"You have a marvelous virgin," Clinton tells Mexicans
Sen. Hillary Clinton continued her bruising assault on Sen. Barack Obama's inexperience during the ongoing Democratic primary struggles over the weekend.
Oh, wait. That was last year. The other day as his secretary of State, Clinton was in Mexico sharing the blame for that country's gun-blazing, head-chopping drug wars. But the Methodist took time out in Mexico City to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe to deliver a bouquet of white flowers on behalf of the American people.
Catholics believe that almost 500 years ago the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was miraculously imprinted on the cloak of St. Juan Diego, who became the Catholic church's first saint indigenous to the Americas in 2002. According to news agency reports, the basilica's rector, Msgr. Diego Monroy, had had the image lowered from its altar for a closer look by the visiting dignitary.
"Who painted it?" Clinton asked.
"God," the rector replied.
Clinton also lighted a candle during her 30-minute visit and, on her way out told a crowd of Mexicans, "You have a marvelous virgin."
-- Andrew Malcolm
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Photo: Clinton talks with Msgr. Diego Monroy. Credit: Getty Images
The non-secular U.S. media trying to blow this up by being faux-offended is rich. HRC had the most sincere intentions and the Mexicans know that. She's not a Catholic! Many US Catholics aren't even aware of Our Lady of Guadalupe's origins. They simply know the image. I'm sure Clinton will learn from this experience and will not make this mistake again. But give her a break. She's a policy wonk, not a religious scholar for crying out loud.
Posted by: NYCDem12 | March 30, 2009 at 09:15 AM
"You have a marvelous virgin" Too bad not enough Catholics see this as a direct insult to our faith. No Hillary, WE have a marvelous virgin, ask Joe - he may remember.
Posted by: Marie Williams | March 31, 2009 at 04:56 AM
As other news outlets have reported, Secretary Clinton was looking at a replica, not the original, so her question about who painted it was perfectly appropriate.
Posted by: James Kennedy | April 01, 2009 at 08:27 PM