Democratic Candidates Compassion Forum, April 13, 2008: on Principles & Values

Barack Obama: Religion is foundational; not clinging nor elitist

A: Scripture talks about clinging to what's good. My words may have been clumsy, but [I meant] religion is a foundation when other things aren't going well. That's true in my own life, through trials and tribulations.

Q: Hillary Clinton says you're being elitist.

A: My entire trajectory, not just during this campaign, but long before, has been to talk about how Democrats need to get in church, reach out to evangelicals, link faith with the work that we do. The notion that somehow I am standing above that when that essentially describes much of what I've been doing over the last 20 years doesn't make much sense.

Hillary Clinton: Faith sustains us in bitter times; faith isn't bitterness

A: I believe people are people of faith because it is part of their whole being; it is what gives them meaning in life, through good times and bad times. It is there as a spur, an anchor, to center one in the storms, but also to guide one forward in the day-to-day living that is part of everyone's journey.

Q: You have been extremely critical of Senator Obama's recent comments in which he argued that som economically hard-pressed Americans have "gotten bitter and cling to guns or religion."

A: Well, he will have to speak for himself. Those comments do seem elitist, out of touch and, frankly, patronizing. 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.