You said that Episcopal Cafe doesn't endorse candidates. Good. Then don't post blatant attacks on Hillary Clinton's honesty. I don't visit this website to read thinly disguised partisan attacks on a Presidential candidate. It is disingenuous. If it wasn't your purpose to attack Senator Clinton's honesty and credibility you failed miserably.

Well, Griffin, are you then saying that Hillary Clinton's remark (Obama is not a Muslim "not as far as I know") was not sinful? How would you explain the construction of that remark? Has she apologized for it? What the remark did do was force Obama to once again get off message to address the question for the umpteenth time.

I for one do question her honesty and credibility. (Actually, I have questions in that regard for McCain, Obama and Clinton.)

Don't you perhaps visit this website to have your own preconceptions challenged? I do.

Griffin, I don't think there was anything "thinly veiled" about my questioning Senator Clinton's response to Steve Kroft's question. She was not forthright. I imagine that I will end up casting an entirely joyless vote for her for president come November. That doesn't mean I don't get to call her out on this kind of veniality.

I thought Romano's "Stumper" (click "accepting" to go there) had the most cogent analysis of this whole set to. It is well worth checking out.

Peace and Love (and boy, do we need some in the political arena!)

Alice MacArthur

Hillary Clinton was a member of First Methodist Church in Little Rock during her time as first lady of the state. I have first hand knowledge of this because I live in Little Rock and have been following the Clintons for 30 years. I do not have the same first hand knowledge of Sen. Obama's faith. So if someone asked me if Sen. Obama is a member of UCC, I would have to say, “Yes, as far as I know. That's what he says.”

Assuming Sen. Clinton has no first hand knowledge of Sen. Obama's church affiliation, it is not unreasonable when asked about it, that she would say, “...as far as I know.” There are those for whom Hillary can never say anything right, and they jump at opportunities to attack her.

“As far as I know” Hillary has never said Obama is a Muslim. “As far as I know” he is a member of the UCC. “As far as I know” Episcopal Cafe seems to have a bias against one and in favor of another Democratic candidate. I am very disappointed!

Trey, if you think this kind of casuistry helps your candidate (it depends on what your definition of is is), I urge you to think again. In today's NYT, columnist Bob Herbert called Clinton's handling of this question "one of the sleaziest moments of the campaign." A person who values his faith doesn't remain silent when the authenticity of another's faith is questioned for no good reason. If McCain does it to Clinton in the general election--I think we can still count on the religious right to argue that mainline Protestants aren't real Christians--we will speak up about it. But she's the one playing lowball right now, and she deserves to be called on it.

See, also, Kristof on Sunday, March 9:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/opinion/09kristof.html?em&ex=1205294400&en=41c5722a831a242e&ei=5087%0A

This is a case where Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain should take the initiative and denounce the fear-mongering about Mr. Obama as hate speech. The wink-wink references to “Barack Hussein Obama” and lies about his going to a madrassa are the religious equivalent of racial slurs, and Mr. McCain and Mrs. Clinton should denounce them in the strongest terms. This is their chance to show leadership. When Mrs. Clinton was asked in a television interview a week ago whether Mr. Obama is a Muslim, she denied it firmly — but then added, most unfortunately, “as far as I know.” To his credit, Mr. McCain scolded a radio host who repeatedly referred to “Barack Hussein Obama” and later called him a Manchurian candidate. Martin Luther wasn’t a model of tolerance but even he took the position that, “I’d rather be ruled by a wise Turk than a foolish Christian.” In this presidential campaign, we should at least aspire to be as open-minded as 16th-century Germans.