Clinton Says He’s Miscast by Critical Christian Groups

WASHINGTON —  If Christian conservatives could look into his soul, President Clinton says, they would see somebody “much more humble in his Christian faith than many of them are.”

In an interview on “CBS This Morning,” Clinton said he is misunderstood by religious groups who question his morality.

“If they could look into my soul, they would see someone whose belief in God and of faith is as sincere and deep and genuine as theirs is,” Clinton said when asked about Christian conservatives.

“And they would probably see someone who is, perhaps rightly or wrongly, much more humble in his Christian faith than many of them are.”

Clinton, in the interview taped last week for broadcast today, said he has encouraged the involvement of religious people in public life. He noted that he signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which made it harder to restrict religious practices.

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“And I don’t see any conflict between a person having deep religious convictions and being an active citizen,” Clinton said. “But I do think that it calls for a little more humility than we sometimes see in condemning the motives and character of people with whom you disagree.”

Clinton, a Southern Baptist, has been attacked by some religious groups for supporting abortion rights and gay rights, as well as for his personal life.

“I don’t think it’s . . . so good for the country to have people polarized,” Clinton said. “I think it’s OK for people to feel passionately about their political positions, and it’s OK for them to say they think they have to do it because they think it’s the right thing to do, but I believe that (President Abraham) Lincoln was right, and we should have malice toward none and charity for all.”

In an interview with the C-SPAN cable network, Clinton, in a moment of Presidents’ Day reflection, pondered aloud the challenges faced by past chief executives.

He ran through several past presidents he would enjoy visiting with, and put Lincoln at the top of the list.

“His personal growth in the job was extraordinary, and his ability to distill all the forces at work into clear and powerful language was so great,” Clinton said.

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With Thomas Jefferson, Clinton would discuss the proper scope of limited government; with Harry S. Truman, the difficulties of governing in a period of transition; with John F. Kennedy, “what we could do to restore at least a measure of the optimism and the sense of trust that existed when he became President.”

Clinton spoke nostalgically about a time when the language of public debate was less harsh, especially to presidents.

“They were subject to the same criticism, but . . . by and large, it wasn’t nearly as intense or public,” Clinton said. “And the news rules were different then.”

“The nature of coverage of politics today and the instantaneous commentary about every issue and the obsession with process over product and with politics over policy, I think these things just give a President less space,” he said.

Clinton said it was only natural for him to wonder how other presidents would meet the challenges that he faces, and vice versa. “You can’t help imagining how you would have done in their time, how they would do in your time.”