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RSS icon Comments on Controversial Pastors

1

Though I abhore Hagee's comments, he is not McCain's "spiritual" leader. He did not perform McCain's marriage ceremony. And he did not baptize McCain's children. So, there is a difference. You really can't control a supporter's speech. BTW, Obama gave a good speech. However, I think the Dems will ultimately be too afraid to embrace him, and go with the safe choice, as usual.

Posted by McCain/Crist '08! | March 18, 2008 11:05 AM
2

Thank you ECB. Good thing to point out.

Posted by cbc | March 18, 2008 11:14 AM
3

yeah, I think the rub is Obama's closeness to Wright. At least, that is what everyone is hanging on to...

It really doesn't matter either way, this whole thing is a bunch of bullshit, but that never stopped the public from following the latest meme.

Posted by Mike in MO | March 18, 2008 11:17 AM
4

Hagee may not be the same as Wright, but his endorsement and radical views are enough to put Republicans in check if they decide to swiftboat Obama on this issue.

That plus the fact that Obama eloquently addressed this issue without burying Wright in some bottomless pit of denial is making this less and less of a personal liability for him.

Most Americans love a churchgoer; having a controversial issue based on how religious a person is just about the most advantageous one a political candidate can have. At least no-one's talking about what a Muslin terrorist he is anymore. Silver lining and all that.

Posted by JC | March 18, 2008 11:20 AM
5

@1: True the comparison between Wright and Hagee are unfounded, but how about Hagee and Louis Farrakhan? There was significant pressure on Obama to distance himself from Farrakhan's endorsement, even after he'd done so publicly. That's something we haven't heard from McCain yet on Hagee.

Posted by Ziggity | March 18, 2008 11:21 AM
6

Perhaps McCain is getting a free pass because associations with batshit-crazy pastors is already assumed of any Republican nominee?

Posted by Hernandez | March 18, 2008 11:21 AM
7

Right wing clerics are constantly saying how evil America is, and the GOP laps it up.

From yesterday's Huffington Post:

http://tinyurl.com/ytcayq

Posted by pox | March 18, 2008 11:29 AM
8

I thought Obama's speech today was great. It left me with an understanding and optimism about the greater picture. Now it's shattered because little Miss ECB has to post an extrapolated fishing expedition to link McCain with a crackpot pastor the same way Fox News has done with Obama even though Hagee is not McCain’s spiritual leader. Didn’t you learn a damn thing today from Obama’s speech Erica?

Posted by raindrop | March 18, 2008 11:34 AM
9

Republicans are not in the middle of a 35 year defensive crouch trying to justify their patrotism like Democrats are. That's the difference.

Posted by Jason | March 18, 2008 11:41 AM
10

So Mr. National Security John "Bomb Iran" McCain doesn't even know which side the Iranians are aiding in Iraq:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/03/18/a_mccain_gaffe_in_jordan.html

(Via Matthew Yglesias via Kevin Drum)

Posted by chicagogaydude | March 18, 2008 11:43 AM
11

Though it's true that McCain has largely received a pass on the Hagee issue, I don't think it serves the Dems well to try to play this game. Obama has just presented a very classy, very impressive speech addressing these issues, and McCain, to his credit, has said that Obama doesn't deserve all this flak over the Wright issue. Let's move on.

Posted by Gabriel | March 18, 2008 11:53 AM
12

I seem to recall Hagee being one of those evangelicals pushing the meme that earthy wealth is a sign of the favor of Jesus, a philosophy condemned even by most hardcore right-wing evangelicals. I wonder if this might become something of an issue for him after all, since slog is not the first place I've seen the issue brought up.

Posted by Beguine | March 18, 2008 11:55 AM
13

Hagee may not be the same as Wright, but his endorsement and radical views are enough to put Republicans in check if they decide to swiftboat Obama on this issue

Yeah, right. Reason has never stopped republicans from smearing. They smeared Kerry for his service in Vietnam in favor a guy WHO NEVER SET FOOT in 'Nam. You think they will back off because of Hagee?!?!

Posted by Mike in MO | March 18, 2008 11:56 AM
14

@13. I'm not saying that Republicans won't try to use it to their advantage, but McCain's association (small that it is) to Hagee is enough to effectively counter any such moves. Let 'em try. Like I said, arguing over how religious a candidate is doesn't exactly hurt in the eyes of the average American voter. People like a Bible-thumper. As #7 pointed out, Republicans eat this rhetoric up.

Posted by JC | March 18, 2008 12:04 PM
15

My God loves my people and hates your people.

Unless your people are my people.

Posted by NapoleonXIV | March 18, 2008 12:06 PM
16

It's truly amazing how little this matters. But, distracting ECB from her other job of trying to screw up Seattle's road system even more is priceless.

Posted by wbrproductions | March 18, 2008 12:08 PM
17

@6 exactly. half of mccain supporters probably agree with all of the statements/sentiments of reverend bat-shit hagee. i love it. they love america but are all for smiting americans (especially gay ones with pms)...right on.

Posted by el | March 18, 2008 12:08 PM
18

i'm still at a loss at the notion that one of the top players for the democratic party has a 'spiritual leader'. i think the word for it may be disenfranchised.

Posted by bree-fer | March 18, 2008 12:11 PM
19

@18 Unless Obama's spiritual leader is depriving you of your right to vote, I don't think that's the word you're looking for.

Posted by Gabriel | March 18, 2008 12:21 PM
20
At least no-one's talking about what a Muslin terrorist he is anymore. Silver lining and all that.

Daaaamn. I hadn't even HEARD this yet. Will the cotton lobbyists stop at nothing?!


Posted by leek | March 18, 2008 12:43 PM
21

Hagee is getting ignored because voices of the religious left have been so marginalized by the media for so long that Wright sounds like something we haven't heard before.

Hagee on the other hand is just another right-winger, the kind of guy, we're reflexively (and wrongly) told, represents mainstream Christianity. He's old news!

Posted by Kevin Erickson | March 18, 2008 1:49 PM
22

@1, @8, Hagee endorsed McCain and McCain embraced that endorsement and starting pimping it to his base. Wright's endorsement of Obama was on his website until recently, though.

@5, I thought the same thing, then I found this quote from McCain:

"Yesterday, Pastor John Hagee endorsed my candidacy for president in San Antonio, Texas. However, in no way did I intend for his endorsement to suggest that I in turn agree with all of Pastor Hagee's views, which I obviously do not."

But on the same day, he said this:

"I was pleased to have the endorsement of pastor John Hagee yesterday."

Posted by w7ngman | March 18, 2008 1:57 PM
23

So Obama outs his white Grandmother for comments she made in the company of family members to soften the comments of hate spewed in public by a bigot

Nice grandson

Posted by mike | March 18, 2008 3:12 PM
24

He was outing everyone today, Mike. That was the point. We can't have a national discussion if we keep stuff hidden - say one thing en famile and another in public.

Posted by Phoebe | March 18, 2008 5:48 PM
25

As Hernandez @6 said, the Republicans have been associated with batshit crazy preachers for years. McCain himself spoke at Jerry Falwell's college. If he wants to make an issue of this, there is plenty of material from inflammatory right wing church leaders that can be used against him.

Posted by RainMan | March 18, 2008 6:38 PM
26

Good post, ECB.

But let's go a step farther. I doubt anyone is suggesting that there is an undue influence of "radical African American" Christian leaders on current American politics or policy.

Yet for over two decades, our goverment has been staffed and influenced by Christian "Fundamentalist" people (of all races) who believe the Bible--including the Book of Revelations--to be literally true and prophetic.

They believe "The Last Days" are at hand, who believe that a "rapture" will carry away the righteous and leave the rest of humanity to toil in "Tribulation."

They anticipate (and work to foment) a fiery Armageddon in the Middle East, and who believe it is their "patriotic duty" to influence American domestic and foreign policy to enable and make real these fables and myths come true, destabilizing countries, causing thousands of casualties, and resisting peace attempts that don't enable their own religious beliefs.

So--these deluded individuals and groups, with their ancient superstitions, work toward such dangerous and potentially globally-destructive results... but what REALLY matters is a Chicago minister yelling his own inflammatory take on American History?

Take a long hard look in the mirror, "Christian" America. Who is the bigger threat to your safety, or insult to rational thought and government?

Posted by Andy Niable | March 18, 2008 7:36 PM
27

@24: i agree. the point was that everyone has some issues in their past. one of my great role models is my grandfather, who was over all a great man. he did, however, say some things about minorities that i would never agree with, and the disowned my uncle for about 5 years after he came out. of course, he eventually came along and considered my boyfriend and my uncle's boyfriend to be family before he died.

not everyone is perfect. people sometimes say things that you would rather not hear. but that doesn't take away from the whole of the person.

it should also be noted that clinton's "spiritual advisor" has some views on Islam and Judaism that she would probably cringe at.

Posted by konstantConsumer | March 18, 2008 10:03 PM
28

I see ECB cutting Obama some slack and people here slapping her hand away. Classy.

I think her point is pretty valid. If the pastor thing with Obama is a legitimate concern, then it is an issue scrutinized in a very inconsistent fashion by the media.

Posted by Medicine Man | March 18, 2008 11:30 PM
29

Getting yourself pastored for 20 years by a radical hater shows bad judgment. Lying about it when asked by the media shows dishonesty. Now we know the real reason why you refused to wear a flag lapel pin and why your wife has never before been proud of America. If we take you at your word, you spent 20 years in the company of a man, and never once figured out that he was a virulent racist. No Presidency for you.

--klqtzzz

Posted by poetryman69 | March 19, 2008 6:13 PM

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