Hillary Clinton Goes to Church, Brings Media
EmailABC News’ Eloise Harper: For the first time the press has been invited to join New York Senator Hillary Clinton on an outing to church – a woman led the congregation, Associate Pastor Rev Jill Flyr.
Coincidently the topic of the sermon was the Children’s Defense Fund – a cause familiar to Clinton – and one she brings up regularly while campaigning. Flyr said to the audience in her sermon ""let the candidates know that they need to be strong advocates for children."
Bonnie Campbell, the owner of the church, served in the Clinton administration as Head of the Violence Against Women’s office at the Department of Justice, invited the Senator to come this Sunday morning.
Campbell stood watch as many church-goers excitedly greeted Clinton in the hallway before entering the Church. When asked if any other candidates have stopped by, Campbell said that she didn’t understand that they were Methodist but that she would welcome them. Clinton sat wit the husband of the minister, the first attorney general of Iowa, and the first woman IDP chair who is also a campaign co-chair.
Clinton swayed as the choir sang "Jesus Loves Me," and stood as she joined the congregation singing "Tell me the story of Jesus." The press was seated up in the balcony and was unable to hear Clinton sing, or watch her enter or leave the service
The Senator was never directly acknowledged by the woman who officiated the service at Grace United Methodist Church, but was recognized by a reverend and Clinton received applause from the audience.
Clinton is a Methodist but attends church in other denominations as she travels. She has attended church three times in Iowa – including in Davenport, Decorah, and Des Moines.
She was wearing dark rimmed glasses as she followed along through the service.
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My god what is next is the press going to tell us when this woman goes to the bath room. Mrs Clinton belief is in money not God. When will Americans open up their eyes instead of their wallets.
Posted by: Curtis Bartley | November 25, 2007, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
re: “Mrs Clinton belief is in money not God.”
Wow. That’s quite a judgement there,buddy, considering I doubt you’ve ever even been in the same room with Senator Clinton. Are you a Methodist?
Is this something like how Sen. Frist diagnoses brain activity by watching a video tape?
Did God tell you this about Clinton, or are you blatantly judging your fellow human, against the direct teachings of Jesus Christ?
Posted by: Jan | November 25, 2007, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm
Please, keep Church and State seperated !!!
Posted by: kenny | November 25, 2007, 8:14 pm 8:14 pm
Hillary is money and media,without Bill Clinton she is nothing.We don’t need a liar.4000 death , 3000 wounded in Iraq. What next Iran ? Please, please it is time to stand up our children not Chelsea……How old is Chelsea????????????? Why not send her there?
Posted by: alain | November 25, 2007, 10:27 pm 10:27 pm
I wonder if this woman ever goes to church other than during election time and funerals! I’ve never seen if she’s a member of any church or denomination. If she is a “member” the key is, is she a tithing member. That will speak volumes as to her sincerity about her faith. I never read or hear about her Religion or Denomination or the church she has membership with. Looks to me like another publicity stunt/photo shoot. I also wonder (hum) how many people are “impressed” by seeing her go to church. I empirically know that there are a lot of Pharisees in today’s Church. This article is more negative than positive, as it would be with any politician. Wash your face Pharisee!
Posted by: Marcus-Dallas by way of Halls Tn. | November 25, 2007, 10:32 pm 10:32 pm
Why Hillary and Bill Clinton can not send their daughter Chelsea to the war ? How old is she ? Chelsea can join the army, she still have a time….we are not stupid.I can not vote for Hillary…
Posted by: alain | November 25, 2007, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm
Hillary goes to Church .What’s next? Give us break….stupid media
Posted by: alain | November 25, 2007, 10:47 pm 10:47 pm
we are tired to see all those things.Tired wi.th this OLD SCHOOL. Hillary is OLD WHASHINGTON SCHOOL.
Posted by: alain | November 25, 2007, 10:50 pm 10:50 pm
Is Hillary part of the Christian Left?
By the way didn’t Hillary Clinton claim to be part Jewish during the 1996
re-election campaign of her husband?
Posted by: reaganfan714 | November 25, 2007, 11:24 pm 11:24 pm
Give Mrs. Clinton a break?…is it not good to think and feel good with other people…why bad mouthing?
Posted by: LP | November 25, 2007, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm
What a headline: bringing media?
please check the facts before writing it? let just be good in words and deeds! America needs healing!
Posted by: LP | November 25, 2007, 11:38 pm 11:38 pm
I dont trust Hillary. I dont think she will unite this country. This is nothing more than a publicity photo shoot. I want some one with more integrity than her, someone that will take our country into a better and positive direction. Someone that has better answers to more issues. She has wasted so much time in focusing on trashing Obama rather than her talking about campaign issues or is that what her campaign is going to be about. Edwards is also a good man.
OBAMA/EDWARDS ’08 anybody BUT Hillary. I’m tired of the clintons.
Posted by: localjim | November 26, 2007, 12:00 am 12:00 am
Clinton Photo Ops. Bush Photo Ops. Guiliani Photo Ops. Etc. Clinton Church. Bush Church. Other Politicians Church. Send Chelsea to war. Send Bush Girls to War. Send the Guiliani kids to war. Accuse someone you don’t know of being evil because shawn hannity or Rush Limbaugh said so. What a bunch of sheep. I have studied the Clintons from the time Bill clinton took office until the time he left. Oh my god for those days again. The days of a great economy and a balanced budget and smaller government. When Clinton took office he reduced the size of government IN SPITE OF THE REPUBLICANS.
Now we are being told that she’s going to raise taxes and shes going to attack Iran and shes going to somehow do something bad. You know, I don’t know if I will vote for her, but she’s looking a lot more attractive as I read you Rush Limbaugh ditto heads.
Posted by: Bill W | November 26, 2007, 2:19 am 2:19 am
Staged. Surprised she didn’t let the media mike her so they could record her praying and replay soundbites on the 6pm news. Pathetic.
Posted by: Bob | November 26, 2007, 7:35 am 7:35 am
This is why I don’t trust Hillary – there was a motive. If Hillary was going to church, wouldn’t she want to spend that time with just God and the people alone? No, she wanted the publicity of the fact she goes to church. And why would anyone bring media into a church, that to me is just disrespectful of Hillary.
Posted by: Robin | November 26, 2007, 7:46 am 7:46 am
I am an indipndant voter and I may vote for Hillary, if nothing else but get us out of Iraq. I would like to see Hillary in a dress on occasion, does that woman own a dress? WOMEN MUST WEAR DRESSES.
Posted by: Ted | November 26, 2007, 8:58 am 8:58 am
show an ants eye view of obama to make him look high and lofty so you can say youre fair and balanced
Posted by: geary carson | November 26, 2007, 9:29 am 9:29 am
Was there any Republicans sitting with here?
Posted by: Time for a change | November 26, 2007, 9:45 am 9:45 am
I’m amazed that Hill-Bill-ary didn’t burst into flames?
Posted by: Dan Fisher | November 26, 2007, 9:55 am 9:55 am
too little too late
Posted by: rick | November 26, 2007, 10:56 am 10:56 am
Church? for what? to confess her hypocracy and relentless lies about Obama? Obama and Oprah are going to beat her good! GO OBAMA!
Posted by: pedro | November 26, 2007, 10:56 am 10:56 am
I guess we’re not supposed to know how staged this was? She was invited by the “owner of the church” (whatever that means) who happened to serve in the Clinton Administration.
…a “stained glass masquerade”
Posted by: bill garcia | November 26, 2007, 10:57 am 10:57 am
Lat time I saw her in church was in the funeral of Vince Foster…. hmmm
How quickly we for get her crimes….
Posted by: pedro | November 26, 2007, 10:59 am 10:59 am
1. I don’t understand why people say keep church and state separate when we pledge one Nation under God.
2. We are lucky that in this country we have the freedom to choose religion and to even choose not to believe in God. No one forces you to pray, no one judges you if you don’t.
3. I think this story came about because it was a slow news day, I don’t think Hillary Clinton going to church should make headlines but I do believe that she should be allowed to worship God with out being judged.
Posted by: Kardasia_Prime | November 26, 2007, 11:51 am 11:51 am
I read that in spite of the fact people perceive her as being among the least religious candidates she is, in fact, one of the most observant and attends church weekly.
Posted by: An Dliodoir | November 26, 2007, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm
To invite the press to a time that I believe should be personal between you and your God doesn’t sit well with my Spirit. I could be wrong, but it appeared as though this was a campaign event, in which case I find it offensive. Doesn’t God deserve a little “alone” time. Where is the reverance. I’m sure there are many important things she could take this time to speak with God about, without the intrusion of cameras and microphones. A church should be a place to worship and give thanks to God. Not a media circus. I wonder if all the church members were receptive to this intrusion. Some I suspect had serious issues they wanted to bring before the alter that perhaps couldn’t wait until next week. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is wonderful that she went to church, what I’m opposed to is dragging along the media and creating an intrusion.
I witnessed this tactic personally in our Central Committee Meeting. The media appeared out of nowhere for a brief moment, to specifically record statements from the Hillary campaign, and as quickly as they appeared they were gone. They did not have the courtesy to stay for the other campaigns but caused a distraction as they left while other campaigns spoke. I found that to be both intrusive and inconsiderate of an important meeting. Let me make a suggestion to Hillary… Leave the media behind and instead take a bible.
Posted by: Vette58 | November 26, 2007, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
I would like nothing better than to see the Church and state united. But that is not the case in this country. Ms. Clinton seems to have decided that this particular idea does not apply to her. She is a politician campaigning in church. Next up, Hillary getting voters to cheer for Bible verses on toilet paper! (Just kidding)
Posted by: nitingale2007 | November 26, 2007, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
localjim – I couldn’t have said it better myself!
Posted by: Samantha | November 26, 2007, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
Reminds me of a story about someone on a tour of the White House. They found themselves left alone as an aide had to leave while in Hillary’s office. He opened a side door and saw many photos on the wall. Thought they would be photos of Hillary and others.
All the pictures were of Hillary by herself.
Nice that she allowed the media to attend her religious experience since she doesn’t take questions like the other candidates.
Press on the road with Hillary are kept away at all times. Separate vehicles and kept far away so no off the cuff questions cause any problems for “the scripted one.”
Posted by: RW | December 2, 2007, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm