Posted on 02/29/2008 4:08:41 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
John McCain is refusing to renounce the endorsement of a prominent Texas televangelist who Democrats say peddles anti-Catholic and other intolerant speech.
Instead, the Republican presidential candidate issued a statement Friday afternoon saying he had unspecified disagreements with the San Antonio megachurch leader, John Hagee. Hagee endorsed him at a news conference Wednesday in San Antonio.
"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," McCain said in the statement.
His campaign issued the statement after two days of criticism from the Democratic National Committee, the Catholic League and Catholics United.
Democrats quoted Hagee as saying the Catholic Church conspired with Nazis against the Jews and that Hurricane Katrina was God's retribution for homosexual sin, and they recited his demeaning comments about women and flip remarks about slavery.
"Hagee's hate speech has no place in public discourse, and McCain's embrace of this figure raises serious questions about John McCain's character and his willingness to do anything to win," said Tom McMahon, executive director of the Democratic National Committee.
McCain was pressed on the issue Friday morning in Round Rock, Texas. Hagee "supports what I stand for and believe in," McCain said.
"When he endorses me, that does not mean that I endorse everything that he stands for and believes in," McCain said. "I don't have to agree with everyone who endorses my campaign."
He added that he was "proud" of Hagee's spiritual leadership of his congregation at the 17,000-member Cornerstone Church.
The Catholic League and Catholics United called on McCain to reject the endorsement.
"By publicly addressing this issue, you will reaffirm to the American public and to Catholics that intolerance and bigotry have no place in American presidential campaigns," Chris Korzen, executive director of Catholics United, wrote McCain in a letter sent Thursday.
McCain's response to the two days of criticism stood in contrast to his rapid denunciation of a radio talk show host who denigrated Barack Obama, repeatedly using Obama's middle name, Hussein, and calling him a "hack, Chicago-style" politician.
McCain immediately apologized and said he repudiated the statements of the radio host, Bill Cunningham, while warming up a Cincinnati crowd for McCain on Tuesday.
"Any comment that is disparaging of either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama is totally inappropriate," McCain said at the time.
I think McCain should too.
(I can't decide if I'm kidding or not)
McCain just keeps turning me off.
Denounce + Reject + Nod + Wink.
What’s the problem?
Catholic vote is CRITICAL if there is any hope of flippin Pennsylvania.
If Iowa, New Mexico and Ohio are lost, PA has to be won.
Hagee is a hateful bigot. He should be rejected like the plague he is.
“McCain seeks distance from pastor (John Hagee)”
Dear Pastor Hagee,
Do not take it personally. You see, you are a conservative. The sort of person that makes Juanito uncomfortable. He might feel bad someday if he told YOU to F off, being a Pastor. This is language and treatment reserved usually for “fellow” Republican Senators.
You understand I am sure,
Yours in Christ,
Grunthor.
Maybe his good buddies in the rat party will like him more now.
HEY!! the guy on the corner of my street said some bad things yesterdany and McCain has refused to apologize and ‘take responsibility’ for that too...!!
(see what his smarmy ‘apology’ the other day has started?)
A hateful bigot? In what way?
Support McCain and you too can be insulted.
No big deal.
So Hagee's endorsement would turn catholics off and make them vote for a pro-abortion candidate in the general election? I don't think so.
It's just another way for RINO McAmnesty to flip off the right. He does that every chance he gets.
McCain just dug the hole a little deeper.
Hillary and Obama seem to be the only two people John McCain isn’t distancing himself from.
So is Bill Donahue. McCain's best strategy is to play the thing lowkey
You go Hagee, won’t be long before McCain apologizes for you too. You see, he does not want your support. He wants the support of those that are like him, and you ain’t.
Get it?
ROTFLMAO!
Catholics are smart enough to know other people in their political party may strongly disagree with their doctrine. Vice versa for non-catholics. You don't have to be a Catholic or whatever Hagee is to be a Republican. We are supposed to be together on politics, not theology. The Catholics I know are smart enough to know that all by themselves.
Obama reminds me of the leader of this goofy meeting I went to years ago where everyone stood up and chanted "Think enthusiastic and you'll be enthusiastic." Or that radio scam preacher who would shout, "You can't loose with the stuff I use." I think his name was Reverend Ike. McCain is more like a rabid dog, but only to fellow republicans. He bites whoever comes near and foams at the mouth. Show him a Democrat and he licks his hand and brings him his slippers. Maybe those years in prison camp gave McCain that mental disorder that captives get where they over identify with their captors. Now maybe McCain still cannot function as a strong representative for one side against another. That should be a disaster if he is ever in charge of foreign affairs.
I haven't watched Hagee for a while but from what I recall he could come on a bit strong at times. But he wasn't bigoted or hateful.
Why should he renounce his endorsement? Obama didn’t renounce the endorsement of Farakan. He just renounced some of the stuff he said.
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