King Dave

The Capital Times tries to defend Governor Doyle by reminding us of the Catholic church's challenge to Dave Obey on the pro-life issue. Here's an excerpt:

Two years ago, Bishop Raymond Burke of La Crosse went after U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wausau, for failing to tailor his congressional voting record to match the dogmas of the Catholic Church.

Obey shot back, "Bishop Burke has a right to instruct me on matters of faith and morals in my private life and like any other citizen to try by persuasion, not dictation, to affect my vote on any public matter. But when he attempts to use his ecclesiastical position to dictate to American public officials how the power of law should be brought to bear against Americans who do not necessarily share our religious beliefs, on abortion or any other public issue, he crosses the line into unacceptable territory."

Obey added, with his usual bluntness: "The U.S. Constitution, which I have taken a sacred oath to defend, is designed to protect American citizens from just such authoritarian demands."

The following November, the congressman was re-elected with 86 percent of the vote, the highest level of support for any congressional candidate in the state.

First things first, Obey got 86% of the vote because no Republican ran against him, not because he's that popular.

Second, if Bishop Burke has the authority to instruct Obey on religious matters, than what's the problem with asking him to stand up for a central teaching of the church?

So, allow us to rewrite Obey's quote to state what he really meant.

"Bishop Burke has no right to call me out publicly for failing year after year to act like a Catholic on matters of life. When he attempts to use his ecclesiastical position to embarass me like this, I must remind him how the power of law can be brought to bear against Americans who do not necessarily share my beliefs, on abortion or any other public issue, and show him what happens to people who cross the line into what I believe to be unacceptable territory."

You see Dave Obey believes he dare not be challenged in any public way. He will shout you down and belittle you if you disagree with his position on an issue and he will use his holier than thou way to make it sound like you're an idiot and a threat to the American way of life.