(Feb 2000) McCain Rips Into Evangelists - Senator blasts Robertson, Falwell

San Fran Chron ^ | 2/29/2000 | Carolyn Lochhead

[pissant]

On the eve of primaries in Virginia and Washington, Republican presidential candidate John McCain ripped into Christian televangelists Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell yesterday as ``agents of intolerance'' who ``shame our faith, our party and our country.''

The blistering broadside -- issued in Virginia Beach, near the Christian Coalition's headquarters -- was a first for any Republican presidential candidate and a daring assault on conventional wisdom that has long held that Christian conservatives are vital to the GOP base.

As McCain courted the Republican moderates, independents and Democrats he hopes will support him in today's GOP primaries, his rival, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, campaigned in Washington state, denouncing the Arizona senator's speech at a Seattle news conference.

``You can't lead America to a better tomorrow by calling people names and pointing fingers,'' Bush said. ``Ronald Reagan didn't point fingers -- he never played to people's religious fears like Sen. McCain has shamelessly done, ascribing views to me that I don't hold.''

[Lumper20]

Amen.

[TigersEye]

When you elect a man you are blessing his record.

Shouldn't you know his record?

[whatisthetruth]

This is a BIT OLD? KNOCK off the BS...this reminds me of the LIBS reliving FLORIDA in November of 2000.

You think he's changed his opinion, I don't and it appears most conservative Christians don't either. Leopads don't change their spots.

"GRRRRRRRRRRRR! Those G__Damn Christians!"

[wideminded]

"I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in "A," "B," "C" and "D." Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me?"

- Barry Goldwater, U.S. Senate, 1981

[pissant]

He said as Reagan met with Falwell to energize the socons....

[muleskinner]

McCain dropped an F-bomb? Heavens to Mergatroid, the Horror...

We know Hillary swears and would just as soon tell fundamentalists what they can do, but maybe Obama is pure in thought and speech. So vote for Obama, pissant.

[pissant]

Yeah. I always swear at folks that want to keep amnesty from becoming law, don’t you?

[muleskinner]

Why, yes, in fact just earlier today....

what's a matter with you?

[muleskinner]

gotta’ go....

[Paige]

This has been my whole point. The Democrats are getting exactly what they want with this fighting within the GOP ranks.

[Paige]

You are welcome to your OPINION. I will stick with the GOP choice. You may join the stay at home Conservatives who allowed the Democrats to regain power in 2006. As for me, I’ll work with others who will not with hold their support or votes for the GOP nominee.

Oh and BTW, wow, those stay at home Conservatives really showed those Democrats! (shaking head)

[ZULU]

You’re welcome.

Its nice people are so polite here.

[Paige]

Toots? How absolutely disrespectful. Furthermore, Amnesty took place in 1986 with President Reagan, this new bill does not give the Illegals a free pass. Then again, people such as yourself know this, but want to complain instead of getting people in office who will finish the job started.

But do remember, as long as the divide grows within the GOP; the Democrats will open the borders wider than ever before.

[pissant]

term of endearment.

You are right, it costs those who can afford to pay a nominal fee a few scheckels, then they are legalized for life. You can call it whatever you want. It is amnesty. And I will never vote for the architect of such stupidity.

[BobS]

President Reagan said and wrote that amnesty bill was one of his biggest mistakes he made without enforcement. It's all about 10 miles from here in his museaum. You can read it all for yourself.

It took 72 hours for people to completely disable the Capitol phone system for McCain to get a clue about his amnesty bill's popularity? Sorry, but McCain has made too many enemies in the last 8 years to go anywhere but retire for good. And he can take the Clintons with him.

[Paige]

Don’t apologize to me but apologize to the children of this nation when people such as yourself sit back and allow a Muslim or a Communist take over the Executive Branch.

After four years of Obama or Hillary (with a Democrat Congress) the harm done to this country will be irreversible, therefore, apologize to the future generations not me.

[farmer18th]

Let's pray McCain has an equally embarrassing meltdown. You can do it, McQueeg....

It would seem to be only a matter of time, but even if his meds are working, I don't think the nose-holding brigade will be able to get enough of the sheep to bleet "two legs better," in time.

[farmer18th]

You are living in an utter fantasy world if you think a socialist like McCain, who has a bone to pick with Evangelicals, would be any better—and his stewardship over yet more government spending, taxing, regulation, and incompetent “nation building”—would sully the Republican brand name even worse than it already has been.

[Grunthor]

You keep reffering to Obama as Muslim, when all he has is an arabic name. My last name is Irish but it sure doesn’t make me Catholic.

[Paige]

And you are very well misinformed if you think Senator McCain is a Socialist. Saying something over and over doesn’t make things true.

Moreover, if you think Senator McCain is a Socialist then you certainly must believe President Bush is a Socialist, also.