^ That article contains some absolutely atrocious 'logic' regardless of whether one approves of Pastor Hagee or not overall. [I personally don't subscribe to the absolutist cause and effect theory of divine action he seems to indicate]
I don't really see the issue with Obama's pastor, as I've said all along. McCain is transparently and obviously pandering to the religious right this time around. In 2000, he had harsh words for the likes of Hagee and others. http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/8313.html In 2000, [tag]John McCain[/tag] excoriated George W. Bush for kicking off his campaign in South Carolina at Bob Jones University, visiting the campus and delivering a speech to the student body. McCain assailed the appearance, arguing that Bush’s uncritical speech at BJU was tantamount to an endorsement of the school’s policies. John McCain told reporters, “If I were there, I would condemn openly the policies of [tag]Bob Jones[/tag], because I would want to make sure that everybody knew that this kind of thing is not American.” It was hard to disagree. BJU, of course, is a rigidly Christian fundamentalist school with a record of virulent racism and anti-Catholic policies. (The school, for example, used to ban interracial dating among its students and school officials have repeatedly attacked the Roman Catholic Church, referring to the pope as the “Antichrist” and calling Catholicism a “satanic cult.”) That was then. Now, the New McCain isn’t nearly as disgusted with the school as he once was. How would U.S. Sen. John McCain respond to an invitation to address the student body of Bob Jones University? Very carefully. […] McCain, the current front-runner for the Republican nomination, left the door open for a visit to the university. No invitation has been extended. It’s too early, school officials said. McCain said he’d have to look at the school’s latest policy statements. “I understand they have made considerable progress,” he said. “I can’t remember when I’ve turned down a speaking invitation. I think I’d have to look at it.” As the Senate Majority Project noted this morning, McCain, responding to Bush’s speech, said he would have gone to BJU and told them, “Get out of the 16th century and into the 21st century. What you’re doing is racist and cruel!” At the time, McCain added, “Instead, Governor Bush went there and never said a word. I would never, ever do such a thing.” And what about McCain’s claim that BJU has “made considerable progress”? Well, to be fair, the school has dropped its ban on interracial dating.
God I hate pandering. I know its an inevitable part of politics, but it just annoys the hell out of me.
I don't think that is accurate. Hagee was McCain's pastor. Just not for too long, and McCain didn't have the close relationship that Obama had with Wright, or the duration of it. However, imo, this whole condemned, denouncing, and rejecting thing is a little ridiculous imo.
