Omission Watch: Hillary Pressed to Remove Mother Teresa Photo From Campaign Ad

[Ethelk2044]

Posted by Tim Graham on June 16, 2007 - 08:19.
Clay Waters of Times Watch alerted me to a new item in the Shameless Hillary Department: Ben Smith at Politico.com reports Mother Teresa's missionaries have protested Hillary's use of a photograph of her waving next to Mother Teresa in a Hillary campaign video, in which the announcer said: "Hillary in effect, was the face of America, in Africa, in India..." The picture was used as the words "in India" were narrated. Will the rest of the media follow up on this story?

The head of a politically conservative Catholic group, Fidelis, said he brought the video to the attention of Sister Nirmala, Teresa's successor at the Superior General of the India-based Missionaries of Charity. Fidelis president Joseph Cella called it "wholly inappropriate, disrespectful and disturbing that Hillary Clinton shamelessly exploited Mother’s image as a political tool."

...Cella said that in his letter to Nirmala, "We pointed out that the use of Blessed Teresa’s image was particularly inappropriate and disturbing given Sen. Clinton’s staunch support of abortion both here in the United States and abroad. Mother Teresa tirelessly fought to protect unborn children, while Hillary Clinton staunchly supports abortion on demand in all nine months of pregnancy, including partial birth abortion and taxpayer funding of abortion."

Clinton's spokesman, Singer, stressed that the photo was removed at the behest of the missionary order, not of any other group.

[baldguy]

1. Mother Teresa was happy to get the support of theives & dicators

But Hillary would be too much for her?

[ElizabethDC]

2. Evidently abortion is where she (or I suppose her followers) draw the line

I guess :shrug:

[IndianaGreen]

3. It's okay. Hillary is now pictured next to Jesus in Michaelangelo's The Last Supper

Why not her picture on a box of Wheaties?

Political ads are all like that, this one is no worse or better than some others.

[ElizabethDC]

4. Well, it was an actual picture of her meeting with Mother Teresa

I know they met at least once - possibly several times. It's not like it was photoshopped. I think the ad it's from is the one where Bill talks about her background. The place where the Mother Teresa pic was used is when he talks about her travels as first lady.

[IndianaGreen]

5. Then they really haven't got a leg to stand on

They are just whining because of abortion.

[ElizabethDC]

7. Exactly. n/t

[emilyg]

6. yes it was. thanks.

[ShortnFiery]

8. This isn't as bad as Dear Leader milking 9/11, but it's still tacky beyond belief.

HRC + Mother Teresa camera shot ---> Shameless! :P

[Demeter]

9. This Will Be The Tackiest Election Since Reagan's First

and the candidates collectively may even exceed the Master. Ugh!

[ElizabethDC]

10. You're kidding, right?

How is it tacky for her to show a picture of herself meeting with a prominent international figure? I mean, it's a news photo.

[ShortnFiery]

11. The woman is soon to be declared "a saint" within the Catholic Church.

I'm also Pro-Family planning cafeteria LIBERAL Catholic. However, if I wanted to court the Catholic vote, I'd start off *a little lower* with a Priest or a Bishop in my EARLY Campaign Shots.

Well at least during the primary season. :shrug:

[ElizabethDC]

13. Personally, I just think of her as a recognizable humanitarian figure

I don't think that the campaign's decision to use it had that much to do with the Catholic Church or Mother Teresa's impending sainthood (btw, did they officially decide to fast-track her sainthood? Because doesn't the process usually take decades?)

[DURHAM D]

15. Yes - they have.

If JPII was still alive she would have been there by now. He accelerated her promotion to the rank just below Sainthood by several years.

[ElizabethDC]

16. Thanks - I remember the debate but didn't remember if a decision had been made. n/t

[ElizabethDC]

17. Delete - dupe

[ShortnFiery]

20. She could not have irritated the moderate to conservative Catholics more if she tried ...

Every Catholic recognizes Mother Teresa's image. Using this image in future campaign ads will put wings on the feet of Catholic Right Wingers on their way to the General Election Polls. :wow: They won't need the buses for they will be RACING each other to the polls to vote against HRC. :crazy:

All petty bickering aside (it's fun, but enough is enough): It is not a good idea to use the image of a saint if you wish to draw in moderate Catholics and not overtly anger the conservative ones.

I hope for HRC's sake, they don't do that again. :shrug:

[ElizabethDC]

21. I think most people on Earth recognize her image

I do, and I'm not Catholic, nor have I ever been. I really doubt the decision to use her image was all that related to religion - I wouldn't have thought anything of it.

Also, she's not a saint yet.

[ShortnFiery]

22. Many Catholics have adopted her as their Patron Saint - like John Paul, the people are THERE

In most Catholic faithfuls' eyes, both Pope John Paul and Mother Teresa are "all but named" SAINTS of The Catholic Church.

Yes, the process takes years and years - and the Catholic woman I hold most dear, Dorothea Day, will NOT EVER be Sainted.

But please remember that some of the most vicious right wingers can be Catholic. They can be caustic and damaging enough without going out of your way to anger them.

My Point: The accolades you receive from LIBERAL Catholics and others will NOT make up for the anger you are creating by showing HRC's (Pro-Choice) image with that of The Beloved "soon to be" Saint Teresa.

I mean no harm - in fact - I know how NUTZOID right wing Catholics can be. As anti-authoritarian as I can be, I do NOT ever go out of my way to piss them off. :shrug:

[durrrty libby]

14. I truly wish politicians could stay a million miles away

from all religions

I spent half my life involved with the catholic church,

and this is not a place for progressives

Please just say no

[Jane Austin]

12. Now that would be a neat trick.

Shhhh . . . don't tell Leonardo. :)

[illinoisprogressive]

18. Clinton thinks being associated with M. Teresa will rub the stench off her.

[DURHAM D]

19. Nice - and what will rub the stench off of your guy?

[emilyg]

23. Good one.

[Ethelk2044]

26. He does not carry the baggage as Hillary

[durrrty libby]

24. I am beginning to feel sorry for you

[Ethelk2044]

27. That will never happen we have our memories from the 90's

[mitchum]

25. Did she neglect to pay a fee for the use of the saint for sale's image?