Fellow Kossacks who support Obama -
One of the most impressive aspects of Daily Kos is the wealth of information I come across every day. I am trying to help Senator Obama's campaign in Pennsylvania.
I have been disappointed to read that my fellow Catholics in the Keystone state seem to favor Hillary Clinton. I would very much like to pursuade them to consider Obama.
Can any Kossacks help me gather information about voting record differences (or other policy differences) between Obama and Clinton, particularly differences that might conflict with Catholic ideas?
In case you're wondering, Catholics do vote for Democrats. A recent poll showed 45% of Catholics describing themselves as Democrats, versus 40% calling themselvs (and shaming themselves) as Republicans. We all know about the conservative stances taken by the Catholic Church, but many of us Catholics have legitimate moral concerns about the conduct of the Republican party.
Why do Catholics in Pennsylvania seem to favor Hillary? I suppose some of it is familiarity and name-recognition. Some of it might be demographic issues (eg - large population of elderly female Catholics in Pennsylvania).
I am hoping to consolidate some data and present it to the Obama campaign, so that we can make our case to Catholics in Pennsylvania (I am actually a member of an Obama campaign group of Catholics, but I can assure you that any information you contribute would be disseminated "officially" by the actual campaign).
The most obvious example is their votes on the Iraq War. We all know that Clinton supported Bush and Obama advocated against it. The Obama campaign could make the case that Hillary's decision actually violates the Catholic Church's "Just War" doctrine, and I think that Pennsylvania Catholics should consider this before they decide to support Hillary.
Also, I do recall reading about one of Hillary's Senate votes, which basically endangered children in combat zones. Senator Obama has advocated against such reckless military behavior. This is another difference that could be highlighted.
I am a physician with a busy practice, and right now my wife needs me to put the kids to bed. If anybody can help me with voting record (or any policy differences), this would very much help the Catholic group in the Obama campaign.
Thank you!