Good for John McCain!

[Cleon]

From CNN (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/22/mccain-officially-rejects-hagee-endorsement/):


(CNN) — In the face of mounting controversy over headline-grabbing statements from Pastor John Hagee, CNN has learned presumptive Republican nominee John McCain has decided to reject his endorsement.


The Huffington Post had published a recording of Hagee saying that Adolf Hitler had been fulfilling God’s will by hastening the desire of Jews to return to Israel in accordance with biblical prophecy.


“Obviously, I find these remarks and others deeply offensive and indefensible, and I repudiate them. I did not know of them before Reverend Hagee's endorsement, and I feel I must reject his endorsement as well,” McCain said in a statement to CNN Thursday.


Glad to hear it. Hagee is an anti-Semite, a bigot, and an all-around not-very-nice person.

I hope this results in more Republicans distancing themselves from the wackos of the Christian Right.


(I know, I know. I can dream, can't I?)

[T.A.M.]

Yes, but something tells me that while Hagee will likely be dropped now by the media and the left, Rev. Wright will see no end of publicity courtesy of the Right.

TAM:)

[NotJesus]

From the same source -- an excerpt from Hagee's statement announcing the withdrawal of his endorsement:

The intentional mischaracterization of my statements by an Internet journalist seeking to use me as a political football in the upcoming presidential race is a gross example of bias at its worst. I will not stand idly by while my character is assassinated and my views on the Holocaust are grossly distorted. To assert that I in any way condone the Holocaust or that monster Adolf Hitler is the biggest and ugliest of lies. I have always condemned the horrors of the Holocaust in the strongest of terms.


So I guess all we need now is for Hagee to take the next logical step and condemn God for sending Hitler to unleash the holocaust.

[corplinx]

I wasn't aware Hagee was an anti-semite. I knew he was a bigot when it comes to other faiths and sexual preference.

[T.A.M.]

Well I guess now he is a complete butthole, instead of "kind of" a butthole.

TAM;)

[UnrepentantSinner]

I don't know if Hagee deserves the anti-Semite label. He loves Israel so much he wants to convert every last citizen to Christianity.

[joobie]

not good enough. he didn't use the word 'denounce.'

;)

[Pookster]

It'll be interesting to see if Hagee becomes a wallflower, or steps out to defend his honor. He's could very easily become a very hurtful loose cannon for McCain, much like Wright almost was for Obama (yeah yeah, I know Hagee wasn't his pastor, but they're enough other similarities to matter).

Unless Obama somehow really hurts himself with independents, McCain will need the evangelicals to show up in droves at the polls in November. And if too many see McCain as alienating himself from a man they tend to respect, it could easily hurt their turnout for him.

But all the same, and looking at this from a pure point of decency ... good for John McCain.

[Ryan O'Dine]

It’s nice to see McCain rejecting Hagee. But this isn’t the first ugly thing Hagee’s said, and it’s McCain who initially sought Hagee’s endorsement, presumably knowing full well what the man was about.

Mr. McCain, who has been on a steady search for support among conservative and evangelical leaders who have long distrusted him, said he was “very honored'’ by Mr. Hagee’s endorsement. Asked about Mr. Hagee’s extensive writings on Armageddon and about what one questioner said was Mr. Hagee’s belief that the anti-Christ will be the head of the European Union, Mr. McCain responded that “all I can tell you is that I am very proud to have Pastor John Hagee’s support.'’

Source (http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/mega-church-pastor-in-texas-backs-mccain/)

Personally, I had a lot more respect for McCain prior to this election season.

[Pookster]

It’s nice to see McCain rejecting Hagee. But this isn’t the first ugly thing Hagee’s said, and it’s McCain who initially sought Hagee’s endorsement, presumably knowing full well what the man was about.



Source (http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/mega-church-pastor-in-texas-backs-mccain/)

Personally, I had a lot more respect for McCain prior to this election season.

Hagee finally became too much of a political liability. McCain has been searching for some real connection to the evangelicals for some time, but it's too much of a double edged sword these days. It worked well for Bush because of the political atmosphere of the time, but it's left a sour taste with too many after the past eight years. The problem for McCain though is that he likely must get a big turnout from this group to win. Even with a big turnout for Bush by the evangelicals in the past two elections, he still barely won both.

[corplinx]

Hagee finally became too much of a political liability. McCain has been searching for some real connection to the evangelicals for some time, but it's too much of a double edged sword these days. It worked well for Bush because of the political atmosphere of the time, but it's left a sour taste with too many after the past eight years. The problem for McCain though is that he likely must get a big turnout from this group to win. Even with a big turnout for Bush by the evangelicals in the past two elections, he still barely won both.


I think the answer is to use Mike Huckabee to court evangelicals. Evangelicals are a weird lot that don't trust evangelists other than their own. Hagee is influential among his large following but thats it.

Huckabee has a broad appeal to most values voters. He needs to be McCain's face to them.

[Cleon]

I think the answer is to use Mike Huckabee to court evangelicals. Evangelicals are a weird lot that don't trust evangelists other than their own. Hagee is influential among his large following but thats it.

Huckabee has a broad appeal to most values voters. He needs to be McCain's face to them.

No kidding.

I really don't understand why McCain hasn't approached Huckabee - the guy's even said publicly he wants to be McCain's veep.

Not only does Huckabee give evangelicals a friendly face, but Huckabee's support of the FairTax gives him some support among Republitarians (including the Ronulans).

[Pookster]

No kidding.

I really don't understand why McCain hasn't approached Huckabee - the guy's even said publicly he wants to be McCain's veep.

Not only does Huckabee give evangelicals a friendly face, but Huckabee's support of the FairTax gives him some support among Republitarians (including the Ronulans).

It's rare that a running mate has much effect on the electorate other than helping to win his own State. Usually they hurt or have a more neutral effect. Just depends on the gaffes they may make. McCain is really distrusted by many conservative and evangelicals. I'm not sure Huckabee as a running mate can help a lot, but it's probably a gamble McCain will have to take.

[UnrepentantSinner]

No kidding.

I really don't understand why McCain hasn't approached Huckabee - the guy's even said publicly he wants to be McCain's veep.

Not only does Huckabee give evangelicals a friendly face, but Huckabee's support of the FairTax gives him some support among Republitarians (including the Ronulans).

A McCain/Huckabee or a McCain/Romney ticket would be the only reason I wouldn't vote for McCain. I'm chalking Hageegate up to an inelegant attempt to reconnect to the base.

[Texas]

A McCain/Huckabee or a McCain/Romney ticket would be the only reason I wouldn't vote for McCain. I'm chalking Hageegate up to an inelegant attempt to reconnect to the base.
I don't see McCain choosing either one. Now that it looks like Hillary is out McCain is going to go strong for the Hillary vote. The Religious Right is not coming out this cycle but McCain may not need them. I would welcome that. McCain is going to go for Hispanics, blue collar and older white women. I think his VP choice may shock and awe both parties by choosing a unity candidate.