Hudson and Fournier: Catholic Countdown to Election 2012: Day 32. Debates and the Role of Government

By Deal W. Hudson and Keith A. Fournier
10/5/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

The media was filled with a myriad of focus groups and polls showing an immediate shift in the dynamics of this race

Those who say these Presidential debates do not matter are simply wrong. The immediate effect of President Obama's poor performance and Governor Romney's stellar performance was immediately evident. Debates do matter and this particular debate may have turned this race around for the former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney.

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DENVER, CO (Catholic Online) - In the wake of the strong showing of Governor Mitt Romney in the first debate of the 2012 Presidential race, the Washington pundit class is still parsing and pontificating about what it all really means.

We are now rounding the bend of a 30 day countdown to one of the most important elections in US history. We offer some thoughts on what it may mean.

Those who say these Presidential debates do not matter are simply wrong. The immediate effect of President Obama's poor performance and Governor Romney's stellar performance was immediately evident.

The media was filled with a myriad of focus groups and polls showing an immediate shift in the dynamics of this race. Expect this to continue. In fact, this ups the ante for the debate between the Vice Presidential candidates scheduled for October 11, 2012.

Expect a repeat performance. Paul Ryan will show his extraordinary grasp of the issues which matter most - and the Vice President will, well, be himself.

People who say debates do not matter remind me (Keith) of lawyers who say Supreme Court and Appellate arguments don't really matter. They are also wrong. They have obviously never argued in an Appellate Court.

Debates do matter and this particular debate may have turned this race around for the former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney.

Even the staunchest allies of the President's reelection campaign have admitted that he lost that crucial first debate. Some have offered excuses and reasons, including one of most odd, from a former Democratic Vice President, blaming the President's poor performance on the rarified air in Denver.

However, the assessment was nearly unanimous.

Romney was confident, well prepared, energetic and well spoken. The President was lethargic, defensive, and surprisingly ill prepared.

The debate covered economic issues, educational concerns and even delved into the health care crisis. But, it was a quick interlude, when the moderator asked for the candidates' views on the role of the Federal Government that the philosophical differences between the two men emerged.

President Obama did not answer the question. Or, one could say charitably that he was all over the place in his comments.

However, Mitt Romney was crystal clear. Here is an excerpt.

"LEHRER: Two minutes, Governor, on the role of government - Your view?

"ROMNEY: The role of government: Look behind us (The candidate pointed to the Image of the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence) - The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The role of government is to promote and protect the principles of those documents."

"First, life and liberty. We have a responsibility to protect the lives and liberties of our people, and that means a military second to none. I do not believe in cutting our military. I believe in maintaining the strength of America's military."

"Second, in that line that says we are endowed by our creator with our rights, I believe we must maintain our commitment to religious tolerance and freedom in this country. That statement also says that we are endowed by our creator with the right to pursue happiness as we choose. I interpret that as, one, making sure that those people who are less fortunate and can't care for themselves are cared by -- by one another."

"We're a nation that believes that we're all children of the same God and we care for those that have difficulties, those that are elderly and have problems and challenges, those that are disabled. We care for them. And we -- we look for discovery and innovation, all these things desired out of the American heart to provide the pursuit of happiness for our citizens."

"But we also believe in maintaining for individuals the right to pursue their dreams and not to have the government substitute itself for the rights of free individuals. And what we're seeing right now is, in my view, a -- a trickle-down government approach, which has government thinking it can do a better job than free people pursuing their dreams. And it's not working."

"And the proof of that is 23 million people out of work. The proof of that is 1 out of 6 people in poverty. The proof of that is we've gone from 32 million on food stamps to 47 million on food stamps. The proof of that is that 50 percent of college graduates this year can't find work. We know that the path we're taking is not working. It's time for a new path."

This underlying difference between these two candidates over the role of the Federal Government and the sources of our rights and liberties is key to understanding what is really at stake in this election. It concerns a struggle over the very idea of the American experiment in ordered liberty and its future.

Finally, this is the time when Voter Guides multiply. For Catholics, other Christians, people of faith and people of good will who care about those rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness mentioned by Governor Romney in his response, we recommend a particularly good one offered by our friend and Pro-Life Champion, Fr. Frank Pavone, through Priests for Life.

It is entitled "Where do the Candidates Stand on Key Issues" and can be found here.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Debate, presidential debate, Denver, Obama, Romney, Biden, Ryan, Democrat, Republican, campaign 2012, Jim Lehrer, Deal W. Hudson, Keith A. Fournier

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1 - 7 of 7 Comments

Anita
7 months ago
My presidential choice is not going to be based on a debate. What I am looking at is the record of the individual on what matters most: integrity in a very powerful position, honesty with the everyday American and a committment to human rights. That spans the rights of the unborn but would include the rights of women. That has to examine our appetite for attacking other countries and not paying particular attention to whether we are safeguarding the people we say we are there to protect and liberate. We have been at some form of undeclared war my entire 56 years on earth. Mr. Romney will not end abortion because that fight is in the Courts and Congress. I believe George Bush promised the same outcome. Cutting funding for education and for the poor (yes, they really do deserve to eat!) does not make Mitt a good man. It's disingenuous to talk about the number of people collecting foodstamps when the policies you will put in place will increase the number of people on food stamps. We saw Obama continue the Bush-era tax cuts - the argument has been and will be continued under Romney - that relieving those with the highest incomes would create jobs. It didn't do that under Reagan, it didn't do it under Obama and it won't do it under Romney.The only thing that is going to end abortion is for individuals to continue to reject it in their homes. A candidate that wants to save your unborn baby and send your high-school graduate off to kill or be killed is not the choice I want to make. Thank you!
Janusz
7 months ago
Robert B:it looks to me like the BIG LOOSER after the Wednesday Debate is you....If you are not able to objectively decide which of the men on stage had better command of facts, then I wonder who is more senile your 85 years old congressman or you.....
Michael Flynn
7 months ago
The Vice Presidential debate should be very interesting, especially to Catholics since both candidates say they are Catholic. I hope both hold up the Churches principles, but I doubt it.
Tom McGuire
7 months ago
I wonder why Catholics cannot get above political rhetorical commentary? Catholic Social Doctrine would indicate that both candidates fall short of the ideals of the doctrine. A strong military the way of the future? Imagine a war with China. What would the end result be? Is there any sense either candidate is concerned about those in society who work hard and are unable to provide for their families with the necessities of life in the United States? What about workers who are used and abused in the name of profit? What about the truth? Does the end justify the means? Is it true that as long as a candidate uses the correct rhetoric anything else goes no matter how much it effects the poor? St Francis of Assisi, who modeled walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, modeled a way of being present to people in power. Can we have a little more St Francis type reflection and a little less political commentary on how any candidate did in the artificial theater of Television?
Tom
7 months ago
I agree with the Bishops, and the Pope. Intrinsic evil must be fought or we put are souls in great danger. The Slipper slope of abortion is now a free fall. We can no longer dance on the head of this pin. Go Mitt! I'll be saying the Rosary outside of Planned Parenthood today, join us.
Michael Barger
7 months ago
Bravo, Catholic Online! Governor Romney's superior performance gives many Catholics hope that freedom of religion will yet survive the war being launched on it by the Liberal Progressivist Orthodoxy under President Obama who has shown far more leadership in destroying the freedoms of religious citizens than in addressing the enormous challenges of unemployment and looming budgetary catastrophe.

One hopes that the debate scheduled for October 11 between Catholics Representative Paul Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden on both domestic and international affairs will further clarify the stark choice before Catholics between contintinuity of free practice of religion and the Liberal Progressive Orthodoxy which seeks to trivialize and undermine it.

One hopes that Paul Ryan will raise these issues with particular focus on government coercion above all of Catholic businesses as well as Church institutions proper to provide abortion and contraceptive services against their freedom of conscience.

One likewise hopes that Paul Ryan will raise two issues of international significance often overlooked - the persecution and murder of Catholics in the Middle East, India, the Middle East, and Indonesia, and the bloody Fast And Furious Scandal, the vast majority of whose victims are Catholics not only in the US and Mexico, but also in Puerto Rico, Honduras, and Colombia as Univsion has revealed in their investigative reporting only recently.
Robert Burford
7 months ago
All I could stand is an hour and a half of the debates. I do not like either candidate but there was no clear winner. I disagree with those on facebook and twitter. I thought it was a draw but that is my opinion. For those that have sent in to the election committee their ballots the debates are redundant. I have mine ready to mail but am hesitating because my choices stink and have not entered all the appropriate choices. I refuse to vote for our Republican congressman He has done nothing since he entered office in 1983. There is a democratic opponent but am not sure of his qualifications. The Republican will probably get reelected but it does not have to be with my vote. He is 85 and senile. He will probably get reelected but there again the choices stink. God help this country whoever gets elected.

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