Feb. 29, 2008

McCain Faces Fire Over Minister's Views

Presumptive GOP Nominee Faces Questions Over Rev. John Hagee's Provocative Preachings

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    John McCain faces controversy over an endorsement he received from Rev. John Hagee, a San Antonio pastor who has made disparaging comments about the Catholic Church. Jeff Greenfield reports.

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(CBS)  Today, it was Republican frontrunner John McCain's turn to answer mounting questions about one of his supporters, Rev. John Hagee, a San Antonio pastor with a worldwide broadcast ministry, reports CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield.

Hagee has offered some highly provocative views on a variety of subjects.

For instance, he linked Hurricane Katrina to the gay rights movement: " … All of the city was punished because of the sin that happened there in that city."

He has also denounced the Roman Catholic Church as "the great whore of Babylon" and "a cult." He blames it for the Holocaust and predicts its imminent demise.

"This is the apostate church," Hagee said. " … this false religious system is going to be totally devoured by the anti-Christ."

In a statement, Catholics United said: "We hope Senator McCain will take the principled position of publicly and unequivocally distancing himself from Pastor Hagee's anti-Catholic comments."

And Bill Donahue of the Catholic League offered a tougher view: "I do want a clear-cut statement from McCain saying that he knows Catholics have been offended, when this man hagee calls my religon the great whore and a false cult system."

Today, Sen. McCain offered carefully measured words: "I don't have to agree with everyone who endorses my candidacy," he said. "They are supporting my candidacy. I am not endorsing some of their positions."

The question is whether Pastor Hagee's view on the Catholic Church constitutes "a position" or a view that the presumptive Republican nominee has to address head on.

This dust-up may also make it a lot tougher for Republicans to criticize Barack Obama for some of his more controversial supporters.

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Add a Comment See all 874 Comments
by kansas1946 March 3, 2008 10:11 PM EST
Hagee is not a Christian, not even close. Jesus would be horrified to have this creep speaking for him. Anyone who follows this guy or attends his church is not a Christian. Not even close.
Reply to this comment
by leftyintexas March 3, 2008 5:44 PM EST
The Dimnowits are entirely wrong on NAFTA. They want to go back to an isolationist policy and that will hurt America even more. The only change the Dimnowits are gonna effect is a throw back to the 30s and Depression. Why they will at some point in time make sure we are all on government work programs because free trade promotes prosperity and we are all in this together - the haves and have nots will then be equal. Hahahaha.
Posted by mudrose at 01:18

Hey dimwit show us some of that so-called prosperity you say free trade has brought us. Oh, I''m sorry, you must have been talking about China. Poop-for-brains. Only 323 days left! Enjoy!
Reply to this comment
by leftyintexas March 3, 2008 5:39 PM EST
Religion is a business just like any other business.All of them are in it for the money they can squeeze out of you. Either you buy what they''re selling or you don''t. I love watching these people back bite each other like a couple of flea bitten dogs.
Reply to this comment
by mudrose-2009 March 3, 2008 4:18 PM EST
According to McCain - the Dems are wrong on NAFTA -


BUT - McCain wants to give All major corporations immunity for any past indiscretions over the past 7 years. Right now it''''''''s the phone companies - next it will be the Oil companies, Halliburton, Military suppliers who knowingly supplied defective equipment to the troops, then food suppliers for selling tainted foods, then on and on and on.............

Who would you VOTE for?
Posted by watcher269

The Dimnowits are entirely wrong on NAFTA. They want to go back to an isolationist policy and that will hurt America even more. The only change the Dimnowits are gonna effect is a throw back to the 30s and Depression. Why they will at some point in time make sure we are all on government work programs because free trade promotes prosperity and we are all in this together - the haves and have nots will then be equal. Hahahaha.
Reply to this comment
by infidel_us March 3, 2008 2:24 PM EST
Why does CBS, et al, not care what Fauxbama''s ''minister'' says about race??? The LAMEstream media''s double standard strikes again!
Reply to this comment
by elsylee28 March 3, 2008 2:20 PM EST
BTW guys I found some brilliant/awesome analysis on Obama%u2019s campaign. I haven%u2019t seen anything like this mentioned anywhere in the MSM.
Check out %u201CAl-Qaeda Gets Offended%u201D www.savagepolitics.com/?p=162 and %u201CPredatory Lenders and the Red Phone%u201D on www.savagepolitics.com/?p=158

Plus check the news article %u201CThe Intern%u2026.%u201D
Reply to this comment
by elsylee28 March 3, 2008 2:19 PM EST
Check out the article "The Intern..." at www.savagepolitics.com
Here is an excerpt:%u201C...the start of the Tony Rezko case in Illinois%u2026The case has plenty of new prosecution witnesses and novel evidence that are prone to certainly embarrass the Presidential hopeful. Recently the head magistrate in the case, Judge Amy St Eve, declared that the presentation of evidence regarding the finder%u2019s fee ($375,000) which was allegedly skimmed from investment quotas paid by the Illinois state teachers%u2019 pension fund, must include the $10,000 which ended up in the Obama campaign through the donation of a man called Joseph Aramanda. The prosecution has found that many of these %u201Credirections%u201D of funds to Obama (and others) were done at Rezko%u2019s direct behest and not on their own accord. Additionally it has been found that Mr. Aramanda%u2019s son, John Aramanda, was able to land a %u2018highly coveted%u2019 internship in Barack Obama%u2019s Washington Senate office a year after said funds landed in the Senator%u2019s campaign bank account..."
Reply to this comment
by watcher269-2009 March 3, 2008 5:55 AM EST
According to McCain - the Dems are wrong on NAFTA -


BUT - McCain wants to give All major corporations immunity for any past indiscretions over the past 7 years. Right now it''''s the phone companies - next it will be the Oil companies, Halliburton, Military suppliers who knowingly supplied defective equipment to the troops, then food suppliers for selling tainted foods, then on and on and on.............

Who would you VOTE for?
Reply to this comment
by pilgrimsway-2009 March 3, 2008 1:56 AM EST
Candide777
Did you ever try the real snake oil Jesus?
Reply to this comment
by tibu987 March 3, 2008 1:44 AM EST
The following was posted by k2345 on the CBS News O/L Comments Section, 02/28/08
Science has provided us with knowledge to change things. When mankind finally accepts the fact that there is no supernatural, loving God out there who has control of everything, we will have to take another look at the bible. Faith is so powerful that it makes men willing to die. The faithful have been killing one another for over two thousand years. The Muslims are blowing themselves up through faith. Not logical. The religions of the Mayans and Aztecs were not aware of the supernatural God of Christians. Not logical for a supernatural God. Faith and truth are not compatible.
Faith is a killer. Faith is belief in something for which there is no proof. Most people will readily question the faith of others; but few have the honesty and moral courage to question their own faith. Faith is what makes otherwise reasonable and logical people do strange things. Faith is what is driving the war in the Middle East. If an atomic bomb is used it will be by a nation who does it because they believe God told them to. Rational men will never use atomic weapons again.
There is plenty of repeatable evidence to prove that this universe and everything in it came for the Big Bang. Evolution is provable with DNA. Let''''''''s hope science and reason and logic will result in people learning to live together without killing each other over differences in religious Dogma.
k2345

amen to that......................

Reply to this comment
by candide777 March 3, 2008 1:41 AM EST
You took that much time to change all that without commenting to me on it. Shame on u.
Posted by pilgrimsway at 09:20 PM : Mar 02, 2008

And shame on you for trying to sell snake oil as "truth," and for spamming.

How is that for a comment?
Reply to this comment
by tibu987 March 3, 2008 1:36 AM EST
The thing I will remember most about John McCain as he goes down in flames is his asinine quote:

"I don''t think Americans care if we are in Iraq for 10 years, 100 years, or 10,000 years.

How far can McCain be from reality and still expect to be President of the U.S.?

Wow! Scary!
Reply to this comment
by pilgrimsway-2009 March 3, 2008 12:32 AM EST
People vs. Ruggles (1811)

%u201CWhatever strikes at the root of Christianity tends manifestly to the dissolution of civil government.%u201D
(Profanity intent against Jesus Christ)
An attack on Jesus Christ is an attack on Christianity.
An attack on Christianity is an attack on the foundation of the country.
An attack on Jesus Christ was an attack on the country.

The man got 3 months in jail and a $500.00 fine for His profanity against the country with His profanity against Jesus Christ!!
This case occurred two decades after the first amendment was in place!
Separation of church and state is in no founding document!

It was only in a letter to a church in Danbury Conn. By Thomas Jefferson on the fear that it might come to pass that one church would be realized as the national church.
The argument arises because eight words were lifted from a whole paragraph and twisted to mean another thing. This would be evident to anyone reading the letter for themselves!! Even a child in third grade would attest to this. The problem for us is we want what we want when we want it and we would not have an authority guiding us. We were lead to believe that this authority dictates to us what we must do, the religion part. Even in that sense I would rebel. But in the sense of the intent of the founding fathers it was to have national freedom and principles to guide us with. The principles of God!
Reply to this comment
by pilgrimsway-2009 March 3, 2008 12:31 AM EST
That%u2019s the problem with Christianity? If talking to a religionists you%u2019re getting to know how to conform to a way and then to frustration, who needs it. Talking to a Christian you%u2019re getting to know how to have a personal relationship with God through Christ! Do you want self? Do you want God? Call on Jesus right now to help with your unbelief! Ask Jesus in and help you in your weakness. He loves you He died for you. He is alive!
Reply to this comment
by pilgrimsway-2009 March 3, 2008 12:20 AM EST
Posted by Candide777 at 09:17 PM : Mar 02, 2008

You took that much time to change all that without commenting to me on it. Shame on u.
Reply to this comment
by candide777 March 3, 2008 12:17 AM EST
Thats the problem with Bozoanity? If talking to a religionists your getting how to conform to a way and then to frustration, who needs it. Talking to a Bozoan your getting to know how to have a personal relationship with God Through Bozo! Do you want self? Do you want God. Call on Bozo right now to help with your unbelief! Ask Bozo in and help you in your weakness. He loves you He died for you. Bozo is the light, the truth and the way. I know this because God told me so in a vision. He also said that nonbelievers would doubt me, and sure enough they do, which just proves that Bozo is the son of God!
Reply to this comment
by pilgrimsway-2009 March 3, 2008 12:12 AM EST
That%u2019s the problem with Christianity? If talking to a religionists you%u2019re getting to know how to conform to a way and then to frustration, who needs it. Talking to a Christian you%u2019re getting to know how to have a personal relationship with God through Christ! Do you want self? Do you want God? Call on Jesus right now to help with your unbelief! Ask Jesus in and help you in your weakness. He loves you He died for you.
Reply to this comment
by candide777 March 3, 2008 12:12 AM EST
FEMA is a cover for a black-suited army training for a fake emergency and subsequent martial law.
Posted by caliengineer at 08:55 PM : Mar 02, 2008

LOL! If only FEMA (or any part of our government) were that well-organized! FEMA brings to mind Murphy''s law, not martial law.
Reply to this comment
by pilgrimsway-2009 March 3, 2008 12:11 AM EST
Thats the problem with Christianity? If talking to a religionists your getting how to conform to a way and then to frustration, who needs it. Talking to a Christian your getting to know how to have a personal relationship with God Through Christ! Do you want self? Do you want God. Call on Jesus right now to help with your unbelief! Ask Jesus in and help you in your weakness. He loves you He died for you.
Reply to this comment
by pilgrimsway-2009 March 3, 2008 12:08 AM EST
Thats the problem with Christianity? If talking to a religionists your getting how to conform to a way and then to frustration, who needs it. Talking to a Christian your getting to know how to have a personal relationship with God Through Christ! Do you want self? Do you want God. Call on Jesus right now to help with you unbelief!
Reply to this comment
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