With scripture, Hillary Clinton wins over a voter

[philosslayer]

Hillary Clinton is a lifelong Methodist, but you wouldn't know that by listening to most of her speeches. She rarely speaks -- at least at any length -- about her faith. But the presidential candidate broke with that tradition on Wednesday when she reflected on her religious study and background, during an impromptu conversation with Rev. Frederick Donnie Hunt at Main Street Bakery.

Hunt came to the yellow-walled bakery to enjoy a sweet treat while he studied the Bible, unaware -- he said after -- that a presidential candidate was about to visit. His quiet reflection was abruptly turned upside down when around 20 press and campaign staff rolled into the bakery with Clinton. After chatting with the bakery's staff and picking out some cupcakes for the road, the presidential candidate sidled up to Hunt and asked him what he was studying.

"Corinthians 13," Hunt said calmly, almost nonplussed by the candidate. "Oh I know it well," Clinton said. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud," the passage says.

Clinton told Hunt about her religious history and commended him for his continued study. "You're doing what is the most important thing to do, it's continuing to study and learn what the scripture says and what it means," she said. "I have a preacher friend who sends me scripture and devotionals, sometimes mini-sermons every day."

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/27/politics/hillary-clinton-2016-election-faith/

[NEVER SUMMER]

1. Religion is what is wrecking most of America today........

I would put religion priorities dead last.

There are higher priorities out there

[darkangel218]

3. +1

[workinclasszero]

7. This would wreck America?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud," the passage says.

Sounds wonderful to me.

[Sherman A1]

10. I do believe that

to be one of the best passages that exist in the text. Not a real fan of the Bible or the Candidate in question, but I have to agree with you on this point.

[phil89]

20. Because that's totally

what the god of the bible reflects, isn't it?

[Warren DeMontague]

39. And so much better than actually taking a clear stand on things like pending legislation.

like saying "I want to empower families and communities"... sure, it sounds GREAT, but it is fundamentally meaningless when it comes to actual issues that affect actual people.


Talk is cheap.

[gratuitous]

42. Yeah, and that whole "serve one another in love" malarkey

It would totes wreck America! Just like all those volunteers on the ground and heading for Texas for disaster relief. So many of them are religious wreckers claiming that they're putting their faith into action, but luckily we're chock full of folks at DU who see through that charade.

[madokie]

100. I love, I'm kind, I don't envy nor do I boast and I'm prouder than what should be legal

and I, repeat, believe that religion has no place in our government. None whatsoever. I believe the founding fathers to have said that same thing.

[JoePhilly]

26. The RW sees a world that is black or white ... liberals usually do not.

And I'm an Atheist.

[Warren Stupidity]

28. yup and religious pandering politicians make me puke.

[CAG]

38. She was talking with a reverend who

had a bible open....and she asked a simple question many people might ask in that situation. To call this episode "pandering" is really lazy.

[JHB]

85. "Religion" covers a lot of ground...

Zealotry, and the extremely faulty reasoning that flows from it, are a big part of the wrecking, but there are plenty of religious people that I (an atheist) have no problems getting along with.

And welcome to DU

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. That should make some heads explode.

Good for her.

[seabeyond]

72. true that. comfort in knowledge, religious right think methodist are the LAZY christians, lol. nt

[awoke_in_2003]

79. Were I forced to go to church...

I would go Methodist- they don't get worked up about much. I could be biased, my grandfather was a Methodist minister (I am atheist). Plus, most religions would get upset about this- not the Methodists

[seabeyond]

80. ha ha. that is funny. ya living in the panhandle of texas. methodists accept about all.

not fire and brimstone, just accept, love without hate.

ergo.... to the rest in this area, it makes them simply, lazy.

too funny

[awoke_in_2003]

81. Didn't know you were in Texas, too...

I moved from Cleveland to DFW in 92.

[seabeyond]

82. hey... i was about 92 too. i have one more year then oregon or washington state. nt

[awoke_in_2003]

83. I would love

to live in that area of the country

[Cha]

97. Yeah, and I'm not "religious".. but, I have a great Liberal sister who is. I don't scorn her or

any of my family or friends for their beliefs.

They sure as heck aren't hypocrites. We just have a different way of looking at things like that.

[Iliyah]

4. K & R

[merrily]

5. Yeah, her relationship with The Family/The Fellowship is a real plus.

[arcane1]

6. It's an awful lot of text to cover interviewing one single "random" person

Call it a "Puff Piece" doesn't do it enough justice

[merrily]

111. And, when was the last time you saw someone studying the Bible in a bakery?

This whole thing reads like a set up.

In its continual quest to make Democrats more like Republicans, the DLC exhorted Democrats not to "hide" their faith.

After the 2004 election. Bubba was giving a lecture or press conference or something at which he was taking questions. He was saying how much better Democrats are than Republicans. Someone asked him something like, "Then why didn't Kerry win?"

Bill replied, "You know, Obama announced his candidacy for the Senate with his pastor at his side."

Imagine: of all the things he could have said about the 2004 election, that was what he chose.

Supposedly, after his loss, Kerry said, "i got the religion thing wrong, didn't I?" So, I guess Kerry had been counseled to go religious during his campaign and refused. If so, I give him credit, though it would have been hard for him. Some priests were calling for his ex-communication. Besides, he was trying to downplay his Jewish heritage. Going religious would have opened two cans of worms.

[workinclasszero]

9. Keep up the good work

Spreading the good ideas Bernie has for America

It's going to be a cakewalk for Hillary with all of Bernies bitter fans shrinking his pup tent 24/7

[merrily]

15. You make an unprovoked personal attack on me and call me bitter? Self awareness much?

[workinclasszero]

21. Are u even serious?

unprovoked personal attack

Wow such drama smh

[merrily]

22. Simply described what you did in your Reply 9, dude.

Again, self awareness doesn't seem to be your strong suit.

[Warren DeMontague]

40. Yes, what America clearly needs is more religious platitudes.

That worked real well with the beady-eyed goober we had in the White House 6 years ago.

[merrily]

52. Poetic justice?

3.5 million bucks worth of hush money payments later, he's indicted under his "small government" law and his story is out anyway.

[Luminous Animal]

12. Regular bible study with a bunch of republican women in a dominionist org.

Yes. Women must study the biible separate from the men.

[merrily]

17. It's not only that. They have a belief that those whom God has called to lead-which, I guess, means

anyone who decides to run for office claiming God had something to do with his or her decision, is not subject to laws of man OR God.

Now, when you get that Thou Shalt Not Kill is one of the laws of God......

This is what Governor Hiking the Appalachian Trail meant when he started muttering about King David. David tried to kill the husband of Bathsheba because David was lusting after Bathsheba. And David was still so beloved by God that he was chosen to be the ancestor of Christ (in theory anyway). So, from that, they get the concept that anything goes if you've been chosen to lead.

Most of the time, I try not to think about it because the more I think about it, the more awful it seems.

[Luminous Animal]

53. Oh I've read the book and several articles.

At the heart of the Family's American branch is a collection of powerful
rightwing politicos, who include, or have included, Sam Brownback, Ed Meese,
John Ashcroft, James Inhofe, and Rick Santorum. They get to use the Family's
spacious estate on the Potomac, the Cedars, which is maintained by young men in
Family group homes and where meals are served by the Family's young women's
group. And, at the Family's frequent prayer gatherings, they get powerful jolts
of spiritual refreshment, tailored to the already-powerful.

Clinton fell in with the Family in 1993, when she joined a Bible study group
composed of wives of conservative leaders like Jack Kemp and James Baker. When
she ascended to the senate, she was promoted to what Sharlet calls the Family's
"most elite cell," the weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast, which included, until his
downfall, Virginia's notoriously racist Senator George Allen. This has not been
a casual connection for Clinton. She has written of Doug Coe, the Family's
publicity-averse leader, that he is "a unique presence in Washington: a
genuinely loving spiritual mentor and guide to anyone, regardless of party or
faith, who wants to deepen his or her relationship with God."

Furthermore, the Family takes credit for some of Clinton's rightward
legislative tendencies, including her support for a law guaranteeing "religious
freedom" in the workplace, such as for pharmacists who refuse to fill birth
control prescriptions and police officers who refuse to guard abortion clinics.

......

Sharlet generously attributes Clinton's involvement to the underappreciated
depth of her religiosity, but he himself struggles to define the Family's
theological underpinnings. The Family avoids the word Christian but worship
Jesus, though not the Jesus who promised the earth to the "meek." They believe
that, in mass societies, it's only the elites who matter, the political leaders
who can build God's "dominion" on earth. Insofar as the Family has a consistent
philosophy, it's all about power -- cultivating it, building it, and networking
it together into ever-stronger units, or "cells." "We work with power where we
can," Doug Coe has said, and "build new power where we can't."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barbara-ehrenreich/hillarys-nasty-pastorate_b_92361.html

[merrily]

56. "most elite cell" Sounds like a touch of Scientology hierarchy, mixed in with not subject to laws of

God or man.

[tularetom]

103. She doesn't believe in Methodist doctrine nor does she believe in what "the Family" preaches

What she believes in is self promotion and taking actions or political positions that she thinks will advance or enrich her.

It's as big of a scam as the fake southern accent she adopts when speaking in jesusland.

[JoePhilly]

27. Is the Family a Methodist group?

Look ... we expect black and white thinking from the RW ... do we need it on DU too?

[merrily]

31. If you don't think it's needed on DU, don't engage in it.

You're implying she can't be Methodist AND associated with the Family. Yet, she claims to be Methodist and did associate with the Family. Both things are possible.

What do you and your colleagues hope to achieve by comparing everyone who disagrees with your preferences to the right? Am I supposed to start believing it? Or am I supposed to be so shamed by your false comparison that I don't speak my mind? Have you even thought thought about why you do it?

[JoePhilly]

105. I can engage anything I want on DU. Welcome to the Internet.

And if you use tactics similar to those used by the RW, I will feel free to call it out.

[workinclasszero]

47. Heck no. Methodist are considered liberal

It's sad that methodists get painted with the same brush as hardcore right wing cultists .

Martin Luther King Jr was a Christian minister. I really wonder if he would be acceptable to a certain group running this board today?

[peacebird]

55. She was doing Bible study with The Family while in the senate. It had nothing to do with Methodists

and everything to do with currying favor with a corrupt group for political gain.

[JoePhilly]

106. Yea .... which is why they love her so much rignt?

Silly season.

[Katashi_itto]

110. +100

[msongs]

8. Hillary huckabee - studying the bible is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO do nt

[misterhighwasted]

16. Hillary huckabee?? All you got is bitter slack.

[Sheepshank]

11. As the article says...she keeps her religion to herself

it is as it should be.

It's those that tout their religion, screeching while wearing their sackcloth and ashes, how their faith MUST be a part of governing, that makes me cringe and shudder.

[TheCowsCameHome]

14. Very good post. If only the anti-religionists would do the same....

[merrily]

18. If she actually kept it to herself, no one would know about it. Yet, we've known for years.

[Sheepshank]

23. she is no Santorum, or Cruz...while others understand the difference

you attempt to keep floggin a dead horse. Its just another day, another post for you to rage on about HRC. Have at it, you opinion on this matter means diddly squat

[merrily]

25. aw, sheepshank has another sad. Again.

[Sheepshank]

43. nope not sad at all....it's Friday and I'm very very happy

thanks for your concern....although you didn't need to bother with your feigned insults.

[merrily]

48. Yet, you post as though you're cranky.

"Feigned insult," LOL.

[Sheepshank]

50. you're absolutley right (prior to editing your heading), it was clear and obvious

to c& p you post #15 up thread, "You make an unprovoked personal attack on me and call me bitter? Self awareness much?"

I wonder.....do you see the irony at all?

[Sheepshank]

54. so let me reply to your change heading

apparently you're not very good at reading people via the net...perhaps you should steer away from attmepting to do just that.

[JoePhilly]

29. Hey Sparky ... the RW called Obama a MUSLIM.

Do you really think the media would have ever allowed Hillary to NOT talk about her Religion?

DU used to have people who could discuss politics who actually understood it.

Now ... not so much.

[merrily]

34. Another insult and another RW slur. You're a one trick pony, pretending to be

a political sophisticate.

[calimary]

108. That IS how it should be. Don't shove your religion in our faces, unless there's a very clear

and appropriate reason to do so. A case like this would come to mind. In this case it was a conversation-starter with a potential voter - whose presence and behavior was what triggered the conversation. I'm about as un-religious as they come, especially outwardly. I don't go parading my religion around in public and I only bring it up here in the proper context, where religious discussion is very clearly prompted and appropriate. MY relationship with my understanding of Jesus and of the Creator is VERY private and personal just to ME. I like that in a candidate. I PREFER that in a candidate. No candidate who wants to be President of the United States will win my vote by wearing his/her religion around and in-yer-face as though it were some fucking neon tinsel-trimmed sandwich board with sparklers and shiny mylar pinwheels and made-in-China plastic Jesus statues all over it. They're running for PRESIDENT. NOT POPE or Chief Minister/Curator/Decider of Religious Belief Systems. Running for President in a SECULAR nation.

[misterhighwasted]

13. She manages to keep her faith private, quite the opposite

..from those who shout it from the Halls of Congress, and those who sanctamoniously select groups of our human race for exclusion through legislation.

That Hillary Clinton keeps her faith to herself, is a credit to her sensibilities as well as her strength.
She can advocate for human dignity & equal rights & still know her bible.
That is how it should be.

Good for her.

[ret5hd]

19. There is some old saying...can't remeber it exactly...

that the devil can quote the bible better than a preacher.

Besides, was this a set -up?

[hedda_foil]

91. If it walks like a setup and talks like a setup, it sure looks like a setup to me.

[JoePhilly]

24. Most of the Methodists I know ... are rather humble Christians.

I will admit I do know a few Methodist butt-heads too ... but for the most part, the Methodists I have meet through my wife's family, are actually rather humble and introspective about their faith.

For the most part, they are not quick to judge, or to act as if they own some perfect interpretation of the bible, or God's "intent".

The Methodists I know, along with the Jesuits I studied under at St Joe in Philly, are probably why I won't condemn all organized Religion in total.

If my only experience with organized religion had been the Baptists and the Presbyterians of my youth ... it would be a different story.

[Warpy]

33. That's been my experience, as well

and the one person I won't get into an outquote fight with is a Methodist, who feels exactly the same way about me. She's also a strong Democrat because she's understood what she's memorized over the years and has no patience with quotes taken completely out of context that the right wing are so fond of.

I have no quarrel with religious people. My quarrel is with the (mostly) men who want to insert intolerant, intrusive, and onerous religious dogma into civil law.

[misterhighwasted]

37. Agree. The friends I have known in my lifetime, belonging to the Methodist church

..have been the easiest people to know.
Not one had preached nor demanded that they are the truest faith nor above all others.
Their religion was more personal than outward.
Very open minded people.

[Sheepshank]

51. I'm an atheist and living in Utah it's a little odd lol

but I wanted my kids to have some general knowledge of the bible. Can't make sound arguements unless one is informed, right? Anyway, I was able to find a local Methodist church here, and introduced my kids to some basic bible training. It was kind and gentle and now they know why I think the bible is hooey haa haa..

[Nye Bevan]

30. African Americans are by far the most religiously devout group in the United States.

African-Americans are the most religiously devout racial group in the nation when it comes to attending services, praying and believing that God exists, according to a recent profile.

Compared to the rest of the U.S. population, which is generally considered highly religious, African-Americans engage in religious activities more frequently and express higher levels of religious belief, Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life highlighted in a report released in time for Black History Month.

The center's U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, conducted in 2007 on more than 35,000 people, found that 79 percent of African-Americans say religion is very important in their lives while 56 percent of all U.S. adults said the same. Even among African-Americans who are unaffiliated with any particular faith, 45 percent of them say religion is very important compared to 16 percent of the religiously unaffiliated population overall.

Among the various racial and ethnic groups, African-Americans are the most likely to say they belong to a formal religious affiliation. An overwhelming 87 percent of African-Americans identify with a religious group, according to the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/african-americans-most-religiously-devout-group-36736/

Compared to Bernie Sanders, who is much less religious than Hillary, this could be one factor affecting the African American voting patterns in the primaries.

[Warren DeMontague]

35. "Bernie Sanders, who is much less religious than Hillary"

I haven't made up my mind who to support in the primaries, but you just shot a powerful endorsement Sanders's way.

[CrawlingChaos]

65. All Bernie has to do...

Is talk about how his platform alone is in line with the teachings of that bleeding heart liberal Jesus Christ. He can have a field day.

[arcane1]

74. Bingo. n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

32. Yeah, we can't get her to issue actual positions on real issues, but she'll talk the Bible all day.

Oh, goody! Clearly she's listening to that tried and true Bob Shrum beltway wisdom about courting "values voters"- sure to win the Presidency... if it was 2004.

[misterhighwasted]

41. All day?? No. She spoke to one man as to what he was reading.

Allll Daaaay.
Really?

[Warren DeMontague]

44. Yeah, we already know that the Bible is her most inspirational piece of literature

http://www.christianpost.com/news/bible-is-biggest-influence-on-my-thinking-says-hillary-clinton-121541/

her position on things like the TPP or marijuana legalization? Not so much.

[misterhighwasted]

46. This isn't even an argument. Nice try.

BYE

[Warren DeMontague]

71. Awww

dont go away mad!

[m-lekktor]

59. I wonder if jesus is her favorite philosopher!!nt

[Mnpaul]

69. Debate questions already?

That sounds like something they would ask.

[NightWatcher]

36. If she sings any 3 songs from the Rush discography, I'll vote for her

The ball's in your court

[Thinkingabout]

45. This is proof the atracks never end, post something good and they roll out of the ant hills in

Attack form. Maybe they think the attacks gets votes for their candidates. Wrong, the attacks are too oblivious.

[misterhighwasted]

49. LOL..crawling out of ant hills.

Couldn't find a better description anywhere.
Think I'll head over to hillarymojo.com for some of HRC's "inspiration".

[hrmjustin]

57. K&R!

[DURHAM D]

62. Check this out -

some people have no shame.

Edit: I forgot the link to new OP. You can find it.

[hrmjustin]

63. It is what it is.

[DURHAM D]

66. this is link I tried to send you before

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026748504

Gets uglier and uglier.

[hrmjustin]

67. Oh yeah that story.

I pay it no mind.

You would think that they were rw Christians according to some.

[Cha]

98. Haha it got hidden. The attempted smear job didn't pass the muster.

[delrem]

58. That has the ring of authenticity.

totally unscripted, like her campaign rollout video.
" His quiet reflection was abruptly turned upside down when around 20 press and campaign staff rolled into the bakery with Clinton"

[merrily]

109. I've been in lots of bakeries, North, South, both coasts and a few

foreign countries. (Sue me, I love fresh baked bread, have a sweet tooth and don't put on weight easily.)

Never once did I run into someone reading the Bible in a bakery.





















0

[Doctor_J]

60. is this supposed to be a positive?

[workinclasszero]

61. Bernie backers..make it clear to all that

there is no place in your campaign for believing Christians, Jews, Muslims etc.

This is info everyone needs to know. It will save a lot of well meaning people the vicious attacks we get here on DU.

[freshwest]

73. Yeah, because everyone knows that's what Bernie will be running on, right? NOT! And wreckers?

My favorite colors are purple, orange and green. That's how I choose to have my house look. Thus I must HATE anyone who doesn't, right? NOT!

I'd like to say I'm surprised, but NO, I'M NOT. And Bernie would be DISGUSTED.

This stuff is NOT REAL at times.

[arcane1]

75. If you have to lie to score points, you lose.

And you just lost.

[workinclasszero]

96. Lie? Just look at all the attacks on religious people in the very thread?! LOL

Hey its all good. The news will get out.

See you in the primaries

[arcane1]

107. Oh, it will indeed get out!

Days ago, he was a homophobe for quoting the pope! Desperate times

[Iliyah]

102. +1 million

And the attacks continue

[workinclasszero]

104. Sad but true

I guess you are a second class citizen if you are a religious democrat in Bernies world smh

I see where the huge disconnect between Bernie supporters and base democratic voters comes from now.

[Avalux]

64. Now THAT is a fluff piece if I've ever seen one.

I don't give a fuck if Hillary can quote bible verses. It's not required to be prez (some wish it were), and all it proves is that she has one hell of a memory.

[arcane1]

76. Replace her name with any repub's name, and the eye-rolling would be unanimous.

Or should we believe it's "news" every time someone decides to vote for a candidate. I guess we should brace ourselves for millions of these stories

If this were about ANY republican, most of DU would be speculating Super-PAC money paid for it.

[quickesst]

68. when I read the op I just knew....

...there would be a heaping helping of hateful juvenile shit dumped on it. I must be psychic.

[truebrit71]

70. As if I needed another reason not to like her...

[Exilednight]

77. God said it best about Hillary when she entered the race ....

God – ?@TheTweetOfGod

Get ready for Hillary Clinton to pretend to believe the hell out of Me

https://mobile.twitter.com/thetweetofgod/status/587371354384568320

[scarletwoman]

78. Oh good grief. This just SCREAMS "scripted."

"Impromptu" my ass.

I'm sorry, I have been very meticulous about staying out of Hillary threads and just keeping my mouth shut. But c'mon, are people really falling for this phoney-baloney set-up??? The mind boggles...

[TM99]

84. Of course it was scripted,

and yes they are.

[scarletwoman]

86. Yeesh. You'd think people would eventually get less gullible if they've been paying attention.

Didn't someone once say something on the order of: "In politics, nothing is accidental"?

Oh yeah, it was FDR: "In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way."
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/franklind164126.html

:shaking head sadly:

[Fumesucker]

87. God works in mysterious ways

Things just "click" for the candidate who has His Grace upon them.

And let us not forget that God helps those who help themselves.

[scarletwoman]

89. What else can one say, except "Amen"?

[morningfog]

88. That was my first thought and I was surprised that more weren't responding this way.

I don't buy this for a second.

[scarletwoman]

90. I was surprised, too.

I'm, like, are you f'n' kidding me?!?!

Oh well. "A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest." (Paul Simon, The Boxer)

[joshcryer]

92. Much like the roundtables.

Though not in a way that screams "she knew what to talk about before sitting down."

They likely knew the reverend would be there as it appears to be a regular spot for him, but they did not know what would be said and the reverend didn't know she was coming.

The roundtables are the same way. Students are pre-selected by the school, but they don't know that they are going to be seeing Clinton until the day or the day before the event.

I believe Clinton is very well read on the bible.

[scarletwoman]

93. The good Reverend was a ringer.

He knew his lines. Hillary knew her lines. Their little vignette went off flawlessly - on camera, even! How lucky was that!?!

[delrem]

94. In the real world the accidental meeting would be

the guy reading a surreptitious copy of "Hustler" magazine, or something.
Or maybe reading the Bible's tracts on Lot's wife being turned to salt, along with incantations of death to the gays.
But this isn't the real world.

[CBGLuthier]

95. You gotta kiss more bibles than babies to be president. Pity.

[madokie]

99. Just a proud non-religious person here

and a big ass Bernie supporter so far
Religion worries me more than anything when it comes to government. I want my government officials to stay private on their religious beliefs, other than admitting or not admitting their views. Other than that keep it to oneself.

[ibegurpard]

101. This comes across as completely manufactured and inauthentic to me.

Will it resonate with some people? I have no idea.
It does her no favors with me and it has no appeal with any people I know whose faith is more directly tied to the Bible than mine.