Associated Press – March 3, 2008
SEDONA, Ariz. – Endorsed by an influential Texas televangelist, Republican John McCain endeared himself to one group of voters but risked alienating another with the pastor’s anti-Catholic views.
The controversy has been mild so far, but still, every vote counts in a presidential election that is expected to be closely contested.
Evangelical or born-again Christian voters were key to George W. Bush’s victories, but so were Roman Catholics, who chose Bush over their fellow Catholic John Kerry in 2004 and over Al Gore in 2000.
The televangelist, San Antonio megachurch leader John Hagee, has referred to the Roman Catholic Church as “the great whore” and called it a “false cult system” and “the apostate church”; the word “apostate” means someone who has forsaken his religion.
He also has linked Adolf Hitler to the Catholic church, suggesting it helped shape his anti-Semitism.
McCain said he does not agree with some of Hagee’s past comments. “It’s simply not accurate to say that because someone endorses me that I therefore embrace their views,” McCain told reporters at a news conference Monday in Phoenix.
Catholic groups are pressuring McCain to go further and reject the endorsement, which he announced at a news conference with Hagee last week. The Democratic National Committee also is publicizing Hagee’s views.
“Indeed, for the past few decades, he has waged an unrelenting war against the Catholic Church,” said Catholic League President Bill Donohue.
“Senator Obama has repudiated the endorsement of Louis Farrakhan, another bigot,” Donohue said. “McCain should follow suit and retract his embrace of Hagee.”
He was referring to Barack Obama, who said he would “reject and denounce” any help from Farrakhan when pressed in last week’s Democratic presidential debate.
It remains to be seen how much Hagee’s views may hurt McCain’s standing among Catholics, a group that can hardly be considered monolithic. Though they lean Republican, their views span the political spectrum and split nearly evenly along party lines.
Despite the recent publicity, Hagee is not well-known outside his sphere of influence, which includes a congregation in the tens of thousands and an even wider television audience.
“What he holds about Catholicism in my mind is despicable,” said the Rev. James Heft, religion professor at the University of Southern California. “I totally reject Hagee’s view of Catholicism, but I don’t know how widely known it is.”
If Hagee’s views become well-known, the endorsement could hurt McCain among some Catholics.
“If you offend even a small percentage, that could make the difference in an election,” Donohue said in an interview Sunday.
Democrats are doing their best to keep the fracas alive, with Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean raising it Sunday on CNN’s “Late Edition.”
“What about a guy who is a vicious anti-Catholic, who is supporting John McCain, and John McCain does not denounce or reject him?” Dean said.
So far, McCain has enjoyed strong support from Catholics, who make up about a quarter of the electorate.
He won far more of the Catholic vote, 47 percent, than any of his Republican rivals thus far, according to exit polling. Mitt Romney won 30 percent and Mike Huckabee won 9 percent, doing well among Catholics in states where they did well overall, according to exit surveys in 21 presidential primary states.
McCain has been less popular among evangelical or born-again Christians, which is where Hagee comes in. Huckabee, himself a Baptist minister, courted Hagee last year by delivering a sermon at his church. McCain has lost or split support from those voters and is working to bolster his standing.
And McCain is not guaranteed support among Catholics, even though he opposes abortion and the two Democratic candidates, Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, support abortion rights.
While the church places utmost priority on its opposition to abortion rights, U.S. bishops issued voter guidelines last November saying Catholics may vote for someone who favors abortion rights – so long as the voter is not making his or her choice because of the candidate’s position on abortion, and if the candidate supports other positions that substantially further the church vision of the common good.
Incidentally, McCain, Obama and Clinton belong to the Protestant faith; McCain was raised Episcopalian but now attends a Baptist church in Arizona.
McCain’s response to the controversy has been tepid, Heft said. Following two days of criticism, McCain issued a statement saying only that he doesn’t agree with everything Hagee says.
“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. Before issuing the statement, he told reporters he was “proud” of Hagee’s spiritual leadership of his congregation.
The Arizona senator’s reaction stands in contrast to President Bush, who specifically apologized to Roman Catholic leaders for “causing needless offense” when he visited Bob Jones University during the 2000 election. The Greenville, S.C., school teaches that Catholicism is a cult.
McCain’s reaction also stands in contrast with his own swift and unequivocal denunciation of a radio talk show host who denigrated Obama last week in Cincinnati. McCain immediately apologized and said he repudiated the statements of the radio host, Bill Cunningham.
Of course, there are differences between the two figures. Hagee is a religious leader; Cunningham is a talk show host. Cunningham made his comments at a campaign event; Hagee’s intolerant words and views have come outside the presidential campaign.
Regardless, Heft said McCain should be more specific and more emphatic, and soon.
“You don’t want to blow it on simple matters that you could correct,” Heft said. “He probably would be wiser just to say he rejects his views on Catholics.”
EDITOR’S NOTE – Libby Quaid covers the presidential campaign for The Associated Press. AP Director of Surveys Trevor Tompson contributed to this report.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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posted March 3, 2008 at 5:29 pm
John Hagee is one of the most hateful of the handful of US religious leaders who rant against people.
What a delicate balancing act…trying to attract the evangelicals…while trying not to offend Catholics and as well as other people who respect individuals’ differences. Certainly not all evangelicals preach hatred…but, Hagee stands out amongst those that do.
IMO, Minister Farrakhan is also in that group of US religious leaders who rant against people. There were legions of people who were after Sen Obama to denounce Farrakhan when Farrakhan praised Obama…not endorsed him…simply praised him. Hagee endorses McCain….where is the outcry now?
Could it be because Farrakhan is black and Hagee is white?
Peace!
posted March 3, 2008 at 8:12 pm
There is one pretty big difference between Farrakhan and Hagee, from what I know of them: Farrakhan is a racist, while Hagee is not. Modern anti-Semetism is almost always tied up with race—Farrakhan’s views about Jews likely have little to do with whether or not they practice Judaism, while anti-Catholicism is based primarily on a philosophy/institution. It IS very offensive for Hagee to call the RCC a cult, yet at the same time, it’s different from saying that every single Catholic person is deficient compared to Protestants, which is what Farrakhan says about Jews (and white people in general).
In realpolitik terms, I don’t think Hagee will make that big of a deal for McCain—Catholics, in general, don’t care as much about anti-Catholicism as Jews do about anti-Semetism. And I don’t think that McCain should refuse the endorsement—for that record, I didn’t think Obama should have totally rejected Farrakhan’s either. They should both make it very clear they disagree, but actually, totally refusing the endorsement just strikes me as…rude. I find Hillary’s pushing of Obama somewhat underhanded.
God bless.
posted March 3, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I don’t know much about Hagee, except what I have read here. Candidates can’t please everyone in their possible voting groups. McCain has the nomination from the Republicans, and during the next months running up to November, many other things will happen. This is just the beginning. From this article it seems that Catholics actually make up their own minds about who to vote for, and actually and may not always please the church’s High Dude, Benny 16. YEA! to that. Free thinking Catholics. And of course Benny 16 said that Catholics can vote for a pro-abortion candidate IF the choise isn’t because of the candidate’s position on abortion, and if the candidates position furthers the churche’s position of the common good. Well, almost free thinking Catholics.
Hagee seems to be a truely hateful person, which is really sad considering he claims to be a Man OF GOD! Great representation of a minister. No wonder with ministers like him many religions can’t get along.
posted March 3, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Well McCain has repeatedly said how proud he is Hagee supports him and Hagee introduced him at a South Carolina campaign event so it’s not like Hagee endorsed McCain out of the air.
Others here could say more about Hagee’s stands but he claimed Katrina was God’s punishment and he claims all Muslims want to kill us and he claims God wants us to attack Iran. Of course McCain famously sings about bombing Iran. Hagee is a hate monger and McCain is very happy to have his support.
posted March 3, 2008 at 9:34 pm
People have short memories. This endorsement may fade into the background of possible McCain backers. Since I’m certainly not voting another Republican into office, who endorses McCain really isn’t in the forefront of my brain. However, this Hagee charactor comes across as a truely hateful person and a horrible representative of the Christian religion.
posted March 3, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Well, it’s obvious: John Syndey McCain is an anti-Catholic, black man who hates southern cops. McCain is endorsed by Hagee, who is an anti-Catholic, and his middle name is “Sydney”, the same as radical-liberal-guess-who’s-coming-to-dinner-negro actor Sydney Poiteir who gave grief to a bunch of German nuns who fled the Nazis (Lilies of the Field) and slapped a southern sheriff (In the Heat of the Night) John McCain obviously hates Catholic nuns who flee Nazi persecution and Southern law enforcemetnt officers. Wake up, America!
posted March 4, 2008 at 10:51 am
sinsonte,
That’s the funniest post I’ve read in a long time – filled with wonderful, subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) jabs (loved the play on names parallel to what a certain Dem nominee’s detractors are attempting to do). Keep ‘em coming.
MEANwhile, why is America so caught up in smearing their leaders? Has ‘Swift-boating’ become that popular? That effective?
posted March 4, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I agree with Joey that rejecting endorsements doesn’t seem to be a wise political move (or very polite). Obviously Hagee agrees with at least some points of McCain’s politics, so I think McCain is on the right track by graciously accepting the endorsement but pointing out that just because Hagee endorses him doesn’t mean he is behind everything the man says. McCain should now emphasize how he will try to bring Hagee around to his way of thinking on the topics where they disagree. That way, he would be presenting himself as a candidate who seeks to unite people with opposing viewpoints, rather than one who alienates his opponents & inspires division (hmmmm….be a uniter, not a divider – it sure would be nice to have a president who could do that!)
posted March 4, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Thelemite, don’t hold your breath waiting for John McCain to unite us, or even try very hard.
posted March 4, 2008 at 11:15 pm
There comes a point when the political endorsements start to sound like kindergartners saing to each other, “I’m your my best friend. And you are coming to my birthday party”.
Hagee is a full blown, day-glo painted, in your face, gas bag who doesn’t like anyone unless they are Hagee. His opinions are so full of helium they squeek. What he thinks will at best amuse a few voters, but more likely people will simply say, “So?”.
If McCain really want to win he will politely and quietly distance himself from this guy. Otherwise he will be too closely associated with hagee’s ill thought through and prejudiced remarks.
posted March 5, 2008 at 11:20 am
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not backing McCain (although I like him a lot more than any Republican canditate I can remember), and I detest Hagee. I’m just saying that it would be a smart move on his part to avoid offending large groups of voters by either publicly denouncing Hagee or accepting his endorsement too eagerly.
As jestrfyl said, “politely and quietly distance himself,” but in a way that won’t lose him the votes of the Hageeans.
posted March 5, 2008 at 11:34 pm
sinsonte I found your post racial for no good reason and hardly funny.