Obama vs. The Pope.....

Well, O has seriously annoyed the Roman Catholic Church. In spite of his promise not to do so, he has allowed his health bill (Obama Care) to stand without amending the bit about compelling organizations to provide for abortions, sterilization and contraceptives.

The RCC Bishops stealthily met and simultaneously launched 40 odd lawsuits from their various hospitals, universities and diocese against the government on the grounds of religious freedom. The move stirred up a great deal of controversy. Even some bishops were not pleased with suits, but the sharp end of the stick will certainly draw O blood.

This is an historic event. I cannot recall the RCC ever before challenging the US government in this manner. And in the process of doing so, the church has attracted some allies among conservatives and protestants. Oddly, most Americans practice some form of birth control regardless of their religious affiliation.

The Catholics among them are not so annoyed with what O has done, but the manner in which he did it. He challenged the RCC and that, more than anything else, will cost him Catholic votes. Nor was there any need for O to do this as there are several ways to avoid institutions of conscience being obliged by law to provide access to practices that violate their faith.

As the race between O and R is close, O has every reason to tread lightly. Indeed, he is known for treading lightly to the point of emptiness on major issues. Now, all of a sudden, he pulls this needless stunt. It is as if his arrogance has taken possession of his senses. It would not surprise me if R chose an Hispanic Catholic as a running mate as this would attract a large number of voters to his camp.

A person like Marco Rubio, Senator from Florida of Cuban heritage, has been seriously mentioned for the VP job. Such an appointment would not be without other issues. For one, the Cubans do not speak for the Hispanics  and his nomination may offend Puerto Ricans, Mexicans and other Latinos. 

On the other hand, the American public in general is not yet ready for an Hispanic president and would therefore balk at one in the VP spot. Also, Marco has a bright political future and he could well destroy it should he accept the VP job. Being VP means subservience to the president on all matters and as a result makes the job holder look inferior, powerless and uninformed.

This is one area in which the American political system could use a dramatic overhaul.