Bill Clinton: "Can't We Just All Get Along?"
ATLANTA -- Quoting both the apostle Paul and Rodney King, Bill Clinton gave a 30-minute speech heavy on theology and Baptist teachings at a Baptist convention here where he shared the stage with former President Jimmy Carter. It was mostly about repairing the rift between conservative Baptists and liberal Baptists, but he also talked about social issues important to his wife's campaign while never mentioning her directly.
"We should redouble our efforts to serve the poor, the sick and the needy," he said. "We should not let our response to the people who disagree with us be dictated by what they say about us or even how they treat people that we care for."
Clinton also spoke about how his religion and political views became intertwined. "I first became aware that there might be a connection between my religious convictions and political beliefs as a child when I heard Martin Luther King preach," he said.
The only mention of the presidential race came when he complimented Mike Huckabee's plan to fight childhood obesity when he was governor of Arkansas.
"I was sorry when Governor Huckabee didn't come here – I consider him my friend even though we disagree," he said. "He has a generosity of spirit, which keeps him from being mad all the time when we disagree."
That's when he invoked Rodney King, saying he feels like him sometimes: "Can't we all just get along?"