John McCain told to dump spiritual guide in row over "war" on Islam

Times Online ^ | 13/03/08 | Hannah Strange

[isrul]

(Reuters)

John McCain described Rod Parsley, a televangelist who urged a Christian war on Islam, as his spiritual guide

Hannah Strange John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has been called upon to renounce a church leader he considers his spiritual guide for urging a Christian war to destroy the “false religion” of Islam.

A number of prominent US weblogs demanded he reject the support of Reverend Rod Parsley, of the World Harvest Church of Columbus, an influential televangelist and political figure who campaigned alongside him in the run up to the Ohio primary.

On February 26, a week before the Ohio vote, Mr McCain appeared at a campaign rally in Cincinnati with the evangelical pastor, who praised the candidate as a “strong, true, consistent conservative”. With Mike Huckabee, a Baptist preacher, then continuing to snap at his heels, Mr Parsley’s endorsement was a boon to Mr McCain’s efforts to knock out his last remaining challenger and win over social conservatives. Standing side-by-side with the minister, Mr McCain hailed him as a “spiritual guide”.

Since then, the writings of Mr Parsley have attracted attention from political commentators. Several have noted that Mr McCain's Democratic rival, Barack Obama, was forced to publicly denounce and reject the support of Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, after he received unsolicited praise from the controversial figure.

[Resolute Conservative]

There are a lot more but they get cowed down and no attention other than to be called zealots.

[pissant]

Yes, he will. I can almost guarantee it.

[marron]

What percentage of the voting public will be offended if you say that Islam is a false religion?

Muslims, of course, can’t blame them. Thats a tiny demographic. Otherwise most of the people who will be offended will be the permanently outraged Left, who believe in no religion at all.

Most of them aren’t going to vote for McCain whatever he does.

So when he does throw Parsley under the bus, he will do so gaining not one voter in the process.

[isrul]

"What percentage of the voting public will be offended if you say that Islam is a false religion?"

It will offend McCain, in his self righteous, sanctimonious stupor. That's the problem.

[TommyDale]

I would throw Rod Parsley under the bus regardless of what he said about Islam. He teaches a false doctrine of his own.

[donna]

Like McCain actually listens to his “spiritual adviser”.

[isrul]

I just heard on Rush that, in so many words, yes. McCain spokesman says candidate can't be held responsible for what adviser says. Especially since Obama has repudiated what he said.

Some guy named Black on Scarborough actually said that false crap.

[isrul]

He would be more likely to listen if the adviser was across the aisle.

[Cicero]

I don’t think McCain has a spiritual adviser, any more than bill clinton does. One of his advisers told him to play the religion card, so he did. Much like clinton waving his Bible for the press outside that Church of Christ without Christ in DC.

[isrul]

I'm shocked to see that. Shocked.

[Condor51]

Denounce this, denounce that.
All this 'denouncing' is getting ridiculous. So maybe every candidate should have something like this preprinted and at the ready......

I __________ (fill in name) hereby denounce ___________ (fill in name) for offending ____________ (fill in name or group) for saying __________ (fill in topic) and that ___________ (fill in name) no longer has any association with my campaign. Furthermore, I hereby apologize to __________ (fill in name or group) for any pain and or suffering caused by ___________ (fill in name) and promise that it will never happen again.

Very truly yours,
______________ (fill in name)

Since my above attempt at humor on this Denouncing topic will obviously offend someone, somewhere, I hereby Denounce my own post.

Regards,
Denounced

[houstonman58]

"I would throw Rod Parsley under the bus regardless of what he said about Islam. He teaches a false doctrine of his own."

Thanks for saying what I was thinking. All these phony "Christian" churches out there are doing very little to promote true Christianity. What these self declared "evangelicals" have is "Christianity light", "the gospel according to my feelings", if even that.

[pallis]

I know what people mean when the say “false religion,” but I have to disagree with the term. As a Christian I tend to regard all religion as false, and in that light, Islam is a true religion, the modern version of Arab paganism. I wish more Christian, spiritual advisers to our political idols would call Islam what is is, true pagan religion.

[MurryMom]

Like McCain actually listens to his “spiritual adviser”.

If McInsane actually listens to this one, he can kiss the presidency goodbye. Parsley is a holy roller specializing in cancer and other incurable diseases.

[MrB]

The church/state wall was MEANT to be one way - gov’t out of religion.

[MrB]

So... we DO have some people who aren’t so cowed by PC that they can not only NAME the enemy, but what we have to do about it.

Unfortunately, McCain is not one of those people.

[RedRover]

Also interesting to see if the MSM uses this to defuse the bigger story of Obama’s spiritual advisor’s hatred for America.

[MrB]

Left, who believe in no religion at all

I don't think that's as accurate as saying that they're simply anti-Christianity.

[Common Tator]

Well it is like this.. McCain’s spiritial adviser wants to destroy the enemies of the USA. Obama’s spiritial adviser wants to destroy the USA.

Obviously you can’t see any differnce.

[isrul]

I think that's the reason for the story. I tried to trace the source and it seems like it may have originated in “Mother Jones”, of all places.