Barack: Rev. Wright Ain't My Mouthpiece!

76.

Pastor John Hagee endorses McCain: Bill Donohue Freaks out
By: John Amato on Thursday, February 28th, 2008 at 5:05 PM - PST A highly controversial San Antonio evangelical pastor has endorsed John McCain. Notice in Elisabeth Bumiller’s piece—she fails to bring up anything about Hagee’s core beliefs. I guess they are all the same to her.


McCain: I was pleased to have the endorsement of pastor John Hagee yesterday.

McCain is happy as a clam. Looks like the pastor had a bit of a problem with the IRS and Hagee’s not too fond of the Catholic church either. From his book Jerusalem Countdown:…

Adolf Hitler attended a Catholic school as a child and heard all the fiery anti-Semitic rantings from Chrysostom to Martin Luther. When Hitler became a global demonic monster, the Catholic Church and Pope Pius XII never, ever slightly criticized him. Pope Pius XII, called by historians ‘Hitler’s Pope,’ joined Hitler in the infamous Concordat of Collaboration, which turned the youth of Germany over to Nazism, and the churches became the stage background for the bloodthirsty cry, ‘Pereat Judea’…. In all of his [Hitler’s] years of absolute brutality, he was never denounced or even scolded by Pope Pius XII or any Catholic leader in the world. To those Christians who believe that Jewish hearts will be warmed by the sight of the cross, please be informed—to them it’s an electric chair.

This is the kind of hate that permeates the extreme wing of the religious right. Bill Donohue is freaking out over Hagee and McCain. Glenn Greenwald interviewed him today:

The Catholic League demanded that McCain repudiate Hagee and his endorsement, just as Barack Obama did earlier this week with Louis Farrakhan (despite the fact that Obama, unlike McCain with Hagee, never sought out or accepted Farrakhan’s endorsement) In the interview, Donohue made some extraordinary statements. He compared Hagee both to Louis Farrakhan and Bob Jones, but noted: “Hagee is far more powerful than Farrakhan is today. . . . Hagee is a major player. There’s no end to his money. He has an empire down there.” Regarding the intense 2000 media controversy when then-Gov. George Bush spoke at Bob Jones University, Donohue said:

Why were they so exercised about Bob Jones? This is worse. . . . If someone said to me: who is the biggest anti-Catholic bigot in the evangelical community, I would say: hands down, John Hagee.

Posted at 8:28PM on Apr 29th 2008 by Rev Wright is not the only controversial pastor

77. James Boned...Billionaire Oprah is fine..how about your trailer.

Posted at 5:27PM on Apr 29th 2008 by Rev Wright is not the only controversial pastor

78. McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam

Washington Dispatch: Televangelist Rod Parsley, a key McCain ally in Ohio, has called for eradicating the "false religion." Will the GOP presidential candidate renounce him?

By David Corn

March 12, 2008


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Senator John McCain hailed as a spiritual adviser an Ohio megachurch pastor who has called upon Christians to wage a "war" against the "false religion" of Islam with the aim of destroying it.

On February 26, McCain appeared at a campaign rally in Cincinnati with the Reverend Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church of Columbus, a supersize Pentecostal institution that features a 5,200-seat sanctuary, a television studio (where Parsley tapes a weekly show), and a 122,000-square-foot Ministry Activity Center. That day, a week before the Ohio primary, Parsley praised the Republican presidential front-runner as a "strong, true, consistent conservative." The endorsement was important for McCain, who at the time was trying to put an end to the lingering challenge from former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, a favorite among Christian evangelicals. A politically influential figure in Ohio, Parsley could also play a key role in McCain's effort to win this bellwether state in the general election. McCain, with Parsley by his side at the Cincinnati rally, called the evangelical minister a "spiritual guide."

The leader of a 12,000-member congregation, Parsley has written several books outlining his fundamentalist religious outlook, including the 2005 Silent No More. In this work, Parsley decries the "spiritual desperation" of the United States, and he blasts away at the usual suspects: activist judges, civil libertarians who advocate the separation of church and state, the homosexual "culture" ("homosexuals are anything but happy and carefree"), the "abortion industry," and the crass and profane entertainment industry. And Parsley targets another profound threat to the United States: the religion of Islam.

In a chapter titled "Islam: The Deception of Allah," Parsley warns there is a "war between Islam and Christian civilization." He continues:


I cannot tell you how important it is that we understand the true nature of Islam, that we see it for what it really is. In fact, I will tell you this: I do not believe our country can truly fulfill its divine purpose until we understand our historical conflict with Islam. I know that this statement sounds extreme, but I do not shrink from its implications. The fact is that America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed, and I believe September 11, 2001, was a generational call to arms that we can no longer ignore.

Parsley is not shy about his desire to obliterate Islam. In Silent No More, he notes—approvingly—that Christopher Columbus shared the same goal: "It was to defeat Islam, among other dreams, that Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World in 1492…Columbus dreamed of defeating the armies of Islam with the armies of Europe made mighty by the wealth of the New World. It was this dream that, in part, began America." He urges his readers to realize that a confrontation between Christianity and Islam is unavoidable: "We find now we have no choice. The time has come." And he has bad news: "We may already be losing the battle. As I scan the world, I find that Islam is responsible for more pain, more bloodshed, and more devastation than nearly any other force on earth at this moment."

Parsley claims that Islam is an "anti-Christ religion" predicated on "deception." The Muslim prophet Muhammad, he writes, "received revelations from demons and not from the true God." And he emphasizes this point: "Allah was a demon spirit." Parsley does not differentiate between violent Islamic extremists and other followers of the religion:


There are some, of course, who will say that the violence I cite is the exception and not the rule. I beg to differ. I will counter, respectfully, that what some call "extremists" are instead mainstream believers who are drawing from the well at the very heart of Islam.

The spirit of Islam, he maintains, is one of hostility. He asserts that the religion "inspired" the 9/11 attacks. He bemoans the fact that in the years after 9/11, 34,000 Americans "have become Muslim" and that there are "some 1,209 mosques" in America. Islam, he declares, is a "faith that fully intends to conquer the world" through violence. The United States, he insists, "has historically understood herself as a bastion against Islam," but "history is crashing in upon us."

At the end of his chapter on Islam, Parsley asks, "Are we a Christian nation? I say yes." Without specifying what actions should be taken to eradicate the religion, he essentially calls for a new crusade.

Parsley, who refers to himself as a "Christocrat," is no stranger to controversy. In 2007, the grassroots organization he founded, the Center for Moral Clarity, called for prosecuting people who commit adultery. In January, he compared Planned Parenthood to Nazis. In the past Parsley's church has been accused of engaging in pro-Republican partisan activities in violation of its tax-exempt status.

Why would McCain court Parsley? He has long had trouble figuring out how to deal with Christian fundamentalists, an important bloc for the Republican Party. During his 2000 presidential bid, he referred to Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell as "agents of intolerance." But six years later, as he readied himself for another White House run, McCain repudiated that remark. More recently, his campaign hit a rough patch when he accepted the endorsement of the Reverend John Hagee, a Texas televangelist who has called the Catholic Church "the great whore" and a "false cult system." After the Catholic League protested and called on McCain to renounce Hagee's support, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee praised Hagee's spiritual leadership and support of Israel and said that "when [Hagee] endorses me, it does not mean that I embrace everything that he stands for or believes in." After being further criticized for his Hagee connection, McCain backed off slightly, saying, "I repudiate any comments that are made, including Pastor Hagee's, if they are anti-Catholic or offensive to Catholics." But McCain did not renounce Hagee's endorsement.

McCain's relationship with Parsley is politically significant. In 2004, Parsley's church was credited with driving Christian fundamentalist voters to the polls for George W. Bush. With Ohio expected to again be a decisive state in the presidential contest, Parsley's World Harvest Church and an affiliated entity called Reformation Ohio, which registers voters, could be important players within this battleground state. Considering that the Ohio Republican Party has been decimated by various political scandals and that a popular Democrat, Ted Strickland, is now the state's governor, McCain and the Republicans will need all the help they can get in the Buckeye State this fall. It's a real question: Can McCain win the presidency without Parsley?

The McCain campaign did not respond to a request for comment regarding Parsley and his anti-Islam writings. Parsley did not return a call seeking comment.

"The last thing I want to be is another screaming voice moving people to extremes and provoking them to folly in the name of patriotism," Parsley writes in Silent No More. Provoking people to holy war is another matter. About that, McCain so far is silent.

Posted at 5:22PM on Apr 29th 2008 by Rev Wright is not the only controversial pastor

79. Why doesn't obama just "SHUT THE HELL UP"? He is such a jerk. We don't need any more guys like him in the white house. Are'nt we getting rid of one airhead in january of 09, so why get another air head in there after just getting rid of one? We need a woman in there, she can't do any worse then all of these guys have been doing all these years. I'm sure she will do a helluva lot better then obama or old man mccain.

Posted at 5:25PM on Apr 29th 2008 by Laure H.

80. Obama is such a liar! All he is doing is covering his ass. If he doesn't agree with his pator's views, then why in the world would he be a member of his church. I am so sick and tired of him saying whatever fits to try and win votes. He is full of crap and will say ANYTHING to get votes. The sad thing is that many people are actually buying his lies. Barak Obama does not have the experience to get anything done for this country. He is only telling potential voters what they want to hear but will not carry out those promises!

Posted at 9:22AM on Apr 30th 2008 by OBAMA IS A LIAR!

81. Calling Pastor John Hagee a "bigot," the conservative Catholic League is calling for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to denounce/renounce/reject his endorsement Wednesday.

With a Youtube link to prove his point, Catholic League president Bill Donohue said Hagee "has waged an unrelenting war against the Catholic Church. For example, he likes calling it 'The Great Whore,' an 'apostate church,' the 'anti-Christ,' and a 'false cult system.' ..."Senator Obama has repudiated the endorsement of Louis Farrakhan, another bigot. McCain should follow suit and retract his embrace of Hagee." ...

McCain spox Jill Hazelbaker says, "Hagee endorsed John McCain. While we welcome his support, it shouldn't be seen as a wholesale endorsement of all of Mr. Hagee's views."

Posted at 5:28PM on Apr 29th 2008 by Rev Wright is not the only controversial pastor

82. John McCain is dangerous because he thinks the answer to 20 Alqueda on 9/11 is to station 120,000 or more troops in Iraq permanently with a surge that stalemates a misplaced response to the original threat. Even if we assume as a result of the war, now there is AlQueda in Iraq, the risk to the US is miniscule. They have no army to inavade, no ships, no planes, no missles no nothing. Stationing 120,000 men there at cost of 120 billion a year to taxpayers is not only out of all proportion to any real risk, but it is inviting surrender in any future conflict with a real country like Russia. We are listening to McCain who was wrong on Vietnam and now more wrong on Iraq. Obama is reasoned by comparison. McCain's denial of reality will grind our army into the ground in the deserts of Iraq instead of the jungles of Nam. He should get out of politics and stop costing Americans lives for war folly.

Posted at 5:39PM on Apr 29th 2008 by Bomb Bomb Mccain

83. 4041 Americans are dead and unknown innocent Iranians.

Posted at 5:41PM on Apr 29th 2008 by Bomb Bomb Mccain

84. Kate in Topeka post # 10

Well after yesterday's fiasco with Rev. Wright it is apparent to me that the man is nuts. I too watched Obama today disavow himself from the pastor. Such a shame that Obama cannot concentrate on the campaign and talking about the issues. I'm now convinced that the reverend is making great effort to sabotage the campaign. Scratching my head...

Posted at 5:38PM on Apr 29th 2008 by Debbiegrandmother

85. 'John Mclame' is a total Disgrace who will Lie on just about anything , to get what he wants.
I agree , for the record Nazi's or Nation of Islam are Socialists and would Vote for Michael Moore or Wright for President.

Posted at 5:39PM on Apr 29th 2008 by Wow

86. I mean , ofcourse, 'John Mclame' the poster on this thread.

Posted at 5:45PM on Apr 29th 2008 by Wow

87. THE BLAQUE CLUCKS CLAN STRIKEWS AGAIN......THEY ARE NOT CALLED GRAND MASTERS BUT REVERENDS......THEY DON'T WEAR A HOOD THEY WERE A COLLAR..........REVEREND SHARPTON, REVEREND JACKSON AND REVEREND WRIGHT.........THE 3 HEADS OF THE BLAQUE CLUCKS CLAN......REMEMBER JENA NO HATE CRIME THERE JUST SIX CHICKEN BLACKS JUMPING A WHITE PERSON.......IN THE HOUSE JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE YOU HAD THE MUSLIM FROM MINN ELLISON AND THE RACIST SHEILA JACKSON FROM TEX ASK THE BLACK ATTORNEY GENERAL WASHINGTON WHY HE DIDN'T GIVE THE JENNA SIX PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE BLACK AND SO WAS HE.....WHEN HE TOLD THEM HE COULDN'T DO THAT THEY SAID HE WAS A TRAITOR TO BLACK PEOPLE EVERYWHERE (GET THE TAPES FROM CSPAN) . THE TRUTH HASNT EVEN ALL COME OUT YET JUST WAIT THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. SO MUCH FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ALL ITS DONE IS PLACE IDIOTS WHO AREN'T QUALIFIED TO WIPE THEIR A$$ IN POSITIONS THEY COULD NEVER GET. THIS INCLUDES WOMEN ALSO! IN THE LAST 20 YEARS THE USA HAS GONE DOWNHILL AND NOW THE SNOWBALL IS PICKING UP SPEED AND NOTHING CAN STOP IT.

Posted at 6:37PM on Apr 29th 2008 by duke

88. to bomb bomb McCain Post # 77:

Yes, McCain is a major concern to me regarding those even in his own party who have shared publically about his volatile out of control temper--scary to me. His age concerns me too. You see on the news where people are having to correct him for misstatements he makes. Reagan was showing symptoms of his alzheimer's during his second term. Don't get me wrong...I honor this man for his service to our country. I just wonder if he is really up for the job of the leader of the free world.

Posted at 5:47PM on Apr 29th 2008 by Debbiegrandmother

89. Hagee is a nutcase and is the Christofascist counterpart of Islamofascists. If John McCain will affiliate himself with this bottom feeder then he lacks the integrity and judgement to be president of a democratic republic. Hagee doesn't believe in the Constitution, so I guess McCain doesn't either. Birds of a feather flock together. Where is balanced media when it is time to tell the truth about the Hagees of the world?

Posted at 5:48PM on Apr 29th 2008 by White Dude for Obama

90. #78 "Mom"

How do you know?

He has no plan for bringing our troops home soon
He has no plan for relief at the gas pumps
He wants a 6.2 BILLION dollar tax increase American's can't afford
He has not given any plan for getting the economy running again.
He has not given any plans for increasing jobs in America
He has not given details on any border security plans.

He has not talked issues because he's too busy defending himself and poking bars at Clinton and McCain.

McCain may not be great... but he HAS talked about plans for Gas Relief (Pun intended) and to stimulate the economy. He's the only one talking real issues.

And when it comes down to it.

Obama denounces his Reverend TWENTY YEARS late. For TWENTY YEARS this guy's been spouting this hate... Obama was married by him... his kids were baptised by him. For TWENTY YEARS it was ok till it became a mark on his campaign.

And what about the convicted Terrorist who says his only regret is not bombing more places? He hasn't denouced him... what about the homophobic, white and Jew hating Louis Farrakhan?

This guy's backers are all racists, hate mongering, anti-American, Anti-establishment people.

I'd vote for Hilscary Clinton before Barack. And that's saying a lot.

Posted at 5:49PM on Apr 29th 2008 by Mayu