Thread: McCain Faces Fire Over Minister's Views

McCain Faces Fire Over Minister's Views, Presumptive GOP Nominee Faces Questions Over Rev. John Hagee's Provocative Preachings - CBS News

Today, it was Republican frontrunner John McCain's turn to answer mounting questions about one of his supporters, Rev. John Hagee, a San Antonio pastor with a worldwide broadcast ministry, reports CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield.

Hagee has offered some highly provocative views on a variety of subjects.

For instance, he linked Hurricane Katrina to the gay rights movement: " … All of the city was punished because of the sin that happened there in that city."

He has also denounced the Roman Catholic Church as "the great whore of Babylon" and "a cult." He blames it for the Holocaust and predicts its imminent demise.

"This is the apostate church," Hagee said. " … this false religious system is going to be totally devoured by the anti-Christ."

In a statement, Catholics United said: "We hope Senator McCain will take the principled position of publicly and unequivocally distancing himself from Pastor Hagee's anti-Catholic comments."

And Bill Donahue of the Catholic League offered a tougher view: "I do want a clear-cut statement from McCain saying that he knows Catholics have been offended, when this man Hagee calls my religion the great whore and a false cult system."

Today, Sen. McCain offered carefully measured words: "I don't have to agree with everyone who endorses my candidacy," he said. "They are supporting my candidacy. I am not endorsing some of their positions."

The question is whether Pastor Hagee's view on the Catholic Church constitutes "a position" or a view that the presumptive Republican nominee has to address head on.

This dust-up may also make it a lot tougher for Republicans to criticize Barack Obama for some of his more controversial supporters.

So John McCain still refuses to apologize and denounce Hagee... and his supporters have what to say about this?

Yawn. Big yawn. Massive.

I expect all the people who CRITICIZED RON PAUL FOR DOING SAME THING WITH DON BLACK TO DO THE SAME THING HERE.

TFM, weren't you one of those dudes?

Originally Posted by davisjr1990

I expect all the people who CRITICIZED RON PAUL FOR DOING SAME THING WITH DON BLACK TO DO THE SAME THING HERE.

TFM, weren't you one of those dudes?

Actually, I was the guy that says I don't care who endorses a candidate, as it does not mean that they share the same views.

If Don Black wants to endorse Ron Paul, and RP doesn't denounce him, I could not care less. If Oprah supports Obama, it doesn't make Obama a middle aged fat woman with a crappy TV show and an inflated sense of importance.

Originally Posted by Defensor

McCain Faces Fire Over Minister's Views, Presumptive GOP Nominee Faces Questions Over Rev. John Hagee's Provocative Preachings - CBS News

So John McCain still refuses to apologize and denounce Hagee... and his supporters have what to say about this?

So candidates have to review the utterances of every person in the country who claims to support them and apologize for any of them who may have said something offensive?

Why does McCain have an obligation to do this?

Originally Posted by davisjr1990

I expect all the people who CRITICIZED RON PAUL FOR DOING SAME THING WITH DON BLACK TO DO THE SAME THING HERE.

The same thing? The Ron Paul campaign happened to have accepted a donation from an obscure internet forum admin. That was a real yawn.

John McCain deliberately sought out Hagee's endorsement and then showed up to accept it and speak at Hagee's 'church.'

Originally Posted by Defensor

The same thing? The Ron Paul campaign happened to have accepted a donation from an obscure internet forum admin. That was a real yawn.

John McCain deliberately sought out Hagee's endorsement and then showed up to accept it and speak at Hagee's 'church.'

Again, yawn.

Look McCain is in the race to lose, pure and simple. Killery will be the next pres. Now I must wash my finger tips.

Originally Posted by Stinger

So candidates have to review the utterances of every person in the country who claims to support them and apologize for any of them who may have said something offensive?

Why does McCain have an obligation to do this?

Hagee didn't just claim to support McCain. McCain actively worked to secure his endorsement.

Originally Posted by michaelr

Look McCain is in the race to lose, pure and simple. Killery will be the next pres. Now I must wash my finger tips.

Won't it be funny in January when President Clinton II is sworn in? All the establishment tools who cheered for McCain and Obama will get what they deserve.

Too bad the rest of us will to have to pay for it...