In Rejecting Pastor, McCain Takes Swipe at Obama

By: John Bentley
Topics: John McCain

(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley:

Calling his statements "crazy and unacceptable," John McCain strongly repudiated Texas pastor John Hagee, after the televangelist insinuated Hitler helped the Jews reach the promised land. "Obviously, I find these remarks and others deeply offensive and indefensible," McCain said. "I did not know of them before Rev. Hagee's endorsement, and I feel I must reject his endorsement as well."

CBS News has learned that one of the reasons that McCain distanced himself from Hagee today was that the San Antonio minister was preparing to withdraw his endorsement. "I am tired of these baseless attacks and fear that they have become a distraction in what should be a national debate about important issues," Hagee said in a statement issued shortly after McCain repudiated his endorsement. "I have therefore decided to withdraw my endorsement of Sen. McCain for president effective today, and to remove myself from any active role in the 2008 campaign."

But McCain wasn't finished rejecting endorsements from ministers. He also repudiated Rev. Rod Parsley, and Ohio preacher who had made derogatory comments about Muslims, calling Islam "an anti-Christ religion that intends through violence to conquer the world."

"I believe there is no place for that kind of dialogue in America, and I believe that even though he endorsed me, and I didn't endorse him, the fact is that I repudiate such talk," McCain said in an interview with the Associated Press. "I reject his endorsement."

While distancing himself from the two ministers, McCain also took a shot at Barack Obama, and the controversy surrounding his pastor. "I didn't attend their church for 20 years," McCain said, referring to Obama's relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. "I'm not a member of their church." Obama had also referred to Wright as his spiritual mentor, but has since distanced himself from him. "My church I attend is North Phoenix Baptist Church, my pastor and spiritual guide is Pastor Dan Yeary," McCain said. "I've never been to Pastor Hagee's church or Pastor Parsley's church."

Obama responded by saying that the Rev. Wright did not speak for him. "John McCain is having going to have to deal with Hagee, who said stuff that is mind boggling," Obama said. "I don't attribute those statements to John McCain. Nobody thinks that McCain believes that stuff. And for McCain to then suggest that every single statement that was made by somebody somehow attributable to me, is just wrong."

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by cbsespo May 23, 2008 2:32 PM EDT: Iwonder if the media will now play endless loops of audio and video snippets of Hagee and Parsley without regard to context for several weeks ?

Iwonder if .....?; Reply to this comment


by jld1959 May 23, 2008 1:39 PM EDT: I think McCain is losing his bearings (moral compass) to often.
How could he reconcile with leaving our troops in Iraq as long as he thinks necessary, but he would not support the new GI bill, Is there reason that Veterans groups are not supporting McCain.
His rational that the soldiers would leave the military after 3 years of Military Service. These are the same benefits that were available to Sen McCain.
Hypocrisy from the flip flop express. Luckily the bill passed with bipartisan support.

"Of the troops and for the troops"

Obama 08; Reply to this comment


by rowdywicca May 23, 2008 11:43 AM EDT: Obama responded by saying that the Rev. Wright did not speak for him. %u201CJohn McCain is having going to have to deal with Hagee, who said stuff that is mind boggling,%u201D Obama said. %u201CI don%u2019t attribute those statements to John McCain. Nobody thinks that McCain believes that stuff. And for McCain to then suggest that every single statement that was made by somebody somehow attributable to me, is just wrong.%u201D

Like hell you and your hit men didn''t do this little prank! You are AGAIN a LIAR!

And McCain was right ON! You swilled yourself in Rev. Wright''s hate message for 20 years and called him your spiritual mentor!

But EVEN WORSE than that you tried to LIE about it! Flat out bald-faced lie!; Reply to this comment


by PacificGatePost May 23, 2008 6:30 AM EDT: Separation of church and state? %u2013 not so much.

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/05/religious-political-endorsements.html

Perhaps McCain is learning.; Reply to this comment


by jaybs3 May 23, 2008 6:01 AM EDT: You can''t Learn an Old Dog New Tricks!! - just like Hillary, McCain will commit the very same mistakes, they are both the politics, tactics and ideas of the Past!

The majority of US Voters want Change that is clear and only Senator Barack Obama will ever deliver.; Reply to this comment


by Regensburger May 23, 2008 5:36 AM EDT: If John McCain is a member of a Baptist church, his pastor Yeary''s views on Catholicism, the Rapture and more won''t be all that far from John Hagee''s. Why doesn''t a good investigative journalist ask him some hard questions about those topics, and not let him off the hook until he tells the truth?; Reply to this comment


by Regensburger May 23, 2008 5:35 AM EDT: Lay off McCain on account of his age, willya? Look how vital Reagan remained in his 70s.; Reply to this comment


by mrtutto May 23, 2008 4:06 AM EDT: I think that McCain is getting a little rattled. Maybe he got a little rusty because he was basically by himself while the Democrats were busy destroying each other. This was about a pastor who endorsed him, It had nothing to do with Obama''s pastor. He showed us that he can get a little defensive and Obama has been getting under his skin. What I find most interesting is that you can really sense when he is getting nervous.
Definitely not a good poker player.; Reply to this comment


by omaar-101 May 23, 2008 2:46 AM EDT: McCain On Baptism Plans: ''It''s a Private Thing.''

From CNN''s Rebecca Sinderbrand, CNN''s Tasha Diakides

For the most part, McCain keeps a veil of PRIVACY AROUND HIS FAITH .

ABOARD THE STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS (CNN) %u2014 John McCain, who rarely talks about his Faith Publicly, discussed some of his Religious Beliefs with Reporters Wednesday - including the question of whether he might consider being baptized again.

The presumptive Republican nominee talked with journalists traveling with him from Kentucky to West Virginia about his home congregation, North Phoenix Baptist Church.

"Pastor Dan Yeary has a Message I Enjoy and Appreciate," he said, adding that he and his family have "Grown Close to [Yeary] over the years" and that HE TRIED to ATTEND SERVICES at the church whenever he was home in Arizona.

"The message that Dan Yeary Conveys of Christian Love and redemption is one that I welcome," said McCain.

The Arizona senator, who was raised an Episcopalian, has Attended North Phoenix for Nearly 2 DECADES, but is NOT A MEMBER because HE HAS NOT BEEN ...BAPTIZED into the CHURCH.; Reply to this comment


by omaar-101 May 23, 2008 2:37 AM EDT: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/20/mccain-confronted-with-ne_n_102614.html

Let''s be clear: Iran has a very complex system of government with varying institutions, but at the top of it sits Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who essentially has only accountable to the Council of Guardians made up of clerics, many of whom are appointed by Khamenei. So, Ahmadinejad is not the leader.

And as the Council on Foreign Relations explains, especially in the area of foreign policy, Ahmadinejad has very little influence.

On top of that as Klein points out, the Presidents job is to educate the public on questions of policy. So if the "average American" thinks that Ahmadinejad is the ultimate leader of Iran, its up to the President to dissuade them of this notion - not reinforce it.

Back in 2002 more then half of Americans thought Saddam was responsible for 9/11 and President Bush did nothing to disprove this assumption (In fact, while never directly claiming that Saddam was responsible for 9/11 the Administration did everything it could to reinforce the notion). That doesnt mean our policy should be based on those false assumptions.; Reply to this comment