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McCain Softens Language on Jerry Falwell
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060402/ap_on_el_pr/mccain2008 ^ | Sun Apr 2, 12:59 PM ET

Posted on 04/02/2006 2:54:42 PM PDT by Tim Long

WASHINGTON - Potential presidential candidate John McCain says he longer considers evangelist Jerry Falwell to be one of the "agents of intolerance" that he criticized during a previous White House run.

The Republican senator from Arizona will be the commencement speaker in May at Liberty University, the Lynchburg, Va., institution that Falwell founded in 1971.

"We agreed to disagree on certain issues, and we agreed to move forward," McCain said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

In 2000, as he sought the Republican nomination that eventually went to George W. Bush, McCain said: "Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance, whether they be Louis Farrakhan or Al Sharpton on the left or Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell on the right."

On Sunday, McCain said that Christian conservatives have a major role to play in the Republican Party, but added, "I don't have to agree with everything they stand for."


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: christianvote; falwell; libertyu; mccain2008
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To: Tim Long
So, candidate McCain wishes to appease the Reagan-Conservatives?
(For those not up to snuff on the 80s, Reverend Falwell and President Reagan were quite amiable towards one another)
21 posted on 04/02/2006 3:53:25 PM PDT by jla
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To: Tim Long

McCain will take the opportunity at the commencement to overtly stick it to Falwell.

Years ago a group in Oregon made the mistake of not only inviting him to speak at their annual event but actually paying a substantial fee, only to have him ambush everyone there and openly accuse them of being bigated and intolerant....from their own podium....on their own dime. It was a truly a hoot and the media just ate it up for weeks.


22 posted on 04/02/2006 3:57:40 PM PDT by kimoajax (Rack'em & Stack'em)
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To: stevem

Senator McCain is an honorable gentleman, wise public servant, statesman and presidential caliber. Had he been in charge since 2000 we wouldn't be suffering the FUBAR in Iraq we now labor under with the White House Gang that can't get it right. They ran off the only guy, Colin Powell, who had his stuff together and knew that the emperor was without the proverbial clothes while leaving a tyrant incapable of rational thought processes in charge of DOD.

A President McCain would have staffed the Iraq operation with sufficient forces and would not have violated one of the basic tenets of victory in warfare, the disbanding of the organized armed force of the vanquished nation resulting in the creation of a political vacuum. Military policy dictated in a fit of pique is no better than one suggested by a box of Cracker Jacks.


23 posted on 04/02/2006 4:02:00 PM PDT by middie (ath.Tha)
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To: Tim Long

I wouldn't trust McCain as far as I could throw him.


24 posted on 04/02/2006 4:02:10 PM PDT by Doctor Raoul (CODE PINK has blood on their hands and they can never, never wash it off)
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To: middie
President McCain would have staffed the Iraq operation with sufficient forces and would not have violated one of the basic tenets of victory in warfare, the disbanding of the organized armed force of the vanquished nation resulting in the creation of a political vacuum.

The Iraq Army dissolved on the battlefield. What was left stripped themselves, picked up civilian clothes and went home. But of course had they know it was President McCain, they would not have done that.

25 posted on 04/02/2006 4:04:43 PM PDT by Doctor Raoul (CODE PINK has blood on their hands and they can never, never wash it off)
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To: Tim Long

I don't know about ya'all, but if McCain is nominated by the Republicans, I'm voting for someone else.


26 posted on 04/02/2006 4:08:23 PM PDT by Brilliant
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To: Doctor Raoul

Me either. It just goes to show you have deeply helps McCain's convictions run. If he is willing to ditch them this early I ca't help but wonder what else he is willing to do for votes.


27 posted on 04/02/2006 4:10:51 PM PDT by Dutch Boy
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To: Osage Orange

McCain will never make it out of the primaries in the southern states, never.


28 posted on 04/02/2006 4:10:52 PM PDT by wrathof59
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To: middie
Senator McCain is an honorable gentleman, wise public servant, statesman and presidential caliber.

What planet are you living on? McCain and Powell... two RINOs if there ever were any.

I think I feel a zot coming on... Someone get me a tissue.

29 posted on 04/02/2006 4:11:17 PM PDT by Tim Long (I spit in the face of people who don't want to be cool.)
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To: middie
Senator McCain is an honorable gentleman, wise public servant, statesman and presidential caliber

Now that is the most laughable post I've seen in quite some time....

Thanks for the chuckle.....

30 posted on 04/02/2006 4:13:55 PM PDT by Osage Orange (The old/liberal/socialist media is the most ruthless and destructive enemy of this country.)
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To: reaganandme
McCain will sell out whatever it takes to be president.

Now why in the world would Falwell have McCain in to do an address if it wasn't a signal that McCain is his man? It appears these guys have broke bread and smoked their peace pipes.

If McCain does become the darling of the values voters leadership, then the leaders of the values voters leaders have some splainin to do.

31 posted on 04/02/2006 4:17:20 PM PDT by joesbucks
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To: Tim Long
"I don't have to agree with everything they stand for."

Come on John, just tell us what you don't agree with, or are you afraid of distancing the GOP base even more.

32 posted on 04/02/2006 4:20:23 PM PDT by taxesareforever (Never forget Matt Maupin)
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To: middie

"Senator McCain is an honorable gentleman, wise public servant, statesman and presidential caliber. Had he been in charge since 2000 we wouldn't be suffering the FUBAR in Iraq we now labor under with the White House Gang that can't get it right. They ran off the only guy, Colin Powell, who had his stuff together and knew that the emperor was without the proverbial clothes while leaving a tyrant incapable of rational thought processes in charge of DOD.

A President McCain would have staffed the Iraq operation with sufficient forces and would not have violated one of the basic tenets of victory in warfare, the disbanding of the organized armed force of the vanquished nation resulting in the creation of a political vacuum. Military policy dictated in a fit of pique is no better than one suggested by a box of Cracker Jacks."

Yesterday was April Fools Day. You're a little late.


33 posted on 04/02/2006 4:23:42 PM PDT by BW2221
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To: penowa

"It makes me very uncomfortable to see that Falwell invited him to speak at Liberty"

Agreed. I have no idea what Falwell could be considering other than possibly using this to show he holds no grudges against McCain. But this seems to be a little extreme and could cery easily blow up in Jerry's face if McCain were to lose track and slip into default mode during the commencement. I just hope this isn't taken by many evangelicals as some sort of endorsement.


34 posted on 04/02/2006 4:39:22 PM PDT by bereanway
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To: chesley
Not to worry. He is the Dem's favorite Republican, but he will never get the R nomination.

I sure hope you're right. If he gets the nomination, I might not vote.

35 posted on 04/02/2006 5:36:09 PM PDT by reaganandme
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To: bereanway
I just hope this isn't taken by many evangelicals as some sort of endorsement.

Worse yet, I hope it doesn't turn into an endorsement. With umpteen candidates all vying for the nomination, if all of us who are conservative, including the evangelicals, are not on the same page and behind one candidate, there is no telling who could be the nominee. My fear is that Falwell and Robertson want to be "kingmakers" and will get behind McCain because they don't think any one of the conservatives can get enough votes and they will choose McCain over Guiliani. As far as I'm concerned, both of them are poison, and neither are acceptable, no matter what they might promise.

36 posted on 04/02/2006 5:39:06 PM PDT by penowa
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To: Tim Long

What a nut.


37 posted on 04/02/2006 5:39:52 PM PDT by don-o (Don't be a Freeploader. Do the right thing. Become a Monthly Donor!)
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To: Tim Long
Blacks are to the Democrat Party as:

a) Chevas Regal is to Ted Kennedy
b) Carpet cleaning is to Hillary Clinton
c) Ethanol is to Illinois, or
d) Christians are to the Republican Party

I bet lots of candidates (red and blue) will be gettin' that ol' time religion before the next election cycle is done.
38 posted on 04/02/2006 5:43:56 PM PDT by AD from SpringBay (We have the government we allow and deserve.)
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To: Tim Long

Far to many conservatives remember this guys words. He's got no chance of winning the primary. None whatsoever.

The press made this guy out to be the GOPs dream candidate back in '00. And the only spot he ever polled well was in New England and Iowa.

GOP voters do not vote the way they do because of the press. They vote the way they do inspite of what the press says. So any plans McCain has for the press reports to help him in the primary are misplaced.


39 posted on 04/02/2006 6:18:04 PM PDT by festus (The constitution may be flawed but its a whole lot better than what we have now.)
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To: Tim Long

Yawn. McCain who?


40 posted on 04/02/2006 6:27:08 PM PDT by Nuc1 (NUC1 Sub pusher SSN 668 (Liberals Aren't Patriots))
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