I'm not saying Clinton would condone the work of the IRD, just that she may well hold the view that religion should be more of a private affair. And, Scaife almost certainly approves the way of "private piety".

There's also a question as to what sort of Social Gospel beliefs Clinton may have - given that she was one of the very earliest prominent supporters of "charitable choice" provisions which laid groundwork for the "Faith Based Initiative", it may be that such programs express Clinton's interpretation of the "Social Gospel" - more of a communitarian approach (in sync with her "It Takes a Family" book) in which social needs are addressed by local churches and religious groups, partnered with and to an extent supported by government.

What's notable about that sort of model, beyond possible unconstitutional church-state separation clause violations, is that it's also close to Marvin Olasky's vision which, though he denies being a Reconstructionist, can be seen as an expression of the Christian Reconstructionist vision in which most functions of the federal government are eventually phased out along with New Deal & Great Society Programs. And, that's how things have played out in the Faith Based Initiative - gradually, money for social programs has dried up, and little by little the remnant is being fobbed off on churches & religious groups. In the end, the process plays out as a gradual reduction in the redistributive function of the federal government.

That may not be Hillary Clinton's exact goal, but she certainly hasn't opposed the Faith Based Initiative especially as something working to degrade basic government social services. In the end there may be two models of the Social Gospel in play, one a conservative, minimalist take - and, Clinton may hew more to that.

by Bruce Wilson on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 08:48:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Senator Clinton does have some serious explaining to do regarding her relationship to the religious right group, The Family -- but it is difficult to measure how much it has influenced her politics.

That said, Bill Clinton as president appointed a key neoconservative (although he rejected the term) and IRD founder Penn Kemble to several government and diplomatic posts. IRD was founded as a project of the Coalition for a Democratic Majority, (Kemble was execitove director at the time. CDM comprised mostly anti-McGovern neocons, including those who eventually became the neocon Republicans. Kemble was later also part of the ultimate neocon Project for a New American Century.

What's more, President Clinton went so far as to endorse the Promise Keepers when they held their big march on Washington.

Mr. Clinton has, like any national pol, has had complicated relationships with influential, but controversial and divisive figures and groups, including those of the Religious Right and its explicitly neoconservative dimension.

by Frederick Clarkson on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 10:33:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]