May 22, 2008 4:19 PM
- Text
McCain Rejects Hagee's Support
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.
"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.
Popular Now in Politics
- Timothy Dolan: Birth control tweak a "first step"
- Archbishop Dolan urges Obama to back down on birth control
- CPAC: Santorum rips Romney, rouses conservatives
- After uproar, Obama tweaks birth control rule
- Santorum: Women could bring "emotions" to combat
- STOCK Act passes in House
- Ann Coulter riles up the CPAC crowd
- Obama to announce revamp of birth control policy
- Santorum's big benefactor
- Former Giffords aide to run for her House seat
- CPAC: Huckabee "thanks" Obama for birth control firestorm
- CPAC: Will Sarah Palin spring a surprise?
- Romney says his conservatism will shine
- Report: Chicago cardinal joins contraceptives fight
- Occupy protestors kicked out of CPAC
- Romney takes on hecklers at Maine town hall
- Is Rick Santorum conservatives' last, best hope?
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook
on CBS News
- Feds investigating Nagin travel, family business
- Schoolgirls excluded from Dallas movie screening
- Remains of another 9/11 victim identified in NYC
- Comforter in Powell unit tests positive for blood
on Facebook
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
- Josh Powell had "incestuous" images on his home computer, authorities say
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
on CBS News





