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Clinton, Obama Field Questions at the Compassion Forum
April 13, 2008 11:00 PM
ABC News' Eloise Harper and Sunlen Miller report: The two Democratic candidates met on stage briefly in between solo segments at CNN’s Compassion Forum in Grantham, Pa.
From the body language between the opponents during their brief handshake on stage, it seemed the the events of the weekend had led to the icy reception between them.
Hillary Clinton was asked about the "shame on her" comments Barack Obama had made just a short while before the forum.
Clinton put the ball back in Obama's court, saying he will have to explain his comments about "bitter" Pennsylvanians -– but again compared Obama to Al Gore and John Kerry.
"Well, he will have to speak for himself and provide his own explanation," she said. "But I do think it raises a lot of concerns and we've seen that exhibited in the last several days by people here in Pennsylvania in Indiana.
"Someone goes to a closed door fundraiser in San Francisco and makes comments that do seem elitist, out of touch, and frankly patronizing," she said. "That has nothing to do with him being a good man or a man of faith. We had two very good men and men of faith run for president in 2000 and 2004, but large segments of the electorate concluded that they did not really understand or relate to or frankly respect their ways of life and I think that has been an issue for voters."
Clinton also said that this is a political issue being discussed.
"This is a legitimate political issue, and there are some issues and there are some issues that are not, but this one is and I do believe that Sen. Obama will have a chance to explain himself tonight and I am sure he will take that opportunity," she said.
Obama admitted his words were clumsy, but said he did not mean to demean faith and he defended his original comments, saying that "clinging" -– as he described Pennsylvanians clinging to religion -– is a good thing per the scripture.
"Scripture talks about clinging to what's good," he said. "And so it's very important -- my words may have been clumsy, which happens surprisingly often on a presidential campaign, but this is something that I've talked about before, I've talked about in my own life, which is that religion is a bulwark, a foundation when other things aren't going well. That's true in my own life, through trials and tribulations. And so what I was referring to was in no way demeaning a faith that I, myself, embrace. What I was saying is that when economic hardship hits in these communities, what people have is they've got family, they've got their faith, they've got the traditions that have been passed onto them from generation to generation. Those aren't bad things. That's what they have left."
Obama said it is unfortunate in a presidential campaign that people have been trying to misconstrue his words –- and that Clinton painting him as an elitist is "a good example of what happens on the presidential campaign, is that we try to tear each other down instead of lifting the country up."
The forum was intended for a discussion on faith in front of religious members of the community.
Obama was asked about Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and Obama took issue with the way his former pastor has been portrayed amid the controversy.
"The most recent loop that's been playing -- Rev. Wright's greatest hits, so to speak -- are, I think, both a distortion of who he is and what the church has been about, but also express, you know, some comments that I think are deeply offensive and are contrary to what I believe. ... And, you know, pastors are imperfect. Certainly, the membership is imperfect. I, as somebody who is sitting in the pews as a sinner, is imperfect."
Clinton laughed when she was asked at the forum if she thought God thought she should be president.
"I could be glib and say we will find out," she said. "I don’t presume anything about God, I believe Abraham Lincoln was right that in admonishing us not to act as though we knew God was on our side. In fact, our mission should be on God's side. And I have tried to take my beliefs my faith and put it to work my entire life and it has been gratifying to view the little I’ve done to try and help other people, which is really what motivates me."
April 13, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (188)
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Obama should campaign On Hillarys Bosnia lies.....lies....lies as hard as she is on his bitter remarks
Posted by: jAYjAY | Apr 13, 2008 11:12:42 PM
Hillary loves guns and bible. Bill loves interns and cigars!!! These two millionairs are sympathizing for poor rural America...Give me a break!
Posted by: venus | Apr 13, 2008 11:16:09 PM
When Obama was asked at the Marin County fundraiser by an audience member, why he was behind in Pennsylvania, he blamed the voters in Pennsylvania either to ingratiate himself or to make an excuse for being behind. Throwing the little guys under the bus to suck up to the big guys is a serious flaw and lying about it non-stop is an even bigger flaw. No one seems willing to confront him about this which is pretty startling. Are we afraid of Obama or are we just unbelievably gullible?
Posted by: duck476 | Apr 13, 2008 11:16:24 PM
It's pretty ironic that Obama is out there again downplaying Wright and saying his words have been distorted and yet we have the eulogy he just gave and Wright starts by paying homage to Rev. Farrakhan and other dignitaries and then says:
"White supremacy is the law of the land, from pre-school through law school."
He also slams the founding fathers "who planted slavery and white supremacy in the DNA of this republic." And he caps it by calling Thomas Jefferson "a pedophile."
And this is how Wright honors a friend at a funeral? By condemning America, its founders, and its white supremacist orientation? Obama didn't know Wright spoke this way consistently, even though he sat in the pews for more than 20 years and calls Wright "his spiritual mentor"?? This is the kind of hate Wright preaches even when he knows America is watching him closely and it's affecting Obama's candidacy. Is Obama that out-of-touch or is he just flat-out lying on Wright?
Posted by: hopesprings52 | Apr 13, 2008 11:19:57 PM
Okay, Read again the above (hopesprings52 at 11:19:57 PM)
Think about that, and pass it on, people, we need to get smart here. There are some serious issues at stake.
Posted by: el kyle | Apr 13, 2008 11:26:27 PM
I enjoyed watching the forum and believe Clinton spoke from her heart and I like how she talked about her faith in God. When questioned she answered in a manner I could relate to. I liked the policies she talked about and they were very promising.
I kept wondering why the audience clapped after something Obama would say. It was out of line. Sen Obama never talked about his faith with deep personal meaning. Unfortunately, I had the impression it was another stump speech.
I hope and pray the religious community noticed the difference too.
Posted by: MM | Apr 13, 2008 11:28:41 PM
Bottom Line: Obama continues to lie
every chance he gets....
Posted by: tina | Apr 13, 2008 11:35:58 PM
It was shocking to hear that Obama rhetoric...
Posted by: audrey | Apr 13, 2008 11:37:02 PM
ABC will never put this on their front page or at that top of their newscast, but all we can do is see if they report it at all. Don't wonder why people are bitter, 81% say the country is headed in the wrong direction. Politicians and media who lie to us are part of the anger.
Bill Clinton Flashback: "All These Economically Insecure White People...Are Scared To Death"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/13/bill-clinton-flashback-al_n_96433.html
"The reason (George H. W. Bush's tactic) works so well now is that you have all these economically insecure white people who are scared to death," Clinton was quoted saying by the Los Angeles Times in September 1991.
Same vibe, different guy. Who's gonna hold Bill's feet to the fire on this they way this media wants to do with Obama. I've heard 'we don't know what to do with Obama.'
How about be fair.
Posted by: kravitz | Apr 13, 2008 11:40:27 PM
MM, my observations as well. Clinton spoke from the heart, Obama from his talking points.
Posted by: Oldgaman | Apr 13, 2008 11:43:34 PM
Hillary trying to wrestle the nomination away any way possible at a, "Compassion Forum"? Hmm.. what's wrong with this picture? Is Hillary really motivated to helping people or, is it the tens of millions of dollars that would come from book deals, speeches and private retainers? Is there a money changer in the house?
Posted by: Chris336 | Apr 13, 2008 11:44:25 PM
Senator Clinton is at her best when she sticks to the things she believes in, rather than what polls well. She wouldn't be in this mess if her advisors had let her be a normal person (or instructed her to do so). Unfortunately for her, it seems that whenever she gives a glimpse of herself that she feels a pathologic need to try to be 'tough' the next moment.
Posted by: MIguy | Apr 13, 2008 11:47:34 PM
I can tell most of you guys never been to a catholic school before. Obama's answer on the science question was dead on. Science reinforces faith. For example Entropy, the most important concept in thermodynamics, states that things tend to go from order to disorder. If this is the case then technically the universe shouldn't exist because it violates the entropy state. Hillary has lied more times and has been proven had lied more times then any candidate running. So when I hear you guys demean someone like Obama I take it has a compliment because you guys don't have a good head for judgment of character.
Posted by: MM | Apr 13, 2008 11:48:18 PM
Hillary sounded like a blithering idiot. Did you notic that the people stood and cheered when Obama came out. They sat and politly clapped when Hillary came out - that sums it up for me. Additionally the clapped longer and stood longer. They clapped after when he was talking about Re wright. I guess you guys missed that one too. read the tea leaves folks. Hillary is donw - People don't like a constant, habitual liar.
Posted by: julescator | Apr 13, 2008 11:50:37 PM
You guys forget there wouldn't be a debate on religion it weren't for Obama. The Democrats didn't start considering it until Obama started reaching out to Churches. The Republicans had a monopoly on the religion debate until Obama even the score.
Posted by: MM | Apr 13, 2008 11:52:02 PM
Clinton spoke from the heart and Obama spoke from a political pulpit.
Posted by: catherine in nm | Apr 13, 2008 11:55:38 PM
@NMOV:
Apparently you sat in the pews to be so familiar with his sermons? It would seem the Christian thing would be to not cast the first stone.
Guilt by association is pointless. We all are not that different from each other. And my guess is that everyone in the midwest is only separated from Reverend Wright by two or three degrees people (that old "Kevin Bacon" six degrees game for those who don't understand me).
Posted by: MIguy | Apr 13, 2008 11:56:34 PM
re: oldgaman -
a, "compassion forum" could be the magnifying glass, the ear to the wall, the means we've been seeking for understanding the candidates.
Earlier, as in months ago, BO made much of his faith, but when his pastor became politically embarassing, nothing else has come from him on the subject (on a personal level).
HC doesn't need money, I see her as flawed, but truly doubt she's motivated by profit.
How a person sees the world and the universe, how ethics and leadership come into their philosophy, how they see change in themselves and the world around them, what they see as the source; these are key.
Posted by: el | Apr 13, 2008 11:57:13 PM
The crowd at this forum seemed pro- Obama
Posted by: Vanessa | Apr 13, 2008 11:57:15 PM
to: No More Obama Votes
I can tell you've never been to Black Liberation Theology Church before. Before the BLT bashing starts (Dr. Martin Luther King was a preacher of BLT). Rev Wright, the person you describe has a hate-monger, Serve has a Marine, Went back to military as part of Medical Unit, who served his country after that by becoming one of the doctor who attended to President Lyndon B Johnson when he became ill. Obviously Rev Wright is a hate-monger but then again they accused Dr. King of being a Communist.
Posted by: MM | Apr 13, 2008 11:57:20 PM
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