Denver November 2004 Election
Here's an in-depth look at the issues of Roman Catholics voting for abortion rights candidates, from the Rocky Mountain News [May 22, 2004, "'What's a Catholic to do?'"]. From the article, "As Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter, a Democrat who doesn't support abortion rights said: 'I do think the Democratic Party makes it very difficult for pro-life Democrats.' Carl Raschke, a professor of religious studies at the University of Denver, said the threat of withholding Communion - the most holy part of the Mass - from Catholics is an unprecedented use of religion as a tool to swing votes. He also said it could have a 'slight impact' on the election because of the small percentage of people who haven't made a choice between Kerry, Bush or Ralph Nader yet. Pressure from the Catholic Church, he said, could send those voters to Bush."
Attorney General, Ken Salazar, is trying to show Colorado voters that he is savvy on foreign policy, especially with respect to Israel. Here's an article about Israel's Shinui party and their centrist approach to a possible Israel/Palestine solution. From the article, "The plan calls for the resumption of negotiations with the Palestinian Authority without insisting on an end to violence first. Writing in Ma'ariv, party leader Tommy Lapid says that Israel must 'return to the road map and renew negotiations with Abu Ala, while waiving the condition that the Palestinian Authority first put an end to terror.' He writes that waiting for the violence to cease in advance of negotiations is 'not practical.' That reality has been proven by recent events. Ever since President Bush announced the roadmap in 2003, Israel has resisted complying with its terms until the Palestinian Authority takes on the terrorists. The Palestinians have refused, saying that they do not have the capacity to take on Hamas and that they are not inclined to enter into a civil war when there is no guarantee that they will get anything from Israel in return. And many simply do not want to fight the terrorists because they support them, pure and simple. As a result, the stalemate has deepened." Thanks to Josh Marshall for the link.
6:51:48 AM 
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