Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
Mon Apr 13, 2015, 11:41 AM Apr 2015

Hillary Clinton on Religion, Religious Faith, Secularism, Atheism, Church/State (Separation)

What Does Clinton Say on Issues that Matter to Secular Atheists & Separationists?

http://atheism.about.com/od/hillaryclintonreligion/tp/HillaryClintonReligionSecular.htm

Whether she is elected president or not, Hillary Clinton is and will remain for some time a leading figure in the Democratic Party. Her views on matters like religion, the role of religion in government and public life, church/state separation, secularism, faith-based initiatives, reproductive choice, atheists and atheism, religion in public school, and related issues should matter to atheists. Secular atheists need to know where she really stands on religious and secular issues before they vote for her so they know exactly whom they are voting for and what long-term policies they are effectively supporting.


This was first written a while back but I think Austin Cline updates it from time to time, and it may get more frequently updated now that Clinton has officially begun her campaign. Long story short, there are several things she has said that should concern non-believers and those who hold church/state separation to be important. Hopefully she will have opportunities during her campaign to answer questions and clarify where she stands.
17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Hillary Clinton on Religion, Religious Faith, Secularism, Atheism, Church/State (Separation) (Original Post) trotsky Apr 2015 OP
A photo posted this morning raised a question. edgineered Apr 2015 #1
Looks a little too thin to be a typical bible. trotsky Apr 2015 #2
This message was self-deleted by its author Pacifist Patriot Apr 2015 #4
Well, it had me scared! nt edgineered Apr 2015 #7
What's that book? AlbertCat Apr 2015 #10
Read that one in HS AmLit class. Great book, edgineered Apr 2015 #11
As crazy as it sounds... Act_of_Reparation Apr 2015 #12
Could be, or could be a copy of the Decedant Affairs Manual, edgineered Apr 2015 #13
Well, I don't have to make a choice here, mr blur Apr 2015 #3
I don't have to make a choice either RussBLib Apr 2015 #5
Concur, the general is what it is. The primaries will tell. nt edgineered Apr 2015 #8
He might want to get around to updating it to include her association with "the family". (nt) jeff47 Apr 2015 #6
The only thing that really scares me about Hillary mountain grammy Apr 2015 #9
I'm pretty sure she will lose. PassingFair Apr 2015 #14
Half the Dems on DU whatthehey Apr 2015 #15
Republicans and their "libertarian" independents are foam at the mouth in hate with her. PassingFair Apr 2015 #16
And yet she still seems to have a Churchill's view of democracy about her whatthehey Apr 2015 #17

Response to trotsky (Reply #2)

edgineered

(2,101 posts)
11. Read that one in HS AmLit class. Great book,
Mon Apr 13, 2015, 09:48 PM
Apr 2015

so in this case, probably not. In my overactive imagination her hand was on a different book, and she appears to be concerned? about the fate of ISB; not to be confused with praying for his well being.

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)
12. As crazy as it sounds...
Mon Apr 13, 2015, 10:40 PM
Apr 2015

...it looks like a planner.

You know... those things people used to stick to their schedules, somewhere between cuneiform tablets and the Palm Pilot. I heard she was a bit of a Luddite, but damn. I didn't know they still made those things.

 

mr blur

(7,753 posts)
3. Well, I don't have to make a choice here,
Mon Apr 13, 2015, 12:34 PM
Apr 2015

but she seems like one of our typical Tories. I wouldn't vote for her but then I wouldn't vote for any of your candidates. Different cultures and attitudes I suppose.

RussBLib

(9,666 posts)
5. I don't have to make a choice either
Mon Apr 13, 2015, 01:38 PM
Apr 2015

...as I will vote for the Democrat whoever it is, at least as long as all of the current players stay in the game.

She is not going to be ideal for secularists, but she will still (most likely) be a far better choice than any GOP'er on so many other issues.

No matter what her stances are, they are probably still better than any GOP'er. Any Democrat who refuses to vote for her is helping the GOP take over.

PassingFair

(22,437 posts)
14. I'm pretty sure she will lose.
Tue Apr 14, 2015, 09:23 AM
Apr 2015

Whose vote is she gonna get?

Half of the dems don't like her and ALL of the repukes HATE her.

Jebby runs, and we will LOSE.

whatthehey

(3,660 posts)
15. Half the Dems on DU
Tue Apr 14, 2015, 11:05 AM
Apr 2015

who are quite often not really Democrats but Greens, Socialists and what have you, don't like her. In broader surveys of real world Democrats she generally does very well, and tellingly better among those who call themselves liberal Dems rather than moderate or Conservative Dems. It's only in web-based echo chambers where the furthest fringes predominate (how many people outside DU, or outside fringe groups, do you meet who want to end capitalism? Yet it is a common and possibly plurality view here).

As to her bona fides for secular folks we will be waiting generations for a front-line politician to espouse that cause, or even withhold from espousing the majoritarian Christian cause. When about half would never even consider voting for a non-believer regardless of other opinions, it's idiotic to not kowtow to the godbotherers as a national politician, or a politician anywhere except the very bluest areas. Even then, as Pete Stark shows, you would be vulnerable to theo-hate even from fellow Dems. I worry more about how much religio-crazy stuff they would either advocate or allow, and HRC seems about par for the Dem course there. Anybody much better a la Frank or Sinema would stand zero chance at her level.

PassingFair

(22,437 posts)
16. Republicans and their "libertarian" independents are foam at the mouth in hate with her.
Tue Apr 14, 2015, 11:12 AM
Apr 2015

I don't want to "end capitalism", but I can't stand the war-hawk Clinton.

I would rather support Lincoln Chafee at this point.

whatthehey

(3,660 posts)
17. And yet she still seems to have a Churchill's view of democracy about her
Tue Apr 14, 2015, 11:48 AM
Apr 2015

If people hate her, and Koresh knows many do, more of them hate every other potential challenger.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/president/

The thing about Hillary hate is that it's a lopsided dumbell. The right side of that dumbell wouldn't vote for a Jesus/Albert Schweitzer ticket with a D after it and would crawl over broken glas to vote against any Dem, so no change there. The long bit in the middle is actually quite receptive and positive about her. The left side of that dumbell is forever seeking a perfect candidate that would have no chance in a real national race like Kucinich or Sanders, mostly votes Dem in the general anyway after much grumbling, because as anyone sane knows either the R or the D nominee will be president and there is only ever one rational choice there, and have generally been convincingly shown what happens when they when they throw a hissy fit and waste votes like with Nader (against, it should be said, a man now seen as a much purer Dem than he was when he was running). Only the most intransigent fringe left idealists would not vote Dem in a general, and that way of thinking is hopefully as rare as people in this group refusing to vote for her because she quotes the Bible instead of Ingersoll. Waiting for perfect and eschewing the good means an unending stream of bad.


Both demographics and polling indicate there is far less likely than in 2000 to be a situation in which such a small spiteful group can foist a RW regime on the rest of us again.

Latest Discussions»Alliance Forums»Atheists & Agnostics»Hillary Clinton on Religi...