John McCain is in a minor dust-up at the moment over the endorsement of notorious anti-Catholic, anti-Muslim, anti-gay bigot John Hagee. Not only did McCain appear onstage with the clownish hater, but he actually had this to say about his endorsement:
And I am very proud of the Pastor John Hagee’s spiritual leadership to thousands of people and I am proud of his commitment to the independence and the freedom of the state of Israel. That does not mean that I support or endorse or agree with some of the things that Pastor John Hagee might have said or positions that he may have taken on other issues. I don’t have to agree with everyone who endorses my candidacy. They are supporting my candidacy. I am not endorsing some of their positions.
This is the kind of “spiritual leadership” offered by Hagee:
Towelheads are coming! “Islam in general—those who live by the Koran have a scriptural mandate to kill Christians and Jews.”New Orleans is Sodom! “I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that.”
I’ll get you, Potter! “As millions of people anticipate the release of the latest Harry Potter book and film, we’re reminded once again of Satan’s ongoing attempt to deceive and destroy. The whole purpose of the Potter books is to desensitize readers and introduce them to the occult.”
And the above does not include some of the most nauseating, bigoted, anti-Catholic statements ever uttered in modern America:
“Anti-Semitism in Christianity began with the statements of the early church fathers, including Eusebius, Cyril, Chrysostom, Augustine, Origen, Justin, and Jerome …. This poisonous stream of venom came from the mouths of spiritual leaders to virtually illiterate congregants, sitting benignly in their pews, listening to their pastors. They labeled the Jews as ‘the Christ killers, plague carriers, demons, children of the devil, bloodthirsty pagans who look for an innocent child during the Easter week to drink his blood, money hungry Shylocks, who are deceitful as Judas was relentless.’”· “The Roman Catholic Church, which was supposed to carry the light of the gospel, plunged the world into the Dark Ages…. The Crusaders were a motley mob of thieves, rapists, robbers, and murderers whose sins had been forgiven by the pope in advance of the Crusade ….The brutal truth is that the Crusades were military campaigns of the Roman Catholic Church to gain control of Jerusalem from the Muslims and to punish the Jews as the alleged Christ killers on the road to and from Jerusalem.”
· “The Spanish Inquisition was perhaps the most cynical plot in the black history of Catholicism, aimed at expropriating the property of wealthy Jews and converts in Spain for the benefit of the royal court and the Roman Catholic Church.”
· “Adolf Hitler attended a Catholic school as a child and heard all the fiery anti-Semitic rantings from Chrysostom to Martin Luther. When Hitler became a global demonic monster, the Catholic Church and Pope Pius XII never, ever slightly criticized him. Pope Pius XII, called by historians ‘Hitler’s Pope,’ joined Hitler in the infamous Concordat of Collaboration, which turned the youth of Germany over to Nazism, and the churches became the stage background for the bloodthirsty cry, ‘Pereat Judea’.... In all of his [Hitler’s] years of absolute brutality, he was never denounced or even scolded by Pope Pius XII or any Catholic leader in the world. To those Christians who believe that Jewish hearts will be warmed by the sight of the cross, please be informed—to them it’s an electric chair.”
How this man has amassed the influence and power he has is frankly beyond my comprehension. To realize that still, in this day and age, there is the kind of virulent anti-Catholic bigotry that animated so much of American history by coloring our attitudes toward newcomers from Ireland, Italy, and Slavic countries is depressing in the extreme. To the ignorant followers and believers in this man and what he teaches, I have nothing but contempt.
The question is, why doesn’t John McCain share that feeling of disgust? He has issued a milquetoast disclaimer that he doesn’t hold with all of Hagee’s beliefs. In fact, since his warm acceptance of Hagee’s endorsement, McCain has done nothing but try and backtrack, tripping over himself as he does:
McCain was pressed on the issue Friday morning in Round Rock, Texas. Hagee “supports what I stand for and believe in,” McCain said.“When he endorses me, that does not mean that I endorse everything that he stands for and believes in,” McCain said. “I don’t have to agree with everyone who endorses my campaign.”
He added that he was “proud” of Hagee’s spiritual leadership of his congregation at the 17,000-member Cornerstone Church.
Doesn’t McCain realize that Hagee’s “spiritual leadership” includes filling the heads of the faithful with hate filled rants against Muslims, gays, Catholics, and others? How can a presidential candidate who says he wants to change the quality of dialogue in this country accept the endorsement of this bigot?
McCain is no stranger to controversies like this. In the 2000 campaign, he spoke at the notorious Bob Jones University where interracial dating was against school policy.
(As an aside, why aren’t these people read out of the conservative movement the same way the Birchers and other extremists were kicked out by Buckley and others in the 1950’s?)
Simply saying you don’t agree with everything Hagee says isn’t good enough. There are some endorsements that should be rejected out of hand. Saying “I reject John Hagee’s endorsement and all the bigoted statements he has made…” would be political suicide with a segment of evangelicals but might be the start of sweeping these extremists out of the party.
Obama’s endorsement by the notorious racist Louis Farrakhan (whose entire religion – the Nation of “Islam” – is geared toward spreading hate of the white man) should have been similarly rejected by the candidate. Instead, he merely “denounced” the racist, saying that it was the same as rejecting Farrakhan:
I obviously can’t censor him, but it is not support that I sought,” Obama said. “And we’re not doing anything, I assure you, formally or informally with Minister Farrakhan.”Pressed if he specifically rejected the endorsement, Obama said, “I can’t say to somebody that he can’t say that he thinks I’m a good guy” and that he didn’t “see a difference between ‘denouncing’ and ‘rejecting.’”
Pure political sophistry. Of course there’s a difference between “renouncing” and “rejecting.” But Obama dare not do the latter for the same basic reason McCain won’t “reject” Hagee’s endorsement: fear of offending millions of African Americans who see Farrakhan as an important spiritual leader.
There are differences, however, between Obama and McCain’s attitudes toward these problematic endorsements. Obama has spoken out against Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic, anti-white statements even before the Nation of “Islam” minister endorsed him. Also, he didn’t appear on stage with him nor has he ever praised him for his “spiritual leadership.”
The extremists in both parties should be marginalized by denouncing them and rejecting any association – however tangential – between the haters and the candidates. The fact that the candidate might lose their votes (or the votes of the ignorant masses who are either unaware or oblivious to the hatred spewed by the haters they follow) should not be a calculation in the campaign. They should all be consigned to the outer darkness of American politics so that even their endorsement will draw little notice. Perhaps then, at least some of the people that follow these haters will wake up and realize who they have placed their faith in and reassess their own support.
But in order to have that happy event occur, both candidates need to go all the way and not use weasel words in denouncing what the haters believe and rejecting out of hand any hint of support they might bring to the campaign. Anything less will perpetrate the illusion that the Hagees and Farrakhans of the world matter in American politics and that people actually care who they endorse for president.
I refuse to accept the argument “I can’t control who supports me.” This is stating the obvious and is therefore irrelevant. The candidate might not be able to control who comes out in favor of his candidacy. But he can damn sure tell the haters to take a hike and peddle their endorsement somewhere else. That would take true political courage – something both men brag that they have to no end.
Not wanting to offend the ignorant crowds that lap up the hatred spewed by Hagee and Farrakhan by rejecting their endorsement just doesn’t cut it as an explanation. For McCain especially, it becomes paramount for him to make a definitive, declarative, clear statement on Hagee where the candidate leaves no doubt that not only does he find the statements of Hagee troublesome but the man himself as well. No weasel words about Hagee’s “spiritual leadership.” Obama should do the same with Farrakhan.
Until our national leaders actually start leading the fight against bigotry and hate, both will continue to fester just below the surface of our politics. But for two men who claim to be “uniters” and possessed with uncommon political courage, their statements regarding the most problematic of their supporters leave much to be desired.
11:09 am
Rick, I think you’ve missed a nasty problem for the candidates. If they follow your recommendation and reject the support of nasty people, where do they draw the line between nasty people whose support should be rejected and merely distasteful people whose support can be accepted? If they reject the support of a blatantly racist figure but accept the support of a merely implicitly racist figure, then they’ll be accused of insincerity. A candidate needs a rule that doesn’t open the door to such accusations.
My own approach to such a situation would be to declare, “It’s a free country” when asked about the support of some questionable person. If pressed, I would expand by saying, “I don’t judge individuals; I judge ideas. I consider racism in all its forms despicable. I totally reject religious intolerance and hatred for gays.” If further pressed, I would say that gossip has no place in politics and that the battleground is one of ideas, not individuals.
11:33 am
Seems someone is upset by Hagee’s support. What you fail to understand is that those that support Hagee are the same people that advocate the continued police action in Iraq and Afghanistan. The same group chomping at the bit to rid the world of ‘Islamicists’. You chase those out of the party and what will you have left? What will McCain have to talk about then? How will he be distinguished from Obama? At least some, not many mind you, of Obama’s domestic policies make sense. And a humbler foreign policy. Watch it Rick, we could see an insurgence of the Old Right/Classical Liberal you are so proud of Buckley ‘chasing’ out of the party…
11:59 am
Pastor Hagee actively campaigned for Gov. Bush and marshaled support from other conservative Christian leaders during Bush’s presidential primary run. This was much more substantial support than the mere endorsement Hagee bestowed on Sen. McCain.
When Hagee leads his pro-Israel rallies to D.C., he always receives a warm greeting and glowing praise appreciation from Pres. Bush. The President has never distanced himself from any of Pastor Hagee’s views.
I agree that McCain’s damage control statement regarding Hagee was way too weak. But when you speak of “national leaders” leading the fight against bigotry and hate,” what grade should we give Mr. Bush?
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/102807dntexhagee.37a2adf.html
12:07 pm
Let’s not overlook the teachings of the church that Obama attends as a congregant. As far as I know, the only reaction to the “outing” of that church’s pastor is toning down the inflammatory rhetoric on the church’s web site.
Rejecting or denouncing the endorsement of bigots and haters should be expected of political candidates. I’m not sure how Obama gets a pass on his long term membership in a bigoted church. It seems that people think it is OK for him to be able to “parse” the teachings of church and only be associated with the more socially acceptable ones. How does that work?
Like our Presidential candidates embracing proponents of La Raza or Mecha in order to gain favor in the Hispanic community while ignoring the racist and anti-American foundation of those organizations. It is a deal with the devil that will have repurcussions for decades.
12:25 pm
I can’t decide what’s worse, that McCain is accepting this vile bloated cockroach’s support, or that Mike Huckabee is pissed off that he isn’t getting that support. No one should be seeking that tub of goo’s support.
1:32 pm
Well, now that Huckabee is no longer a threat I suppose Rick needed a new person of faith to trash. Seriously Rick, this rabid anti religious hostility of yours needs to check itself. Most of what you cite is standard biblical teaching or historical fact even if you may not like the way he says it.
3:58 pm
It’s only smart to be anti-Islam….Islam is anti-West and anti-American. Mooslims should be banned from immigrating into the West and the USA. It will come back to haunt us.
Islam is very much a political ideology and an enemy ideology to boot. But to Jorge Bush, he never met an immigrant (legal but especially illegal), he didn’t love.
“There shall be open borders for all!”
6:28 pm
Good Lord, Nessus, I am surprised at the prejudice you show. There are a great many Muslims here in the USA making real contributions to our society. One of our Congresscritters is a Muslim. My wife’s broken leg was treated by a Muslim doctor (and he did an excellent job with a badly shattered bone). Let’s lay off the hate speech, OK?
7:20 pm
Do it Wednesday, when the nutbag can be marginalized.
http://hickeysite.blogspot.com/2008/03/john-mccain-pope-endorses-mccain-to.html
7:58 pm
Rick,
I read almost all of your blog entries, and respect your viewpoint on most things. This was not your best entry.
I reject banana pudding. I don’t like it, and never have. If you do like it, that’s fine by me.
I denounce trans fats. This man-made poison should not be in our food supply, and I encourage all who eat it to quit.
Yes, there is a difference between rejecting and denouncing. Rejecting is a personal choice. Denouncing includes rejecting, and goes far beyond to include finding something worthy of rejection for yourself AND others.
Obama lost the chance to win this point, but he still made Hillary look petty.
As for some of the “attacks” on Catholisism, would it be an attack on Catholisism to say that some priests acted very poorly toward young men in the past? They are not alone in this horrible behavior, but they should be held responsible for their actions. I denounce the actions of crusaders in the dark ages as being brutal toward noncombatants. It is implicit that I also reject them.
10:17 pm
AMERICA HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH GUIDANCE IN PASTOR HAGEE’S EXCITING WORD OF PROPHECY
“John McCain is a man of principle
!”
SO TRUE
! SO TRUE
! SO TRUE
!
A MAN OF PRINCIPLE
A MAN OF PRINCIPLE
A MAN OF PRINCIPLE
PASTOR HAGEE’S ENDORSEMENT ALSO VINDICATES AND AFFIRMS AMERICAPHILE’S ANALYIS
!
NOW, AMERICA’S GREATEST PRESIDENT NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BEAUTIFUL COULTER PLAN FOR MIDDLE EAST STABILITY
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL GIFT TO SENATOR MCCAIN, TO AMERICA, TO ISRAEL AND TO THE PEOPLE OF IRAN WHO ARE COMPLETELY UNAWARE ABOUT THE COMING RAPTURE
MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD IS THE PERSIAN PIAPS
!
STRIKE NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, AND SPREAD FREEDOM
!
THANK YOU, PASTOR HAGEE, FOR EXPOSING POPERY
!!
REMEMBER, THE ROMAN POPE HAS BEEN EXPOSED AS AN AGENT OF PIAPS
!
THANK YOU, TOO, FOR READING AMERICAPHILE
!
THE IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS PROVIDED BY AMERICAPHILE CAN BE FOUND NOWHERE ELSE
ALSO, THE MORNING AFTER IS A POWERFUL TOOL FOR WITNESSING AND PREPARING SERMONS
!
SENATOR MCCAIN, PLEASE READ THIS EXCITING FACT-BASED ONLINE NOVEL YOURSELF
! A PRINTOUT HAS BEEN SENT TO YOUR CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS
IT IS WHAT EVERY CANDIDATE NEEDS TO INFORM AN INTELLEGENT FOREIGN POLICY
!
THANKS AGAIN, PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN PASTOR JOHN HAGEE
SEE YOU ALL AT THE RAPTURE
!!
8:06 am
Then, I assume that you also feel the same way Farrakhan’s support of Obama and the support of Obama’s minister too?
READ THE FUCKING POST, IDIOT.
ED
7:40 pm
Ditto Simpleman61. While reading this post I kept waiting for Rick to give some kind of evidence that Hagee’s rant against the Catholic attitude towards Jews during the Middle Ages was incorrect…
I’m still waiting.
And perhaps the Muslims in the Nederlands, Denmark, France, and England have shown us in America how their exemplary behavior and “model citizen” approach to emmigration should be welcomed here as well.
Then again, perhaps NOT.
5:20 pm
Everyone knows the Catholic church was hostile to Jews in the Middle Ages. On the other hand, many Reformation-era Protestants were just as anti-Jewish; neither Luther nor Calvin were known for philo-Semitism. (Luther in fact wrote a tract encouraging pogroms against Jews.) It is foolish to judge modern-day Christian churches by the anti-Semitic beliefs most Christians held five centuries ago.
Hagee’s concern about historical anti-Semitism in the Catholic Church would seem more credible if his support for Israel were predicated on genuine sympathy for the Jewish people and/or their beliefs. However, it appears to be predicated instead on his apocalyptic beliefs (a theology known as “dispensationalism” which holds that modern-day Israel will be the scene of the last battle between the forces of good and evil.)
As for Islam, one need not share the views of a “Christian” extremist like John Hagee to be concerned about Islamic extremism of the variety that has caused so much bloodshed in the Middle East and seems to be seeping into Western Europe. Many Catholics and Orthodox Christians share this concern, though they rarely show the sort of hysteria over it that Hagee always seems to demonstrate.
5:03 am
[...] I’ve nothing more to add to Rick Moran’s comments about John Hagee endorsing John McCain, or its near mirror image on the other side of the aisle, Louis Farrakhan’s endorsement of Barack Obama. The post is worth it alone for context of Moran’s searching aside about Hagee, Bob Jones University, and the rest of that crowd, when he asks “why aren’t these people read out of the conservative movement the same way the Birchers and other extremists were kicked out by Buckley and others in the 1950’s?” If our political leaders truly want to lead us down a path of transcending divisive politics, lukewarm backpedalling when offered this kind of “support” isn’t going to help get us there. [...]