McCain Rejects Divisive Pastors' Support

Statement Issued After Remarks About Hitler Revealed; Controversial Televangelist Endorsed McCain In February

(CBS/AP)  Republican John McCain on Thursday rejected endorsements from two influential but controversial televangelists, saying there is no place for their incendiary criticisms of other faiths.

McCain has faced a barrage of criticism, with some comparing the situation to the controversy faced by Democrat Barack Obama over the views of his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

"John Hagee has been a thorn in John McCain's side for months now," said CBS News correspondent Chip Reid.

McCain rejected the months-old endorsement of Texas preacher Hagee after an audio recording surfaced in which the preacher said God sent Adolf Hitler to help Jews reach the promised land. McCain called the comment "crazy and unacceptable."

He later also repudiated the support of Rod Parsley, an Ohio preacher who has sharply criticized Islam and called the religion inherently violent.

McCain issued a statement Thursday afternoon announcing his decision about Hagee.

"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," he said.

Later, in Stockton, he told reporters: "I just think that the statement is crazy and unacceptable."

CBS News has learned that one of the reasons that McCain distanced himself from Hagee was that the San Antonio minister was preparing to withdraw his endorsement.

Then in an interview with The Associated Press, McCain said he rejected Parsley's support, too.

"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, and I reject his endorsement," McCain told the AP.

Hagee had sparked controversy since the San Antonio pastor endorsed McCain on Feb. 27 shortly before the Texas presidential primary. Parsley's views were aired Thursday in an ABC News report.

McCain actively courted Hagee, who leads a megachurch with a congregation in the tens of thousands and has an even wider television audience. Former GOP presidential rivals also sought Hagee's backing.

Hagee has referred to the Roman Catholic Church as "the great whore" and called it a "false cult system." He also has linked Hitler to the Catholic church, suggesting it helped shape his anti-Semitism. And Hagee said Hurricane Katrina was God's retribution for homosexual sin.

McCain has faced a barrage of criticism over Hagee, with some comparing the situation to the controversy Democrat Barack Obama faced over the views of his longtime and now former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

McCain tried Thursday to draw a distinction between the Obama-Wright connection and his own relationships with Parsley and Hagee, saying Hagee was not his pastor.

"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. I didn't attend their church for 20 years. I'm not a member of their church."

Obama, who was campaigning in Florida, said that in national politics it's easy to find people who have said or done offensive things.

"John McCain has to deal with Hagee, who said something that is mind-boggling. I don't attribute those statements to John McCain. Nobody thinks McCain believes that stuff," Obama said. "And for McCain to then suggest that every single statement that was made by somebody is somehow attributable to me is just wrong. It is just not accurate."

Until now, McCain had tried to distance himself from Hagee's views but had not rejected the endorsement.

"I'm glad to have his endorsement," he said on ABC's "This Week" in April. "I condemn remarks that are, in any way, viewed as anti-anything."

The Arizona senator has said he sought Hagee's support because the pastor, like himself, is a strong supporter of Israel.

The formation of Israel was at the heart of the remarks that prompted McCain to reject Hagee's support. The comments came in a sermon Hagee gave in the late 1990s, an audio recording of which was posted last week on the liberal blog Talk to Action and reported by The Huffington Post, another liberal blog.

In the sermon, Hagee said, "Then God sent a hunter. A hunter is someone with a gun, and he forces you. Hitler was a hunter. ... How did it happen? 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."'

Hagee tried to repair the damage by apologizing to Catholics in a letter released just last week. Saying he had emphasized the darkest chapters in the history of Catholic and Protestant relationships with Jews, Hagee wrote, "I want to express my deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful."

On Thursday, Hagee issued a new statement saying he was weary of the controversy and was withdrawing his endorsement.

Hagee said critics are "grossly misrepresenting my position on issues most near and dear to my heart."

"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. "I have therefore decided to withdraw my endorsement of Senator McCain for president effective today, and to remove myself from any active role in the 2008 campaign."

The other pastor, Parsley, has described Islam as an "anti-Christ religion" and the Muslim prophet Muhammad as "the mouthpiece of a conspiracy of spiritual evil," according to ABC News.

[kissamaarse]

Since it is the corporate media, this will not be dragged through the mud for 6 weeks like Obama had to endure because of Rev. Wright. We do live with our double standards, don''t we?

[kissamaarse]

And part of the point is that most readers will not even pay attention because the corporate media, with its double standard, focused all of its attention on a few words from Wright, and has almost entirely ignored the hatred and racism that comes from Hagee''s mouth, for Catholics, and now for Jews.

[tawpdawg11]

He''s under the bus .......NOW! MSM, burn rubber!

[tawpdawg11]

Would someone please post a link to the YOUTUBE so I can decide for myself after I view it for a few months?

Thanks in advance! : )

[shawnp1968]

"He who cast the first stone...." LOL

Karma is a B I T C H !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[plantrights]

John McCain who voted to club the Pribilof Island
seals.. did not reject Hagee because of his animal
abuse... Hagee wants to turn American churches
into butcher blocks... he wants to reintroduce
animal sacrifice

[plantrights]

John McCain who voted to club the Pribilof Island
seals.. did not reject Hagee because of his animal
abuse... Hagee wants to turn American churches
into butcher blocks... he wants to reintroduce
animal sacrifice

John McCain was bombing women in a Hanoi light
bulb factory when shot down..

[denn034]

The evangelical Lamplighter magazine (http://www.lamblion.com/) just accused Hagee of "gross apostasy" for teaching dual covenant theology in his new In Defense of Israel book. That would make McCain''s action and good thing.

[rowdywicca]

Well, now all the Obamabots can quit honking on this and let''s just forget about it! Isn''t politics just GREAT!

[chibueve2008]

Actually when you think of it, I see no contoversy in Pastor Hagee''s comments, except of course if you do not understand the premise and religious texts used here. He is not saying that God "caused the Holocust" just like he did cause the death of Jesus on the cross, but that he allowed it. There is a great differece. When we say God allows certain events to happen, we mean that he would use what Satan meant for evil and turn it to good in line with his eternal purpose. The same can be said for natural disasters of all kinds, and other tragedies man-made or otherwise. I believe it is important to understand that God in some cases do intervene to prevent tragedies but only if we let him- when we pray.

[rowdywicca]

Haggee who???

[rowdywicca]

Now we won''t have to beat this dead horse anymore...right Sarge???

[rowdywicca]

Now, I wanna tell ya....I reject, renounce, denounce, repudiate, and promise to forget every words that my pastor of 30 years has taught me.

And all you Obama honkers are just gonna believe that aren''t ya?

I guess that makes John McCain the best candidate on the slate because he denounces his pastors teachings.

Right Obama honkers??? Right?

[petesis]

Actually Christianity was the root of the holocaust. Hitler was a devotee and took advantage of centuries old anti semitism promulgated by the christian church in Europe. The Jews were seen as the christ killers. They were discriminated against for years. The Holocaust was the final straw. Hitler even called it the Final Solution, alluding to it as being a long term problem. But most christians seem to be totally and blissfully ignorant of this. That was why there was such a stink about Mel Gibsons Passion movie. Nice.

[rowdywicca]

John McCain renounces his pastor''s statements!!!! Now let''s just ALL go vote and put him in the White House!

Right Obama honkers? Right?

[cdfoxtrot]

RowdyWicca, wouldn''t you be happier listing to your favorite hate-radio people, or, even better, watching Faux News? Your "message" is lost here, no matter how many times you post the same message, over and over.

[fairbalance2]

Hagee is not McCain''s Paster. Why can''t you liberals get that straight? He simply endorsed him; if you want an example of a Paster who has influence on a person life you need to look to Obama.

[octoberxs]

Well that''s one down, when does he reject the support of George "Dubya" Bush and Karl Rove. You know the guys that lied 935 times to drive us into an illegal war. The ones that manipulated the Office of the Attorney General to steal elections across the nation, the ones that authorized rendering and torture of "suspects" against international law?... heck this list goes on for more than 1500 characters allowed by the site but you get the idea.

[rowdywicca]

RowdyWicca, wouldn''''t you be happier listing to your favorite hate-radio people, or, even better, watching Faux News? Your "message" is lost here, no matter how many times you post the same message, over and over.



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Posted by cdfoxtrot at 05:14 PM : May 22, 2008

No, it''s more fun watching Obama bamboozle the democratic voters with his marketing event!

[moneymcbush]

Another flippity flop from McCain. He was for Hagee but now he''s against him. He wouldnt repudiate him over his defamation of the catholic church but he''ll do it for the Jewish vote. This guys such a wi mp. Politics have have made him so weak, he''ll cave to anyone theses days.

[rudy654-2009]

Actually Christianity was the root of the holocaust. Hitler was a devotee and took advantage of centuries old anti semitism promulgated by the christian church in Europe. The Jews were seen as the christ killers. They were discriminated against for years. The Holocaust was the final straw. Hitler even called it the Final Solution, alluding to it as being a long term problem. But most christians seem to be totally and blissfully ignorant of this. That was why there was such a stink about Mel Gibsons Passion movie. Nice.
Posted by Petesis at 05:07 PM

Well said. And let''s not forget that Hitler also enjoyed the old pagan myths about their German superiority. Quite a combo!

[jeffstersf]

Republicans are basically modern day Nazis and McCain is their new Dear Leader. Vote McCain, continue the Bush hatred legacy.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by fairbalance2 at 05:17 PM

McCain didn''t know about his wild ideas until yesterday? Really?

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by RowdyWicca at 05:29 PM

Rowdy! You are wearing your religion today. What happened?

[idnnsg]

"Hagee is not McCain''s Paster. ... He simply endorsed him" - fairbalance2

No, McCain ACTIVELY SOUGHT OUT HIS ENDORSEMENT. Johhny McShame WANTED his endorsement, to shore up his creds with the freakevangelicals. McCain thought it would be GOOD FOR his candidacy. McCain just didn''t realize that many of the extremely ugly things Hagee said would get wide exposure, outside of the fanatics who regularly lap up every word from the lunatic. That shows very poor judgement on McCain''s part!

[dogsoul]

....whatta stretch liberals/Obamamites -

doesn''t even come CLOSE to Rev Wright

try again

[megamanx1-2009]

GEE ONLY TOOK HIM FOUR MONTHS....I GUESS HE DIDN''T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HAGEE SAYING THAT KATRINA WAS GOD''S WAY OF GETTING RID OF G.A.Y.S...BUT NOW THAT HE ADDED IN THE JEWS, SUDDENLY MCSAME IS OFFENDED.....RIGHT...

[steeepe]

How many religious wackos are out there? Seems like they''re popping up all over the place. Are Americans really that gullible?

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by dogsoul at 05:39 PM

No that was different. Uh huh. Because he''s white.

[rowdywicca]

Posted by fairbalance2 at 05:17 PM

McCain didn''''t know about his wild ideas until yesterday? Really?


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Posted by rudy654 at 05:33 PM : May 22, 2008

Well, Grandpa McCain''s a little faster than Obama, it took Obama 20 years to figure it out!

[robroyh390]

Wright made his remarks AFTER Obama joined his church. Obama could not have known about those remarks when he joined that church

Hagee made his remark BEFORE Magoo went wh0ring for his endorsement; Magoo KNEW about those remarks and still went wh0ring for his endorsement. Magoo is now squirming because he was believed his so called "maverick" status would give him a free ride

Magoo showed **** poor judgement in wh0ring for the endorsement of Hagge
Magoo showed **** poor judgement in supporting the war in Iraq and claiming there were thosands of tonnes of WMD in Iraq
Magoo showed **** poor judgement in advocating his assnine gas tax holiday
Magoo showed **** poor judgement in supporting the codpiece''s tax cust for the rich
Magoo showed **** poor judgement in staffing his comic campaign with nothing but lobbysists
Magoo showed **** poor judgement in the Keating 5 Scandal

Magoo''s entire life is a litany of **** poor judgements, incompetence, and stupidity

[rudy654-2009]

How many religious wackos are out there? Seems like they''''re popping up all over the place. Are Americans really that gullible?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by steeepe at 05:42 PM

All these guys make the oddest statements. From Robertson and Falwell to this guy. Their followers are on here daily saying the stupidest things. Didn''t you know that Obama is the Anti-Christ come a a callin? That is an example.

[summarex]

Wow!

The guy insults Catholics but it''s not a problem for McCain. But he makes a questionable comment about jews and their Israel and that''s it he''s out! Meanwhile the other guy running, goes to Florida and makes a servile speech in which he stabbs Carter in the back for having sdared tro talk to the enemies of the Israelis.

Hmm. It kind of makes me wonder. Are these bozos running for president of Israel?

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by RowdyWicca at 05:43 PM

Whatever is in the frosting you put on those cookies?

[rowdywicca]

Wright made his remarks AFTER Obama joined his church. Obama could not have known about those remarks when he joined that church

Posted by robroyh390 at 05:44 PM : May 22, 2008

Oh bull *****! Wright made the speech the Sunday after 9/11, and the one about HIllary never being called the ''N'' word since the campaigns began!!!

Get real!

[randynason]

Well, maybe God sent MacCain to help the Republican Party reach the promised land. Did ya ever think of that?!!

[rowdywicca]

Wright made his remarks AFTER Obama joined his church. Obama could not have known about those remarks when he joined that church

Posted by robroyh390 at 05:44 PM : May 22, 2008

Whatta crock! Wright has been his spiritual mentor for 20 years! If Obama hasn''t figured it out he has no business running for the office of president!

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by RowdyWicca at 05:47 PM

Admit Rowdy, if Hagee had endorsed Obama instead, it would be one more reason for you to hate a black man.

[ajayvee]

summarex wrote: The guy insults Catholics but it''s not a problem for McCain. But he makes a questionable comment about jews and their Israel and that''''s it he''s out!

Well, get used to it. A couple of weeks ago, the Canadian Prime Minister announced that disagreement with and criticism of Israeli policies is thinly-disguised anti-semitism. It''s an election year, my friend, and you don''t win federal elections by alienating the Jewish vote.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by RowdyWicca at 05:49 PM

IN what church do any of these politicians go, that the stupidest things aren''t said? We already have Graham on record saying things about Jews to Nixon, and how many presidents loved Graham?

[robroyh390]

Wright has been his spiritual mentor for 20 years! If Obama hasn''''t figured it out he has no business running for the office of president!




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Posted by RowdyWicca at 05:49 PM : May 22, 2008 "

Magoo went wh0ring for the endorsemnt of the scumbag Hagee - Magoo has ZERO business holding any job whatsoever as he has **** poor judgement

[robroyh390]

take Pat Robertson for example, everytime he''''s on television all he does is inject his stupid opinions and ask for money. Beware of false prophets.


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Posted by SkyFive at 05:52 PM : May 22, 2008 "

If those dumb rural types want to give what little money they have to flobertson - that''s their problem.
Just make damned sure that the rest of the country isn''t taxed more to ensure these morons have enough to eat because they gave their food money to pat

[tracymoorgan]

McCain is from Arizona, and Hagee is from Texas. This isnt McCains pastor. Its not comprable to Obamas 20 year relationship with Wright.

[moneymcbush]

My friends, I do not support the New GI Bill.

My friends, Im a fraud, Maverick my a ss.

My friends, I love Jewish voters not Catholics.

My friends, Im on my knees for lobbyists like my friend Larry Craig in a mens room.

[quetzalcrist]

AAAHhhh the fat tub-o-lardo Hagee,
Squeealing his way to a few more souls

[singingrick]

McCain actively courted Hagee, who leads a megachurch with a congregation in the tens of thousands and has an even wider television audience. Former GOP presidential rivals also sought Hagee''s backing.

[shanev137]

McCain is a snake, a con artist, and a raving lunatic.

I can''t wait until all his dirt comes out in the general election.

[sgtrds-e4]

McCain is a snake, a con artist, and a raving lunatic.

I can''''t wait until all his dirt comes out in the general election.

Posted by shanev137 at 06:15 PM : May 22, 2008

Naw, he used to be. Now he''s just senile.

[obamaslady]

McSame initially sought out HAGEEHITLER''s endorsement (thinking it would automatically give him the Evangelical vote like Bush got). Then when HAGEEHITLER said some offensive things about the Catholics being ******, McSame said he did not approve but was still very happy to have HAGEEHITLER''s support. Then HAGEEHITLER endorsed McSame and he was oh so happy for that endorsement. But now that McSame has heard some very HORRENDOUS things about HAGEEHITLER he has decided he no longer wants HAGEEHITLER''s endorsement. Wonder if McSame finally decided to investigate for himself who HAGEEHITLER really was instead of just taking someone else''s word for that information. Well I want to share HAGEEHITLER with all of you, so I have provided the link to the phucking LUNATIC so you can see for yourselves. BOY, IS THIS THE MCSAME "STRAIGHT TALKER", OR IS THIS THE ''REAL MCSAME "DOUBLE TALKER"?? BTW, HAGEEHITLER makes Wright look like a "*** cat"! Enjoy the video!

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=john_hagees_controversial_gospel

[kissamaarse]

McCain sought out Hagee''s endorsement even after Hagee essentially called all Catholics wh or es. Obama never SOUGHT Wright''s political endorsement. Now Hagee has picked on Jews, saying that Hitler was sent by God. Of course McCain must now denounce his spiritual advisor, just like Obama did with his. The difference is that the corporate media persecuted Obama for a month. By tomorrow the corporate media will have no more talk about McCain -- until Rev. Parsley, McCain''s other spiritual advisor, makes his next stupid move. There is truly a double-standard in the corporate media coverage between McCain and Obama.