BREAKING NEWS: John McCain jettisons the Rev. John Hagee's endorsement

John McCain, who at one point actively pursued an endorsement from controversial pastor John Hagee, just severed ties after reports surfaced of yet more incendiary comments by the conservative minister -- this time targeting Jews.

The comments came in the late 1990s, when Hagee said that the Nazis were doing God's work to shepherd Jews to Palestine. Hagee also has referred to the Catholic Church as "the Great Whore." McCain earlier disassociated himself from Hagee's comments but kept the endorsement. This afternoon, he jettisoned the endorsement.

But he also tooks pains to point out his "minister problem" is different from the one that Barack Obama has been dealing with.

“Obviously, I find these remarks and others deeply offensive and indefensible, and I repudiate them. I did not know of them before Rev. Hagee's endorsement, and I feel I must reject his endorsement as well. I have said I do not believe Sen. Obama shares Rev. Wright's extreme views. But let me also be clear, Rev. Hagee was not and is not my pastor or spiritual advisor, and I did not attend his church for 20 years. I have denounced statements he made immediately upon learning of them, as I do again today."

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[Tom J]

So when does he 'reject and denounce' Rod Parsley? After everyone in the blogosphere posts x number of articles about Parsley's views?

McCain's reading comprehension is really low if he didn't know what Hagee had said until today. Is that why he graduated second-to-last at the US Naval Academy? Explains a lot.

[SMS]

I’m 35, and have been following politics for quite a while, and I’ve never been so disappointed with a politician I’ve admired and respected. Yesterday’s tactics weren’t just wrong, they were offensive. For that matter, they seem to be part of a deliberate strategy to tear Democrats apart and ensure a defeat in November.

For several weeks, I’ve appreciated the fact that Clinton considers herself the superior candidate, and has kept her campaign going in the hopes, from her perspective, of saving the party from itself. But after yesterday, it’s become impossible for me to consider Clinton’s intentions honorable. Her conduct is not that of a leader.

Instead of trying to help bring the party together — Election Day is 24 weeks away — Clinton went to Florida to argue that if Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee, his nomination will be illegitimate. And if the DNC plays by the rules Clinton used to support, it’s guilty of vote-suppression — comparable to slavery, Jim Crow, and Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe.

It is disgusting for HRC to co-opt the Civil Rights struggle after weeks of transparent appeals that whites won’t vote for the black guy which JUST SO COINCIDENTALLY took form during the Appalachian primaries (which conveniently occurred after North Carolina, the last state with a large black population)

It really is disgusting, and yet another nail in the coffin of what used to be Bill and Hillary's positive legacy to the party. She is now being openly mocked across the media and political spectrum. But I'm sure mentioning that is "sexist", and that everyone criticizing the joke her campaign has become is sexist as well.

[Franklin]

McCain went out of his way to get endorsements from Hagee and his so-called "spiritual adviser" Rod Parsley. I confidently predict he'll have to reject Parsley soon as well.

[Jorge I. Gomez]

This is just another explanation from the worst flip flopper in politics. He says one thing and then other people and McCain have to explain what he really meant, like English was a second language. McCain is as hypocritical as Hagee. They cherry pick the Bible or comments and after caught in slips of tongues, they act like they were at the site where the Holy Spirit gave the ability to the disciples of talking different tongues, languages. He could have been there. McCain is none other that another Bush, but with a tad more of I.Q. He was third from the bottom at the US Navy Academy. We need somebody with a more I.Q. This lack of brains is killing us and democracy.

[Jorge I. Gomez]

This is just another explanation from the worst flip flopper in politics. He says one thing and then other people and McCain have to explain what he really meant, like English was a second language. McCain is as hypocritical as Hagee. They cherry pick the Bible or comments and after caught in slips of tongues, they act like they were at the site where the Holy Spirit gave the ability to the disciples of talking different tongues, languages. He could have been there. McCain is none other that another Bush, but with a tad more of I.Q. He was third from the bottom at the US Navy Academy. We need somebody with a more I.Q. This lack of brains is killing us and democracy.

[Andrew]

I know this is a minor, minor quibble, but could someone please fix that typo in the second graph? Nzais?

[Done. And thanks for the sharp eye.]

[Aexander Mac Donald]

to SMS: I'm twice your age and have been following politics since the ninth grade, and I, too, have never been as disappointed in a politician before as i am now in McCain. True, I found Clinton disappointing, too, but I never expected from him in the first place. McCain I had come to admire and respect. No longer.

[Andrew]

Wow! That was fast. Thank you.

On an unrelated note, wouldn't mind seeing an item commenting on this row in the blogosphere:
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/50836-conservative-critics-raise-stink-over-decemberistsbarack-obama-rally

[Mr Nerdbird]

There is no God. These so called ministers are inventing messages from no one and conveying them to a superstitious flock who cling to a ancient myths. Note how often this spiritual nonsense interferes with the consideration of very real problems of war and economic deprivation.

[truthful witness]

I'd rather have Hagee's endorsement than that of HAMAS. If you blame McCain for Hagee's views, you have to blame Obama's for HAMAS'.

[Monty Ousley Weddell]

McCain is right !!! He denounced the off color remarks by Hagee and the endorsement after he was informed of their content. This is the correct action and the same should have been done 20 years ago by Obama, who participated, condoned and acted an an enabler to Rev. Wright. There is a measurable diffeence in maturity and integrity exhibited by McCain which is lacking in Obama.
This, along with other major important issues places Republican party ahead of Dems. I hope they register more voters and win the election! Monty Ousley weddell

[TruthIsTreasonComplianceIsPatriotic]

Why did he bother? The media didn't cause HALF the fuss it did over Reverend Wright's much less controversial views.

[Elrey Jones]

I am so pleased at the growing education of the American people of the racist ties that Obama has. That closet racist man was not properly vetted and it is a national discrace. If his ties to racists (Wright and Farrakhan) had been published months ago, the racist would not be on top now. I'm sick of our rigged political process that would permit this racist to become a leading candidate.

[LatinAmericanview]

Did you know the founder of Zionism encouraged anti-Semitism as a way to manipulate us?

“It is essential that the sufferings of Jews. . . become worse. . . this will assist in realization of our plans. . . I have an excellent idea. . . I shall induce anti-semites to liquidate Jewish wealth. . . The anti-semites will assist us thereby in that they will strengthen the persecution and oppression of Jews. The anti-semites shall be our best friends”
-- Theodor Herzl, Founder of Zionism in 1897

[Franklin]

Way to be an idiot 'truthfulwitness'.

Hamas never endorsed Barack Obama. One of their top officials mentioned in an interview that 'we like Obama'. Maybe they're hoping something will actually change in our foreign policy which will stop us from turning the whole region into a warzone. (Unlike Clinton's threats of obliteration...)

Obama has repeatedly stated that they never have endorsed him and that he completely rejects any positive comment they may have made towards him.

Let's just hold McCain accountable for every crazed Republican dirtbag that prefers him in this election then (including our commander in chief whose endorsement he actively accepted.)

[Daly]

Mc went to FL to kiss jewish voter butts and they nailed him on this - it has been around every since the got the endorsement but NOT until he was forced into doing something did he speak out. He tried to dance around this by having hagee apologize; hagee has offended both Catholics and Jews amongst other but I guess that Jewish votes are paramont at the moment.

Now if Mc could address Parsley, Farwell and the fact that he was hugged up with Bush will New Orleans was in dire need?

What about the Lobbiest, GI Bill ... there are more but this should start the flip-flop dance Mc loves him some GWB

[Bert Webb]

As a conservative, I deplored the dems. After almost 8 years of Republican rule, I sadly realize that politicians are all the same. Obama, Clinton, McCain -- No real difference. They say what is necessary and expedient in dealing with the topic of the moment.

[Rose]

What a slime bucket! Why did he have to bring politics into it to smear Obama? He should have just repudiated the endorsement and kept his integrity, instead of being such a politician.

[Steve Sanchez]

I laugh at the Obama supports that disguise themselves as Hillary supporters. I still support her enthusiastically! After this repudiation of Hagee, John McCain is starting to look better all the time!

[ed]

Its nice that Hagee can say what he wants about Catholics and McCain wouldn't reject but when he says something against the jews, he does. Shows he doesn't think much of Catholics.

[john baguta]

John McCain is not only 100% medically handicapped but his brain has been severely affected during the captivity and at this age he has lost his hearing, skill and tamper too. He is afraid to release his full medical report. I am my self 70 years old and I know how much I can remember and how much I can do skill work. I go to the Church where people like me are worrying about the America under John McCain very much because he may not only be our oldest President but he will follow the foot-steps of King George Bush and that will really make America the most hated Nation on the Globe.
If he was not knowing about HAGEE, WHY NOT HE ASKED SOME ONE TO SEE HIS BIODATA ON GOOGLE? I KNOW HE CANNOT OPERATE COMPUTER BY HIMSELF. ALSO, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE HE SHOULD FIND OUT ABOUT PARSLEY TOO. GOD SAVE AMERICA FROM THESE HYPOCRITES.

[ed]

Its nice that Hagee can say what he wants about Catholics and McCain wouldn't reject but when he says something against the jews, he does. Shows he doesn't think much of Catholics.

[Big D]

Tom J,

I am a full Dem supporter. However, I will never vote for a black man. I will turn my suport to McCain as all of my friends will do. I believe that this will be demonstrated that there are stilli issues in this country based on race and sexism. The only thing having Obama as the presidential candidate will do is assure that McCain will be the next president.

[Leon Fiss - Geneva - Switzerland]

As a jew, I find McCain's decision completely arbitrary and wrong.

Indeed, at about the time Hagee made his comment on the Shoa, I was discussing this very question with my friends and several rabbis.

And without a doubt I confirm that THE RABBIS were ALL in agreement that it is possible that G-D wanted to 'prune' the jewish people before opening the way to the re-establishement of the State of Israel.

I recall that, initially at the time, my friends and I were a bit 'uneasy' at this suggestion. The rabbis made it clear that NOTHING happens to the jewish people unless G-D lets it happen. Hence, it is perfectly reasonable to emit the hypothesis that G-D was behind this horrible event in human history.

To determine a reason for the Shoa is NOT a matter for politiciens to decide just like that in an instant. Many learned people spent years and years thinking about this event without concluding one way or other whether the Lord played any part in bringing about the Shoa.

If we jews ask ourselves these questions, why would other people, especially learned people such as the good Mr. Hagee, not be allowed to express their own suggestions ?

It is most intollerant to condemn these remarks because they do not show any hatred towards jews but they merely suggest possible reasons and G-D's intent.

This is in no way comparable to Wright's statements which have forged Obama's beliefs. A very worisome source as far as I am concerned.

Disclosure: I support Clinton. Should Obama be the nominee, I appeal to all to vote for Mc Cain. Obama will bring abomination to the USA.

[Steve]

If you hate Hamas, "truthful witness,"and I assume you do, why would you even give a tiny bit of credence to their so-called "endorsement?" It sounds like you're just looking for ways to justify voting for McCain or possibly even a justification for voting for Bush. The Hamas endorsement doesn't mean anything to people with a modicum of intelligence.

[dissappointed]

I don't see the disappointment in what McCain did but remember were dealing with politicians. Clinton is certainly no angel and O'bama won't even salute the American flag or put his hand over his heart during the National Anthem. The choices seem to get worse with every succeeding election. But, I still think I'll choose a leader who has enough respect for symbols this country was built on to honor them. If not....go run for office in some foreign country.

[Artoo45]

This is why our founders wisely separated church and state. I support anyone's right to believe whatever they want as long as they don't inflict it on me directly or indirectly through legislation. I look forward to the day a self-proclaimed atheist is sworn in on the capitol steps. Actually, I believe that many atheists have sat in the oval office, they just didn't dare admit it.

[Rick Hayes]

Anyone familiar with Pastor Hagee's ministry knows there is no stronger opponent of anti-semitism. It's appalling to see the media put him down as a bigot. His support of Israel is very strong.

[Joe]

How could he not know when people have been making a fuss over these comments for months?

Did he not know just because it wasn't reported on ABC or Fox?

[Character Counts]

So, now they are even. Each had their crazy pastor problem. Maybe now the candidates, the media, and the nation can move on to discuss the really important issues that face us as Americans.

Now, if someone would just tell Hillary that she lost we might be able to get that sad distraction out of the way also. Wouldn't that be nice?

[CommonSense]

First of all, I don't think that this is a news-worthy story, since McCain is behaving like a candidate: he has consultants who read the news and tell him whom he needs to denounce and when. What's the big deal? McCain does it, and so does Obama, and Clinton.

I agree with many posts above. Before McCain began his campaign, I had a lot of respect for him. But now, not even an ounce. When he talks, it's clear that he is about to start laughing (or crying) at what he is saying, because it is mostly non-sense. He has not addressed adequately any issue that stood before him in the past year. All he has done in the past several months is pour dirt on the Dems. And, of course, Obama and Clinton are doing the same!

I don't care one way or another what their pastors say, but I do care when/how will they bring this country to a balanced budget and energy independence. Media is the most to blame for this waste of our time. When was the last time, anyone in the media asked a candidate a question that required some thought to answer, because the answer was not simple?

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

If you cannot attack someone based on their beliefs, attack them on the beliefs of someone they have associated with. The tactic should work on stupid people.

[BeerBubba]

Hey you Monty Ousley Weddell, how about everyone get up a leave a church the first time the preacher says something irrational!!!!

Churches would be EMPTY

[Don B]

Absolutely Pa-Freaking-thetic. Maybe Reverend Wright's sermons have come true, maybe God has d**mned America - in which case, nothing matters. Flip a coin.

[Cindy McCain]

I would like to set the record straight. McCain did not graduate 2nd from the bottom of his class. He graduated 5th from the bottom of his class. There were 4 people who were dumber than he in his class! So lets get the facts staight please.
Also, McCain does not support increased benefits for veterans because when he got out of the military, he abandoned his wife and children and married some new benefits. He didn't need the GI Bill, he had Newfound Cindy.
Next, McCain did not disavow Hagee earlier because it is OK to hate Catholics. It is just not ok to hate Jews. When will you people get it right!
Last, McCain is not flip flopping on the issue of taxing the rich. He didn't like the tax cuts before he decided to run for President again, but he forgot!

[Josh]

Mr Nerdbird, you being an atheist is irrelevant to this discussion. If I don't believe the economy is a problem does that mean we shouldn't talk about it?

[J]

"Why did he bother? The media didn't cause HALF the fuss it did over Reverend Wright's much less controversial views."

How is Rev. Wright far less controversial? Hagee has a distorted view on God, Wright has a distorted view on the entire white race and our country as a whole. Hagee is hardly even associated with McCain while Wright was Obama's spiritual mentor for 20 years. Hagee just gives christians a bad name, Wright gives Obama a bad name.

[HTT]

Wow....the monolithic, one dimensional, religious right wing voting base of the Republican Party are not going to like that. Their Taliban-like Ann Coulters, Jerry Falwells and John Hagees are the back bone of their voter base and these are the kind of people who will vote for any unqualified (like Bush) pathetic waste of skin. To get their vote, you have to claim to be pro-life (whatever that is even supposed to mean), claim to be Christian (and live opposite to Christ's teachings...Ann Coulter), claim to be conservative (and spend like there is no tomorrow), and mix religion with politics. If you are not in favor of turning the pages of American history back to the dark ages of the Salem Witch Craft Trials then it really is hard to get Republican votes. I guess McCain just commited political suicide by rejecting Hagee. Well...all is not lost. There are plenty more spineless, chicken hawk, fear and hate mongering reptiles in the the ranks of the Republican Party who are ready & willing to take his place.

[Mark]

Hagee believes that the modern state of Israel is the fulfillment of a promise of God. If he says that Hitler's evil was instrumental in bringing about good for the Jews, are people really so ignorant as to believe that this is an anti-semitic remark that Bush needs to run away from?

"Great whore", also is a reference to prophecy, which Hagee evidently believes applies specifically to the Roman Catholic Church. It certainly is anti-catholic; but what does it mean if its a public disgrace to be a convinced Protestant who believes that the Roman Catholic Church has corrupted the Christian faith? Shall we use the political forum to condemn the Catholc Church for excommunicating Martin Luther? Politics and religion inevitably mix; but they are, after all, different things- unless like some your politics IS your religion. To disagree with someone religiously is not necessarily a political issue. Here, McCain shows that he doesn't know the difference.

I'm astonished when preachers endorse candidates, in the first place. But any hoopla over these two remarks is a symptom of cultural illiteracy, and McCain does not look good caving into pressure from ignorant people.

[08vote]

FINALLY, those Clinton supporters are FINALLY seeing the light with Hillary Clinton. It came to light a long time ago for me to see that Hillary Clinton is really an opportunist, not a statesman or statesperson. Hillary is power hunger out of self-interest, not out of the desire to better lives for ALL Americans. Hillary revealed her true feelings when she announced her candidacy by stating "...I'm in it to win". Did you notice, Hillary never mentioned about the nobler good of helping other by lifting people up instead of down by pandering to their fears. Her 'kitchen sink strategy' is really an euphuisms for race baiting, pandering to corporate interests, and willingness to tear the Democratic party for her own SELFISH reasons (by her willingness to take the MI and FL votes all the way to the Democratic Convention).

[Glib]

I'm so sick of self-serving "God" fairy tales guiding politics. It seems that "believers" can utter the most virulent and incredibly ignorante hate messages and we continue to turn to them to establish the legitimacy of our leaders. Which was the very reason for McCain seeking this endorsment in the first place.

You'd think that in the 21 century we'd stop throwing our daughters into this moronic volcanoe.

[Saira B]

I think McCain's personal mascot should be a lemming, since he's spent the past 8 years leaping off the same cliffs as the rest of the Republican leadership. McCain2008 is such a different person from McCain2000. If he resembled McCain2000 more closely, he might be able to garner a larger percentage of votes from Democrats. However, the Faith of My Fathers (http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=226207 - ebooks and audiobooks version, which is actually narrated by McCain so it's kind of cool) McCain no longer exists, sadly.

[Tom in California]

Guess that McCain is learning now that it's not so much fun being on the receiving end of one of these flakey pastor stories! Hope that Fox News will now spend the next several weeks replaying Hagee tapes dozens of times a day like they did about Rev. Wright. After all, they want to be "fair and balanced," don't they?

[Shanon]

"Hey you Monty Ousley Weddell, how about everyone get up a leave a church the first time the preacher says something irrational!!!!

Churches would be EMPTY"

Thank you for stating the obvious fact that so many GOP talking point ditto-head zombies can't seem to get.

[Tempranillo]

I must say, it is stunning to see so much ignorant, bigoted, racist, religious supremacist drivel as above.

It is no wonder that there are wars. Hate of the "other" is in humanity's genetic makeup.

[Simon Jackson]

Did someone recently escape form the madhouse?