Chicago's Cardinal Francis George didn't answer David Gregory's question in how the church resolves the tensions between church doctrine and an individual's own life experience, but the round table discussion answered it quite well. That's not to diminish Cardinal George at all because it's more of a matter of articulating the answer versus knowing the answer, which he does. Ana Navarro put it best that you don't have to agree with the Pope (or the Church) on everything but you want to know that he is coming from the right place. And that's how it feels with the election of Pope Francis, a man who is coming from the right place.
The air of humility and warmth that Pope Francis has shown in these first few days has been a welcome sight to the Catholics who occupy all points of the spectrum. There is also a sense that everyone recognizes that the Pope has an opportunity to focus on something that transcends division and that is the plight of the poor. The Catholic Church understands, and this Pope who has spent his life amongst people suffering, that they should be that voice. Kathleen Kennedy outlined that the Church has been focused on sex (contraception and abortion) for too long and should focus on the core of the gospels which is the plight of the poor and sickness. She's correct because at this point, many rightly have the question that kind of goes, "Who are you to lecture me about issues of sex?" That's a natural reaction. The Catholic Church has to reconcile that within itself. Pope Francis' first step to go out amongst parishioners and give a sermon that talked about how God always has the capacity to forgive is what the Cardinal called style being substance.
Where Cardinal George spoke much more eloquently yet succinctly was with regard to the sexual abuse scandal saying that as long as there are victims, there will be the scandal, a deep admission and understanding. In answering this completely, it was important to hear a Cardinal simply say that they have gotten rid of all of the offenders they know of and that they are taking steps to make sure it never happens again. It was necessary to hear those words.
Does all this mean that there are going to be great changes in the Church, probably not. Should women play a more integral role in the hierarchy in Rome, certainly, but it isn't going to happen in the 5 to 10 years that Chris Matthews thinks it will, but no one expects that either. Just as no one expects the Church to all of a sudden come out in favor of gay marriage. They won't because it's one of the doctrines in the Catholic belief system that marriage is a holy institution between a man and a woman. Whether you agree with that or not, you understand the Church's stance. For Catholics, it runs in opposition to their beliefs, but it shouldn't run counter to Republican beliefs.
The round table discussed Senator Portman's (R-OH) change on his stance toward gay marriage. Mr. Portman explained that his son is gay and that he would like to see his son enjoy the same rights as everyone else, a change of heart based on personal experience.
Now, Governor Scott Walker (R-WI) may have won his recall election, which makes him a successful politician, but he is by no means a successful leader. The reason for those harsh words is because during the discussion, he touted the Republican philosophy that an individual should be able to come to this country and freely live his or her dreams without the interference of government - a very libertarian type of idea. However, the Republican stance, Mr. Walker's, on gay marriage runs directly counter to that freedom. The libertarian view is that an individual should be able to marry whomever he or she wants. You see the contradiction there. And Mr. Walker's dismissive answer that states should sanction it in the first place was a cop-out, rightly called out by Chris Matthews who explained that Social Security and hospital visitation rights, for example, all play into the legal status of being married. It's a subject that Mr. Matthews assessed correctly in its importance,
it's about the right for an individual to pursue love freely without
recrimination. This notion will be heard by the Supreme Court with the
Defense of Marriage Act. Every time Scott Walker has an opportunity to take a leadership stand on something, he declines.
And on the subject of leadership, do not look to the House Republican Whip, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), ho appeared on the program today with Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) who sits on the House Budget Committee. Granted he is the Republican Whip, which means that he takes what the leadership gives him and he rallies the troops behind it. Obviously, he and Speaker Boehner have not been on the same page. However, we single him out over Mr. Van Hollen because in this budget debate the position he represents disregards the poor and those who can not care for themselves (in the spirit of the new Pope).
The Republican budget repeals Obamacare, the implication of which is that millions of people will not have access to affordable healthcare - no Medicaid expansion within the states (the poor) and it will also change Medicare into a voucher system which effects millions of seniors (those who may need assistance). Aren't these the same people that we're happy to see the Pope focus on? Why not our political leaders?
With that said, understand that Democrats see the Republican plan as a slippery slope to ending Medicare all together. Conversely, Republicans see Obamacare as the first step to socialized medicine or Medicare for all, even though most seniors we know (O.K., all) like Medicare because it's easy and not as expensive as private insurance.
Mr. McCarthy outlined the urgency of the here and now on the debt and deficit, but Paul Ryan's budget ignores the reality of now. Right now, it is not politically impossible to repeal Obamacare whether you're for it or not so for a budget to be taken seriously right now, it has to work within the existence of said law. The realistic tact for Republicans to take is to say that if Obamacare has to stay then this, this, and this have to go and to be specific on those points.
Not that Mr. Van Hollen was any more convincing when challenged on Senate Democrats' budget and it's goal of coming into balance by 2040. The inherent problem with that timeline is that between now and then - 27 years - think about all the variables (conflict, war, natural and man-made disaster) that will occur in that time to throw the plan out the proverbial window. It boils down to either wanting a drastic approach where the overall economy and an individual's personal one are radically changed to get things in line quickly or a gradual approach that may not come into line at all. Where the Democrats win the debate is on the ratio of tax increases (closing of corporate tax loopholes) to spending cuts. Republicans have taken any revenue increases for the federal government off the table completely and as long as that's the case, the budget will not be balanced.
Where both Representatives fell down were on the topics of the Keystone Pipeline and Gun Control respectively. First, Mr. Van Hollen's tepid response that he was looking at all the information on the Keystone pipeline and reassessing was basically saying that he'll vote for it without saying he'll vote for it. Our feeling is that the pipeline should go forward - a source of oil that comes from an ally close by instead of from an enemy far away is a good thing. Mr. Van Hollen did mention that there was a re-routing of the line that answered an environmental concern. The United States should be able to build a state-of-the art-pipeline that fully takes the environment into consideration, right?!
On gun control, Mr. McCarthy displayed equally insufficient spine not saying whether he agreed with universal background checks or not, something that 90% of Americans endorse, which just shows that Mr. McCarthy has been sufficiently compromised by the gun lobby. He phrased it this way - It's a measure the House will take a look at - speaking as if he's not part of that discussion, which is he. No backbone.
We understand that the time within the context of a talk show, even the best one like Meet The Press, doesn't lend itself to more nuanced answers from our political leaders, but there could be a little bit of evidence that they're listening to one another at least. Alas, there isn't.
Round Table: Host of MSNBC's "Hardball" Chris Matthews; former two-term Republican
Governor who, in 2002, was appointed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops to investigate the sex abuse scandals in the Church, Frank
Keating (R-OK); author and former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend; and Republican Ana Navarro.
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