Novelist Anne Rice Endorses Hillary Clinton
by Pamela LeaveyNovelist Anne Rice has endorsed Hillary Clinton. I haven’t seen this in the news yet, or the blogosphere, but earlier today, Anne Rice stopped by The Democratic Daily and posted in the comments here about her endorsement of Clinton.
Rice, once known for her best-selling vampire series, returned the Catholic Church a couple of years ago, “which she’d left at 18,” and is now a Christian writer and pro life. Her endorsement of Hillary Clinton is on her website: AnneRice.com. Rice says in her endorsement that she is “aware as a Christian writer that making a political statement like this is not a particularly wise marketing move.”
But my Christian conscience compels me to make this statement. My Christian conscience demands that I not lie in order to sell books…
I have felt a certain pressure of late to express my feelings here; that pressure is mounting. That pressure has come from watching political debate on church and state in the media, from private emails from strangers and friends concerning these issues, and from conversations, often heated, with my fellow Christians and Americans.
My commitment to Christ compels me to respond to that pressure and to speak out on issues that I think are of crucial importance: whether or not we vote, and how we vote, and how our vote reflects our deepest moral concerns.
I repeat: I am a Christian; I am a Democrat. I support Hillary Clinton for President of the United States.
Rice also notes that she believes “the Democratic Party is the party that is most likely to help Americans make a transition away from the abortion crisis that we face today.”
Its values and its programs — on a whole variety of issues — most clearly reflect my values. Hillary Clinton is the candidate whom I most admire.
One more thing that struck me about Anne Rice’s endorsement of Hillary Clinton was her thoughts on separation of church and state (and voting), which is a big issue for many Democrats. I think her views are worth sharing here:
I am devoutly committed to the separation of church and state in America. I believe that the separation of church and state has been good for all Christians in this country, and particularly good for Catholics who had a difficult time gaining acceptance as Americans before the presidential election of John F. Kennedy. The best book I can recommend right now on the separation of church and state is A SECULAR FAITH, Why Christianity Favors The Separation of Church and State, by Darryl Hart. However there are many other good books on the subject.
Believing as I do that church and state should remain separate, I also believe that when one enters the voting booth, church and state become one for the voter. The voter must vote her conscience. He or she must vote for the party and candidate who best reflect all that the voter deeply believes. Conscience requires the Christian to vote as a Christian. Commitment to Christ is by its very nature absolute.
My commitment and my vote, therefore, must reflect my deepest Christian convictions; and for me these convictions are based on the teachings of Christ in the Four Gospels.
I am keenly aware as a Christian and as an American that the Gospels are subject to a great variety of interpretation. I am keenly aware that Christians disagree violently on what the Gospels say.
I am also keenly aware that we have only two parties in this country. Only two. This point can not be emphasized enough. We do not have a slate of parties, including one which is purely Christian. We have two parties, and our system has worked with two parties for generations. This is what we have.
I feel strongly that one should vote for one of these two parties in an election. I suspect that not voting is in fact a vote. I suspect that voting for a third party, when such parties develop, is in effect voting for one of the major parties whether one wants to believe this or not.
To summarize, I believe in voting, I believe in voting for one of the two major parties, and I believe my vote must reflect my Christian beliefs.
As a spiritual, but not religious, liberal progressive, I respect Anne Rice’s willingness to share her views on politics, especially knowing that it might alienate some of her readers. Although I have not committed to a candidate yet myself, I find Anne Rice’s candor admirable and I’m honored that she took the time to comment here on The Democratic Daily.
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My first Presidential election was in 1968. Since that time it is indisputible that President Clinton presided over the most peaceful, most properous period of any President. For this reason I suspect that Hilliary would be a very good President. She certainly knows what Bill did and how he did it. On the other hand I find her campaign to be no more than nominally appealing.
Dennis Kucinich was on with George S. this morning and said numerous things that would normally make me excited about a candidate. In fact I find him to have by far the best positions on the issues. The concern, though, comes from the fact that he may well be the only Democrat that would not be electable in 2008.
Ms Rice is certainly welcome to express any opinion shw wishes regarding her choice for president. She deserves no critcism. Were she to say exactly the same thing and endorse any Republican she would be subject to the same hate the left hurls towards Christians with other politics.
As to the letter writer’s comments regarding the peaceful Clinton years…I seem to recall Hillary recommending action be taken against the Serbs in Bosnia. For that she gets first mention in the irony hall of fame and the line “She certainly knows what Bill did and how he did it” deserves a second.