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Clinton, Obama focus on faith at forum
AP on Yahoo ^ | 4/13/08 | Kimberly Hefling - ap

Posted on 04/13/2008 7:56:24 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

GRANTHAM, Pa. - Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday that the potential for life begins at conception as she and presidential rival Sen. Barack Obama answered questions about faith and religion in both their personal lives and the public discourse.

In a forum devoted to an issue rare on the campaign trail, the two White House hopefuls talked about the presence of God in their lives and how often they read the Bible as well as divisive issues such as abortion, abstinence and human rights within the context of faith.

The two are reaching out to people of faith in Pennsylvania, which holds its primary on April 22.

Clinton was asked whether life begins at conception — which opponents of abortion contend is a reality that makes any termination of a pregnancy the ending of a life.

"I believe the potential for life begins at conception," Clinton said. "For me, it is also not only about a potential life. It is about the other lives involved. ... I have concluded, after great, you know, concern and searching my own mind and heart over many years, ... that individuals must be entrusted to make this profound decision, because the alternative would be such an intrusion of government authority that it would be very difficult to sustain in our kind of open society."

The New York senator added that abortion should remain legal, safe and rare.

The two candidates appeared separately at Messiah College near Harrisburg, Pa., and briefly met as Clinton left the stage and Obama took her place. The moment of pleasantries and handshakes belied days of angry accusations between the two over Obama's comments about bitter voters in small towns.

Asked whether life begins at conception, Obama said he didn't know the answer.

"This is something that I have not, I think, come to a firm resolution on. I think it's very hard to know what that means, when life begins. Is it when a cell separates? Is it when the soul stirs? ... What I know, as I've said before, is that there is something extraordinarily powerful about potential life and that that has a moral weight to it that we take into consideration when we're having these debates."

Clinton is a Methodist. Obama is a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, where the retired pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, touched off a furor with sermons criticizing the United States. The words of Obama's pastor have dogged the campaign, and the candidate reiterated his condemnation of Wright's remarks but stood by his church.

"Pastors are imperfect. Certainly, the membership is imperfect. I, as somebody who is sitting in the pews as a sinner, is imperfect," he said. "And, you know, that doesn't detract from, I think, what the church is supposed to be about, which is to worship God and proclaim the good news."

Clinton said she has felt the gift of God in her life and said she makes decisions on tough moral issues such as abortion and the treatment of alleged terrorists after prayer, contemplation and study.

"I don't pretend to even believe that I know the answers to a lot of these questions," Clinton said. "I don't."

One of the toughest questions she faced was why God allows innocent people to suffer. Clinton said that has been the subject of much debate for generations, and added: "I don't know. I can't wait to ask him."

When asked if she thought God wanted her to be president, Clinton quipped, "I could be glib and say, well, we'll find out."

She said she doesn't presume anything about God and she thought Abraham Lincoln was right to not act as if God is on our side. "In fact, our mission should be on God's side," Clinton said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Political Humor/Cartoons; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; barackhusseinobama; barackobama; clinton; conception; democrats; faith; forum; hillary; hillaryclinton; obama; pa2008
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1 posted on 04/13/2008 7:56:24 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
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Democratic presidential hopefuls, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.,
shake hands at the Compassion Forum held at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa.,
Sunday, April 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)


2 posted on 04/13/2008 7:57:28 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: NormsRevenge
"I believe the potential for life begins at conception," Clinton said.

Apparently the zygote is dead at conception. But there seems to be some potential that it will come to life later. What an idiot.

3 posted on 04/13/2008 7:58:18 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at the
Compassion Forum held at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa.,
Sunday, April 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)


4 posted on 04/13/2008 7:58:54 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.,
participates in a Compassion Forum at Messiah College, in Grantham, Pa.,
Sunday, April 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)


5 posted on 04/13/2008 8:01:30 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: NormsRevenge

6 posted on 04/13/2008 8:02:05 PM PDT by The_Republican (Ovaries of the World Unite! Rush, Laura, Ann, Greta - Time for the Ovulation!)
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To: NormsRevenge

Laughable.


7 posted on 04/13/2008 8:02:07 PM PDT by Patrick1
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To: NormsRevenge
Obama picture -- Message: Obama is the Messiah.

Hillary picture -- Message: She has a mini-Me and is equivalent to Dr. Evil.

8 posted on 04/13/2008 8:02:47 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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Caption,anyone?


(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

9 posted on 04/13/2008 8:06:54 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: poppiemike

Wisdom or BULL*HIT? I think the latter is more like it!


11 posted on 04/13/2008 8:10:07 PM PDT by RoseofTexas
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To: poppiemike

Please tell me one thing he said that could possibly be thought of as wise?


12 posted on 04/13/2008 8:10:23 PM PDT by Patrick1
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To: NormsRevenge

Ah, yes. The socialist jumping on the religion ban wagon. Happens about this time in every election. Hitlary, a graduate of the school of political expedience … religion is good when needed. Obama, student of the school of Rev. Jeremiah, hate whitey, Wright.


13 posted on 04/13/2008 8:11:26 PM PDT by doc1019 (Acts 16:31, Romans 10:13 ... nuff said.)
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To: NormsRevenge

“HEY!!! One of you white guys get me a bigger stick to prop me up.”


14 posted on 04/13/2008 8:13:47 PM PDT by Captain Beyond (The Hammer of the gods! (Just a cool line from a Led Zep song))
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To: NormsRevenge
Does life begin at conception?

"I have concluded, after great, you know, concern..."

This woman belongs in a snake pit.

15 posted on 04/13/2008 8:16:03 PM PDT by Rudder (Klinton-Kool-Aid FReepers prefer spectacle over victory.)
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To: Captain Beyond
Correction left out a word.

"Hey!!!! One of you media white guys get me a bigger stick to prop me up."

16 posted on 04/13/2008 8:16:59 PM PDT by Captain Beyond (The Hammer of the gods! (Just a cool line from a Led Zep song))
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To: poppiemike
I really thought Obama did very well and so did my wife. He has a great deal of wisdom for his age.

poppiemike

Are you sure that 2nd p isn't supposed to be an o ?

17 posted on 04/13/2008 8:21:48 PM PDT by hole_n_one
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To: NormsRevenge

Hillary’s faith? Hussein Osam......Obama’s faith? It is all a phony political charade!


18 posted on 04/13/2008 8:30:21 PM PDT by Doctor Don
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To: NormsRevenge

Hillary and Obama could not find faith if it jumped up and bit them on the butt. If it came out and slapped them in the face with a pie they would have dumb stares on their faces.

They are 2 of the biggest liars this century, superceeded only by Bill Clinton and the bitch in the house and the ahole in the senate.

They should all be happy they are not taken out and tared and feathered.

Now these are the mild words I have.


19 posted on 04/13/2008 8:32:04 PM PDT by longun45 (There is no difference between a republocrat and a demican, time to kick them both out.)
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To: hole_n_one

Obama appeared to do very well to a gullible and uninformed person. He did his best to parse his words, coming off as one who would certainly take into account the beliefs and concerns of pro-lifers. However, when you investigate his voting record on life issues throughout the years, you soon learn that he has little or no regard for the pro-life view. He even favors the legality of the brutal and barbaric Partial Birth Abortion. Now, does this sound like a person who will make an attempt to at least meet pro-lifers half-way? Not a chance.


20 posted on 04/13/2008 8:32:11 PM PDT by fox0566
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