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Delivered-To: john.podesta@gmail.com Received: by 10.25.43.68 with SMTP id r65csp347666lfr; Sat, 26 Sep 2015 03:57:11 -0700 (PDT) X-Received: by 10.182.153.69 with SMTP id ve5mr5793675obb.80.1443265031460; Sat, 26 Sep 2015 03:57:11 -0700 (PDT) Return-Path: <brentbbi@webtv.net> Received: from SNT004-OMC3S9.hotmail.com (snt004-omc3s9.hotmail.com. [65.55.90.148]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id u142si3634664oia.90.2015.09.26.03.57.10 (version=TLSv1.2 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-AES128-SHA bits=128/128); Sat, 26 Sep 2015 03:57:11 -0700 (PDT) Received-SPF: pass (google.com: domain of brentbbi@webtv.net designates 65.55.90.148 as permitted sender) client-ip=65.55.90.148; Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; spf=pass (google.com: domain of brentbbi@webtv.net designates 65.55.90.148 as permitted sender) smtp.mailfrom=brentbbi@webtv.net Received: from SNT404-EAS162 ([65.55.90.135]) by SNT004-OMC3S9.hotmail.com over TLS secured channel with Microsoft SMTPSVC(7.5.7601.23008); Sat, 26 Sep 2015 03:57:11 -0700 X-TMN: [0ccj/EjVmQaIeQWNr6AEeWYqwRiSiS+H] X-Originating-Email: [brentbbi@webtv.net] Message-ID: <SNT404-EAS16226A9DF1EFDDC47766D78DF410@phx.gbl> Return-Path: brentbbi@webtv.net Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable From: Brent Budowsky <brentbbi@webtv.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 (1.0) Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2015 06:57:09 -0400 Subject: Pope Francis speech proposal To: John Podesta <john.podesta@gmail.com>, Roy Spence <roy.spence@gsdm.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 26 Sep 2015 10:57:11.0184 (UTC) FILETIME=[183FB100:01D0F84A] Please note: While this memo is addressed to Hillary Clinton, I am sending a= blind copy to Secretary of State Kerry, because Secretary Clinton and Secretary Ke= rry are the two leading American public figures who can give different versions,= from different perspectives, of a major address translating the teachings of the p= ope into actionable policy ideas at the domestic and global level. Let me propose that Hillary give a major address with a title such as "How P= ope Francis Inspires Me" and a subtitle such as "A Bill of Rights for the poor."= Such as speech would combine direct references to specific teachings of Pope Francis= , lessons she has learned from her own Methodist faith, and common teachings=20= about helping the poor from the great religions of the world. Such a speech could emphasize the hope for ultimately setting aside our poli= tical divisions, which the pope explicitly called for in his speech to the joint s= ession of Congress. In my vision of this speech, she would specify her own plan listi= ng details on major issues for a Bill of Rights for the poor, one by one, offer= ing specific major proposals within a broader narrative beginning with Pope Fran= cis and extending to the other great religions And she would pledge, if elected, that one of her first actions in office wo= uld be to seek a bipartisan meeting with Congressional leaders from both par= ties, to develop a bipartisan bill of rights for the poor that would welcome= Republican and conservative ideas, in the tradition of Jack Kemp, along wit= h Democratic and progressive ideas. Such a speech could be in the nature of a formal address, or remarks in the f= orm of a sermon or homily at a church or major religious convention. The venue c= ould be the JFK presidential library, Notre Dame University, St. Patrick's C= athedral, or the National Press Club. And again, since the pope explicitly c= alled for political leaders to set aside their differences in pursuit of hig= her common goals, while the "Bill of Rights for the poor" would have directl= y progressive overtones, the willingness to meet with Republicans and conser= vatives would offer an honorable answer to the pope's call with a legitimate= ly nonpartisan tone. If there is serious interest, I would be more than happy to volunteer to dr= aft either a detailed narrative memo listing content ideas or a first version of speech= language, though I emphasize I would not want money, a job, or any form of public reco= gnition if this works---which I am highly confident it will. I am just so inspired b= y the pope and so disgusted by our politics today that trying to offer any alternative-= --including this note--qualifies as a labor of love. Regarding HRC, I am linking a good brief article detailing her Methodist soc= ial gospel views that I might use as the basis for a future column. Brent http://www.religionnews.com/2015/04/10/5-faith-facts-hillary-clinton-social-= gospel-methodist-core/ Sent from my iPad=