CNN Faith Forum Live Blog
Posted on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 07:01:46 PM EST
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By Big Tent Democrat
Jeralyn is tied up right now, so we will start the Live Blog in the traditional fashion.
Campbell Brown is explaining that the questions will be deeply personal. Grrreat. Sheesh. Anyway, the Live Blog continues on the flip.
Clinton up first.
JON MEACHAM has the first question - Asks about Obama's Gaffe. Clinton responds Obama can speak for himself, but for her it was elitist and out of touch. this is a problem for Dems and how Dems have been perceived. It is important that we make clear that people are people of faith not out of a moment, because of its importance to the entirety of their lives. Issue and policies and problems are problems to be solved. Alluding I presume that faith is not a reaction to issues and problems.
Campbell Brown says but Obama says "shame on you Hillary." Hillary says it is not about Obama's faith - it is about his elitism and condescension. this is an issue that matters to voters. It is a legitimate political issue.
BROWN - You have said you believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and that you have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, can you name them.
HILLARY - Faith has always been a part of my life. And at times I have felt that the Holy Spirit has been there.
MEACHAM - You discussed describing your moment in NH as a "moment of grace."
CLINTON - Well, because of my personal reserve it is not always easy to discuss those moments. Faith is "mystery, love, provocation." It is what makes life meaningful. The importance of how important and serious politics and the issues are and that moment was a kind of "grace moment" when the importance was recognized.
Grace is not always about me. It is often about the people around you.
DR. HUNTER - The issues we will be talking about tonight Darfur, AIDS, torture. what are your first principles?
CLINTON - these are daunting question for those of us in public life with the power to effect lives in this way. [Sound has gone bad]
Being challenged is a part of her decision making process.
I must say I think Hillary missed the point of the question. Which was her moral first principles in making Presidential decisions. I would have been answered in her answer to the question. I do not know if she did not understand the question or whether she missed it.
MEACHAM - Do you believe that life begins at conception?
CLINTON - I did not hear her answer frankly. She is a Methodist. They have struggled with the question. She has struggled with it and has decided that individual must be entrusted with this personal decision because the intrusion of government in this private decision is against our principles.
She is for abortions be safe, legal and rare.
Discusses her experiences in China and Romania.
BROWN - Asks about end of life questions.
CLINTON - Discusses Terri Schiavo case. Portrays it as a difficult one. Her answer seems quite muddled to me.
BROWN - there are a lot of Americans that think religion plays to big a role in our life.
CLINTON - We must be vigilant in making sure discussions of religion are respectful. It is a balance to make sure religion does not have too much power but also to include what can be beneficial to public policy. It is a fair question to raise but I am here that we must be respectful and cautious.
AUDIENCE QUESTION - China is bad. (My paraphrase. You have said USA should be a moral force. Should we participate in the Beijing Olympics.
CLINTON - I called on Bush to not attend Beijing Olympics. To attend would be a ratification of these offensive acts by China. Ties it to Tibetans and Darfur.
the challenge is how can we influence the Chinese government. Our policy has been incoherent.
REV SHAW - Asks about AIDS and what we should do.
CLINTON - We must do more. It is one of the reasons why I voted against Colombian free trade agreement - it restricted availability of AIDS drugs. More.
MEACHAM - Why does a loving God allow such suffering?
CLINTON - I don't know.
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