CV NEWS FEED // Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan responded to Kamala Harris becoming the first Democratic nominee since 1984 not to attend the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner (“Al Smith Dinner”) hosted by the archdiocese, pointing out that the last presidential candidate to skip the dinner “lost 49 out of 50 states.”
“We’re disappointed. We were looking forward to giving the Vice President an enthusiastic welcome,” the cardinal said on Monday, during remarks delivered at the Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center in Yonkers, New York.
The medical center for special needs children is one of the charities for which the Al Smith Foundation raises money. The sold-out 79th annual Catholic dinner is set to take place on Thursday, October 17 at the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan, New York City.
Dolan pointed out that Harris “speaks very much about the high ideals and how it’s good to get away from division and come together in unity and all, and that’s what the Al Smith Dinner is all about.”
“We haven’t given up yet,” he added. “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,” Dolan noted. “Remember, he lost 49 out of 50 states.”
Mondale was the failed Democratic nominee in the 1984 presidential election – which he lost in a landslide to then-incumbent Republican President Ronald Reagan. In addition to Washington, D.C., Mondale only carried his home state of Minnesota, which he won by 0.18% of the vote.
Like Harris, Mondale also served as vice president under a one-term president who was deeply unpopular for much of his tenure.
“I don’t want to say there’s a direct connection there,” Dolan indicated following a burst of laughter from the audience in response to his Mondale comment.
“But, so, we’re not used to this,” he stressed. “And we’re not giving up.”
The cardinal went on to say New York Democrats Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Gov. Kathy Hochul “both are working hard to see that they convince [Harris] to come.”
A reporter then asked Dolan: “So, there’s still a chance?”
“Yeah,” the prelate answered. He said that Schumer had told him that he thinks Harris declined the invite to the dinner due to her “schedule.”
“We’re not giving up,” Dolan reiterated, adding that he hopes she changes her mind.
>> TRUMP REACTS TO HARRIS SNUBBING AL SMITH DINNER <<
As CatholicVote reported earlier this week, the dinner, named in honor of the first Catholic presidential nominee in American history, “raises money for various Catholic charitable organizations that benefit children.”
Although the Catholic New York City event is “held annually, it receives particular attention during presidential election years when both of the major parties’ candidates attend and take turns making comedic speeches,” CatholicVote noted.
This tradition dates back to the 1960 presidential election cycle, in which major party nominees John F. Kennedy – who would become the country’s first Catholic president – and Richard Nixon both attended.
Republican nominee Donald Trump confirmed on TRUTH Social Monday that he is indeed attending the dinner for a third consecutive presidential election year, calling it an “honor.”
Trump went on to criticize his opponent’s controversial decision to pass on the traditional gathering:
It’s sad, but not surprising, that Kamala has decided not to attend. I don’t know what she has against our Catholic friends, but it must be a lot, because she certainly hasn’t been very nice to them, in fact, Catholics are literally being persecuted by this Administration. Any Catholic that votes for Comrade Kamala Harris should have their head examined.
>> PRESIDENT HARRIS? WHAT CATHOLICS NEED TO KNOW <<
