McCain Welcomes Support From Pastor Who Wants "Biblically Prophesized" Iran Invasion

The New York Times reports:

Senator John McCain got support on Wednesday from an important corner of evangelical Texas when the pastor of a San Antonio mega-church, Rev. John C. Hagee, endorsed Mr. McCain for president. Mr. Hagee, who argues that the United States must join Israel in a preemptive, biblically prophesized military strike against Iran that will lead to the second coming of Christ, praised Mr. McCain for his pro-Israel views.

"John McCain has publicly stated his support of the state of Israel, pledging that his administration will not permit Iran to have nuclear weapons to fulfill the evil dreams of President Ahmadinejad to wipe Israel off the map,'' Mr. Hagee said at a news conference at the Omni
Hotel in San Antonio.

Mr. Hagee also praised Mr. McCain for his "solid, pro-life voting record for the past 24 years.''

Mr. McCain, who has been on a steady search for support among conservative and evangelical leaders who have long distrusted him, said he was "very honored'' by Mr. Hagee's endorsement. Asked about Mr. Hagee's extensive writings on Armageddon and about what one questioner said was Mr. Hagee's belief that the anti-Christ will be the head of the European Union, Mr. McCain responded that "all I can tell you is that I am very proud to have Pastor John Hagee's support.''

Last year, HuffPost blogger Max Blumenthal attended the DC summit for Hagee's group Christians United for Israel. Watch the stunning video from the event here.