Wash. Post ignored McCain flip-flop on Falwell as an "agent of intolerance," McCain's pastor problems
SUMMARY: A Washington Post article noted Sen. John McCain's "criticisms of Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell as 'agents of intolerance' during the 2000 Republican primaries" without also noting that McCain has since said he no longer believed Falwell was an "agent of intolerance." The article also referred to "the high-profile controversy stirred up by Obama's former pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr." without mentioning controversies involving two pastors who endorsed McCain.
In an August 17 Washington Post article reporting on the August 16 appearances by Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., Shailagh Murray and Perry Bacon Jr. wrote, "[Sen. John] McCain and his campaign advisers have been eager to put their struggles with Christian conservatives behind them. Some conservatives remain angry over his role in a 2005 compromise that allowed Democrats to block some conservative judges Bush was attempting to appoint; others still recall his criticisms of Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell as 'agents of intolerance' during the 2000 Republican primaries." But the Post did not note that, in April 2006, McCain said he no longer believed Falwell was an "agent of intolerance," and delivered the commencement address at Falwell's Liberty University a month later, as Media Matters for America documented.
Moreover, while claiming that Sen. Barack Obama "endured a storm of controversy over comments made by the former pastor of the Chicago church he attended until recently," and noting "the high-profile controversy stirred up by Obama's former pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr." the Post article ignored the controversy over comments by religious figures who endorsed McCain. Indeed, while Murray and Bacon noted that the McCain campaign was "eager" to put its "struggles with Christian conservatives behind them," they did not mention that McCain actively sought the endorsement of controversial pastor John Hagee, despite Hagee's numerous controversial comments about gays, the Catholic Church, Islam, and women. Nor did Murray and Bacon note that even after Hagee's controversial comments came to light, McCain still said, "I'm glad to have his endorsement," before eventually rejecting it. Murray and Bacon also did not mention McCain's connection to Rod Parsley, a senior pastor of the World Harvest Church in Columbus, Ohio, whom McCain had reportedly called "one of the truly great leaders in America, a moral compass, a spiritual guide," and who had been widely criticized for comments about Islam before he endorsed McCain. McCain accepted Parsley's endorsement on February 26, but then rejected it on May 22.
From the August 17 Washington Post article:
Barack Obama and John McCain made their first joint appearance of the general election Saturday night, breaking away from the debates over national security and the economy that have dominated the campaign in recent weeks to court evangelical voters at an Orange County megachurch.
The forum at Saddleback Church presented a rare opportunity for Christian voters to contrast candidates who do not conform neatly to party stereotypes. While Obama has spoken often about his faith -- and endured a storm of controversy over comments made by the former pastor of the Chicago church he attended until recently -- McCain has largely avoided public discussions of faith and values during his career, which has contributed to a sometimes rocky relationship with evangelical leaders.
The event was hosted by Rick Warren, the author of the best-selling "The Purpose Driven Life" and one of the country's most prominent evangelical preachers. Warren, a Southern Baptist, referred to both McCain and Obama as friends in his introductions. "They both care deeply about America," Warren said. "They're both patriots."
Each candidate was interviewed individually by Warren for an hour. The two met only briefly, embracing on the stage midway through the event as Obama exited and McCain entered.
[...]
Christian conservatives gave Bush 78 percent of their votes in 2004, and they remain a vital part of the Republican Party's electoral strategy. But although Democrat Obama has taken stances on issues such as abortion and gay rights that many Christians disagree with, his campaign hopes that he can cut into that showing by keeping his faith in the spotlight and by discussing topics such as poverty and global warming.
McCain and his campaign advisers have been eager to put their struggles with Christian conservatives behind them. Some conservatives remain angry over his role in a 2005 compromise that allowed Democrats to block some conservative judges Bush was attempting to appoint; others still recall his criticisms of Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell as "agents of intolerance" during the 2000 Republican primaries.
Many of these activists pointedly refused to back McCain during the GOP primaries, favoring former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney or former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee. Tony Perkins, head of the socially conservative Family Research Council, criticized McCain this summer for making faith and values less of a priority on his Web site and in other campaign materials than Obama had.
McCain has publicly suggested in recent days that even though he opposes abortion, he might select a running mate who supports abortion rights. That drew warnings from Perkins and other religious conservatives that they might not show up at the polls in November if McCain picked an abortion-rights supporter such as former governor Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania.
But McCain's campaign has also sought to highlight stances such as his opposition to same-sex marriage and civil unions. The Republican nominee also has spoken about his faith more often in recent months, frequently focusing on how it sustained him as a prisoner of war after he was shot down over Vietnam.
Saturday night, he cited the role of faith in his decision to stay in a Vietnamese prison camp after he was offered release because his father was a high-ranking naval officer. He said it was the toughest choice he had ever made, adding that "it took a lot of prayer, it took a lot of prayer."
The Obama campaign made an aggressive sales pitch at the event, distributing a 12-page booklet to the 2,200 people who streamed through Saddleback's doors that chronicled the candidate's "Christian journey" and his long relationship with Warren.
The campaign also announced Saturday that the upcoming Democratic National Convention would have a strong religious flavor, with "faith caucus meetings" to discuss religious voters' concerns and daily invocations and benedictions from national faith leaders. The list includes Joel Hunter, a prominent Republican pastor from an evangelical Florida church; a Greek Orthodox archbishop; a Roman Catholic nun from Cleveland; and a Colorado couple who are both Methodist ministers.
Topics of the faith caucus meetings include "How an Obama Administration Will Engage People of Faith"; "Moral Values Issues Abroad"; and "Getting Out the Faith Vote."
For Obama, the Saddleback event allowed him to reinforce that he is a Christian before an audience that doubtless included many familiar with Internet and talk-radio-driven rumors that he is a Muslim. That particular falsehood has proven maddeningly difficult to dispel for Obama's campaign, continuing to dog his candidacy even after the high-profile controversy stirred up by Obama's former pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.
On Saturday night, Obama's appearance was his second at Saddleback. In December 2006, he and conservative Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) addressed Warren's annual conference on HIV-AIDS.
"Rien ne peut être plus contrairement à la religion et au clergé que la raison et le sens commun."
McCain was right in his original criticism of Falwell. Who can forget his truely Chritian words after 11th Sept 2001:
"The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'"
Or as Voltaire would say:
"De toutes les religions, le chrétien devrait évidemment inspirer la plupart de tolérance, mais jusqu'à maintenant les Chrétiens ont été les plus intolérants de tous les hommes."
And who can forget McCain's words to the wife of his heart of almost 30 years ... "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c**t" (pardon the french, UKO, quoting McCain is not as elegant as quoting Voltaire)
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jonah/trollop
As we've heard so often in years past ... it's a matter of character.
UK, I'm an American, so I don't understand any of that French stuff.In fact, many Americans get really angry at even the suggestion that it may be in our own best interest to learn a second language. I know just enough Spanish to get myself fed and drunk.
But funny you should mention Voltaire. I watched most of the forum last night, as it was at an Uber-Church just a few miles from me.
What I saw was one candidate who is pretty thoughtful, and has that habit of thoughtful people, stalling in his speech while he forms thoughts.
And I saw another candidate, who, when he wasn't making jokes about the "toughness" of the questions( he hasn't been asked many tough questions), was answering in very firm talking points that didn't even pretend to entertain any other viewpoints.
And I thought of a favorite quote;
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd. VoltaireI heard some feedback on Fox today, emails from viewers, and much of it was about Grampy McCain having "conviction", while Obama was seen as not so firm in his beliefs, because he discussed other viewpoints than his own.
I know that I was at my most certain when I was about 16 years old, and had all of the answers. That's what McCain sounds like to me.It's what "stay the Course" has sounded like for the past 8 years.
I hate to say it, but I am concerned that Obama may have to lean a little towards being more of a teleprompter/talking points reader, like McCain, to get some of the center. Empty sloganeering is the meat & potatoes of the GOP, but there's probably a good chunk of the center that can be won over by the sound bite.
When Obama graduated with his law degree, he could have gone into a high paying job. Instead he opted for community organizing. when he saw that he could get better results by going into politics, he did that. He attended a church that emphasized community service and giving to the poor. The firey pastor had his own opinions, but most of his sermons were about Jesus and his teachings to help those less fortunate.
Now McCain doesn't seem to have had the same religious inclination to follow the Sermon on the Mount. He's been pretty lukewarm about religion in general. That's fine really, but now he's obviously pandering to right wing pastors who have said outrageous things. The real problem is his insincerity about religion as well as all the other things he has changed about himself just to get elected.
"The real problem is his insincerity about religion as well as all the other things he has changed about himself just to get elected."
And I think that concerns both sides, especially if he wins this election. We don't know which McCain we'll be getting - the liberal-aligned Johnnie Mac or the conservative-aligned Johnnie Mac. If Obama was the sane candidate he was in 2007 (or whenever people were announcing their exploratory commitees), he would easily be receiving my vote this November.
And yes, you people read that last statement right.
"Losing his mind" is a bit of a stretch, but back then I gave Obama the benefit of the doubt in regards to what the conservative media (Limbaugh, et al) was saying with his "lack of experience" and how "[they] didn't know anything about him" - I saw it as here's someone who hasn't been in Washington that long, hasn't gotten corrupted by the whole political system, and had more in common with the average American than the long-serving politicians who he would be going up against for the next 2 years, and I thought the conservative media was doing that because he had a "D" instead of an "R" behind his name.
I liked him for the DemNom, but I wasn't quite sure about the Presidency, as I wanted to see who the Republicans were going to pitt against him.
And then as things develop, I find out he's little more than a typical politician who's been celebritized to the extreme. And then I started to think that the people I listened to growing up (Limbaugh, et al) were in fact right all along and I should have trusted them, just like I did during those formative years.
Heck, as I mentioned, back when I was a child I used to think that Democrats were the bad guys and Republicans were the good guys, a conclusion drawn by listening to Limbaugh during school vacations (how he talked about the Democrats) and watching Saturday morning cartoons (and how black-and-white good and evil were).
Wow, I sound like a conservative undergoing a "12 step program to become a liberal"...
I gave Obama the benefit of the doubt in regards to what the conservative media (Limbaugh, et al) was saying with his "lack of experience" and how "[they] didn't know anything about him" - I saw it as here's someone who hasn't been in Washington that long, hasn't gotten corrupted by the whole political system, and had more in common with the average American than the long-serving politicians who he would be going up against for the next 2 years, and I thought the conservative media was doing that because he had a "D" instead of an "R" behind his name.
Your first problem with you analysts is listening to conservative talk radio. How anyone sane person forms an opinion based on Limbo, Hannity, Bill, Boortz and others is beyond me. I guess that's why we still have the 28% belivers.
Conservative media IS doing their trash talking because Obama is a Dem. Republicans don't want to stop the "gravy train" they've been on for the last 8 years. McCain, by flip flopping his position to whatever conservatives want to hear, has guaranteed another 4 years of the same. Republicans may not agree on everything but they like their "gravy train" and keeping it going is still their number one prority.
How you can call Obama a "typical" politician compared to McCain's 25 years performance as a politican is again, beyond any sane reasoning.
Take a visit to Obama’s website, read what’s he’s about, listen to his speeches and interviews. THAT would make ANY analysis your have somewhat reasonable. The fact that you’ve bought into this “celebrity bull sh*it simply means you're once again listening to conservative bull and standing line to buy more of it.
"How anyone sane person forms an opinion based on Limbo, Hannity, Bill, Boortz and others is beyond me."
Umm, and what or who do you listen to when you form your sane opinion? Let me guess... mmfa?
"McCain, by flip flopping his position to whatever conservatives want to hear....."
You can change two words and that statement the same truthfulness; O'bama + liberals.
"How you can call Obama a "typical" politician compared to McCain's 25 years performance as a politican is again, beyond any sane reasoning."
Because he flip-flops on every subject depending on which way the wind blows. How is that not typical of a politician??
"Take a visit to Obama’s website, read what’s he’s about, listen to his speeches and interviews. THAT would make ANY analysis your have somewhat reasonable."
Ok, done that. Now what? Am I supposed to support someone who approves killing live born humans? Am I supposed to support someone who changes his mind on the gas crisis because voters wanted him to? Am I supposed to support someone who will install judges who don't follow law?
"Why don't you watch some of his negative ad's,
Negative ads are more about the opponent than the candidate. But his negative ads does contradict his original stance on the policy (McCain promised he wouldn't run any attack ads [I can name only ONE politician who has never run an attack ad]) - and it also marked the most recent time I thought Limbaugh was "out of touch" when he criticized McCain for not being willing to run attack ads on Obama.
read about the lobbyists who run his campaign or look at the list of people he has prostituted his reputation on in seeking their endorsements."
1- If his lobbyists are a problem for McCain, so is Wright and Ayers for Obama, but there are times when I think his campaign staff is trying to help him lose, but that's suspicion at best...
2- McCain "prosituting for endorsements" is somewhat different than Obama spamming contribution ads all over the internet - it's similar in how both are trying to get people to donate money to their campaign but it's different in that McCain is dependent on people he alienated from 3+ years ago.
Also, if we are getting the McCain BEFORE the election, wouldn't that be Obama with different physical characteristics and a different letter behind his name? Before the election, McCain was a very liberal candidate, much like Obama is currently.
Are you actually trying to claim that for the last 8 years, Congress has operated independently of the President?
Where have you been?
DaWuss,
I will clarify. McCain voted in support of Bush's position on legislation 95% of the time in 2007 and 100% in 2008. Does that make him a liberal?
McCain really never used to be like Obama on the major issues.
McCain's been a king of pork barrel spending for decades.
McCain's "rogue nation roll back" foreign policy idea is crazier than the Project for a New American Centuries Iraq invasion agenda.
But I really don't want to argue about McCain specifically. I just can't see how after the past three Republican presidents added 7.5 trillion dollars to our national debt and the last Democrat actually balanced budgets anyone who believes in sound fiscal policy could vote Republican.
So you draw all of your conclusions by what is put into your head? Correct?
Your father explaioned the Clintons to you and you accepted it as gospel.
Limbaugh and the rest fill you with their one sided rants and you accept it as gospel?
What ever happened to investigation, evaluation, critical thinking?
You keep saying "when I was a kid" and things like that. You're twenty years old for Christ sake. You are a kid.
Stop being a sponge. Absorb, but for God's sake, don't just parrot talking points.
Do you want to be proud of yourself when you become an adult or are you content to just stand behind cowards like Limbaugh and cheer him on your entire life?
Wow, I sound like a conservative undergoing a "12 step program to become a liberal"...
Nope. From reading your post all l can see is a conservative who is trolling a Liberal website using buzz words he has read.
The fact that you think even now that a hate monger like Limbaugh may be right about Obama destroys all the false piety you posted at the start. The only good thing that has come from this is that l now know where your petty bias is coming from. You are a self confessed Limbaugh drone who, after 8 years of an administration seen around the world (and not just in the US) as the worst of all time, would rather see the world burn under the inauspicious leadership of another petulant man-child whose bellicose temprement is only superceeded by his ignorance.
Some who are religious would say that there is a spot for you somewhere warm downstairs. Me? I just think that your a pathetic idiot who should look at what your country has become and shudder. Then you can do yourselves and the world a favour and make sure that the morons who put you in this position don't get the chance to continue, and also have to pay for what they have done.
The Wussie has distracted the topic away from the posting made by Media Matters again. That's too bad.
The point here is that the Washington Post furthered the conservative agenda by failing to paint an accurate picture of McCain.
Not only didn't they report his flip-flop, but by omitting it, they cover up McCain's hypocrisy on religious issues. Then, because they don't highlight McCain's behavior, they don't present a good contrast between the true actions of Obama and McCain.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/18/us/politics/18mccain.html?ref=us
Despite Assurances, McCain Wasn’t in a ‘Cone of Silence’
trueblondness,
The 'Cone of Silence' was a humorous reference to the old Get Smart show and the CONTROL gagdet used to stop eavesdropping. Of course, maybe agent 99 was slipping him the questions, you know, 'the ole giving the cone of silence slipperoo trick' stolen from KAOS. Somehow, the inference's sublety of levity escaped you!
Fact is, Obama showed how ill-prepared he is to be president. He conjures up a Carter-like level of incompetence that he would bring to his leadership. His answers were vapid and weak dodges-"The decision about aborting babies is above my pay grade."??? Make some stands and don't reverse your opinions every other Tuesday Barak.
McCain didn't listen in on Obama's questioning, either while in route or while in the waiting room. He's just better prepared than the junior senator from Illinois.
Also, if we are getting the McCain BEFORE the election, wouldn't that be Obama with different physical characteristics and a different letter behind his name? Before the election, McCain was a very liberal candidate, much like Obama is currently.
The McCain theory of political survival:
Wet finger, stick in air, see which way wind is blowing.
This "Mccain the Mavarick" meme is such bull. It's been around since he's managed to convice people that, unlike the other in the Keating 5 scandal (yes, l have heard of that) he wasn't as corrupt as them, just because he was only a jounior Senator at the time. Wasn't it Chris Matthews who said of the media that they were "McCain's base"? Is there a hidden sliding scale among those who report on McCain to get access? How many chocolate sprinkled doughnuts do you think it takes? If this wasn't true then how come less than a week of retoric over the supposed "prosumptiveness" of his opponent he actually has the audacity to send two of his underlings to Georgia while brashly annoucing that he speaks to the Georgian President (a former employer of his chief foreign advisor, l might add) throughout the conflict, and somehow DOESN'T get raked over the coals for it? What, don't you have a State Department or National Security Advisor? I know Bush has now downed tools 'til November and Rice is useless but you must somebody competant............ (Oh for god's sake!!) The man has mentioned a county that hasn't existed for over 15 years 4 times in a week and spoken about the Iraq/Pakistan border. Why is he not been constantly reminded of these glaring idiocies? McCain said he has no economic experience and his former/returned economic advisor (who was also on the board of UBS bank, knee deep in the manure pile of the sub-prime collapse) says Americans are whiners and somehow this doen't get to be big news for him to be grilled on? There are other errors which have been bypassed which show the real McCain, it's just that when the media, be it in sports or politics have made a decision on something they dare not nay cannot change their minds for fear of personal ridicule.
McCain "prosituting for endorsements" is somewhat different than Obama spamming contribution ads all over the internet - it's similar in how both are trying to get people to donate money to their campaign but it's different in that McCain is dependent on people he alienated from 3+ years ago.
I'm not talking about campaign contributions. I know l may have painted you as some low foreheaded mouth breather but i'm talking about him seeking out Dobson, Robertson and Hagee, kneeling down and kissing their rings. And the ones on their fingers. His lubing up and bending over for the religious right, and the assimulation of the Bush election team that smeared him and his family 8 years ago tell you all you need to know about this "honourable" person. I just hope he has put aside enough for the mouthwash he's going to have to use.
Can we trade UKO for a couple hundred wingnuts and a spatula to be named later.
He seems better informed than 30-40 percent of American voters.
You Rock!
Mary, did you catch any of the forum last night? Grampy worked in so many war stories, I thought I was in my drunk Vet neighbor's garage.
The best was his response to the question "What was the most gut-wrenching decision you ever had to make?"
I'll admit I may not have a ready answer to that question, but most people would go towards some sort of moral dilemma with conflicting outcomes, maybe either decision having a negative result for some other parties.
McCain went to the VietNamese POW camp.Saying that he was given the opportunity to be released ahead of others by virtue of his family connections, but instead abided by the code that said prisoners should be released in the order that they were captured.
It was really weak any way you look at it;It was either very self-serving ( I was given the choice between selfishness and heroism, and chose heroism), or indicates that following the code of honor established by his comrades, rather than taking advantage of his elite status, was "gut-wrenching".
But then, that's just my take. It got an enthusiastic round of applause from the audience.
But then, that's just my take. It got an enthusiastic round of applause from the audience.
Hey colonel, my husband, who's not political at all but has to watch TV for a living, came home after his shift and said he saw some preacher guy (I had to supply his name) on TV interviewing the two candidates. He was struck by the same things as you. And it frustrated even him. He said "stupid people, how can they be so gullible?" I gave him a big kiss.
You'd think with age, experience and the hard fought wisdom of his capture, that he'd have at least a more circumspect view of war.
He's used the war to get ahead his whole life. Why would he think it's a bad thing when it's brought him this close to the Presidency?
War is the only thing McCain has. And his only experience of war is as a sequestered prisoner, unable to learn from the war's horrible mistakes because he never saw them.
He thinks he's lived through the movies Stalag 17 and The Great Escape.
"but most people would go towards some sort of moral dilemma with conflicting outcomes, maybe either decision having a negative result for some other parties. McCain went to the VietNamese POW camp.Saying that he was given the opportunity to be released ahead of others by virtue of his family connections, but instead abided by the code that said prisoners should be released in the order that they were captured. It was really weak any way you look at it;It was either very self-serving ( I was given the choice between selfishness and heroism, and chose heroism), "
harl, if you actually read what you wrote, you'll see he DID have a moral dilemma. His choice would have negative affect on other parties. The reason you don't see it as a moral choice is because you have liberal morals. You wouldn't (for a second) consider letting someone else go in your place. Liberals are so self-serving and self-centered that this choice wouldn't even have a chance to play itself out. But, it's nice to know you have now experienced what a heroic /moral man can do when given the choice between 'self' and 'others'. You might learn from this, but somehow I doubt it since you are complaining about it.
Apparently Crooks and Liars got it right when they posted this list of 10 questions that you can bet he'll never ask McCain:
1. In 2006, you recanted your claim six years earlier that Pat Robertson and the late Jerry Falwell were “agents of intolerance.” What changed your mind?
During the 2000 campaign, you famously claimed that the late Jerry Falwell was an “agent of intolerance.” But when Meet the Press’ Tim Russert on April 2, 2006 asked whether you “still believe that Jerry Falwell is still an agent of intolerance?” you reversed yourself and said, “no, I don’t.” The next month, you gave the commencement address at Reverend Falwell’s Liberty University. Just weeks earlier, the Daily Show’s Jon Stewart asked you, “Are you going into crazy base world?” to which you replied, “I’m afraid so.” Why did you change your position on Falwell and Robertson being agents of intolerance? Were you pandering to the “crazy base world” of Republican primary voters?
2. You’ve said, “The most important thing is that I am a Christian.” Why is that the most important thing?
Campaigning in South Carolina last fall, you responded to questions about whether you were a Baptist or an Episcopalian by proclaiming, “the most important thing is that I am a Christian.” What did you mean by that? Was your Christian faith the most important thing for you personally, or just for the heavily evangelical voters of South Carolina?
3. Speaking of which, are you an Episcopalian or a Baptist?
You were raised as an Episcopalian and during your “Service to America” tour in April made a point of visiting your old prep school, Episcopal High. A Congressional directory lists your religion as Episcopalian, as did a questionnaire your campaign staffers completed in August for a debate in South Carolina. Yet you’ve attended the 7,000 member North Phoenix Baptist Church for 15 years. Despite never having been baptized, you said of your faith in September, “It plays a role in my life. By the way, I’m not Episcopalian. I’m Baptist.” So just to clear up any lingering confusion, are you an Episcopalian or a Baptist?
4. Will you ask your supporters to respect Barack Obama’s Christian faith?
On more than one occasion, you pledged to run a “respectful” campaign. Yet despite Barack Obama’s repeated and heartfelt proclamations of his Christian faith, many in the conservative movement accuse Obama of being a Muslim. Polling data show that the percentage of American who believe Barack Obama is a Muslim increased to 12% in July. Do you believe Barack Obama is a Christian? Will you ask your supporters to stop promulgating the myth that his is a Muslim? Will you ask them to respect Obama’s Christian faith? For that matter, will you ask them to respect the faith of Muslim Americans?
5. Do you agree with Pastor John Hagee that war with Iran is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy?
Back in February, you shared a stage with Pastor John Hagee and said you were “very proud” to have his endorsement. Then in May, you announced that you “must reject his endorsement, given “deeply offensive and indefensible” remarks he had made about the Holocaust. But given your own tough talk and past jokes about “bomb bomb Iran” and killing Iranians with cigarettes, do you join Pastor Hagee in believing the United States must attack Iran to fulfill the biblical prophecy of Armageddon in Israel in which 144,000 Jews will be converted to Christianity and the rest killed?
6. Why did you change your position on overturning Roe v. Wade?
In 1999, you announced your opposition to overturning Roe v Wade, “But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations.” But in November 2006, you answered “yes” when ABC’s George Stephanapolous asked if “you’d be for that?” Why did your change your mind on overturning Roe? Was it so your campaign could claim in a February press release during the Republican primaries that “John McCain is far and away the most consistently anti-abortion of all the top contenders?”
7. Do you support the Bush administration’s attempt to redefine many forms of birth control as abortion?
A draft proposal by President Bush’s Department of Health and Human Services would “withhold government funds from health-care providers and organizations that don’t hire people who refuse to perform abortions or provide certain types of birth control.” Senator Hillary Clinton wrote HHS Secretary Leavitt that “this definition would allow health-care corporations or individuals to classify many common forms of contraception - including the birth control pill, emergency contraception and IUDs - ‘abortions’ and therefore to refuse to provide contraception to women who need it.” Do you agree with the Bush administration’s proposal to redefine these contraception methods as “abortion?” While you’re at it, have you decided whether or not you believe insurance companies covering Viagra for men should also be required to cover birth control for women?
8. Do you believe, as you said last September, that “the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation?”
In an interview with BeliefNet last September, you said that:
After withering criticism from Jewish and Islamic groups, you backtracked the next day and claimed, “Yes, I believe a Muslim could be president.” Do you still believe that “the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation?” Do you agree with Mike Huckabee that “what we need to do is amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards?”
9. Do you believe Americans should pray for rain to end droughts – or to wash out Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention?
Last November, Georgia Republican Governor Sonny Perdue held a public vigil at the state house to “pray up a storm” to end the drought in the Southeast. His plea followed on the heels of Alabama Governor Bob Riley’s week-long “Days of Prayer for Rain” that June. Just days ago, Focus on the Family, led by James Dobson (who recently announced “the possibility is there that I might” endorse you) posted a video calling on its supporters to pray for “rain of biblical proportions” during Obama’s DNC speech in Denver. Should your supporters pray for rain on Obama’s parade? Should elected officials lead public prayers for rain to end droughts? Do you believe those prayers work?
10. Do you know the difference between Sunni and Shiite Muslims?
You’ve long touted your commander-in-chief credentials in the struggle against Islamic extremism. Yet on four occasions in under a month, you confused Sunni and Shiite, friend and foe in Iraq. Given you repeated - and mistaken - statements about a non-existent Al Qaeda alliance with Iran, can you tell the American people: what are the differences between Sunni and Shiite Muslims?
Of course, those are just some of the uncomfortable questions John McCain could - but won’t - face from Pastor Rick Warren Saturday. McCain’s endless reversals on teaching intelligent design in public schools and his dependence on PEPFAR opponent Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) for his AIDS policy are just two. And then there’s issue of McCain’s past adultery. When asked by ABC’s Jake Tapper during a discussion about John Edwards if he would have “compunctions about voting for someone who had cheated on his wife,” Rick Warren answered, “Absolutely I would.”
McCain came across like a more qualified candidate and because of that you must invent a reason for his success that is unrelated to his ability to run the nation.
I think O'bama couldn't answer the questions because he didn't have any cue-cards in front of him. Ever notice he can't make a sentence without one? Or he'll use about a dozen "uh's" per paragraph. I thought O'bama was supposed to be a good speach giver. Aren't speach givers taught not to use the word "uh" during a speach?
I should never post after two bottles of Rose and several Rum and Cokes!!!
I am a political animal on issues on both sides of the pond since the bad days of Thatcher. With me the anger has always been over the hypocracy rather than the crimes. Here in the US you had Newt Gingrich leading the Senate witch-hunt against President Clinton while serving divorce papers to his hospitalized wife, while over here we had various conservative MP's who laughably claimed to be part of the religious moral majority either being found dead in kinky sex games, having affairs with skanky little known actresses who furfilled their fantasies by wearing soccer outfits, or being sent to jail for perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice when reported in the press he had been bribed by Saudi Arabia in arms deals. I have also been raised watching politicalinterviews by Brian Walden wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Walden and Jeremy Paxman wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Paxman.
Paxman is my hero. If you want to see someone who doesn't care for reputations and will ask hard questions, watch some of Paxman on Youtube when he interviews Tony Blair and john Bolton.
I love Paxman. I've been watching his interviews for about the last year or so on BBC America, and he does ask really hard questions. I loved it when he had several "gos" at T. Blair. He really doesn't care who he is questioning at all. And will go at them repeatedly and without fear of, well, anything. If only we had more journalists like him, we'd be better off.
Something else. I really like question and answer day in Parliment. I'd love to see something like that here in the US, when the President has to appear before a joint session of the House and Senate, and get grilled, or to be supported by the members. I like seeing the back and forth. It's pretty amusing at times, and fun to watch.