John McCain needed an evangelical to embrace and send a message to the Christian right that he will do their bidding, even if he's not quite one of them. He settled on San Antonio End-Timer John Hagee.
Hagee's bizarre theology would be harmless enough (perhaps) if confined to his multimillion-dollar temple. But John Hagee has a constituency that extends beyond his congregation. He used that constituency to build a foreign-policy advocacy organization--Christians United for Israel (CUFI)--that is now pressing for a pre-emptive war with Iran. CUFI brought 4,500 End Times activists to Washington for its July 2006 inaugural event, followed by a day of lobbying on the Hill.
Hagee was straightforward in announcing his agenda: "The United States must join Israel in a pre-emptive military strike against Iran to fulfill God's plan for both Israel and the West," he said.
John McCain has been pressed to renounce Hagee. He cannot. Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader, whose unsolicited "endorsement" created a problem for Sen. Barack Obama, can preach religious hate. But he works on the fringe of American religion and politics and is an unlikely guest at anyone's White House. The influence of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright--Obama's longtime pastor who is cut from a different cloth than Farrakhan--doesn't extend beyond the African-American community in Chicago.
The Republican Party, on the other hand, is deeply invested in John Hagee and his followers.
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Why is this so under-reported??????
I simply cannot tell you how long I've waited for this.
OOPS - I can!!! I read all about John Hagee right before the Ohio and Texas primary when Johnny accepted his endorsement and then "all of a sudden decided to BBQ over a three day weekend with the press and supporters". And then: story night night.
Since then, I have worked so hard to get this grimey/slimey/hate mongering story out there. No more free ride for Johnny!!!!!! Choose your friends wisely - and where your $$$$$ comes from. And Parlsey, your spiritual guide??????? He's even worse. Your turn Johnny!!!!
Oh Happy Day! No wonder you were so kind in defending Barack Obama! Talk about
transparency!
I"m glad to see you came around. What frustrates me is that this info has been available for years, it"s never been a secret, yet ignored by the MSM. And still ignores it and attacks Rv. Wright out of context when these white boys goals have a clear context. I seen this before Bush was elected and I said "this guy is dangerous" . What an under-prediction.
GWW
Hagee should have endorsed Huckabee, who was an evangelical. This shows exactly where his real interest was: economics. Those who wanted a Christian for president, a person who was an unusually fine Christian, who wanted fairness for all in addition to the traditional "values", who was adept at making a budget turn out good things for the people of Arkansas--those people voted en masse for Huckabee. But the PTB were more interested in maintaining the economic status quo. Jesus would be ashamed of such status quo people. Pharisees.
For you humanists, let it be known that this is a trying time for Christians too, when leaders such as Hagee encorse McCain over Huckabee, or even Paul or Hunter (which of them a Christian might endorse would depend on his position on war and the Constitution, but all three were sincere Christians). But the Bible predicted that it would be so.
It's not a good time for any of us, folks. Suffering is widespread among Christians as well as among humanists. We have the same skin, which is bleeding at this time. Weep for us all.
"But the Bible predicted that it would be so." ???? Where?
I'm not weeping for you.
You and your ilk helped bring this misery on "us folks".
So bleed and suffer. And be sure to vote for McCain so we can have four more years of it.
What sort of weak god needs the help of Hagee-types to "fulfill his plans?" Plus, if god has a plan, how is possible for humans to alter or assist with it?
These nut-jobs consider themselves implements of His plan.
Amazing... A preacher teaches from the word of God and is crucified for it. Wait...that has happened before hasn't it. Let's just publish a politically correct bible and make everyone happy....but then again that would just be a book wouldn't it.
War with Iran is God's documented will , Bill? I'm not being sarcastic or facetious -- I'd like you to explain this to me.
Did Hagee say it was? If he did I had not heard that nor would I agree with it if I had. I have heard he state his opinion on Iran. He is probably right about the threat they pose. I spent 7 years in the Army from 86 to 93 which included Desert Storm. I don't think Bush invaded Iraq for legitimate reasons and we have been there far too long. Here's an idea; Bring back all the troops, cut off all government funded foreign aid and take care of thing at home. That would take a chunk out of the deficit. Please follow the A, B, C rules for voting this election. Anyone But Clinton.
Are you kidding? Do you believe that the Catholic Church is a great whore and that Catholics are minions of the devil? This is what John Haggee believes and this isn't anywhere in the Bible. John Haggee is a very dangerous man. He urges his followers to help bring about the end times (which incidentally is also NOT in the Bible, Revelations does NOT say anything about "end times.") Do you also believe in this? Did you know that many, many people have preached the "end times" and each time the deadline passes, they simply invent another. This would be funny if it weren't so very dangerous.
I have listened to Hagee preach for many years. Have you listened to hagee's 8 part sermon on Revelation. I have several times. He does not say that the catholic church is the great whore. He gives an outline of the seven churches; the description of one sounds alot like the catholic church. I have seen many blogs over the past few weeks accusing Hagee of saying things I have never heard in any of his sermons. As far as the Catholic religion goes. I was raised catholic but have seen the error of my ways. Much of the catholic religion is a mix of superstition. Where are pergatory and limbo mentioned in the Bible? I must have missed that part. Along with the part about praying to Mary to put in a good word for you. How does Hagee urge his followers to bring about end times? I have never heard that. He does state that he believes that many of the prophesies in the bible have come to pass and we are the last generation. That may or may not be. The Bible states that not even the angels but God alone knows when that time will come. The outline in the book of revelation of my King James Bible is as follows: 1. Christ reveals himself to John 2. Christ portrayed to seven churches 3. Christ as related to the world 4. Christ and the end of all things. Sounds like "End Times" to me.
bill4033: and it's time we stopped using that "book" as an excuse for warmongering, nationistic hatred, or even as a justification to be loving and peaceful. It's about time we had some rational, secular humanists making researched, thought-out decisions that don't send us to war or bancruptcy. Those Bible-thumpers do NOT have the monopoly on morals and ethics, and, if anything, have repeatedly demonstrated the opposite of ethical behavior and thought. I don't think we should kill ANYONE for the sake of Jesus or hurrying the "end times." Those doctrines have been some of the most destructive humans have dreamt up.
As a secular humanist what are your views on Jesus? Just curious.
I don't know if I would term myself as a secular humanist. I was raised in a minister's household, went to a Bible college, etc., but became disillusioned with the inflexible dogmatism of religion. As far as how I feel about Jesus, I am agnostic, i.e., I don't think we can KNOW the "facts" behind the story. The New Testament accounts of Jesus were written decades after his [alleged] death and resurrection and cobbled together centuries after by counsels, decrees, etc. While some of what Jesus says is admirable philosophy concerning love, peace, and forgiveness, we often ignore his statements of bringing war, setting father against son, and the destruction to come to those cities that don't embrace his teaching (See Luke 12 and Matthew 11). That the Apostle Paul went on to circumvent Jesus' basics of love by turning back to legalistic and judgemental practices also further turned my opioion of Christianity and the Bible as the be-all end-all of ethics, etc. As far as a belief in [a] God, I would say I'm also agnostic. While many feel that is a lazy position -- that one should be either a believer or an aetheist -- I still think it is unknowable in this plane of existence. I tend toward the objective, scientific method for confirming theories of reality, and a human-based compassion. In other words, I'm still kind of up-in-the-air, but detest dogmatism espescially those that lead to oppression and bloodshed.
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Posted March 24, 2008 | 05:31 PM (EST)