John McCain has proven himself the master of pandering. I wonder sometimes if he even knows he is doing it. We saw as recently as 2006 the "statesman" John McCain in Davos Switzerland speaking on video tape about the need for dealing with Hamas now that they were in power in the Palestinian Territories. Of course he would take that position, he was surrounded by the movers and shakers of the world financial, diplomatic and intellectual communities. He wouldn't want to seem "provincial" would he?
Of course given a chance to score some cheap political points he would turn 180 degrees and attack Obama for taking a similar position regarding exercising diplomacy instead of bluster. But that helps him shore up some of the base he needs for the general election.
A few weeks back there was his comments on the Rev. Wright controversy. The reporting showed Mccain's capability of trying to have it both ways. One the hand, it didn't matter, on the other, it matters a great deal.
But soon we found out about McCain's first pastor problem, the Rev. John Hagee. Hagee was recently forced to apologize for his disparaging comments about Catholics. And we read and heard on Huffington Post the reporting by Sam Stein on Hagees bizaare contentions from sermons past about Hitler doing god's will driving the Jews to Israel. This certainly is as wacky a statement as anything Rev. Wright came up with in one of his sermons. Yet here is John McCain on the same Rev. Hagee...
"I'm very honored by Pastor John Hagee's endorsement today," McCain said at a news conference. "He has been the staunchest leader of our Christian evangelical movement in many areas, but especially, most especially, his close ties and advocacy for the freedom and independence of the state of Israel."
Then today John Ross of ABC News broke this story on another minister that McCain sought out for support when the Republican race was competitive...
Despite his call for the U.S. to win the "hearts and minds of the Islamic world," Sen. John McCain recruited the support of an evangelical minister who describes Islam as "anti-Christ" and Mohammed as "the mouthpiece of a conspiracy of spiritual evil."
McCain sought the support of Pastor Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church of Columbus, Ohio at a critical time in his campaign in February, when former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was continuing to draw substantial support from the Christian right.
At a campaign appearance in Cincinnati, McCain introduced Parsley as "one of the truly great leaders in America, a moral compass, a spiritual guide."
So there he is promoting his endorsement by someone advocating holy war against all muslims, a man who does not believe there are any differences among the Muslim faithful. These actions just solidiy the idea that McCain will say anything and do anything to win votes and campaign contributions including harming the chances for diplomacy to solve problems or turning his back on campaign finance reforms that he supported years ago. These stories must be seen and heard by the American People now, early in this election cycle so the true image of this man is known. Given these alliances what would his friends at <a href="http://www.weforum.org/en/index.htm">Davos</a> think?
Update...from LA Times, McCain dissing Hagee...
“Obviously, I find these remarks and others deeply offensive and indefensible, and I repudiate them. I did not know of them before Rev. Hagee's endorsement, and I feel I must reject his endorsement as well. I have said I do not believe Sen. Obama shares Rev. Wright's extreme views. But let me also be clear, Rev. Hagee was not and is not my pastor or spiritual advisor, and I did not attend his church for 20 years. I have denounced statements he made immediately upon learning of them, as I do again today."
Update 2....from TPM and Josh Marshall a McCain statement on Pasley
"I believe there is no place for that kind of dialogue in America, and I believe that even though he endorsed me, and I didn't endorse him, the fact is that I repudiate such talk, and I reject his endorsement."
But is it true? Calling someone a "moral compass" isn't an endorsement?
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