McCain and Hagee, sitting in a tree . . . .

[MrFun]

and they certainly aren't kissing anymore! Apparently, McCain is quite a flip-flopper; deciding to admit that the endorsement of John Hagee was a mistake only after experiencing increased pressure due to the negative image of Hagee.

How many Apolytoners on here are going to vote for a flip-flopper?

McCain and Hagee

McCain Admits Hagee Endorsement Was A Mistake
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Share April 20, 2008 12:42 PM

ABC News' Mary Bruce Reports: Presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., admitted this morning that it was a mistake to accept the endorsement of Evangelical pastor Rev. John Hagee. When asked in an exclusive "This Week" interview with George Stephanopoulos if it was "a mistake to solicit and accept his endorsement", McCain replied "oh, probably, sure." Despite admitting his error, McCain made clear he's still "glad to have his endorsement."

McCain spoke out against Hagee's "condemning of the Catholic church," but added that "I admire and respect Dr. Hagee's leadership... I admire and appreciate his advocacy for the state of Israel, the independence of the state of Israel." McCain has previously admitted to soliciting Rev. Hagee's endorsement.

Sen. John McCain also raised questions concerning Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama's relationship with the founder of the radical Weather Underground group, Bill Ayers. Asserting that the issue was "open to question," McCain said that Obama should condemn comments he's made comparing Ayers to Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla.

"The worst thing of all, that, I think, really indicates Senator Obama's attitude, is he had the incredible statement that he compared Mr. Ayers, an unrepentant terrorist, with Senator Tom Coburn, Senator Coburn, a physician who goes to Oklahoma on the weekends and brings babies into life -- comparing those two -- I mean, that's not -- that's an attitude, frankly, that certainly isn't in keeping with the overall attitude," McCain said.

[Apocalypse]

This was already ridiculous though. Everyone knows evangelicals hate Catholics anyway. You can find Catholic hate speech from pretty much any evangelical pastor.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Actually McCain rejected the endorsement after hearing the Holocaust remarks Hagee had made.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Actually McCain rejected the endorsement after hearing the Holocaust remarks Hagee had made.

So he flip-flopped after the Holocaust remarks. okay

[Imran Siddiqui]

And Obama flip flopped after 'ole Wright started getting louder .

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
And Obama flip flopped after 'ole Wright started getting louder .

Yep -- all candidates, including Obama (whom I support) have changed their position on one issue or the other.

But given how Republicans could never stop tarring Kerry as a flip-flopper in 2004 campaign, I wonder if those same Republicans can stomach voting for McCain for his flip-flopping - this is not his first, or only instance of flip-flopping.

[Ben Kenobi]

Hagee also retracted his remarks.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=12496

Rev. Hagee says “Amen” to Pope Benedict’s “moral vision for America”

Benedict XVI and Rev. John Hagee, Apr 30, 2008 / 03:00 am (CNA).- Rev. John Hagee, the controversial pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, has lauded Pope Benedict XVI in a Washington Times essay and thanked him for the speeches he made during his U.S. visit. Hagee praised what he called Pope Benedict’s “moral vision for America,” especially the Pope’s affirmation of Christian participation in the public square.

In his Washington Times essay, Rev. Hagee also repeated his denial of accusations he has made anti-Catholic statements. Hagee insisted he has been “quite zealous” about condemning what he said was the “past anti-Semitism of the Catholic Church.” However, he claimed his view of the Catholic Church had been caricatured.

Hagee praised Pope Benedict’s many public statements about the role that “our Judeo-Christian faith” can play in contemporary life.

“As an evangelical Protestant I happen to disagree with Pope Benedict on many issues of Christian doctrine and ritual,” Hagee wrote. “But when it comes to his moral vision for America and the world I have one thing to say in response to the Pope's visit: Amen.”

Hagee said that evangelical leaders believe faith must not be confined to “churches on Sunday morning.” Rather, Christian values can help build a more just and humane society. Hagee said the Pope “speaks for all of us” when he said “any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted" and called for Christian participation "in the exchange of ideas in the public square."

Pope Benedict also voiced evangelicals’ concerns when, in Hagee’s words, he “recognized the threats posed by secularism and materialism not only to our morality but to our happiness.”

Hagee especially noted the Pope’s quotation from George Washington’s Farewell Address, in which the first U.S. president described religion and morality as “indispensable supports” for political prosperity.

The Holy Father’s United Nations address also won praise from Hagee. Before the U.N., the Pope declared that “the international community must intervene” when states fail to protect basic human rights. Pastor Hagee connected this stand for human rights with his own support for the state of Israel, but also said “we must never again allow genocide to be perpetrated against any of God's children anywhere in the world.”

Hagee said that his essay would surprise people who have accepted what he called “certain caricatures of my views of the Catholic Church.” He noted that he had been zealous in condemning “the past anti-Semitism of the Catholic Church” but he said he was equally zealous in condemning Protestant anti-Semitism. Hagee also said he has viewed both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict as partners in overcoming Christian anti-Semitism.

Pope Benedict’s speech in his visit to the East Park Synagogue in New York City, Hagee said, echoed his own belief that Christians need to recognize their Jewish roots.

Hagee closed his Washington Times essay with a prayer for unity.

“We were all inspired by Pope Benedict's visit,” he said. “It is my prayer that we will now follow his example and look beyond our differences to see that when it comes to the great challenges of our times, people of faith have much in common.”

[DaShi]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
And Obama flip flopped after 'ole Wright started getting louder .

Not really, he distanced himself from Wright's statments before Wright got louder. It wasn't until Wright started acting like a raving lunatic to the general public that he completely disavowed him.

In McCain's defense, he claims to not have known about Hagee's anti-semitism until recently. Afterward learning about it, he rejected Hagee's endorsement. What's worrying is that McCain is either genuinely clueless about what's going on around him (happily accepted endorsements from anyone without a thought as to who they are and what they support) or that he's typical Washington politician trying to grab every vote he can and playing damage-control when it blows up in his face. Eitherway, it shows some poor judgement.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi

Hagee said that evangelical leaders believe faith must not be confined to “churches on Sunday morning.” Rather, Christian values can help build a more just and humane society. Hagee said the Pope “speaks for all of us” when he said “any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted" and called for Christian participation "in the exchange of ideas in the public square."

Hagee is a pathetic liar. His Holocaust remarks certainly contradict his professed claim to want to advance Christianity's mission toward a more "just and humane society."

And then there's also his bigoted hatred toward gays. What kind of bigot favors a more just, humane society?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by DaShi
Not really, he distanced himself from Wright's statments before Wright got louder. It wasn't until Wright started acting like a raving lunatic to the general public that he completely disavowed him.

He didn't distance himself from Wright until the media picked up on what he was saying (I don't buy he didn't know... why exactly did Oprah leave the same church because of Wright?)

[DaShi]

Did he say anything about Wright for his campaign before the media picked up on it? My argument is that Obama wasn't using Wright to advance his campaign then tossing him aside when the tide turned, hence flip-flopping.

[Ben Kenobi]

Hagee is a pathetic liar. His Holocaust remarks certainly contradict his professed claim to want to advance Christianity's mission toward a more "just and humane society."

And then there's also his bigoted hatred toward gays. What kind of bigot favors a more just, humane society?

You hate bible christians in general, so it doesn't surprise me. After the polite remarks there about the Pope, Catholics have no beef with Hagee.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by DaShi
Did he say anything about Wright for his campaign before the media picked up on it? My argument is that Obama wasn't using Wright to advance his campaign then tossing him aside when the tide turned, hence flip-flopping.

Aside from Wright being his "spiritual advisor" and being appointed to Obama's African American Religious Leadership Committee? In addition to titling his book "The Audacity of Hope" after one of Wright's sermons?

[DaShi]

Well, then I'll agree that Obama did seem to flip-flop on this issue.

[DaShi]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi


You hate bible christians in general, so it doesn't surprise me. After the polite remarks there about the Pope, Catholics have no beef with Hagee.

I still don't trust Hagee.