The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Obama Stimulus vs. Massachusetts Catholics

Text Size

The Spectacle Blog

Obama Stimulus vs. Massachusetts Catholics

By Robert Stacy McCain on 1.29.10 @ 4:30PM

In the immediate aftermath of Scott Brown's victory last week, John B. Judis noted:

The Suffolk University poll in Massachusetts, which like the PPP poll, was pretty much on target in the final result, singled out two white working class towns, Gardner and Fitchburg, as bellwethers. Obama won Gardner, where Democrats hold a three-to-one registrations edge, by 59 to 31 percent in 2008. Brown won it by 56 to 42 percent. Obama won Fitchburg, with a similar Democratic edge, by 60 to 38 percent in 2008. Brown won it by 59 to 40 percent.

This should not be mysterious. In Massachusetts, "white working class" most often means "ethnic Catholic," and as I pointed out Jan. 17 after visiting St. Anthony of Padua church in Fitchburg, Democrat Coakley's pro-abortion stance offended many Catholics in that predominantly Italian parish. Now the blue-collar town of Fitchburg is the scene of another abortion-related battle:

A crowd of about 70 to 80 anti-abortion protesters waved signs and prayed Thursday on both sides of 391 Main St., where the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts plans to open an office this spring. . . .
Father Robert Bruso, of St. Anthony de Padua Church in Fitchburg, participated in the protest.
"It's really nothing the city of Fitchburg stands for," said Bruso.

The Fitchburg clinic is part of what Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts is doing with its $387,000 federal stimulus grant, and pro-life blogger Jill Stanek calls this an example of "the Obama administration subsidizing its pro-abort pals with our money."

View all comments (5) | Leave a comment

Joan Grammel| 1.30.10 @ 10:19AM

I am a lonely voice, I think, in a forest of trees. Pro-aborts are spreading their evil advice from east to west. They are digging their trenches wherever they can sneak into a city that they feel will let them do whatever. Well, how do they like this: I am pro-life, pro marriage between one man and one woman, anti-abortion and still able to speak freely although I can see the wicked white house pouncing down on that. Fitchburg, MA is their latest place to deliver their socialist garbage. They insist on pp going into our Main Street and refuse to listen to the majority of our councilors who say we already have those services in the city. They came with their bag of federal funds and think that they are capable of advising women about their sexual lives. Is there no hope?
Joan Grammel
Fitchburg

John3| 1.30.10 @ 1:34PM

Dear Joan, you are not alone and you don't have to be sad. The fact is that the prolife movement is making more gains in the past year than before. The prochoice movement on the other hand are running out of money--that is why they are so vicious in supporting this president. Continue to calmly rally your prolife politicians and bring reason to those who are not. Your efforts will bring fruit! Because we stand on the side of Good, we have already won! Do not despair. This roaring beast of evil which hides as supporting women and children WILL be exposed and YOU are helping to expose that. As Father Pavone said, "WE NEED TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THOSE POLITICIANS WHO HELP THE PUBLIC AND FROM THOSE POLITICIANS WHO KILL THE PUBLIC." Thank you, people of Fitchburg!

martine| 1.30.10 @ 10:30AM

Nearly $400,000 for Planned Parenthood. Wow I'll bet that was a real stimulus to our economy.

Disgusting . I can't wait until the polls open in Nov.

John3| 1.30.10 @ 1:22PM

The battle between Abortion and Life will define our future. It is very simple: BABY ALIVE is GOOD; BABY DEAD, KILLED is VERY BAD. The "Audacity" of this administration to support Abortion will be the same reason for its downfall. Abortion has no logical bedrock to stand on--even if the government has made it legal. HOWEVER, WE NEED TO TELL OUR FRIENDS ABOUT THIS!! Or else, the abortionists will just rob this country of its future---just like it is robbing the Europeans of theirs.

LALA| 2.7.10 @ 12:07PM

Planned Parenthood does more to PREVENT abortions than any other single organization. Now if you want to get serious about preventing unwanted pregnancies, make sure no Bratz dolls are being sold at your local Walmart. And perhaps Focus on the Family could have better spokesmodels than Carrie Prejean.