If Karol Wojtyla had been an American, would he be...

[Dookus]

Poll question: If Karol Wojtyla had been an American, would he be...

a democrat or a republican?

[Renew Deal]

1. Neither

Hopefully

[IndianaGreen]

3. Neither

He would not have made Pope by virtue of his nationality, but he would have certainly been made Cardinal, and he would have given fits to Republicans and Democrats alike!

[Dark]

2. He'd be one of those idiot repubs who votes only on gays & abortion.

'Sure, people are dying, BUT GAYS ARE GETTING MARRIED!'

[NYdemocrat089]

4. I think he would have been very split.

He would agree on social issues with the dems, but life issues with the rethugs.

[Dookus]

5. social issues?

I think gay rights, womens rights, birth control, etc., are social issues.

[ultraist]

23. They are social issues: Civil Rights issues, now matter how people spin it

Women and Gays NOT not being allowed to fully exercise their rights, such as right to marriage, right to privacy (choice and BC) are civil rights issues.

[Mikimouse]

7. The real problem he would have had...

is that even the republican schrieking heads don't really believe the shit they spew, but they know that there are a large number of very gullible people out there who will perceive that they really believe it and in turn, vote for them on the basis of their professed values.

[enid602]

6. Pope

If he were American, he would have ultimately become the same thing; a resistance fighter against facsism. He appears to have been very worried about Bushco before he died.

[IndianaGreen]

8. He would not have been elected Pope

There is a bias about electing any American Cardinal Pope, perhaps because there is a valid fear that the US would try to control the American Pope as it had tried to control everything else.

[Azathoth]

9. Neither

No matter what you thought of the guy, he was very sincere and consistent. When he talked about a "culture of life", he meant it -- ALL life. Since both parties tend to be inherently hypocritical on many issues (or in the GOP's case, on pretty much every issue), I think the pope would have had irreconcilable differences with both of them.

[Dookus]

10. So what does that mean?

he would've not voted?

[Azathoth]

11. Probably

To put it mildly, he never came across as a guy who was willing to pick the lesser of two evils. Since he had fundamental differences with both parties, I doubt he would have voted. He would have advocated his beliefs, but I don't think he would have thrown his hat in with either party.

[barb162]

12. neither

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. He would have been a pro-life Dem or a liberal Republican, but

proably would have been uncomfortable in either party.

[Dookus]

14. can you name one liberal republican

politician in America who is opposed to birth control?

[Pool Hall Ace]

15. I think he would have been a Republican, but I think he would

have been smart enough to not vote for Shrub in 2004.

[Lone Pawn]

16. Pro-life Democrat.

[Dookus]

17. How many democrats in America

oppose all birth control, oppose condoms even for people with HIV and consider gays part of a system of evil?

I'm frankly flabbergasted that ANYBODY could consider him to be a Democrat.

[Lone Pawn]

19. And how many Republicans

oppose the death penalty, all war, and are in favor of extremely high social spending? How many Republicans are in favor of massively increased foreign aid? He's closer to us on more issues. Sorry. They've got one issue: Sexual Morality. We're with him on everything--EVERYTHING--else.

[Dookus]

20. not many

but neither does the Pope.

The church does not oppose the death penalty. The church does not oppose all war. I think you're seriously misinformed about the church's positions on many issues.

Can you link to the church's position on "extremely high social spending"?

[Lone Pawn]

27. No, you're misinformed. Here, from the CCC:

DEATH PENALTY
2266: It is clear that the measure and the quality of the penalty ought to be carefully evaluated and determined and ought not lead to the extreme measure of the destruction of the guilty

WAR
2307: All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war.

Now who's uninformed?

[ultraist]

22. Equal rights for women and Gays equates to "sexual morality?"

Way to diminish our rights. Thanks.

The pope was opposed to: stem cell research, abortion, birth control, equal rights for women and gays, and miminized/excused a massive pedophile ring.

I'd say that leans Republican, by far. The Democratic platform is PRO Choice, PRO stem cell research, PRO Gay rights (although they are not taking a strong enough stand on this) and pro children's rights.

[Dookus]

24. Isn't it amazing?

How quickly people are willing to sweep away concerns about civil rights under the guise of "sexual morality"?

[Lone Pawn]

26. Well, yes, all of that does fall under sexual morality.

Terminology shouldn't diminish. Also, the Pope was not involved in the pederasty scandal. The buck, for better or for worse, stopped at the local cardinals. The Pope does not micromanage parishes.

The RCC is pro-Children's Rights, and the DNC is not pro gay rights. Sorry to break it to you. Not being as homophobic as Republicans doesn't make 'em for gays.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. A "moderate" repug or a DLC Dem.

With a wife and 5 kids.

[JI7]

21. Republican

probably like Pat Buchanan in somewhat opposing the iraq war, but mostly conservative on issues like abortion with emphasis on those issues also.

[mvd]

25. I would hope that economic issues meant more to him..

but I don't think they did, based on emphasis put on abortion and stem cell research. But he would probably have been an Independent, as he saw his calling as God, not political parties.

[roguevalley]

28. neither. and he wouldn't have been pope. there will NEVER be an

American pope because we don't follow in all the teachings.