Has Trump Earned the Catholic Vote? CatholicVote Says No
CatholicVote, an influential Catholic site for conservative Catholics, released an analysis of Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy Wednesday. The analysis took up seven of the most popular arguments heard from Trump supporters, including “Trump is a leader we can trust” and “Trump will fight the establishment.” In their analysis, CatholicVote provided strong rebuttals to each of the arguments, ultimately concluding that Donald Trump does not qualify for a Catholic vote.
Trump’s character matters, says CatholicVote, and his multiple marriages, sexual escapades, strip clubs and “barrage of insults, lies and personal attacks on anyone who disagrees with him” proves he does not have the “character becoming of the President.”
Of concern is that while Trump markets himself as someone who will get things done by “making ‘smart deals,’” he provides few details of how he intends to accomplish his goals. What he has said implies that he will skirt the law, which, rather than providing an alternative to business as usual, “mirrors what we currently see in the White House.” CatholicVote argues that it would be tough for Trump to defer to the Constitution. If he doesn’t, it will damage our system of government.
What’s more, Trump has had “convenient conversions” on several issues, including abortion, gay marriage and universal healthcare. On all of these issues, Trump held strong, liberal views until very recently.
Further, his career has been fraught with failure as well as success, they point out. “Four times he bailed on his own casinos to shield himself from their impending bankruptcies. And then there is Trump Magazine, Trump Airlines, Trump Steaks/Steakhouse, Trump Vodka, and most famously Trump University … all bankrupt or closed, and massive failures.” According to CatholicVote, Trump has really only succeeded in making deals “that benefit him personally.”
While Trump has succeeded in waking up working-class voters, says CatholicVote, Americans do not want or require a “fear mongering business mogul” who appeals to our worst fears; voters can and must look to other, much better candidates who will make Americans proud and truly make America great again.