This think may not be very PC, but if we peel this thing back, Hillary's hanging in because poor white folks and catholics simply won't vote for a black man. If he's out of the way, they'll pass her over for the white guy.

It isn't her "toughness", "ideas", "experience" or other clinton crap.

Catholic church you bigot? Pssst . . . the definition of catholic is INCLUSIVE. You want to see rainbow coalitions you go to a catholic church. You want to see Black or Asian or Hispanic priests totally accepted you go to a Catholic church.

Bigot!

My my my, Gatewood, you sure know how to stage a hissy fit when your lox is gored. So American of you. One might even say all-american.You and that cretinous fraud Donahoe have much in common.

I agree. I could imagine Irish catholics in NY and NJ for example. If you think these Catholics would vote for a nigger, you're living outside of reality. Even the priest is probably a Hillary supporter.

On the flip side, in Los Angeles, where my mom grew up, I'd fully expect the Catholics to vote for Obama if he were to win the nomination.

I don't think it's right to say that whole groups of people are racist. Racism is an individual not a group characteristic. I understand your point, but saying that the problem is racism is a bit too easy. Obama isn't perfect; people have a right not to like him and/or his policies. He and his supporters should be focusing on improving the candidate and his message, not attributing Clinton's support to racist.

I agree. I could imagine Irish catholics in NY and NJ for example. If you think these Catholics would vote for a nigger, you're living outside of reality. Even the priest is probably a Hillary supporter.

On the flip side, in Los Angeles, where my mom grew up, I'd fully expect the Catholics to vote for Obama if he were to win the nomination.

Why would you use such an offensive word to describe African Americans. Bigots like you need to join the military or take a college course, because it is obvious you need to educate yourself.

Gatewood, I think we've hit a nerve and perhaps struck gold.

The Catholic church is of course very inclusive. As you know, most catholics are from Africa and South America. In fact white catholics are the minority worldwide.

What I've referring to are insular communites within the US that happen to be catholic , and happen to have a general aversion to considering a black man as CIC.

I'm very familiar with communities in NY and NJ that get all funny if a black couple moves into the neighbourhood and carry an Archie Bunker mentality when it comes to blacks generally. Perhaps you know them too, Gatewood.

The polls show that NJ is in play if its Obama vs McCain. Wonder why?

I think it's interesting that you think you can call 60 million people into one category and assume "they" will all act as one.

Whether you think you are familiary with all the Catholics in NY and NJ I submit that you are not.

The majority of Catholics who practice their faith are pretty busy people - most of them work, have family and friends to whom they owe time and love, and in addition they spend dozens of hours a week in volunteer and spiritual activities that help bring meaning to their lives.

Over this election MANY Catholics will struggle to reconcile Church teachings on various social issues and their own personal feelings. Many will come to the conclusion that they are indeed more racist than they care to admit in public. Without Obama as a candidate they may not have ever faced that about themselves.

And that is how spiritual life works. We are gently led into our own hearts and if we take the time to sit there long enough we are able to sense the presence of a God who can help us make sense of the world.

And in the meantime we go about our lives. Being Catholic is not about being some robot, no matter what your experience to the contrary may tell you.

I'm not suggesting anyone is a robot. Nor am I suggesting anything wrong the catholic religion, faith and practices.

I'm talking about culture in certain communities, where the path of least resistance, is to turn away.

To quote some famous guy, "Methinks the lady doth protest too much"

Protest about what?

Being lumped into a group that is being dubbed as the most racist voting bloc in this primary?

Being told that as a Catholic I don't struggle with reconciling issues I either follow the dogma of the church, my biological imperative to vote for a woman or that I've drunk kool-aid so that's my only reason for going with Obama?

Yes, I protest both of those things. I have actually written pretty extensively about my own personal and familial journey regarding racial issues. Coming from The South one could easily convince oneself to be justifiably correct in segregating oneslf from an entire group of people - it's what we've ALWAYS done.

Ditto with the church.

Instead, I've chosen to remain in the South and work to evolve my thinking through education and experience. And I choose to remain in the Catholic Church while knowing that it will cause friction at the spiritual and emotional levels in my heart. I think that ends up making me a more compassionate person.

Yes, I protest the idea that broad-brush stereotyping to come to conclusions is a good idea.