Will McCain renounce him?

[Angie Gallant]

Well, after McCain totally sold out to secure the endorsement of Hagee, audio of Hagee saying that Hitler was doing the Lord's work comes out. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/21/mccain-backer-hagee-said_n_102892.html) Will the press put even a fraction of the pressure on McCain to renounce him as they did on Obama over Rev. Wright?

[Tankero]

The Daily Show might.

[Jakub]

That's shocking, but I think this is worse:

Hagee is considered, in many political circles, to be one of the most passionate and strident supporters of Israel. He has spoken at AIPAC conferences and leads the evangelical group Christians United for Israel. But his views of the country, while possibly shared by others in the evangelical community, can be, at times, startling. Holding to the belief that Armageddon will come to earth following the reestablishment of the Kingdom of Israel, Hagee has advocated an aggressive war against Iran and has opposed any Israeli military withdrawal from the West Bank.
Imagine him connected to the White House, trying to dictate foreign policy to start Armageddon?

[Stroker Ace]

The Wright story was overblown anyway, part of me wants to see this fizzle and part of me wants to see turnabout as fair play.

[Sarkus]

That's shocking, but I think this is worse:


Imagine him connected to the White House, trying to dictate foreign policy to start Armageddon?

Like that's going to happen.

McCain went after Hagee for an endorsement to improve his credibility with the christian conservatives. It was political pandering at its base level and he can certainly be criticized over it.

However, its a whole different thing to suggest Hagee would have any political influence in a McCain presidency. And it's also a whole different thing then Wright, who has the added significance of having been Obama's personal pastor.

This whole focus on religious figures is such a waste.

[Miramon]

Well, after McCain totally sold out to secure the endorsement of Hagee, audio of Hagee saying that Hitler was doing the Lord's work comes out. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/21/mccain-backer-hagee-said_n_102892.html) Will the press put even a fraction of the pressure on McCain to renounce him as they did on Obama over Rev. Wright?

McCain will just ignore it, and most mainstream journalists won't harass him enough to make a detailed reply needful. But in the unlikely event he is pressed on the subject, he will just say, "I was unaware of Hagee's more radical pronouncements; it's not like he was actually my own pastor, you know."

So much for that.

[Aeon221]

This whole focus on religious figures is such a waste.

You laugh now, but soon you will weep.

[Dirt]

How long has McCain known Hagee? I think that makes a big difference. Not to say McCain doesn't need to disassociate himself from Hagee.

[Stroker Ace]

If only there were a viable candidate who didn't even have a preacher.

[Fooey]

How long has McCain known Hagee? I think that makes a big difference. Not to say McCain doesn't need to disassociate himself from Hagee.

He met with him in early 2007. That was the first and one of the last times they've talked face to face.

[Dirt]

If only there were a viable candidate who didn't even have a preacher.

It's kind of ironic. A major pillar in the creation of the USA is freedom of religion, but it's still not acceptable in this country to be irreligious or even non-Christian. At least if you want the support of the people.

[Reldan]

It's kind of ironic. A major pillar in the creation of the USA is freedom of religion, but it's still not acceptable in this country to be irreligious or even non-Christian. At least if you want the support of the people.

Freedom of religion is trumped by the freedom to vote for whoever the hell you want to vote for for whatever reason you want to vote for them.

[wildpokerman]

Freedom of religion is trumped by the freedom to vote for whoever the hell you want to vote for for whatever reason you want to vote for them.

That's right we're a Christian nation but the constitution is flexible enough that when we all turn Athiest or the Muslums buy us out with their awesome oil profits we can switch without making any significant changes.

It's like we're the ultimate spiritual civ!

[wisefool]

It's kind of ironic. A major pillar in the creation of the USA is freedom of religion, but it's still not acceptable in this country to be irreligious or even non-Christian. At least if you want the support of the people.

That's cause otherwise you're one of those snooty Atheists that look down on good, down-to-earth people.

[DragonPup]

While it was OK to keep Hagee while he advocated hatred towards Catholics, Muslims, and Gays, the line is drawn with Nazis and Hitler. McCain rejects him solely because of the Hitler thing.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/22/mccain.hagee/index.html

[Angie Gallant]

But it looks like Parsley's still ok!

[Funkula]

Also, did he just reject, or did he denounce, reject, repudiate, spurn, scorn, and totally dis him?

[AndrewM]

Apparently Hagee has de-endorsed (http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_stump/archive/2008/05/22/john-hagee-de-endorses.aspx) McCain, whatever that means.

[Miramon]

So I was wrong. It looks like McCain is being fairly submissive to the media on this point, much more so than has been customary for Republicans in recent years.

The same thing seems to be happening with the no-lobbyist-fundraisers thing. I believe McCain's rule says it's OK for fundraisers to have been lobbyists, it's just not OK for them to actually be lobbyists right now (or within 6 months). Of course the fundraiser will be* lobbyists again once the campaign is over. This is so obviously disingenuous that even the GOP party leaders can't figure it out, but it's just a sort of passive response to the indirect media pressure the campaign has received through Obama's own slightly less disingenuous proclamations. Where W would have ignored or laughed away this whole issue, McCain seems almost to be rolling over for it.


*Completing the time sequence for the OCD sufferers amongst you.

[Anti-Bunny]

Also, did he just reject, or did he denounce, reject, repudiate, spurn, scorn, and totally dis him?

Pretty much all of the above.

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. I have said I do not believe Sen. Obama shares Reverend Wright's extreme views. But let me also be clear, Reverend Hagee was not and is not my pastor or spiritual adviser, and I did not attend his church for twenty years. I have denounced statements he made immediately upon learning of them, as I do again today.

[Angie Gallant]

According to the AP, McCain has rejected the endorsement of Parsley now too. This seems like a great strategy to divorce McCain from the Religious Right fucktards he sold out too, most of them have said batshit insane things.

[RichVR]

If only there were a viable candidate who didn't even have a preacher.

From your keyboard to God's ear, my man. ;)

[StGabe]

Unfortunately (because I think the guy is a disingenous asshole), I think McCain's handling all this pretty well and doing a good job of cleaning house while the attention is on Hilary's inability to let go.

[DragonPup]

Apparently Hagee has de-endorsed (http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_stump/archive/2008/05/22/john-hagee-de-endorses.aspx) McCain, whatever that means.

McCain: You're fired.

Hagee: You can't fire me, I quit.

[ydejin]

But it looks like Parsley's still ok!
Parsley is now out too. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080523/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_pastor;_ylt=AsR6uN.kn6nSdaqW7xb9ulNWr7sF)

[McCain] repudiated the support of Rod Parsley, an Ohio preacher who has sharply criticized Islam and called the religion inherently violent.

...

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.

[VegasRobb]

McCain will just ignore it, and most mainstream journalists won't harass him enough to make a detailed reply needful. But in the unlikely event he is pressed on the subject, he will just say, "I was unaware of Hagee's more radical pronouncements; it's not like he was actually my own pastor, you know."

So much for that.

Miramon ... go buy some lottery tix now!

You basically nailed McCain's response.

[Sarkus]

Unfortunately (because I think the guy is a disingenous asshole), I think McCain's handling all this pretty well and doing a good job of cleaning house while the attention is on Hilary's inability to let go.

This is exactly what he's been doing. He changed some rules to reduce the number of lobbyists or people with lobbyist ties from his organization as well.

[Miramon]

Miramon ... go buy some lottery tix now!

You basically nailed McCain's response.
Yeah, but I thought they wouldn't go after him in the first place.

I like the fact McCain is all affronted that Obama should question him not voting on the GI bill, since Obama didn't serve in the military. I wonder what other prominent figure also didn't fight in Vietnam.... (No, I don't mean Hilary :))

Anyhow, after all the dubious wastes of government money I've heard of in recent years, the one thing I am really strongly behind is reducing college education costs. If it's only for GIs, so be it, they certainly deserve more than the horrible pay they get.

But really, going off track, I think college costs have gone insane lately (my half-sister is just going into college this fall, so I've heard some costs). How is it a state university can cost more than a student can reasonably pay by working part time? Isn't the whole damn point of these universities that they should allow people to get an education without going into debt for life? I think CUNY is still relatively cheap, and Cooper Union (a special case) is actually free if you can get in, but racking people for their educations is just wrong.

[Jasper]

According to the AP, McCain has rejected the endorsement of Parsley now too. This seems like a great strategy to divorce McCain from the Religious Right fucktards he sold out too, most of them have said batshit insane things.
McCain is a two-faced fair-weather pandering bastard. He knew damn well what sort of men these were beforehand.

You're right, this is such an awesome strategy to drive the wedge in good between these bastards. It's been there all along too, only the Democrats and media were just too limp wristed (or too partisan) to drive it home. Perhaps the whole nonsense over Obama's pastor will turn out to be for the better, now that it's backfired on the bozos pursuing it -- with any luck the religious right vote block will be ticked enough to skip this election.

[Drastic]

With even better luck, the religious right vote block will start falling back away from voting entirely again, after having 30 years to sink into their heads that they're mostly just being pandered at with occasional table scraps. The problem being that even the table scraps are hurting America.

[milo]

But really, going off track, I think college costs have gone insane lately (my half-sister is just going into college this fall, so I've heard some costs). How is it a state university can cost more than a student can reasonably pay by working part time? Isn't the whole damn point of these universities that they should allow people to get an education without going into debt for life? I think CUNY is still relatively cheap, and Cooper Union (a special case) is actually free if you can get in, but racking people for their educations is just wrong.
Supply, meet demand.

[JeffL]

Had dinner with a University president of a small university recently (Southwest Missouri.) He went through the university expenses and how much so much has gone up. For them, the increases aren't about making profits, they're about meeting expenses. In some areas they are cutting programs.