AP reported McCain's "conce[ssion]" that it probably was a "mistake" to seek Hagee's endorsement, but not his assertion that he's "glad to have" it

Summary: The AP reported that Sen. John McCain "conceded it was probably a mistake to seek and accept the endorsement of televangelist John Hagee" but did not report McCain's statement moments later that "I'm glad to have his [Hagee's] endorsement." Hagee has made controversial statements about Hurricane Katrina, women, homosexuality, the Catholic Church, and Islam.

An April 20 Associated Press article about Sen. John McCain's appearance on ABC's This Week reported that "McCain conceded it was probably a mistake to seek and accept the endorsement of televangelist John Hagee" but did not report McCain's statement moments later in the same interview that "I'm glad to have his [Hagee's] endorsement." Hagee has made controversial statements about Hurricane Katrina, women, homosexuality, the Catholic Church, and Islam.

In contrast to the AP, ABC's Political Radar blog reported:

Presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., admitted this morning that it was a mistake to accept the endorsement of Evangelical pastor Rev. John Hagee. When asked in an exclusive "This Week" interview with George Stephanopoulos if it was "a mistake to solicit and accept his endorsement", McCain replied "oh, probably, sure." Despite admitting his error, McCain made clear he's still "glad to have his endorsement."

McCain spoke out against Hagee's "condemning of the Catholic church," but added that "I admire and respect Dr. Hagee's leadership... I admire and appreciate his advocacy for the state of Israel, the independence of the state of Israel." McCain has previously admitted to soliciting Rev. Hagee's endorsement.

From the April 20 edition of ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (host): Well, you say that he should condemn these comments. A lot of Senator Obama's allies and others say that you should condemn the comments of Reverend John Hagee, an evangelical pastor.

McCAIN: Oh I do. And I did. I said that those -- any comments that he made about the Catholic Church, I strongly condemn of course.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Yet you solicited and accepted his endorsement.

McCAIN: Yes, indeed, I did. And I condemned the comments that he made concerning the Catholic Church.

STEPHANOPOULOS: But you're going to hold on to his endorsement. Your own campaign acknowledges that you should have done a better job of vetting Pastor Hagee. So was it a mistake to solicit and accept his endorsement?

McCAIN: Oh, probably. Sure. But I admire and respect Dr. Hagee's leadership of the -- of his church. I admire and appreciate his advocacy for the state of Israel -- the independence and freedom of the state of Israel. I condemn remarks that are made that has anything to do which is condemning of the Catholic Church. But --

[crosstalk]

STEPHANOPOULOS: So you no longer want his endorsement?

McCAIN: I'm glad to have his endorsement. I condemn remarks that are in any way viewed as anti-anything. And thanks for asking.

From the April 20 AP article, "McCain: Cutting taxes more important than balanced budget," by Hope Yen:

McCain conceded it was probably a mistake to seek and accept the endorsement of televangelist John Hagee, who has referred to the Roman Catholic Church as "the great whore" and called it a "false cult system."

The Arizona senator said he had condemned Hagee's remarks about Catholics, and said it was different than the way Obama has responded to questions about his own relationship with William Ayers, a 1960s-era radical who in an interview published on Sept. 11, 2001, said he didn't regret bombing government buildings.

—J.S.