Hagee Endorsement for McCain Comes Under Fire

You call Hagee a "bigot". Aren't we all bigots and hypocrites in one way or another? Be honest with yourself. All of us sterotype and complain about others. If someone isn't exactly like us we don't identify with, relate to or like them. That is human nature. When you call Hagee a "bigot" you are being a "bigot" yourself. You are, in essence, judging him for the exact thing that you are claiming that he does. If Hagee indeed did call the Catholic Church those words then he is judging them. But, on the same hand, you are judging him for judging them. On one hand we aren't supposed to judge others harshly, but on the other hand we are supposed to point out and expose deceit and falsehoods so we can help others find truth. Is Hagee wrong for doing so - only God can say. Were his intentions pure? Were they done to help or hurt others? God judges the heart of man and his motives. Most controversial men throughout history were called names. Truth can be intimidating. Sometimes when men speak the truth they are attacked. No one can please everyone all of the time. Hagee makes a living from his words. Do his words come from God or from the flesh. No one knows, but God. Only God knows if the Catholic Church is truly His or not. I know many people who are Catholics who have been blessed by God. I also know many people who are Mormons who were wonderful people. God loves them all in spite of if their religion is true or false, real or fake. He loves the criminal as much as He loves the 'good' man. He loves the tither as much as He loves the prostitute. He loves the John Hagees of the world as much as he loves the person who has never heard about him and the athiest or agnostic. He even loved Saul, the man who persecuted his people the most in the world. Jesus loved him so much that he re-named him Paul and Paul became one of Jesus's greatest advocates. He loves us all. He loves the "bigots" and since we are all "bigots" He loves us ALL! Even those who criticize his followers and pastors, like Hagee. Even you!

Anyone who criticizes John Hagee needs to read his books, watch him regularly on TV, listen to his radio shows consistently or attend his church before they make a judgement about him. Yes, he has strong opinions. Yes, he speaks his mind, but so have many great leaders. Not all leaders are likeable. But, some of the things written in these blogs are just not true about him. Where do people come up with these things? Read his books and you will know where he stands on war, Israel, etc. He does not WANT war. I have read his books. Nowhere have I ever heard him say he wants war. Not in his books and not in his sermons. Sounds like rumors to me and rumors are usually started by the other side. Hagee represents some conservatives. He represents some Christians. That does not mean that all conservative Christians agree with him or that we don't. Why does it always have to be a "we" against "them" thing? Why can't we all discuss our opinions without getting so defensive? I may not agree with him or you and you may not agree with me, but we can all learn from one another. Unless those of us who are liberals or middle of the road close our ears to what leaders like Hagee, McCain, Obama, and others have to say. We can teach them a thing or two, also. Don't you think?

Even Christians are embarrassed by Pastor Hagee because of his money scandal. For info, google search "PETITION FOR PASTOR HAGEE TO REPENT" He is taking out over $1 million annually from his TV and church ministries for personal gain; as documented in public tax returns.

It's "rum, Romanism and rebellion" all over again. McCain blew it by cozying up to the most extreme evangelical preachers in the country.

Now he's going to find out how much it'll cost him to drop his once gutsy stand against these religious bullies on the far right. Hagee's willingness to stick by the old war cry of the Reformation era makes me wonder if McCain will ever figure out who's whoring whom by Election Day?

So far the biggest heroes in this debacle seem to be Catholic League's Bill Donahue and Salon.com's Gleen Greenwald (who interviewed Donahue on this matter.)

COME ON PEOPLE! Since when does disagreeing with a religion or believing it is dangerous in some way make you a bigot? What ever happened to freedom of speech in this country. You don't have to agree with it! Our freedom to speak out against religious ideas or any ideology be it religious or political is a foundational right of all of us. It is what protects us from dangerous ideologies, and causes people to refine their ideas. Disagreeing with someone's ideology and saying it is not bigotry, it's America!

No evangelical really thinks that McCain has any kind of theological prowess to know the difference between a heretic and a big church pastor. Cut him some slack.

I am more disappointed that Huckabee is disappointed. He should know that Hagee has made claims that Jesus is not the Messiah of the Jews.

However, there is a large difference between being endorsed and endorsing. Barack Obama has chosen his pastor and that is the difference.

It isn't simply Hagee saying something "nice" about Sen. McCain. The problem is that Sen. McCain also said something nice about Hagee. Sen. McCain called John Hagee "the staunchest leader of our Christian evangelical movement." This begs the question: does Sen. McCain also hold the same bigoted view that Hagee holds or will he pubically repudiate Hagee's version of bigoted "leadership?"

Dave

The REASON Hagee endorsed McCain is because he figures McCain will start a war with Iran. That's what Hagee wants, more than anything. It's his claim that if we're violent enough, Jesus will come back and take the most violent cretins to Heaven. Hagee is truly a dangerous lunatic.

Tom J, I think you're wrong. Farrakhan saying something nice about Obama means that Obama is now a member of the Nation of Islam--whether he likes it or not. If someone says something nice about you, there's nothing you can do. You sort of BECOME that person. That's the way life works in America. At least when there are lunatic Republicans involved...

Military service does not make one immune from criticism on every issue, only the issue of military service. McCain does not get a pass. His plans for Iraq and the economy are the same old garbage. His acceptance if not embrace of the wingnut right is not a little sad, and certainly makes one question what else he will compromise on, and what happened to the straight talk express...

What a bunch of Idiots (Hagee's nuts)

The Catholic Church was founded by Christ Himself. Simon-Peter as His Vicar
and all the popes are the sucessors to Peter. For those of you who don't know, John Hagee's hope to bring on the end of the world just shows what a NUT he is.
Who would want(Hagee's)support? I'm voting for John - because he is the lesser of three evils

McCain called Pat Robertson an agent of intolerence. He is not loved by the far right.

McCain wouldn't know Hagee's views in a million years.

Obama's mentor and retired pastor meanwhile is someone who promotes farakkhan and disses jews. But Obama isn't made to denounce him.

Enough of the McCain smearing already.

McCain can't even lift his arms to comb his hair from the torture he went through. His son just came back from Iraq. And all the left loves to do is smear McCain.

McCain never voted for torture. Read the bill. The left smeared him.

McCain never said he wanted a 100 year war in Iraq. He only said after the war and it was a peaceful situation could we help the iraqis long term.

I am so sick and tired of the juvenile lefties smearing McCain.

Mr. Hagee argues that "the United States must join Israel in a preemptive, biblically prophesized military strike against Iran that will lead to the second coming of Christ".

McCain sings "bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran".

I'm surprised no one's posted a video yet.

Thank you for your fairness in covering this, Mr. Tapper. If Sen. Obama is required to denounce and reject every extremist African American religious figure who says kind words about him, then Senator McCain should be held to the same standard regarding any extremist religious figure who endorses him (regardless of color or creed).

McCain cannot really denounce and reject. He has attended Hagee rallies in the past and actively sought the endorsement. Hagee believes in using the American Military to aide in the end of the world so the rapture can happen. I don't even like the Dems but I hope somebody hammers McCain for this. Of course Hagee is also looked upon favorably by the Israeli lobby so I don't know how much the press will stay on this, notice the midday friday release. I really wish we could put this Hagee guy back into obscurity where he belongs because he feeds off the ignorant.

I'd encourage anyone who reads Political Punch to look up some of Mr. Hagee's accomplishments and his record. It's easy - although none of it is covered in this article. Something else you may want to check out, regardless of who you support, is Media Matters today. They cover the issue quite extensively.

Jake, Thanks for another nice piece on John McCain.

"One seemingly consistent theme running throughout Barack Obama’s career is his comfort with aligning himself with people who are anti-Israel advocates. This ease around Israel animus has taken various forms. As Obama has continued his political ascent, he has moved up the prestige scale in terms of his associates. Early on in his career he chose a church headed by a former Black Muslim who is a harsh anti-Israel advocate and who may be seen as tinged with anti-Semitism. This church is a member of a denomination whose governing body has taken a series of anti-Israel actions. As his political fortunes and ambition climbed, he found support from George Soros, multibillionaire promoter of groups that have been consistently harsh and biased critics of the American-Israel relationship. There are literally hundreds of churches on the South Side of Chicago that Obama could have chosen from. He selected one that was headed by Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Junior. The anti-Israel rants of this minister have been well chronicled. Among the gems: The Israelis have illegally occupied Palestinian territories for almost 40 years now. It took a divestment campaign to wake the business community up concerning the South Africa issue. Divestment has now hit the table again as a strategy to wake the business community up and to wake Americans up concerning the injustice and the racism under which the Palestinians have lived because of Zionism "

Donohue is a perpetual Victim.

Kinda reminds me of a certain politician from NY running for President.

"While we welcome his support, it shouldn’t be seen as a wholesale endorsement of all of Mr. Hagee’s views."

Has Tim Russert gotten the news yet?

I'm sure he'll be delighted to know that it will be unnecessary to follow up.

Hey Joe, Your gal Hillary is losing right now. Saddle up and get on the Obama train cause it's moving towards McCain!