[Apologetics] McCain Refuses to Renounce Support From Hagee

[Art Kelly]

Feb. 29, 2008, 5:37PM
McCain seeks distance from pastor
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/5583024.html

By LIBBY QUAID
© 2008 The Associated Press 

PHOENIX — John McCain is refusing to renounce the
endorsement of a prominent Texas televangelist who
Democrats say peddles anti-Catholic and other
intolerant speech.

Instead, the Republican presidential candidate issued
a statement Friday afternoon saying he had unspecified
disagreements with the San Antonio megachurch leader,
John Hagee. Hagee endorsed him at a news conference
Wednesday in San Antonio.

"However, in no way did I intend for his endorsement
to suggest that I in turn agree with all of Pastor
Hagee's views, which I obviously do not," McCain said
in the statement.

His campaign issued the statement after two days of
criticism from the Democratic National Committee, the
Catholic League and Catholics United.

Democrats quoted Hagee as saying the Catholic Church
conspired with Nazis against the Jews and that
Hurricane Katrina was God's retribution for homosexual
sin, and they recited his demeaning comments about
women and flip remarks about slavery.

"Hagee's hate speech has no place in public discourse,
and McCain's embrace of this figure raises serious
questions about John McCain's character and his
willingness to do anything to win," said Tom McMahon,
executive director of the Democratic National
Committee.

McCain was pressed on the issue Friday morning in
Round Rock, Texas. Hagee "supports what I stand for
and believe in," McCain said.

"When he endorses me, that does not mean that I
endorse everything that he stands for and believes
in," McCain said. "I don't have to agree with everyone
who endorses my campaign."

He added that he was "proud" of Hagee's spiritual
leadership of his congregation at the 17,000-member
Cornerstone Church.

The Catholic League and Catholics United called on
McCain to reject the endorsement.

"By publicly addressing this issue, you will reaffirm
to the American public and to Catholics that
intolerance and bigotry have no place in American
presidential campaigns," Chris Korzen, executive
director of Catholics United, wrote McCain in a letter
sent Thursday.

McCain's response to the two days of criticism stood
in contrast to his rapid denunciation of a radio talk
show host who denigrated Barack Obama, repeatedly
using Obama's middle name, Hussein, and calling him a
"hack, Chicago-style" politician.

McCain immediately apologized and said he repudiated
the statements of the radio host, Bill Cunningham,
while warming up a Cincinnati crowd for McCain on
Tuesday.

"Any comment that is disparaging of either Senator
Clinton or Senator Obama is totally inappropriate,"
McCain said at the time.

ART KELLY, ATM-S
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