undue burden on anyone to produce a government issued photo I.D. when asking for one of the most powerful documents in the world, an American ballot.

If you thought that, you would be wrong. Our friends on the Democratic side of the isle thought it was so burdensome that they took it all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States of America, where they just got swatted down by cooler heads, including Justice John Paul Stevens, a man not known for his conservative views.

I have followed this story for several months. Thank goodness the Court reaffirmed the Indiana law that requires the photo ID to help prevent voter fraud.

~~John Cronin~~

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080428/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_voter_id

By Mark Sherman Associated Press Writer

Supporters of the law say it’s all about preventing fraud.

Indiana has a “valid interest in protecting ‘the integrity and reliability of the electoral process,’” said Justice John Paul Stevens in an opinion that was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Stevens said that Indiana’s desire to prevent fraud and to inspire voter confidence in the election system are important even though there have been no reports of the kind of fraud the law was designed to combat. Evidence of voters being inconvenienced by the law’s requirements also is scant. For the overwhelming majority of voters, an Indiana driver’s license serves as the identification.

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I believe it was reader Celestina who coined this phrase, and I whole-heartedly agree.  Here are 2 articles today that show we need to continue to vote for Mitt, write his name in, or request an absentee ballot now, in order to vote for him in a future primary.

Mitt Romney Still Controls Montana Delegates

The fate of Montana’s 25 votes for the Republican nomination remains uncertain even though Mitt Romney won the state in Tuesday’s caucus.

Romney suspended his national presidential campaign two days after Super Tuesday, the busiest primary and caucus day of the campaign. but he hasn’t given up his delegates yet. All 25 Montana Republican delegates are required to vote for Romney in the first vote at September’s Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. But after the first vote, the delegates can vote for whomever they please. Ultimately, Montana’s delegates will be decided at a convention in June.

Only two things can release these delegates from their obligation to Romney at St. Paul’s convention: Romney must completely withdraw as a candidate, or Romney can officially release the delegates to vote for the candidate of their choosing…
Montana’s 25 delegates are still Romney’s and Romney hasn’t thrown in the towel…”

Obama, McCain, Romney Place Names on Indiana ballot

Signatures for Clinton, Huckabee, Paul still being counted
By Eric Berman
2/12/2008

Six presidential candidates have turned in petition signatures to get their names on Indiana’s primary ballot.

Candidates had until Tuesday to gather and turn in 500 signatures in each of Indiana’s nine congressional districts. Obama’s Democratic rival, New York Senator Hillary Clinton, is expected to meet that goal and qualify for the ballot.
Among Republicans, Arizona Senator John McCain and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will appear on the ballot, even though Romney suspended his campaign last week. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Texas Representative Ron Paul have turned in signatures at the county level but have not yet delivered them to the statehouse…”

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Before you pull the lever for John McCain on Super Tuesday, please consider the following information first. As a Mitt Romney supporter, I would prefer to convince people why they should vote for my candidate, rather than against John McCain. However, I’ve tried this approach for the past 18 months, but people haven’t been able to get past his religion or the false impression that he’s a flip-flopper. As governor, Romney never contradicted a position he campaigned for in 2002 and while he did change his stance on abortion, he upheld his campaign promises throughout the end of his term. You can trust that the stances he is taking for America (which are decidedly different than the needs of Massachusetts in 2002), will be consistently adhered to while he is in office.

McCain on the other hand consistently changes positions, or blatantly lies about his record and the records of others. As accounts continue to surface about his private dealings with fellow legislators, staffers, and other private individuals, it is abundantly clear that John McCain is concerned about the one thing he’s always been concerned about—himself.

Perhaps you’ve resigned yourself to the “electability” argument, and believe that John McCain is the only Republican who could win in November. McCain will be the first one to tell you not to trust polls that come out 6 months before an election (just look at last July’s polling data for McCain). Additionally, you give the Democrats too much credit. As the economy and budget woes worsen, neither Hillary Clinton nor Barak Obama has any credibility to solve this impending crisis. On this issue alone, John McCain would be much easier to beat than Romney since he can’t run effectively on the economy. If we nominate John McCain, it will be like nominating Bob Dole all over again (and he was supposed to be the most electable at the time).

For all you know, everything I have just said could simply be made up charges for political reasons. So I ask you to take a look at the whole picture of John McCain’s life and his accelerated advancement through the naval ranks—in spite of his poor record and actions unbecoming of a Naval officer. As you read the following story of McCain’s Naval record, compare this with Mitt Romney and answer the following questions:

· Both had influential fathers, what did this give them in life?
· Both were accepted to prestigious universities, what did they do with that opportunity?
· Both had careers that ended in high-profile positions. How did they get there?
· How do their personal and family lives compare?
· What kind of people do they associate themselves with?
· What have these two candidate shown that they are good at?

More »

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I just saw this quote from Dr. Thomas Sowell, who I regard as one of the most astute observers of the American political scene. He was talking about the whole Presidential field and handicapping their respective chances to win their party’s nomination.

My use of the “Anybody But Clinton” title should not be interpreted that I think that many of the other candidates would be acceptable. Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s just that I consider the Clinton’s to be the most toxic political partnership of my lifetime.

Then there is Hillary Clinton, formerly known as “front-runner” Hillary Clinton or the “inevitable” candidate Hillary Clinton.

It is painful to watch her trying to act human and it would be even more painful to see the Clintons back in the White House that they disgraced in so many ways.

She might even be shameless enough to put him [her husband Bill Clinton] on the Supreme Court, where he could ruin the law of the land, as many of his own judicial appointees are already doing in the federal courts.

If you are not registered to vote, please do so and help to persuade any members of your family and your friends who are not registered to do so.

I just finished watching a story on FOX NEWS about the Supreme Court case brought by the Democratic National Committee and the ACLU to try to nullify an Indiana law requiring a photo I.D. to be able to vote. They claim it is discriminatory to require voters to produce some sort of I.D. when they vote. That is not their concern. What is really behind this suit is their attempt to steal this election. If enough mainstream voters get to the polls next year, we can prevent this attempt to hijack an election from taking place!

~~John Cronin~~

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We have another straw poll victory to brag about. Well a tie anyway. Tippecanoe, Indiana held a straw poll yesterday and Gov. Romney managed 26.8% which was exactly tied with Sen. Thompson. Okay, it probably won’t mean much and Indiana’s primary isn’t until next May, but I like the people of Indiana, so they get a plug.

Eric Hammond, Indiana political director with the Romney campaign, said Romney had even inquired about the Tippecanoe County straw poll earlier in the week.

Ah, nothing gets by him.

~~~Thomas

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