September 14, 2015

Hillary paraphrases the Methodist pastor as saying — "basically" — "if you’re going to read and listen to Romans: 12, you gotta to be nicer to the press."

Reports Eric Wemple, in a column in The Washington Post — "In church address, Hillary Clinton pledges to be nicer to the media."

Romans: 12 was the text at the Foundry United Methodist Church yesterday, and Hillary was speaking from the pulpit. It was the celebration of the bicentennial of the church — where Bill & Hillary worshiped in the days of the Bill Clinton presidency.

Wemple spoke to the pastor, Dr. J. Philip Wogaman:
The advice about taking a new approach to the media, he said, was “half in jest,” and rooted in the passage of Romans mentioning the “gifts that we have,” says Wogaman. The relevant passage reads, in part, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Pursuant to those teachings, says Wogaman, the media has an “important” role in “advising” those in power.
In Wogaman's telling, the point wasn't that she should be "nicer," but that she should value and respect the role the press plays. Being "nice" is almost the opposite. You need to think about being nice when you're going into an interaction with people you don't value and respect.

29 comments:

Vet66 said...

She names her own short-comings. If you have to be 'nice' you are missing the point of the commandment. Lead by example because it is the right thing to do. Don't do it if you are looking for personal gain. She, Bill, and Chelsea are incapable of having a guilty conscience.

MadisonMan said...

Hillary Clinton pledges to be nicer to the media.

Hillary has pledged to do many things.

Follow-through is a killer.

I look forward to a Press Member telling her live, on camera, that she is not following through with her pledge to be nicer to the media.

PB said...

Hillary checking off the Christian box. "See, I discussed the Bible!"

Bay Area Guy said...

I'm pretty sure that being "nice to the media" isn't a major concern of most civic-minded voters out there.

In fact, if Hillary hasn't been "nice to the media", I hereby pardon her for any such transgression.

Now, returning to substantive campaign issues, as Secretary of State, (1) why did she blame the terrorist attack on Ambassador Stevens in Benghazi on a video? and (2) What was she hiding on her private server and in all her deleted emails?

Wilbur said...

I remember during the Lewinsky period when she and The Slickster would conspicuously attend this church - together - for Sunday morning service, Willie toting a giant Bible for all the world to see. Tough for me to give them the benefit of the doubt on much of anything.

Curious George said...

Didn't she pledge to be nicer to Vince Foster?

Ignorance is Bliss said...

Pursuant to those teachings, says Wogaman, the media has an “important” role in “advising” those in power. In Wogaman's telling, the point wasn't that she should be "nicer," but that she should value and respect the role the press plays.

It seems that the point is that if the media is going to advise, they should do so diligently. It says nothing about anyone taking that advice.

I would much rather see a politician whose gift was being skeptical of the media, and have them apply that gift diligently.

chickelit said...

Richard Nixon was hostile to the press. But unlike Nixon, Hillary has no litany of accomplishments to counterweight the bad. With her, it's all bad all the time. As Fiorina points out, what are her accomplishments? Why do we have to keep putting up with Hillary Clinton?

Tank said...

She is incompetent even as a con man.

She is evil. Really, a bad person.

tim in vermont said...

Do you think she has finally got over the hurt that there is nobody on the internet you can call to kill a story?

TrespassersW said...

Since when is it the Lickspittle Media's job to advise ANYONE?

traditionalguy said...

Secrets are secret in HillaryWorld. The press can praise her or they can go to hell.

That approach has worn her out. But the chances she will vhange anything at her age is zero.

David Begley said...

She barely takes questions as it is.

Just another ruse and deception.

Hillary Clinton must be defeated.
Carthage must be destroyed.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

When they passes the tithing baskets, did Bill and Hillary run out the back door with them? Gotta feed the Foundation Slush Fund whenever and where ever.

Ron Winkleheimer said...

Man, that is a stretch. Because Paul points out that different people have different talents . . . the media has a role "advising" leaders?

I would like to point out that the scripture cited stops just short of verse 9, "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."

kcom said...

When it comes to politics, Hillary displays all the finesse of a charging rhino.

Does anyone believe she would be on the national stage if it weren't for Bill Clinton? Of course, would Bill ever have made it to the national stage without Hillary to deal with his bimbo eruptions? Dealing with bimbo eruptions doesn't qualify someone to be president, though.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

passed = passed.

mikee said...

Hillary, our next president, is a shrewish harridan whose legacy as president will be to surpass the foreign and domestic policy accomplishments of her predecessor, Obama.

God help the world.

cubanbob said...

Imagine what a niceness problem Hillary! would have if the press was composed of Republicans with by-lines.

Brando said...

Considering the center-left tendencies of most journalists, the fact that Hillary has such a hostile relationship with the media should really tell you something.

This is a person who really should not be in politics, but due to a combination of the Cult of Clinton, a dirty tricks operation, and a tendency of the Democrats to circle their wagons, she is still a heavy favorite for her party's nomination--this despite her blatant incompetence and corruption and total lack of charisma. And sadly, due to the GOP being the GOP, she has great odds of winning the general election.

Scary times for the USA.

tim in vermont said...

Maybe it is just that I live in Vermont, but Bernie Sanders seems to be getting support from people I wouldn't have expected.

Birches said...

As Mollie Hemingway pointed out on twitter, what the heck is Romans: 12? Neither Wemple nor his editors even know how to cite a Bible chapter anymore.

Birches said...

"How should we cite Romans chapter 12?"

"I don't know, but it seems to me there should be a colon smashed in there somewhere..."

"Like this? Romans: 12?"

"Yeah. That seems right..."

"If we only knew someone that actually read the Bible.."

Scott M said...

Romans 13 is far more troubling, even to a faithful Christian. Some of the best conversations I've had with pastors, priests, reverends, etc, have been over Romans 13.

William said...

When Trump speaks about his respect for the Bible and deep religious faith, it's such a brazen lie that you can't help but smile. He doesn't have enough credibility to be a hypocrite. Hillary, on the other hand, puts in the effort. So far as hypocrites go, she's definitely more of a whitened sepulchre than Trump. It's hard to pinpoint who's more cynical, however......I don't think Trump's religious faith did much to inhibit his quest for money, sex, and fame. But note that no one has ever accused him of rape, negligent homicide, or having sex with underaged sex slaves. Insofar as sexual morality goes, I would give Trump the nod over Clinton and other notable Democrats.

Anonymous said...

Nicer to the press? This is just Morrisian triangulation. She wants us to think that the press is hostile to her, that she is an 'outsider' like Trump who is feuding with the media on behalf of disaffected Americans everywhere.
The Hillary! is trying to tell us that all of her scandals are just inventions of the Vast Right-Wing Media Conspiracy. She is trying to deny the fawning coverage she receives from so many by implanting the impression that the press is out to get her. She knows that the citizenry has a very low opinion of the state of journalism today and she is signaling that she agrees their viewpoint; that she is just one-of-us. It is tantamount to wearing a Black Lives Matter wristband.
Just pandering.
Her base, which, ironically enough, consists of much of the very media she purports to be in combat with, will eat this up.

The Clintons are all about triangulation.

damikesc said...

It's hard to be nice to a doormat. You can't generate enough respect to not loathe them. I feel for her in that regard, honestly.

As Fiorina points out, what are her accomplishments?

She flew a lot as Sec of State. That is, actually, about it for her 25 or so years in the public limelight. She flew a lot on the taxpayer dime.

Does anyone believe she would be on the national stage if it weren't for Bill Clinton? Of course, would Bill ever have made it to the national stage without Hillary to deal with his bimbo eruptions? Dealing with bimbo eruptions doesn't qualify someone to be president, though.

Nor is it anything feminists claim to support...yet they seem to idolize her. Because "woman who rode her husband's coattails to power while he fucked anybody with a pulse" is a modern day feminist power cry.

Romans 13 is far more troubling, even to a faithful Christian. Some of the best conversations I've had with pastors, priests, reverends, etc, have been over Romans 13.

Was that the one about authority not being evil? We discussed that in church this weekend but I'm terrible at remembering verses.

Larry J said...

The press does have an important role in a free society. Too bad they do such a lousy job of it. As the InstaPundit notes, they're little more than "Democrat operatives with bylines."

hombre said...

Hillary thinks the role of the media is to whitewash the heathen Democrats in, or prospectively in, power. For the most part the media think so too. This behavior is essentially ungodly, but from her perspective particularly so when they don't protect her from her own iniquity.

None of this has to do with Romans 12, regardless of what Methodists say.