Hillary Fumes At Rudy Note
An angry Hillary Rodham Clinton is accusing Senate rival Rudolph Giuliani of "injecting religion into this race."
"As a person of faith, I am appalled that he would make false statements about me and my respect for religion in order to raise money for his campaign," the first lady told reporters at a Rochester hotel Wednesday.
The first lady was referring to an eight-page fund-raising letter reportedly sent by the New York City mayor to religious conservatives in an attempt to raise campaign funds.
The letter, a copy of which was distributed by the Clinton campaign, is signed by Giuliani. It was first written about in the Village Voice.
In the letter, Giuliani writes: "Hillary Clinton further revealed her hostility towards America's religious traditions when she attacked Gov. George W. Bush's idea that we should look toward America's faith-based charities more than government programs to address social problems."
Clinton said she was "outraged he would inject religion into this campaign in any form whatsoever. And to do it in a way designed to raise money for his campaign is something he should take responsibility for."
She added: "I have worked very hard my entire life to support our fundamental religious values in my own life and in our public life."
Clinton campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson said Clinton never attacked the Bush proposal mentioned in Giuliani's letter. Wolfson said Clinton supports using faith-based charities to carry out social programs if it is done in a Constitutional manner.
Clinton was raised in a devout Methodist family. Her interest in political activism began through a church youth group she belonged to as a teen-ager.
Giuliani's letter also complains about "liberal judges" who oppose posting the Ten Commandments in public schools, suggesting that Giuliani does support posting the Biblical commands.
Bruce Teitelbaum, Giuliani's campaign manager, declined to comment on the letter Tuesday. A call placed for comment Wednesday morning was not immediately returned.