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

[ChiMan1]

Nancy finally blinked after 2 weeks and this is what came out???

[dax49]

mc cain wouldn't have stood for hagee remarks if he did not basically agree with them

[mommadona]

Exactly.

I loved his benevolent covering of the toe-tap-dancing POTUS's little 'shuffle off to Buffalo' in the White House Portico....."It's OK, folks, I'm here now - Crazy Uncle Georgie will be kept under wraps...TRUST me...."

[noamjunior]

why does John McCain consider hate speech "spiritual leadership" ?

[Liberal2]

Because he believes in that old time religion of hellfire and damnation. Part of that involves condemning everyone who believes anything else: Jews, Catholics,­Buddhists, atheists, etc.

[bogtrotters]

Way to go out on a limb, Nancy. They'll have to update and re-print another edition of "Profiles in Courage." You'll be right after the Larry Craig chapter.

[wndrwrthg]

Hey nancy, where the hell were you when little georgie attacked the Constitution? And hey, while I am at it, quit being a hyocrite. You have endorsed everything that pile of excrement in the white house has wanted. By your very inaction you have allowed this country to suffer. SHUT YOUR MOUTH IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS CRIMINAL.

[joebaggadonuts]

One brownie point for Nancy, and one expression of gratitude for saying this. Thanks.

[MidSection]

Rings hollow from Pelosi. She supports abortion in ALL cases....no restrictions. She can't even take communion. Why listen? McCain is more Catholic then most dems.

[elainebarili]

MidSection

thanks !! I was starting to think that the only posts here were from idiots.

[powkat]

If Catholic bishops could deny communion to John Kerry for being pro-choice, it sure seems like they could decry McCain's embrace of Hagee.

[Purple Girl]

Well if it 's true it's not mean. What once was the Task Masters of humanity have now been relegated to 'Poster children' for religious Marketing.
But this idiots view only proves he and his church are not the REAL THING EITHER! False idols.

The Catholic Church has much to seek forgiveness for- millenia worth.
And these Snake Oil Dealers are enslaving their followers iToo . necessary for proof of divinity Right- the more people you control the holier you are- Keep this crap in your own homes, your viewson such irrelevant and unanswerable questions are not worth for sharing. Hate and Fear are views we've heard far too much in th ecourse of manKIND.

[PKSSK]

This woman is hysterical, she takes a strong stance on behalf of her catholic religion, but fails to take a stance against the biggest sinner and evil of them all, this administration.

[who38]

To say nothing of her failure to take a stance against Roger Mahoney's treatment of priorent priests who molested children at will. This woman should be taking a look at what the diocese that serves Alaska did to the believers in that area.

It's nice to know that it's not only Zionists that have no vision.

[kipmartin]

i am at the point where if it isnt Obama in november, im voting for Nader. i take that back, i WILL vote for Nader if somehow Hillary gets the nomination.

Obama has integrity. the other candidates are smarmy and covered with greasy lies, half truths, flip flops, and poll-generated values. fuck them!

if hillary is nominated, i promise you i will vote for Nader. he may have a big ego, but i just cant vote for a slimey con artist like Hillary.

ok, rant over!

[Zentomato]

Kipmartin, Your frustration is understandable and I can even sympathize with what you say but there is one absolutely underlying result to voting for Nader. You might just as well vote for McCain. If you feel it is better to vote for Nader than Hillary then it also follows that your hatred for Hillary means more to you than the welfare of this country. No? Please rethink this.

[nazgul]

I agree. It's your vote.

If HRC somehow snatches the nomination, after all this country has been through the past seven years, and all the unnecessary, self-inflicted pain during the Clinton administration before that, I'll consider it a clear indication that the party needs more time under Republican rule before it can figure what is needed.

There's no going Back to the Future!

[BlackWidowPilot]

Planet Earth and the species Homo Sapiens simply cannot afford another stint under "Repedophile" party rule. Better another Clinton, warts and all, than another member of the "party of family values" who has promised to keep our troops needlessly in harm's way in pursuit of oil and empire based upon over 900+ documented lies about WMDs.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[Clarabell]

kipmartin -- On 2-22 in your profile, you were ranting against Nader because he might take 2 to 3% of the vote.

[jewforobama]

Great-and if he wins-HA! HA!-he'll have ZERO Congressional support to even fart out loud!!! Might as well right in Dick Cheney, you fool!!!

[eplatypusunum]

A classic case of 'better late than never.' That saying isn't always true -- I'd bet Gen Custer would really rather have arrived at Little Big Horn "never" rather than merely "late" as he did. And died.

Anyway, it's true here with Pelosi. It is kind of amusing watching the Dems muss each other's hair up in debates and speeches, but I'm looking forward to the gloves seriously coming off once we have a nominee. Bush, McCain and the GOP have a LOT to answer for over the last 7 years. I think Pelosi's stab here -- a just and proper stab -- is a sign of what's to come.

Spoilin' for a fight, as it were. Although I'll admit that over the past 7 years the Dems have not exactly shown promise in the area of courage. But Bush has been a classic grade school bully and I just LOVE seeing bullies opposed, countered, and bested. And with a bloody nose.

epu

[wndrwrthg]

A small observation if I may: Custer got there way to early.

[who38]

And without a "roach coach" which would have ensured his victory.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

Hagee isn't only anti-Catholic, he is anti Semitic. As far as I’m concerned this snake oil salesman cult leader can take a hike. Why dose Texas and Colarodo bread so many freaks like this anyway? I know, money, Wal-Mart Christianity is big business and 1/3rd of mega churches are money-laundering operations for political action committees.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

Actaully, that is exactly what the catholic church is. I left the catholic church when I saw how little they respect abused women, how they abuse the collar for everything and anything. I got disgusted by priests posing as these moral do gooders, when in fact, they are thieves and liars. That said, MCcain still should not take this guys money. He sounds like trouble, which could come back and bite Mccain in the ass voter wise, and other. I think Ms Peolsi isn't a hell of a lot better than catholics. I am a dem, and some of the things she has allowed to get by with Bush is totally ammoral. She allows this and suddenly she is Ms, perfect Catholic? Don't think so. But then, why should we be surprised by her actions when she emmulates the very church that backs Bush and the mafia. Disgusting.

[Marioth]

Well, this is just it. Pick your favorite branch of the family religeon stump. Each has their own peculiar lunacies..­..Rapture.­...Transub­stantiatio­n....Jihad­....Evange­lism.....T­hetans....­these are all symptoms of the same disorder, a staunch refusal to alter the source of one's memories to fit what the eyes and ears report to the extent and purpose of disenfranchisement at best, and mass murder at worst.

I used to rail against this kind of thinking, just flabbergasted that one would embrace magic-thinking at the expense of their own family members.

And then I discovered Toba.

This Indonesian volcano erupted some 75,000 years ago with a force of 2.000 Mt St. Helens-like events. The resulting ash winter cut the world's population from over 2 million to less than 5,000 individuals scattered in small pockets around the world.

Many human traits were lost forever, or at least until the gene is found.

This level of inbreeding explains humanity's Woe and the force with which religeon prays upon those whose brains mis-place source memories due to genetic thinness.

Call it "Alabama Theory." You can almost hear the dueling banjos. It wasn't Adam and Eve. It was Jethro and Brandine.

Pax,
M.

[cdnnewsjunky]

:)

[williamscody]

Do you get all of your talking points from Godfather Part III, or just most of them?

[cls105]

i will vote for any democrat that is running in the general election. one thing however where i am shocked is the fact that america is somewhat ready for a woman president and someone ready for a black man. What really pisses me off (and I'm sure Bill Maher will agree) is how the USA is not ready for an atheist president. I don't care when someone has a negative thing to say against the church. Did Pelosi's daughter make an anti Evangelical Documentary... Lets grow up and get with the times dems!

[Wilbur]

Patience, Grasshopper! One step at a time. First a black person or a woman....then an atheist. Or at least an agnostic.

Wilbur

[Marioth]

Frankly, Hagee is far more dangerous than Farrakhan, partly because Farrakhan is not long for this world, but mostly because of Hagee's flag-enshrounded christodom that is far more fashionable that'd we'd like to admit. Religeon makes people nutty, batty, and around the bend in spots. Hagee has many more followers for his accepted tripe.

For McCain to actively seek his support tells you all you need to know about the coming third Bush term.

Pax,
M.