Pelosi Blasts McCain Over Anti-Catholic Pastor

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the most prominent Catholic serving in the U.S. government, called on Sen. John McCain to reject the endorsement of Texas televangelist John Hagee, who has labeled the Catholic church "the great whore," a "false cult system," and linked it to Hitler's Nazi movement.

"That behavior is outside the circle of civilized debate in our democracy," Pelosi said during a Thursday conference call. "I certainly think John McCain should reject his endorsement and I'm sure it won't be long before he does."

McCain has come under heavy fire from Catholic groups across the political spectrum for appearing with Hagee last week and declaring he was "proud" of the endorsement. Subsequently, McCain told reporters that Hagee's backing "does not mean that I embrace everything that he stands for and believes," but added, "I am very proud of the Pastor John Hagee's spiritual leadership to thousands of people." [See video of Hagee speaking about Catholicism here.]

But several Catholic groups insist that McCain should specifically condemn Hagee's "hate speech" about Catholicism. Bill Donohue, president of the conservative Catholic League, charged in a statement that McCain "has shown horrendous judgment in buddying up to this bigot and spin doctor." The progressive group Catholics United yesterday circulated remarks from McCain in 2000 condemning the "strong anti-Catholic statements" of Bob Jones.

Catholics were a key voting bloc for George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, supporting him over Democratic rivals Al Gore and fellow Catholic John Kerry.

On Thursday, Pelosi also used President Bush's White House ceremony with McCain to tee off on the GOP nominee. Bush's endorsement "was appropriate," she said, "because [McCain] has endorsed whatever George Bush has wanted, whether it's his failed economic policies, or his failed policy in Iraq."

She pressed Democrats to publicly highlight the sharp contrasts between McCain and his two Democratic rivals. "Even on subjects that he's good on, like global warming and the rest -- he was good on immigration and he did a one-eighty on that," she said. "I think it's fair to say he cannot be counted on, even on some of his priority issues like immigration."

Pelosi added that she viewed the prolonged Democratic primary as a positive development. "While I hope that our candidate will be chosen soon," she remarked, "I know also that the vitality of our debate will be healthy for us as we choose a nominee."

Comments

[dukeitout]

John MCCain says "I am very proud of the Pastor John Hagee's spiritual leadership to thousands of people." Does McCain not realize that this guy is probably about half nuts and exercises control over
way too many unfortunate people. Hagee's message is no doubt hate and his objective is to control people. McCain continues to exhibit very poor judgement. He's hangin' out with a bad crowd.

[helonias]

The very reason that religion should be kept out of gov and public schools.

[Plowboy]

I have sometimes heard with great pain words from some of my informed relatives similar to those that Hagee spouts. They quote such authorities. And several times they have asserted things as being in the Koran or in some Catholic teaching that is totally off the wall. They haven't checked the truth of those assertions for themseloves because their information comes from such an unchallengable source. And they are very willing -- even eager -- to support violent action against the targets of this kind of libel.
About half a century ago, I was in Belfast. It was unusually peaceful there then. But walking down the street and reading the hate messaages written on walls, I felt an evil atmosphere that was disturbing to the spirit. The openly asserted bigorty against Catholics was oppressive to me although I was raised in a Protestant home and wasn't Irish. Evil is in this Hagee's messages in the same way, promoting and feeding on ignorance, superstition, and bigotry.
How much evil this kind of false prophet causes! When we need to have truth and understanding they promote ignorance and discord.
It is not worthy of any candidate for the presidency to accept so proudly the support of such a malign misleader of spirits. McCain should repudiate this man and his teachings; there is no excuse for his joining with him on any platform.
If we are ever to build understanding and harmony then it must begin with the rejection of those who seek the opposite.
McCain should be ashamed of himself. Republicans shouild be ashamed of their candidate. If he were to become president I would be ashamed of my president -- as indeed I am now.

[speakingtruth2power]

Those who want to claim that Pelosi has lost all her credibility are assuming

that Congress is on equal footing with this megamaniacal maladministration.

Any direct dispute between the two goes strait to SCOTUS where the ideas of

the unitary executive would be upheld, setting precedence for further abuses

of power by the Cowardly Cowboy from Crawford and his 5 deferment DICK!!

A call for impeachment that gained in strength would be deterred by PD#51,

and Martial Law declared after a false flag attack on Congress themselves.

The Anthrax attacks that followed 9-11 were 1 of several strong messages.

Sure Nancy Pelosi is a corrupt politician but she's not a treasonous fascist.

Research Prescott Bush and the patriarch of the Bush crime family, GHWB.

You'll realize that they are not above any action needed to gain more power.

[speakingtruth2power]

What does it say about the religious right that Hagee is a prominent leader?

Sure, The Church as they call themselves, has a long history of disservice to

the ideals of Christ. Making that a cause for loathing, while you support wars

of conquest and torture makes Hagee no better. Hypocrisy, thy name is GOP!

[Tellmethetruth]

Sorry, but this reaks of a Democratic Smear job on McCain. McCain is anti-abortion which the Catholic Church loves, but even more, McCain tried to pass legistlation on immigration that was friendly to the Roman Catholic Church's position on immigration. So far without endorsing a candidate, the Catholic Church seems to be favoring McCain, but could go with Clinton. Obama has already been ruled out as not taking Church positions.

So what is the difference between Clinton and Obama on abortion? During Bill Clinton's years, legistlation was passed that would have eliminated abortions such as the Protection of Women Against Violence Act, and the Family Medical Leave Act, and Welfare reform making day care paid for so women with children could get an education and a job and support a child as a working mother, collecting from dead beat dads, and the earned income credit was creatly increased. This allowed more women to chose to raise a child as a single mother and reduced the violence against women which 70% of abortions are the result of a criminal act, either incest or rape. Abortions went down during the Clinton Administration. Hillary Clinton has been devoted to women's and children's issues for 35 years. For this reason, the RC Church has not eliminated support for her as well as her positions regarding Hispanics and immigration reform.

Obama simply has no such record of helping single mothers but has a single method solution to pregnacies and that is abortion. For this reason the RC Church distances themselves from Obama. Obama, unlike McCain, has never stuck up for Hispanics and immigration reform, which he could have even in his 3 short years as Senator.

[surfcitysteven]

Who care what Pelosi says anymore? She wimped out fo the real fight and now she goes after a two-bit hick from texas, when the texan she should have gone after stays in office.

[BigBagel]

Letting Doofus invade Iran is not a problem for her either. I'm sure she'll be "upset" after the fact.

[NABNYC]

I would like to challenge the assumption that everyone is obligated to "respect" every religion in the world. Except the Muslims, of course, because most of our politicians trash Muslims as a daily ritual. But for all the other religions, it's like we live in a religious state, and we have a mantra that we all have to say: "I certainly respect their religious views." What if you don't?

I have no respect for other people's religious views. I think most religions are a pack of lies manufactured by some dude who came up with a list of rationalizations about why he and his buddies should be in charge of everyone. Every ridiculous religion in the world claims that God told someone that women should be slaves, have no rights, be servants to men, do what men tell them to do. I don't think God ever said any such thing. I think some man said that because he was angry at women who laughed at him and said he was an idiot. This was his way to get control.

Most religious heads claim that God told them it's okay to kill. You know that whole thing about "Thou shalt not kill?" Turns out God comes down to different men (because according to most religious, God never talks to women) -- so he comes down to all these different men, and tells them he was just kidding with that "thou shalt not kill" thing.

What he really meant to say was that it's okay to kill somebody if you don't like them. Or if they live in another neighborhood, or country, or their skin color is different, or their hair color is different. Or -- get this -- if they have a different religion, it's okay to kill them. Now I don't think God ever said that. I think some brutish man who was pissed off at his neighbor, or who coveted his neighbor's wife and other assets, invented this whole idea -- war -- to justify his own selfish desire to take more than his fair share.

So no, I don't respect other people's religious views. I respect their right to believe what they want, but that's a different thing.

As far as politicians go, this is so stupid. McCain supports murdering millions, but someone's upset because some dude who doesn't like Catholics said he's voting for McCain. Which is the headline? McCain supports murder of millions? Or backwater nobody fanatic who doesn't like Catholics supports McCain? Who cares?

I suppose now McCain will have to reject and renounce? Not murder, not killing, not war, he needs to embrace those. He needs to reject and renounce the anti-Catholic views of the unknown backwater fanatic.

[BigBagel]

I think we should tolerate other peoples beliefs. That different then respect or accept.

[helonias]

Forget everything about religion except the golden rule.

[williamscody]

The Pope supports the killing of non-believers and the oppression of women? Hmmm, missed that in today's sermon. And I missed McCain trumping his platforf of "murdering millions of people". When did this happen?

[cowboyfan88]

Catholicism is a religion. It is based on your works to gain salvation. It is not of faith. You cannot gain salvation through a church just as mormons can't be saved though their religion. I don't agree with a lot that Hagee says but he doesn't speak for all christians either. Faith in what Jesus did on the cross is the only way of salvation. Believing that he did all that was necessary. Your church wont save you, I don't care if you are catholic baptist or mormon. Can you be catholic and be saved? Sure but most will not believe. Faith is not through a church or through Mary but through The Lord Jesus Christ.

[helonias]

So all those billion of humans beings of non christian religions are lost?

[JScott]

Love it when the right wing eats their own.

[ExposingCommunists]

I like Obama's preacher more! Jeremiah Wright preaches "Black Power" and blames the Whites for the Black ills and especially attacks Capitalism.

Did Obama walk out and "denounce and reject" this racist view?

Did Wright refuse Oprah's "Capitalist" dollars?

Wright was to give an invocation on stage the morning Obama was to announce his Presidential run but was removed by the Obama campaign the night before. Obama stood by this racist and still does when he proclaims "my preacher."

Most here are anti-Catholic and anti-religion so it's amazing that they'll support any action by Pelosi to stop attackers of Catholics.

But the religion that cuts heads off, burns people alive, mutilates vaginas, performs honor killings, and even kills its own, is a great religion of peace!

[Bystander]

I think the left wingers are doing most of the munching. Bon appetite! Ha!

[ftprairiedog]

Nancy Pelosi, the sell out.......Impeach Bush thats your job, the Pope has enough money to send a hit team to Texas if he thinks this Ziochristian nazi is a problem, and Mc Cain would perform felicio on a statue of Saint Ronald the Raygun if that got him to the White House.

[ptarantino]

Go get 'em Nancy!~

Hagee is not just a shister, he's f-ing dangerous, preaching amragedeon kook . Any man of "God" who is trying to wage war w/ Iran for Israel's perceived benefit, needs to be undressed.

I have many problem with Pelosi being too soft & cowardly with this admin, but if she want to rip into the Hagee-ster, go for it.

[Boobaloo]

Pelosi: You are the height of hypocrisy, duplicitiousness and irrelevance.

You and Hagee share the EXACT same views both politically and relgiously so spare me your sanctimonious pronouncements.

Hagee, founder of United For Israel.

"We love Israel", Hagee speech to AIPAC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDRxmqOn7x4

On Iran: ""The coming nuclear showdown with Iran is a certainty..."Israel and America must confront Iran's nuclear ability and willingness to destroy Israel with nuclear weapons"

Nancy Pelosi:

"We stand with Israel now and forever.Now and forever."

On Iran: ‘The greatest threat to Israel’s right to exist…now comes from Iran...It threatens the security of Israel."

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=d664338ddefe6dec22e5c6f723c256ca

[Stokes]

Dominions and principalities and powers will cease to function. Total eclipse will be obscured by great frenzy. All might will cease and the Haven of Peace which comes through Jesus Christ The Living Son of the Almighty Father will Reign. As one endeavors to attain stature he shall see before him the eternal wrath of the Heavenly Father. In Humility is the Father in Heaven honored. make not the mind to savor carnal accomplishments. When the will Of the Heavenly Father is done, alike Jesus, in His accomplishments, there will be the changing from morbid misdeeds. All accomplishments that are done according to the Will of the Heavenly Father will serve multitudes in Peace and Love. Oh, weary workers, open up your hearts and listen to your Loving Father who wants only what is good for you.

[helonias]

Putting adulterers to death?

[LeftLeaner]

Nancy, worry about more important things like:

Impeaching Cheney
Repairing or Eliminating the very UNFAIR N/C/AFTA Agreements
Start representing the Middle Class.

DO YOUR JOB!!!!

This is a waste of OUR TIME and MONEY - the Voter AND TAXPAYER

[Tellmethetruth]

Amen! LeftLeaner.

[mellene]

It's apitty no one is paying attention to blasting McCain for his shenanigans. This will continue to be the case until the Dems decide on who they'll put up for office in August. Sorry they'll loose again.