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 don't think he is. He is a powerful preacher. Christians of various stripes disagree on eschatology. OK. If Hagee thinks the Catholic hierarchy and superstructure plays a negative role in the apocalypse, it's his opinion of what the Bible says. He is not saying that the Catholic PEOPLE play that role, however.
By the opposite token, however, Catholic dogma anathematizes all Protestants. Should that fact cause Protestants to demand our candidates reject Catholic endorsements? Of course not. We all just agree to disagree on this stuff.
Of course, and he has to be President of ALL AMERICANS in a country where religious freedom is a protected right.
You are not right. Hagee is not a hateful bigot. best guess? You don’t even know who he is.
You are a “big’”oted ol’_freeper who has no idea of what he is even talking about.
Looks like McCain will wind up apologizing for everyone before this campaign is over.
Huckabee was on one of the morning news program this morning expressing shock and disappointment that Hagee endorsed McCain. He said that he and Hagee were friends and was totally caught of guard by this. Interesting.
Yeah. And Ron Paul didn’t renounce the endorsement of the KKK.
He took their money.
Some here would argue that I should vote for mclame, though I don't like or agree with much of what he says.
I wonder if those same people would make the same argument that I should watch Hagee, though I don't like or agree with much of what he says?
Yes, I'm an evangelical; and, yes, I tend to vote republican. That doesn't mean that either of them should deserve my support. I'm NOT a mind-numbed robot.
Separately, I more don't like mclame. He wants the evangelical vote that Hagee would deliver, yet wants to distance himself at the same time.
mclame, thy name is hypocrisy.
I really don't care whether he or obama takes the WH. I WILL fight AGAINST hillary! if she should happen to get the nomination, but I will NOT work on behalf of mclame.
What?
I don’t think so.
“Catholic dogma anathematizes all Protestants.” What??? Where did you ever come up with that idea? Find the Catholic dogma that does so. It does not exist. Every day, Catholic religious and laity work together and respect one another.
Stockholm Syndrome?
However it's OK for someone to slam Catholics. The GOP tolerates anti-Catholicism more than antisemitism.
The very thought of any Democrat (i.e., baby-killer) criticizing anyone for peddling anti-Catholicism makes me want to vomit.
Yes that's it. I think he has some weird variation of that. Why else is he so lovey with and protective of the opposition party and so mean and nasty to his own?
Oh for a better option than these two guys.
Oh come on, this year, McCain is the new Black.
That is mostly my point. We DO work together every day. We DON"T demand that candidates renounce endorsements from each other because of our obvious theological differences. Those differences are the kinds of things we won't know the truth of until we get there. But we WILL get there.
Here are just a few of the anathemas (they are from the counter-reformation, Council of Trent, and they were re-iterated in Vatican II in the 60s):
“If any one saith, that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary unto salvation, but superfluous; and that, without them, or without the desire thereof, men obtain of God, through faith alone, the grace of justification;-though all (the sacraments) are not in deed necessary for every individual; let him be anathema.” Seventh Session CANON IV
(Anathemas condemning anyone that rejects the Most Holy Eucharist)
“If any one denieth, that, in the sacrament of the most holy Eucharist, are contained truly, really, and substantially, the body and blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently the whole Christ; but saith that He is only therein as in a sign, or in figure, or virtue; let him be anathema.” Thirteenth Session CANON I
“If any one saith, that, in the holy sacrament of the Eucharist, Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, is not to be adored with the worship, even external of latria; and is, consequently, neither to be venerated with a special festive solemnity, nor to be solemnly borne about in processions, according to the laudable and universal rite and custom of holy church; or, is not to be proposed publicly to the people to be adored, and that the adorers thereof are idolators; let him be anathema.” Thirteenth Session CANON VI
(Anathema condemning anyone that rejects baptism is necessary for salvation) “If any one saith, that baptism is free, that is, not necessary unto salvation; let him be anathema.” Seventh Session CANON V
(Anathema condemning anyone that rejects infant baptism) “If any one saith, that little children, for that they have not actual faith, are not, after having received baptism, to be reckoned amongst the faithful; and that, for this cause, they are to be rebaptized when they have attained to years of discretion; or, that it is better that the baptism of such be omitted, than that, while not believing by their own act, they should be bapized in the faith alone of the Church; let him be anathema.” Seventh Session CANON XIII
(Anathemas condemning anyone that rejects the priesthood) “If any one saith, that there is not in the New Testament a visible and external priesthood; or that there is not any power of consecrating and offering the true body and blood of the Lord, and of forgiving and retaining sins; but only an office and bare ministry of preaching the Gospel, or, that those who do not preach are not priests at all; let him be anathema.” Twenty-Second Session CANON I
“If any one saith, that by those words, Do this for the commemoration of me (Luke 22: 19), Christ did not institute the apostles priests; or, did not ordain that they, and other priests should offer His own body and blood; let him be anathema.” Twenty-Second Session CANON II
“If any one saith, that all Christians have power to administer the word, and all the sacraments; let him be anathema.” Seventh Session CANON X
McCain has no problem hobnobbing with Dems who call Pres. Bush and other Repubs every filthy name in the book. He hates conservatives so much that he can not bring himself to try to appeal to conservatives. I guess he believes we must vote for him...I have a big surprise for you John, and it’s coming on election night in November...hint hint-don’t give up your day job.
It almost seems as if McCain is running against conservatives and not Democrats...? I think he is drinking the koolaide and really believes he does not need a base to get elected-he is not a smart man.
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