The lede in
this CNN story says it all: "Congressional Republicans hope Pope Francis leaves his liberal-leaning views at the Vatican." It goes on to describe how Republicans in Congress don't want to hear any of that "do something about global warming" or "take care of the poor" talk this commie Pope has become famous for. One "proud Catholic" member
intends to boycott and others are
saying stuff like:
"I think it's totally inappropriate that the Pope is weighing in on all the real sensitive, far-left issues," said Oklahoma Republican James Inhofe, one of the most conservative senators. "I'm not a Catholic, but my Catholic friends in Oklahoma are not real pleased with it."
However, Republicans
think it's going to be totally appropriate to use the Pope's visit to further their "real sensitive" far-right issue—defunding Planned Parenthood.
GOP lawmakers are urging Pope Francis to use his unprecedented platform before Congress to spread a message that calls for restricting abortion.
"The message to the Pope is … there are only seven countries in the world that allow abortion this late, at five months," said Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), a former Christian camp director who has become one of the Senate’s most prominent voices against abortion. "And I'd like us to not be one of them."
Meanwhile, "Republican leaders have not put up a way out of the funding conundrum that has flummoxed the GOP-run Capitol." Maybe they ought to be pinning their hopes for a miracle from the Pope on stopping a government shutdown.
Sign if you agree: Democrats must stand strong. No cuts to Planned Parenthood. No government shutdowns.