The quadrennial GOP nod to Catholics

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Aug 02, 2004

You heard it here first:

Tomorrow President Bush will endorse school choice.

I have no special inside information, but I make this prediction fearlessly, because the President will be speaking to the Knights of Columbus in Dallas, and this is the obvious occasion for "the Catholic speech" in this campaign year.

Every four years since 1968, the Republican presidential candidate has made a campaign speech aimed specifically at Catholic voters, and every four years that speech has made a reference to educational freedom-- an issue that obviously resonates for Catholic voters (and anyone else who supports private, parochial, and home schools).

That's what the Republican Party has done to promote school choice over the past 36 years: one speech every four years.