H
Harry Hope
Guest
http://media.www.villanovan.com/med....Mccain.And.Religious.Extremism-3314116.shtml
4/10/08
John McCain and religious extremism
Tom Nardi
Everyone with a political agenda has a problem with the traditional
media.
Either they don't cover a story or they don't ask the tough questions
or they don't ask the right questions or something else in a litany of
objections.
I'm no exception.
Barack Obama's former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, had been widely
covered by the media over the Easter holiday for some controversial
statements made during his sermons.
I don't feel like that discussion was a topic out of bounds, but I do
think that the traditional media should have been more thorough in
their reporting.
After all, Obama is not the only candidate in the race who has ties to
controversial figures.
One of John McCain's most high-profile endorsements this cycle -
particularly during this dry-spell for him while the ongoing
Democratic primary is getting all the coverage - was the endorsement
of non-denominational evangelical minister John Hagee.
The event was a big to-do, with McCain and Hagee both on stage
together talking to press.
Hagee is the leader of a 19,000-person mega-church and CEO of a media
empire that stretches weekly into 99 million homes worldwide, so it is
no surprise that McCain was willing to accept Hagee's endorsement.
On stage, McCain said he was "very proud" to accept it.
In fact, it's been reported that McCain actively sought the
endorsement for over a year.
It behooves us, then, as responsible political actors, to see just who
Hagee is.
Hagee has the traditional right-wing evangelical problems, like
blaming Hurricane Katrina on the city of New Orleans as divine
retribution for holding "a homosexual parade."
But that's not my larger point.
You see, Hagee's not exactly a fan of Catholics.
During broadcasts, Hagee has referred to the Church as a "great
whore," "the anti-Christ" and a "false cult system."
In his book "Jerusalem Rising," Hagee goes so far as to blame the
Catholic Church for the rise of Hitler and his legitimization on the
world stage.
It makes one wonder why McCain is coming to speak at a Catholic
university on Tuesday, if this is the company he keeps.
McCain has also received an endorsement from and made appearances with
Rod Parsley, the pastor of an Ohio mega-church, calling Parsley a
"spiritual guide."
While Hagee is a little more well-known as a controversial McCain
endorsement, Parsley has seemed to get a free pass from the
traditional media.
So what views does Parsley preach?
In 2005, Parsley wrote and published a book called "Silent No More."
In it, he reveals that it is the true duty of America to destroy
Islam.
To quote Parsley, "I do not believe our country can truly fulfill its
divine purpose until we understand our historical conflict with Islam
4/10/08
John McCain and religious extremism
Tom Nardi
Everyone with a political agenda has a problem with the traditional
media.
Either they don't cover a story or they don't ask the tough questions
or they don't ask the right questions or something else in a litany of
objections.
I'm no exception.
Barack Obama's former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, had been widely
covered by the media over the Easter holiday for some controversial
statements made during his sermons.
I don't feel like that discussion was a topic out of bounds, but I do
think that the traditional media should have been more thorough in
their reporting.
After all, Obama is not the only candidate in the race who has ties to
controversial figures.
One of John McCain's most high-profile endorsements this cycle -
particularly during this dry-spell for him while the ongoing
Democratic primary is getting all the coverage - was the endorsement
of non-denominational evangelical minister John Hagee.
The event was a big to-do, with McCain and Hagee both on stage
together talking to press.
Hagee is the leader of a 19,000-person mega-church and CEO of a media
empire that stretches weekly into 99 million homes worldwide, so it is
no surprise that McCain was willing to accept Hagee's endorsement.
On stage, McCain said he was "very proud" to accept it.
In fact, it's been reported that McCain actively sought the
endorsement for over a year.
It behooves us, then, as responsible political actors, to see just who
Hagee is.
Hagee has the traditional right-wing evangelical problems, like
blaming Hurricane Katrina on the city of New Orleans as divine
retribution for holding "a homosexual parade."
But that's not my larger point.
You see, Hagee's not exactly a fan of Catholics.
During broadcasts, Hagee has referred to the Church as a "great
whore," "the anti-Christ" and a "false cult system."
In his book "Jerusalem Rising," Hagee goes so far as to blame the
Catholic Church for the rise of Hitler and his legitimization on the
world stage.
It makes one wonder why McCain is coming to speak at a Catholic
university on Tuesday, if this is the company he keeps.
McCain has also received an endorsement from and made appearances with
Rod Parsley, the pastor of an Ohio mega-church, calling Parsley a
"spiritual guide."
While Hagee is a little more well-known as a controversial McCain
endorsement, Parsley has seemed to get a free pass from the
traditional media.
So what views does Parsley preach?
In 2005, Parsley wrote and published a book called "Silent No More."
In it, he reveals that it is the true duty of America to destroy
Islam.
To quote Parsley, "I do not believe our country can truly fulfill its
divine purpose until we understand our historical conflict with Islam
