Cardinal Timothy Dolan slammed Kamala Harris’ surprise move to skip the annual Al Smith dinner, while sending a warning about the last candidate who sat it out.
The dinner benefitting Catholic Charities traditionally has been used to promote collegiality and good humor, with presidential candidates from both parties appearing on the same night and trading barbs.
Donald Trump has attended the dinner in both 2016 and 2020, while Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden – albeit online – also attended when running for president.
Dolan, the Archbishop of New York City, said he was ‘disappointed’ in Harris’ decision to instead campaign in a battleground state less than three weeks before Election Day.
‘We were looking forward to giving the vice president an enthusiastic welcome, and we were confident that she would find this – you know, she speaks very much about high ideals and how it’s good to get away from division and come together in unity and all,’ he said.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan slammed Kamala Harris ‘ surprise move to skip the annual Al Smith dinner, while sending a warning about the last candidate who sat it out.
Dolan, the Archbishop of New York City, said he was ‘disappointed’ in Harris’ decision to instead campaign in a battleground state less than three weeks before Election Day
He then made a troubling historical point about the last time a Democrat told them no.
‘We’re not used to this. We don’t know how to handle it. This hasn’t happened in 40 years, since Walter Mondale turned down the invitation. And remember, he lost 49 out of 50 states. I don’t want to say there’s a direct connection there, but … we’re not giving up,’ Dolan said.
The cardinal, who plays a prominent role in the dinner, has been highly critical of Democrats, writing a 2018 Wall Street Journal op-ed that carried the headline, ‘The Democrats Abandon Catholics.’
Harris’ team wants her to spend as much time as possible in the battleground states that will decide the election rather than heavily Democratic New York, a campaign official said Saturday, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss campaign plans and confirming a decision first reported by CNN.
Her team told organizers that she would be willing to attend as president if she’s elected, the official said.
The former president and current Republican presidential nominee confirmed in a Truth Social post on Monday that he would speak at the October 17 dinner, calling it ‘sad, but not surprising’ that Harris had opted not to attend.
In his Truth Social post, Trump said Harris ‘certainly hasn’t been very nice’ to Catholics, saying that Catholic voters who support her ‘should have their head examined.’
His 2016 appearance at the dinner invited boos when many in the audience felt he crossed a line when he called Democrat Hillary Clinton corrupt and claimed she hated Catholics.
Trump's 2016 appearance at the dinner invited boos when many in the audience felt he crossed a line when he called Democrat Hillary Clinton corrupt and claimed she hated Catholics
Dolan, who plays a prominent role in the dinner, has been highly critical of Democrats, writing a 2018 Wall Street Journal op-ed that carried the headline, 'The Democrats Abandon Catholics'
The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner is named for the former New York governor, a Democrat and the first Roman Catholic to be nominated for president by a major party in 1928. He was handily defeated by Herbert Hoover.
It raises millions of dollars for Catholic charities and has traditionally shown that those vying to lead the nation can get along, or pretend to, for one night.
The event has become a tradition for presidential candidates since Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy appeared together in 1960.
In 1996, the Archdiocese of New York decided not to invite then-President Bill Clinton and his Republican challenger, Bob Dole, reportedly because Clinton vetoed a late-term abortion ban.
Trump and Joe Biden, who is Catholic, both spoke at the fundraiser in 2020, when it was moved online due to concerns about large gatherings spreading COVID-19.
Amid the pandemic and economic woes, there was no joking and both candidates instead used their speeches to appeal to Catholic voters.
In 2016, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump embraced the jovial atmosphere at the annual white tie fundraiser in New York, even if some of their jokes fell flat.
The pair each won laughs, some reluctant and others more enthusiastic, with their scripts of puns.
Walter Mondale was the last major candidate to skip the dinner before he lost to Ronald Reagan in 1984
A Harris campaign official said Catholics for Harris-Walz is working to register people to vote and get involved in outreach across the country.
Trump's post stems in part from 2018 questions that then-Sen. Harris posed to a federal judicial nominee about his membership in the Knights of Columbus, a lay Catholic fraternal organization.
Harris asked the nominee if he agreed with the anti-abortion views of the group´s leader, views that broadly align with the church´s stance.