McCain Rejects Hagee's Support

By: Vaughn Ververs
Topics: John McCain

John McCain today said he was rejecting the endorsement of evangelical leader John Hagee as more of the pastor's past controversial remarks came to light. McCain's move comes after a report in the Huffington Post quoting Hagee seeming to argue that the holocaust was God's way of hastening the establishment of the state of Israel.

"How did it happen," Hagee said of the holocaust in a 1990s sermon. "Because God allowed it to happen. Why did it happen? Because God said my top priority for the Jewish people is to get them to come back to the land of Israel."

In a statement released this afternoon, McCain said: "Obviously, I find these remarks and others deeply offensive and indefensible, and I repudiate them. I did not know of them before Reverend Hagee's endorsement, and I feel I must reject his endorsement as well. I have said I do not believe Senator Obama shares Reverend Wright's extreme views. But let me also be clear, Reverend Hagee was not and is not my pastor or spiritual advisor, and I did not attend his church for twenty years. I have denounced statements he made immediately upon learning of them, as I do again today."

Hagee has been a controversial figure since his public endorsement of McCain. The pastor has apologized for disparaging remarks he has made against the Catholic Church and once claimed Hurrican Katrina was caused by plans to hold a gay pride event in New Orleans.

22 Comments +

Add a Comment

See all 22 Comments


by memerider May 23, 2008 1:00 AM EDT: I think McCain blindly went after Bush''s base in order to garner enough votes to win the general election. His aides didn''t do their homework, and now he has to deal with it.

Unfortunately, a highly significant number of Bush voters ARE religious zealots, and it''s a problem for McCain. The Republican party has been hi-jacked by the far right just as the democratic party has been hi-jacked by the far left. We can only hope separation of powers holds up, since it didn''t for a time during the Eisenhower and Bush II administrations, and the religious right made major inroads into U.S. government that continue today.; Reply to this comment


by sweepstoo May 23, 2008 12:10 AM EDT: Any one who has paid any attention at all knows that Rev. Hagee has been pro-Isreal for over 50 years. AS a matter of fact, in July Rev Hagee, senator Joseph Lieberman, Ambassador Sallai Meridor, Senator Rick Santorum, Congressman Mike Pence, and State Rep. Adam Hasner along with a number of others hold cufi in Washtington, D.C. Stand and show support for Isreal and the Jews people.
I have listened to the sermon in question. It wasn''t and isn''t Jew bashing or anything else you want to label it. Nor was the sermon that was taken out of context regarding the catholics. Thank God for Pastor Hagee and what he stands for! I for one, will not be voting for John McCain, nor will I be listening to CBS news. Talk about slanting the news!!! WOW!; Reply to this comment


by sweepstoo May 23, 2008 12:04 AM EDT: Any one who has paid any attention at all knows that Rev. Hagee has been pro-Isreal for over 50 years. AS a matter of fact, in July Rev Hagee, senator Joseph Lieberman, Ambassador Sallai Meridor, Senator Rick Santorum, Congressman Mike Pence, and State Rep. Adam Hasner along with a number of others hold cufi in Washtington, D.C. Stand and show support for Isreal and the Jews people.
I have listened to the sermon in question. It wasn''t and isn''t Jew bashing or anything else you want to label it. Nor was the sermon that was taken out of context regarding the catholics. Thank God for Pastor Hagee and what he stands for! I for one, will not be voting for John McCain, nor will I be listening to CBS news. Talk about slanting the news!!! WOW!; Reply to this comment


by sweepstoo May 22, 2008 11:58 PM EDT: Any one who has paid any attention at all knows that Rev. Hagee has been pro-Isreal for over 50 years. AS a matter of fact, in July Rev Hagee, senator Joseph Lieberman, Ambassador Sallai Meridor, Senator Rick Santorum, Congressman Mike Pence, and State Rep. Adam Hasner along with a number of others hold cufi in Washtington, D.C. Stand and show support for Isreal and the Jews people.
I have listened to the sermon in question. It wasn''t and isn''t Jew bashing or anything else you want to label it. Nor was the sermon that was taken out of context regarding the catholics. Thank God for Pastor Hagee and what he stands for! I for one, will not be voting for John McCain, nor will I be listening to CBS news. Talk about slanting the news!!! WOW!; Reply to this comment


by sweepstoo May 22, 2008 11:57 PM EDT: Any one who has paid any attention at all knows that Rev. Hagee has been pro-Isreal for over 50 years. AS a matter of fact, in July Rev Hagee, senator Joseph Lieberman, Ambassador Sallai Meridor, Senator Rick Santorum, Congressman Mike Pence, and State Rep. Adam Hasner along with a number of others hold cufi in Washtington, D.C. Stand and show support for Isreal and the Jews people.
I have listened to the sermon in question. It wasn''t and isn''t Jew bashing or anything else you want to label it. Nor was the sermon that was taken out of context regarding the catholics. Thank God for Pastor Hagee and what he stands for! I for one, will not be voting for John McCain, nor will I be listening to CBS news. Talk about slanting the news!!! WOW!; Reply to this comment


by omaar-101 May 22, 2008 11:41 PM EDT: JOHN MCCAIN IS SO OLD, HE KNOWS THE NAME OF EACH & EVERY ANIMAL ON ...NOAH`S ARK.

MCCAIN SPECIFICALLY,KNOWS THE NAME OF THE DOVE, THAT BROUGHT THE DRY BRANCH, TO NOAH !!

AS A MATTER OF FACT, MCCAIN IS ...

NOAH !!!; Reply to this comment


by cttullie May 22, 2008 11:13 PM EDT: John Leberman was at the (A pac or O pac) Summit with John Hagee,Leberman called him "The Moses of our time".Not knowing that Hagee''''''''s support of Israel is the ushering in of their annihilation.And their belief of the second coming of Jesus Christ/ (the rapture).It''''''''s not because Hagee has a deep hearted love of the Jewish people,it is only to fulfill prophecy and convert them to Christianity.

Ron Parsley is the other disciple of John Hagee,(to whom McCain has not rejected) spewing out mouthfuls of hate with passion and conviction.And the media wants to focus on Rev.Wright?-(absurd)!
Please, Let''''''''s be real, and take a closer look at the true meaning behind Hagee & Parsleys'''''''' sermons.What do these 2 individuals tell us about John McCain?

WATCH CLIP OF RON PARSLEY ON FULL BLAST:

http://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=WXZbIGJ
rDkg

-oh,but the word "sweetie" is outrageous and offensive?!?!...lol!; Reply to this comment


by cttullie May 22, 2008 10:59 PM EDT: Power of Jews?
How come John McCain did not bother to repudiate Rev. Hagee when millions of Catholics and Muslims were crying loud against the hateful sermens of Hagee but when some one dig out the venom he has spilled against Jews, old man MacCain did not waste a second to repudiate Hagee?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------; Reply to this comment


by sweepstoo May 22, 2008 10:58 PM EDT: Any one who has paid any attention at all knows that Rev. Hagee has been pro-Isreal for over 50 years. AS a matter of fact, in july, he and a numbers of senators have a pro Isreal conferance in washing ton dc.
I for one have listened to the sermon in question. I do hope that fox news plays it through. Maybe it WILL hope your minds and eyes to what was said, and not what cbs said...what a joke....I''ll be changing what channel I get my news from...; Reply to this comment


by cttullie May 22, 2008 10:57 PM EDT: John Leberman was at the (A pac or O pac) Summit with John Hagee,Leberman called him "The Moses of our time".Not knowing that Hagee''''s support of Israel is the ushering in of their annihilation.And their belief of the second coming of Jesus Christ/ (the rapture).It''''s not because Hagee has a deep hearted love of the Jewish people,it is only to fulfill prophecy and convert them to Christianity.

Ron Parsley is the other disciple of John Hagee,(to whom McCain has not rejected) spewing out mouthfuls of hate with passion and conviction.And the media wants to focus on Rev.Wright?-(absurd)!
Please, Let''''s be real, and take a closer look at the true meaning behind Hagee & Parsleys'''' sermons.What do these 2 individuals tell us about John McCain?

WATCH CLIP OF RON PARSLEY ON FULL BLAST:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXZbIGJ
rDkg

-oh,but the word "sweetie" is outrageous and offensive?!?!...lol!; Reply to this comment

See all 22 Comments

Popular Now in Politics

Follow Horserace

RSS »

Most Popular on CBS News

Stories More »

Videos More »

8 Photos | View Gallery »
Fla. police identify "face-eating" naked man
7 Photos | View Gallery »
Doc Watson: 1923-2012
23 Photos | View Gallery »
Buckingham Palace garden party
13 Photos | View Gallery »
2012 French Open
29 Photos | View Gallery »
Ga. student fights to survive flesh-eating bacterial infection

Scroll Left

Scroll Right More »

CBS This Morning now on iPad & iPhone! GET THE FREE APP

CBS News on Facebook

McCain Rejects Hagee's Support

Report offensive content:

E-mail this comment to a friend.

Follow Horserace

CBS This Morning iPad App