Billar'y and Hill would just be more of the same as members of the drooling class, but is Obama really all he says he is. Are we still {business as usual} voting for the lesser of two evils. The most important issues get swept under the sensationalism of all the dirty laundry. Are they competing with the Hollywood starlets for diversion? I for one am sick of all the vile and dirty way these politicians are handling their campaign and as usual their double-standards get in the way and the people as usual get the shaft. It is so out of control, that it boggles my mind and probably many others on how to put a stop; to it.The hypocrisy of our leaders is so telling on what they are really up to, and that is not a good sign for what is really needed. And that goes double for the Republicans.

There is another reason. She can't come anywhere near Mr. Obama's gifts with written and spoken words.

My daughter and I joined a group of progressive christians lobbying for the poor on capital hill in June, 2006. The group was called Sojourner's Pentacost 2006. A small group of legislators came to speak to us at the end of the day. Hillary came last. She was not there to hear anyone else speak. The other members of congress thanked us for being there and spoke of how their faith informed their policy decisions.
Hillary arrived and announced sarcasticly that we "shouldn't listen to anyone just because they can quote some scripture at you." Sure, Hillary! Just because I'm a christian, that means a passage of scripture will render me incapable of judging whether someone is speaking crap or not! She had a naturally sympathetic audience and she proceeded to insult us, and let us know that she certainly wasn't about to use scripture to enrich her decision making. She doesn't need any such enrichment from the Bible or elsewhere. She is the great HILLARY, like we should all bow down to her. Hillary, kiss my ass!!

really?

Great piece, Barbara! Could be really important.

There are so many aspects to the Hillary Clinton we know, and more that we don't know. This aspect, which is only now being revealed, adds to her votes for war and against the control of cluster bombs. She may speak the correct words, on some occasions, but her performance and tone of voice belies her true feelings. I have not heard all of Obama's recent speech on his affiliation with Rev. Wright, but will very soon. What I have observed about Sen. Obama is that he is willing to grow and expand his awareness of himself and his growing constituency. He is not perfect, nor are the rest of us. What distinguishes him from many others is his willingness to acknowledge his mistakes and learn from them. Unfortunately, Hillary does not seem to share that value, to her detriment.

I trust all will allow truth to emerge and be willing to listen as it does.

I am committed to Oneness through Justice and Transformation

peace,
st john

OK, I am running for President! New party: Skeletons.
Everything out on day one!!!

Atrocities are so often committed in the name of religion because true believers will not consider the possibility that they may be mistaken. They are easy prey for Hitler/Ashcroft/Colson types who pretend to be in exclusive possession of absolutes.

These opportunists, Meese, Coe, Brownback, to name only a few are sociopathic Predators who have managed to gain control of all three branches of the US Government. They collect power like a compulsive shopper collects stuff, and once they have it, they figure "What good is it if we don't use it?"

It may seem incredible that such a banal mechanism has been responsible for neglect at home and slaughter abroad, but think about it.

Bet you the corporate press isn't going to talk about that!

What I don't understand is why the Hillary lovers have been so blind to her right wing leanings when it has been so obvious to me, even before this story?

But I couldn't understand why Americans were so blind to the looming catastrophe of invading Iraq either.

It must be so comfortable to be blind, at least until the chickens come home to roost.

We have a real opportunity in electing Obama. It will be a shame if we blow it. I know the corporate media will do all it can to help us do that. I didn't know who Andrew Sullivan was, had heard the name, but only barely. I looked him up, he's a conservative Libertarian commentator and he said Obama's candidacy is what we need at this time. Yes we do.

kathyodat

McCain's got to have his own version of this as well ...and I'll bet we could get together a montage that would make Mr. Obama's old friend look absolutely timid.

How strange that such a small amount of bile can set conservatives off so much ...so long as it's not THEIR bile (which they drink in such copious amounts).

This explains much of her behavior, from warmongering to dirty-tricks campaigning, to the hundreds of thousand repugs who voted for her in Texas and Ohio. Thanks for the expose, Barbara.

Just when I was savoring Obama's remarkable speech on race, the indispensable Barbara Ehrenreich exposes another hidden truth about Hillary! I've never heard of the Family, but they sound pretty rabid. This needs to get into the corporate media in a big way.

Also, WHY are the media ignoring the over-the-top bellowings of McCain's "spiritual" buddy Rev. John Hagee, with his branding of Catholics as whores and other outrageous statements? Why is it not being demanded of McCain that he throw Hagee under the bus, if Obama is supposed to do that to Rev. Wright? What a ridiculous double standard.

Ever wonder why the McCain and the Clinton cliques are desperately working to undermine Obama (like urging registered Republicans to vote for Clinton in the Texas and Ohio primaries)? They have long since cut their deal on how to share power and privilege regardless which party provides the 'figure-head' - just like Gore and Kerry did during the two past presidential election bruhahas. Its their game, their ruling class perogatives, their tribe and their destiny and don't you ever forget it! So is it really any news that Hillary has her own bipartisan Christian Clerico Fascist version of the Skull and Bones Fraternity?

Anyone who was paying attention during the Clinton years cannot be surprised about this news. Being tied to the DNC shows the fascist leanings of this supposed Democrat.

I can only hope that Mr. Obama makes it to next January.

Other questions occur to me. What about the current crop of "democrats" currently in the Senate? Are we to believe they will do anything substantially different than the bunch who is now there if they get an 11 vote majority? Will they take the "peoples" side or will they do the bidding of their leaders?

Hillary Clinton a religious fanatic? I don't see it. I suspect it's more evidence of her trying to be all things to all people. On the other hand, it would be great to have some video to put on YouTube.

I wonder if this piece will end up where it belongs ... Fake News ie with John Stewart or with his "right-wing" good buddy.

The New Yorker also wrote about HRC/Prayer Breakfast participation, some time last year. I am suspicious at best of anything religious, so I sense a political opportunism in her belonging to this group. Maybe she really believes the god stuff of it. I am simply sick of the religiousity in our politics. I do not want to have to vote for Hilary because of other issues. I know that both D. candidates are also corporate candidates. I trust that Obama is not as entrenched in big money as are the Clintons. I believe that his base is wide. If this new base stays active (including me) I will be even happier with him as a nominee. As a woman, Hilary's acceptance of her advisors' (Bill?) campaign strategies, enrages me.

And the polls keep reminding us over and over that this country would never vote for someone who doesn't attend church regularly, doesn't pray everyday etc.etc. What does any of this have to do with being honest, having integrity, and in command of sense and reason?

Understand, Hillary is a Republican at heart. She grew up in a rich, white, Methodist Republican family, and went to private schools and universities. She flirted with the left for awhile in her college days, but then got out of college and worked as a politically connected corporate lawyer. With Bill, she's always had the facade of being liberal superimposed over very conservative, rightwing, pro-corporate policies. Always remember that the Clintons were a founding force in the Democratic Leadership Council which was basically a right-wing, pro-corporate takeover of the old Democratic Party.

So, why would anyone be surprised at this?

And ... wasn't this the same group that people were doing documentaries and stories about a few years ago? I was scanning the article hoping for a reference to tie these stories together.

Maybe like Jesus turned water into wine, Hillary was able to turn $1,000 in $100,000 in her cattle futures trading.

If this weren't being reported by Barbara Ehrenreich, I'd be immediately dismissing it as tinfoil-hattery. But I have immense respect for her earlier work, and therefore can't dismiss her offhand.

Most of the resistance to Hillary is not due to knowledge of her often horrible positions, but to gut feelings that she is lying to us. Her whole political strategy is based on the deceit of triangulation.

An example of triangulation is how she voted No on John Roberts, but had announced her support of him at a time when that support seriously undermined Democrat's efforts to organize resistance to a man who will in all probability cast the vote that sinks Roe v. Wade.

She supported her money backers with her leadership, and threw us a meaningless No vote.

Too many feminist supporters of Hillary are blinded by their excitement about the prospect of a woman president, not realizing how she so profoundly betrayed them.

This article gives much needed clues to that particular betrayal, among a long list of Clinton betrayals.

bughunter, I agree. I have great respect for her work and will definately check this out further...It makes sense to me in some ways and as another poster pointed out, it makes her voting practices seem more logical now. For the poster that didn't think she was particularly religious...Let me remind you, these people have their own bizarro version of Christianity that resembles Islamic fanaticism...Basically a fanatic is still a fanatic. They don't see killing those that disagree with "their" God as a bad thing....

CoMarc, don't forget that Clinton was President of the College Republicans when she was at Wellesley. By the time she graduated, she had shifted with the political winds and, in what I view as an attempt to establish her liberal bona fides, attacked (unjustifably, IMO) the respected Black Republican Senator, Edward W. Brooke, in her commencement speech.

Religious moderates enable dangerous fundamentalists. Can't have God without the Devil.

Here's a link to support what I just posted about Senator Brooke:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-katovsky/hillarys-first-encounter_b_44279.html

I've always believed that Hillary could just as easily have been married to a Republican president and as a result risen in the ranks of the Republican party. Is there anything about her voting record which would preclude her from being a moderate Republican?

Yes, we need video, something along the lines of Bohemian Grove.

Every time we turn around, we got cults, and cults within cults, and cultists accusing other cultists of being cultists - what the hell is going on in this FUBAR country?

Whatever happened to wake up, eat breakfast, kiss the wife and kids goodbye, work, come home, family dinner, enjoy some quality time, mind your own business?

Now everyone with their God's warriors and secret "families" and insane desires to force the entire universe to adhere to their twisted "morals" and "values"...

Is it the Big Pharma waste in the water? Is that what's causing the looney-tunes pandemic? Is it the mutant transgenic organisms - er, genetically modified "food" - ? Is it the particulates in the air? All of the above mixed together?

Seriously...

Hillary Clinton's pastor sent to prison for sexuallly abusing a 7 yo old girl

Judge to ex-pastor: 'You lied'

When the Rev. William Procanick put his hand on the Bible during his sex-abuse trial in Oneida County Court earlier this year, he swore to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

But as the former Clinton pastor was sentenced Friday to three years in prison for inappropriately touching a 7-year-old girl at his home last March, Judge Michael L. Dwyer said Procanick sacrificed his honesty the day he testified.

"As a minister of God, you got on the stand and you lied," Dwyer told Procanick, the 54-year-old former pastor of Resurrection Assembly of God church on Kirkland Avenue.

A jury found Procanick guilty Jan. 22 of first-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

Dwyer said he believes Procanick was being honest when he told the girl's mother in a recorded phone call that he was wrong to caress the girl's body while she was trying to fall asleep.

However, Procanick instead testified in court that he did nothing wrong other than spend time alone with the girl, who was a friend of the family, Dwyer noted.

If Procanick had accepted responsibility from the beginning instead of straying from the truth, Dwyer said, Procanick would likely have faced a lesser punishment and possibly avoided jail time.

"The truth would have set you free," Dwyer said. "You had a chance to be a man and say, 'I made a mistake.' But as always, the cover-up is much worse than the original crime."

Procanick's defense attorney, George Aney, noted that Procanick still received a sentence less than the maximum, which was up to seven years in prison.

"It's considerably less than the maximum, but considerably more than he deserved," Aney said.

Aney also took issue with how Dwyer and the victim's mother used harsh language to attack Procanick's Christian values.

"You are just an evil man," the victim's mother said Friday in court. "You lied, and you had your wife lie. And all these people who showed up in court to support you, did you lie to them, too?"

The Observer-Dispatch does not identify sex-abuse victims and their families.
The victim's mother said her daughter is still waking up scared at night because of what happened, and she continues to see a therapist. The young girl also feels that everybody is mad at her, the mother said.

Assistant District Attorney Doug DeMarche Jr. then read a note written by the girl, who did not appear in court Friday.

"Bill made me sad and scared," DeMarche read. "I thought I did something wrong, because I trusted him."

Dwyer gave Procanick an opportunity to speak in court, but Procanick had nothing to say to the victim and her family.

Aney did not plan to speak in court, he told Dwyer, but he felt obligated to respond to what the victim's mother said about Procanick and his wife.

"I believe she shows her own lack of Christianity by referring to people as liars," Aney said.

After the sentencing, Aney further commented about what was said in court.

"I respect Judge Dwyer for what he said this morning, but I have to say I disagreed with him," Aney said. "I have every right to express my feelings, and my feelings are that we are not permitted to call anybody a liar. That's a judgment someone higher than I makes."

DeMarche, however, said he can understand why the girl's mother spoke of Procanick in such harsh terms.

"She had a lot of faith and trust in Mr. Procanick, and he violated that trust," DeMarche said. "I think she's justified in being angry."

http://www.uticaod.com/homepage/x1637676857

Now that Obama's lynching has gone off as planned, think the MSM will run this story about Hillary's former pastor? Or would that upset the planned election of either Israeli-firster Hillary vs. Israeli-firster McCain?

Games and more games. Doesn't anyone notice the lack of viable candidates to oppose McCain (or any other Republican for that matter)? All we have thus far are a couple of adults acting like preschoolers, snarling and spitting with little substance behind them. Does Hillary really think being the spouse of a president constitutes serious experience? What a laugh. Does Obama really think he can win on words alone? A joke, right? And worse, we don't even have a viable opposition party. Imagine setting rules for the party which mean nothing once broken. I have yet to find good cause for voting this time around. In fact, it begins to look more and more like the Bush clones have it already wrapped up. Too bad. We could have used a few debates. But then. This is the United States. Serious debate is not allowed here.

I'd like to know more about what kind of 'Jesus' the Family are praying to.

And the world they're trying to build, what does 'Jesus' think it should look like? Is it the one we observe today?

I dimly recall a story in the Bible that told of the return of a re-invigorated Satan in the disguise of a resurrected Jesus and how everyone was fooled - the story ended badly for most everyone.

Prophesies, eh? We sure know how to bring them about

Even if Obama survives the lynching, he will have to drag himself bloodied and battered to face a protected and sheltered McCain. Clinton, on the other hand, if she succeeds in the theft of the nomination, will have all her dirty laundry yanked out of the closet after the nomination. The Republicans are running this show and will have no problem stealing the election. The Democrats, as usual, are doing their best to lose what the public wanted them to win.

kathyodat

I was under the impression that a person's religion was one's own business. But instead, we have candidates arguing various tribal beliefs. Oh, everyone's a Christian? So we believe in God? In Virgin Birth. In Resurrection? In Miracles? I would like to see each Christian candidate closely questioned on their Christian belief. The flood? The creation? Leviticus?
These are fairytales. These are outdated, ignorant, superstitious beliefs of mostly illiterate tribal members.

I think this is mythology, archetypal psychology. These are stories developed by people without written word several thousand years ago. (Miracles happened so much more often, because, in general, people didn't have the ability to check them out.) Christianity took whatever was available and incorporated it. A tiny bit of education would make you wonder. You might recognize where Christianity came from. When was the last time you saw an angel? Really. Unfortunately, religion is doing a lot more damage than good. People are using fairytales to justifuy death and torture and deceit and war. Mark Twain noted: "At a certain point, ignorance becomes dangerous."

If you really have to have some superstition to comfort you, some ritual to sustain your chimpanzee heart, maybe you should try Zen. It makes you sit quietly with who you really are rather than project the ancient fantasies of Santa Claus, Jesus, Mohommed etc.

Get a good book on cell or molecular biology. There's far more there than in the Bible or the Koran. I mean, if you're interested in the way it actually is. Existence is very complex, very elegant, very mysterious. Start with the truth. Cast aside ignorance. We don't have that much time.

"Andrew Sullivan was, had heard the name, but only barely. I looked him up, he's a conservative Libertarian commentator and he said Obama's candidacy is what we need at this time." from Kathodat above.

Do you have any idea what Libertarian's stand for? If so, why would you consider his recommendation, or endorsement of Obama, a GOOD THING? Less Regulation of Corporations, Less Consumer Protection, More State Control (and corruption)of Elections and Education, NO Inspection of Food, Meat, or Imports! (do your own damn testing) That's only the High-Lights!! NO, Social Security (Grandma, eat cat-food!)Please, do a little research! It's a philosophy by-and-for the Rich, and Connected!

I have great respect for Ms. Ehrenriech as well, but this time I think she HAS gone into the land of tinfoil headgear. The tone of this article was similar to that of the conspiracy theorists on those "Are UFO's Real" shows that come up every so often on the hisotry channel. Her description of of "The Family" is reminiscent of the more hysterical Freemason stories or SPECTRE from the James Bond film; a large, saecret society bent on domination, carrying out its activities as the world sleeps, hidden in plain sight. As experience shows us, it's nearly impossible to get cohesion and discipline, and confidentiality in a local political party- how on earth has this nefarious "Family" managed it for more than half a century?

And as for the "sinister nature" of the family, she offers that they are right wing Christians, and dictators have been members. Do they advocate a theocracy? Want to kill or forcibly convert those whose aren't Christians? No, they don't think a pharmacist should have to fill a birth control prescription if he thinks birth control is immoral. I'm not exactly shaking in my boots. It's easy enough to go next door.

And to condemn Hillary for being a member of a loose-knit organization whose members, halfway around the world, have been dictators, is as silly as condemning American members of the Rotary Club because their German counterparts kicked out Jews in an attempt to appease the nazis.

We have serious problems facing this country, and plenty of people, working right out in the open, who want to take us in the wrong direction. Some of those people in the open are not just wrong, but downright loathsome. We don't need to go jumping at fictional conspiracies in the shadows when we have trouble enough out in the open in front of us. The conspiracy theory game is best left to television, movies, and books. It's thrilling, but diverts us from real problems.

I can hardly wait until May! Wish I didn't feel compelled to say that, but the audacity of slash and burn coming from the Clinton camp has hardened my usually soft heart.

Reply To: Greg Bacon, Oneida County NY, is UpState NY, why would Hillary go to Church There??

To the Others: Obama, is just if not more part of the DLC, as Hillary! Kerry is on the campaign trail with him right now! Despite Mass. voting for Hillary!
Obama did not grow up poor with a single mother. He grew up in Hawaii, with well off Grandparents, in a very diverse culture! Went to a very expensive private, Occidential College, before going to two Ivy League colleges! His father graduated from Harvard as well, and his mother was an anthropoligist! Hardly a 'Blue-Collar' upbringing!
He has attended Rev. Wrights church for 20 years! Obviously, and he admitted, he heard some of this "HATE"(whitey & America) speech! Obama choose to stay in that church, and take his daughters! Obama choose to hirer Rev. Wright, and put him on his campaign, on his 'Faith-based Committee'!
Obama has Strong financial connections to Nuclear Power, Coal, and Wall Street (where he once worked)!

I will NOT, can NOT Vote for either Hillary or Obama!
Neither of them are Progressive! Not even close.

***Country Before Party**Go Green (Party)**votesmart.org**

valsmith - "The conspiracy theory game is best left to television, movies, and books. It's thrilling, but diverts us from real problems."

There's no conspiracy in this, it's just a fact: Democrats get elected to the Senate, start palling around with Republicans, and then move to the right.

valsmith:

It's not so easy to go next door when you live in a small town with (at most) a single pharmacy.

And what about the police not having to protect abortion centers they disagree with? Is that OK, too?

AndieG:

There are also Oneida Counties in Idaho and Wisconsin, maybe more. And the story didn't say where it was that Procanik had pastored to Clinton. Pastors move. (So do politicians, for that matter.)

Also, don't get so wrapped up in Wright's rhetoric. Black churches, even black UCC congregations, have traditionally used stronger forms of preaching than a white, middle-class congregation would be comfortable with. (For one perspective, see Eddie Izzard's routine(s) about the CoE/Episcopalians.)

Sorry, I don't buy this. I have to believe that Mrs. Clinton is an atheist. If she believed in anything other than her own ego, she would implode.

AndyG, where did you get it that Obama's grandparents were "well off"? They were working folks. But they were able to support themselves and their grandchildren. Sorry, I guess they were well off by any definition!

Also, I think Obama went to school on scholarships.

Reply To: rjmart01, Since I've never heard of Hillary living in Idaho, or Wis., but the Clinton's do own a house in NY, and she is a Sen. from NY, that he was probably referring to NY! I also followed the link!

If ALL Black Church's use that kind of HATE speech, it explains the Black Panthers!! Sorry, but Slavery ended a Very long time ago!! I supported Civil Rights! But that was 40 years ago! We have a Black Miss America contest, a Black civil rights org. Naacp, BET Black Entertainment, a Black History Month, and Affirmative Action!! Do you really believe it would be okay for us to have ANY of those White Organizations??

Exactly, how long is it going to take them to become Americans, FIRST?? I'm not a Euro-American, even though my Grandparents immigrated to this country, long after slavery ended!

Sorry, I have nothing to feel guilty over!! And I won't allow anyone like Rev. Wright, make me! As my father emphatically, told me as a small child, (refussing to teach me any German/Polish his parents spoke) YOUR AN AMERICAN, and you will speak English!! I had Black friends who lived on my street, as a child in the 50's, so you can't tell me much about Black people!

TO GLK: Poor, and even middle-class people DON'T retire to Hawaii!! The cost of living is Extremely high! His mother, and her parents were from Kansas, and retired to Hawaii! NOT POOR! Check out the tuition for Occidential College!! (In his history on his web site)

This is all garbage. Come on people. We have a chance to start fixing the mess that Bush has left with either Obama or Clinton.

I used to have a lot of respect for Common Dreams, but if they continue to publish this trash, I'll be off looking at real issues.

Nietzsche states:

They collect power like a compulsive shopper collects stuff, and once they have it, they figure "What good is it if we don't use it?"

I would argue that they actually figure "What good is it if we don't ABUSE it?"

Abuse of power has always been and always will be power incarnated. In fact, I would argue that the words ABUSE and POWER are inextricably linked in more ways than one.

GREG BACON...and OTHERS

Mr. Bacon that is an outright LIE that you posted.

That "reverend" who was found guilty was not Hillary Clinton's pastor, he was the pastor at the Assembly of God Church in CLINTON, NY, located at:

44 Kirkland Ave.
Clinton N.Y. 13323

(315) 853-1655
rezag@tds.net

Shame on you for posting hateful lies like that!

AndieG, you say that neither Clinton nor Obama are progressives. But they're a heckuva lot more progressive than you'll ever be.

It reminds me of The Handmaid's Tale - the segregated houses, the girls serving at The Cedars...Wow, this country is truly getting scary. Why does god have to overpower everything? In my view of the creator, she is found in waterfalls and mountains, rivers and forests, not in a darkly panelled room with a bunch of suits who can only think about who they are going to screw next. It doesn't surprise me at all that Hillary is part of this and I really hope it does hit the mainstream news.