Tag: John McCain (Page 20 of 22)

The Hagee story has legs

March 1, 2008 / Gerardo Orlando

Glenn Greenwald explains how Hagee’s anti-Catholic rants are getting attention from the mainstream media.

The larger point is whether candidates should be asked about the views of their supporters. Greenwald nails it.

Neither presidential candidates nor anyone else should be held responsible for the views of those who support them, unless the candidate seeks out that support and/or expressly welcomes it. With regard to Pastor John Hagee, that is precisely what McCain has done — repeatedly. He was introduced by Hagee at a South Carolina campaign event last year, an event proudly displayed on McCain’s campaign website. McCain expressed how “honored” and “pleased” he was over Hagee’s endorsement multiple times yesterday

Culture War, Lunatic Fringe, President 2008

John McCain Reverend Hagee

McCain tries to deal with Hagee endorsement

February 29, 2008 / Gerardo Orlando

He doesn’t agree with him, but he won’t reject or denounce him. Read some of Hagee’s comments and you’ll see just how crazy this guy can get.

Conservatives, Culture War, Lunatic Fringe, President 2008, Republicans

John McCain McCain and Hagee Reverend Hagee

McCain embraces John Hagee, right wing nut

February 28, 2008 / Gerardo Orlando

John McCain appeard onstage with John Hagee in order to pick up his endorsement. John Hagee is known for his controversial statements about the Catholic Church.

On the right, Bill Donohue of the Catholic League is objecting Hagee’s extremist writings, particularly his denunciations of the Catholic Church. For example, Donohue pointed to instances in which Hagee has referred to the Catholic Church as, “The Great Whore,” an “apostate church,” the “anti-Christ,” and a “false cult system.” Is Tim Russert going to repeat any of that to McCain, in the same way he read out Farrakhan’s “gutter religion” line about Jews?
“Senator Obama has repudiated the endorsement of Louis Farrakhan, another bigot,” Donohue wrote. “McCain should follow suit and retract his embrace of Hagee.”

Obama never sought the endorsement of Farrakhan and has repeatedly repudiated him. McCain, on the other hand, has embraced Hagee, just like he pandered to Jerry Falwell last year.

TPM might be the most influential blog on the net, having pushed the attorney purge story last year and then receiving a Polk award for their excellent work. It will be interesting to see if their coverage of this endorsement leads the national press to pick it up.

Conservatives, Culture War, Liberals, Lunatic Fringe, President 2008

John Hagee John McCain McCain and Hagee

McCain playing games on public financing

February 27, 2008 / Gerardo Orlando

Howard Dean and the Democrats are not going to let McCain get away with his attempt to game the campaign finance laws. McCain is bound by the public finance limits unless he gets a letter from the FEC releasing him from that obligation. That might not happen since he decided to accept public funds and gained the advantage of having his name automatically placed on state ballots.

McCain has been making an issue of public financing with Obama, but McCain’s current problems with compliance will make it difficult for him to press that point.

Conservatives, Democrats, Liberals, President 2008, Republicans

campaign finance reform Howard Dean John McCain McCain issue on public financing