McCain's Pastor Problem: The Video
In a taped sermon, the preacher McCain calls a "spiritual guide" calls on America to see the "false religion" of Islam "destroyed." Still, the candidate won't reject Rod Parsley's endorsement.
In March 2008—two weeks after McCain appeared with Parsley at a Cincinnati campaign rally, hailing him as "one of the truly great leaders in America, a moral compass, a spiritual guide"—Mother Jones reported that Parsley had urged Christians to wage a "war" to eradicate Islam in his 2005 book. McCain's campaign refused to respond to questions about Parsley, and the presumptive Republican presidential nominee declined to denounce Parsley's anti-Islam remarks or renounce his endorsement. At a time when Barack Obama was mired in a searing controversy involving Reverend Jeremiah Wright, McCain escaped any trouble for his political alliance with Parsley, who leads the World Harvest Church, a supersized Pentecostal institution in Columbus, Ohio. Parsley, whose sermons are broadcast around the world, has been credited with helping George W. Bush win Ohio in 2004 by registering social conservatives and encouraging them to vote. McCain certainly would like to see Parsley do the same for him—which could explain his reluctance to do any harm to his relationship with this anti-Islam extremist.
Here's a video—produced by Mother Jones and Brave New films—highlighting Parsley's remarks and McCain's praise of the pastor:
In the 2005 sermon, Parsley repeatedly blasts Islam. "It is not a God of love that is presented to those of the Islamic faith," he tells his parishioners. He notes that 9/11 was not "anything new," describing the terrorist attack as merely the latest battle in "a war between Islam and Christian civilization...raging for centuries." Speaking from the pulpit, and wiping sweat from his brow, Parsley exclaims,
I can't begin to tell you how important it is that we understand the true nature of Islam. That we see it for what it really is. In fact...I do not believe that our nation can truly fulfill its divine purpose until we understand our historical conflict with Islam…I know that this statement sounds extreme. But I am not shrinking back from its implications. The fact is that...America was founded in part with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed. And I believe September 11, 2001, was a generational call to arms that we no longer can afford to ignore.
Parsley approvingly quotes Christian theologian Jonathan Edwards' reference to Islam as "Satan's Mohammedan kingdom." He points out that the United States' first war—the battle against the Barbary Coast pirates—was "waged against Muslim pirates who took our people captive because they believed in a Jesus crucified by the Jews." (With that one statement, Parsley slams both Islam and Judaism.) He repeatedly refers to the United States' "historic conflict with Islam," and adds, "We have no choice. The time has come. In fact, we may be already losing the battle. As I scan the world, I find that Islam at this moment is responsible for more pain, more bloodshed, more devastation than nearly any other force on Earth."
With the crowd in the pews listening intently, Parsley continues to denigrate Islam, claiming that the religion itself was responsible for 9/11 and that hostility and violence is "the spirit that has come to fill Islam or perhaps that Islam encompassed from the very beginning." He tries to frighten his followers:
This is about to freak you out...Since September 11, 2001, 34,000 Americans have become Muslims...This means that thousands of Americans have embraced the very religion that inspired the worst assault upon their nation in a generation. Did you know that there are some 1,209 mosques in America? Twenty-five percent of which have been built since 1994. Did you know that there are nearly a billion and a half Muslims in the world...But how would you know it? After all, it's not in People magazine.
Page 1 of 2 
That dude is crazy, absolute and certifyable nutjob!
"...waged against Muslim pirates who took our people captive because they believed in a Jesus crucified by the Jews." (With that one statement, Parsley slams both Islam and Judaism.)
Oh Please! What biblical scholar will deny that the Jews, in their complicity, were as culpable as the Romans.
When will you learn that, when you are on the side of right (as MJ usually is), you don't need to embellish the facts? The fact is that his comments on Islam show that this preacher is a bigot. The Jew comment may or may nor be bigoted. So leave it. You hav better evidence.
Has not Obama shown that people might be getting sick of hyperbole? Statements like this will suck the credibility right out of any story.
McCain will use this video as a campaign ad in the south
Look, I will be the first to admit that I have had it with crazy statements from Reverends but the BLATANT double standard here is beyond ridiculous.
McCain continues to claim that the same standard shouldn't be applied to him as Obama because "he never attended these sermon..." But when you think about it, doesn't it make it worse?
I for one, am not going to assume that I know what went on in Trinity for the past twenty years, or ask Obama for an accounting of each service he attended, but at least Obama had a relationship with Rev. Wright.
With McCain, there is no real relationship (as he readily admits). He sought out Hagee's and Parsley's endorsements to get votes. I'll even let him claim ignorance about not knowing of either Reverends' views before he sought the endorsement. But now, after everything that has happened with Obama, for him to simply say he doesn't agree with their views, but is "happy" to have their endorsements, I say cut the bull[deleted].
This is yet another instance where McCain has sacrificed his principles for political expediency. And for that reason "my friends" I will NEVER vote for him.
This guys is an ass, but honestly, isn't Mother Jones above this silly sound biting crap? Two wrongs don't make a right. Well, McCain should still drop this guy.,.
Here's the interesting thing about McCain's endorsements: nobody is going to pick up on or attack the fact that Hagee is so supportive of Israel and Parsley subtely attacked the Jews by calling them the ones who crucified Christ. You can bet your entire life savings that Russert or any of the other pundits will in no way challenge this hyprocrisy.
If any of you haven't seen Hagee's sermons, you are missing out on some funny sh*t. You have to see this fat tub of hate wandering around his richly decorated mega-church spewing out his ignorance. Do some channel surfing in the morning and see if you can find a channel that broadcasts them. Gives you something to watch waking up to a lack of extended cable.
It may have been through Mother Jones, but if you look around youtube you'll find some interesting clips of a jew trying to interview Hagee during a Christian/pro-Israel conference. There weren't that many people there but its hysterical and yet mind-boggling watching these people (assuming they're Christrians) waving around the American and Israeli flags. Especially considering something like us giving them military technology and then they go off and sell it to China.
Defending Taiwan should be interesting.
How and What can we do to bring this to the top of the news stories on T.V.?These so called God fearing Christians are acting like animals,Prophet Jesus was a peaceful man....And they{American Christians} just aren't following Prophet Jesus's example of Love ,Respect ,Honosty....MUSLIMS WORLDWIDE MUST UNITE
The bigger story here is why won't the mainstream media pick up this story about McCain's questionable religious endorsements? For years conservatives fed us a steady diet of liberal media this and liberal media that. Now conservatives control the media because they own it, and it is far from, "Fair and balanced."
Where is the coverage of Hagee and Parsley compared to Wright? Where is their coverage of McCain's flip-flop on Bush's tax cuts, his 100 year war comment, or his confusion over Sunnis and Shias? If anything, the mainstream media races to cover up these blunders.
MSNBC and PBS are the only possible exceptions, but for me and my family, television has ceased to be a reliable source for news ever since it morphed into a propaganda vehicle for the right.
I'm with Joe Paycheck. Why aren't the
media attacking Hagee and Parsley with
the equal zeal of attacking Mr. Wright.
Mr. Hagee has attacked the Roman Catholic Church. So far he hasn't
attacked the Greek/Russian/Antioch
Orthodox faith as well.
Yes, Rod Parsley is a truly a raving nut cake, but he's also frightening because he is only one "leaser" of so many zombies who take everything he howls a received truth. We who have lived in Ohio for very long (fortunately, I have since moved away) are quite familiar with the fact that the greatest portion of Ohio south of Akron (yeah, that's right, that's MOST of the state) with the possible exception of some college and university towns and a large Amish area, is infested with scads of rural, "middle class" working folks who are also fundamentalist "Christians" of various cults. Parsley ( who I am told never even grqaduatedf from high school) operates the Pentacostal "World Harvest Churcn " in Clolumbus, Ohio. it is primarily a tax exempt, fund raising operation, as are virtually all evangelical "churches". He may be one of the preachers that a republican mermev ber of ncoingress says he is eager to investigate because of their outspoken and intense poilitical activity
To venture to answer a couple questions:
Why hasn't Parsley and Hagee gotten the attention of Wright? Video. No one asked about Wright before the video got in the hands of every TV channel. Parsley's content might be the same in the video and the book, but TV doesn't do books. Now that it's on video, it might get out there, though with the caveat that TV might decide viewers are tired of paster controversies.
Why should we get into this when we thought Wright was overblown? Because these guys are truly dangerous. Though Wright went too far in accusing the US of mass murder, at least he was denouncing mass murder, while these guys are calling for it. Moreover, Wright wasn't connected to the circles of national power, and he's especially out now, but McCain's pastors are influential and should he win, they'll have access to the White House and the president.
As disturbed as I am by the good reverend's comments, I have to agree with Tanisha above that the double standard here is, indeed, beyond ridiculous. How annoyed were we all with the Wright-obsessive right media for not dropping a subject that was completely irrelevant? And will we now claim it is in fact relevant? Only when it applies to the "other guy"..... ?
Onward, Christian Zionists. I saw a bumper sticker yesterday that said "Please don't blame Jesus for Christianity"!!! Fighting for peace is like having sex for virginity...
So we need to destroy one billion muslims to save the America?
McCain the potential President don't mine to be seen with this man?
God Help (not Bless)Americans if they don't get the message what would happen If he is the President.
Consider Bush gone helter skelter.
Think this piece would be more effective if it appeared more neutral- i.e. remove the background music and the psst do something bit. Unless of course this is just to whip up the base.
As a Christian, I'm beside myself with frustration at this so-called "Christian" Robert Parsley... It's people like this that are setting-back for years all the work that's been put into Christian-Islam relations...! That's of course nothing to say on what people like this are doing to the global image of Christianity itself!
As a Christian, I really wish that people like this would just detach and dissociate themselves entirely from Christianity and start a new cult religion (because that's really what he's doing, it's NOT Christianity any more that's spurting out of his mouth!) rather than still call themselves Christian and set back for years the cause of Christianity; to spread the message of hope, love and PEACE from Jesus Christ!
And if McCain gets the presidency... with a radical ("fundamentalist" if you like...) preacher like this behind him... I'm at least a tiny little bit terrified at the thought of the types of conflicts/ wars (let's call it "Crusades take#2" for now...!) that might ensue...
I'm a Christian and always will be. But I do have Islamic and even atheistic friends... Sure, I wish they were Christians too, I pray for them lots, but I'm sure as there is a hell, that I'm not going to stand for a holy war being declared on them! And any "Christian" that tries to state that it's Christianity's aim/goal to do as such, is seriously misreading the Bible and going against everything Jesus stood for and taught the world. And is also, incidentally, tarnishing the image of Christians globally and in effect, really being the cause/ catalyst of a war with Islam...
To Muslims reading this comment: Please know this, I'm a Christian and I don't hate you. I believe that you do have similarities with my religion (for example, the Bible's Old Testament overlaps I believe with a lot of your scriptures). In any case, also know that not all Christians are like this brainwashed Parsley. Christianity is NOT out to destroy ANY religion (least of all Islam which is close to Christianity). Peace is key in Christianity (as I'm sure it is in your religion too). I pray that God will silence the voice of war and hatred that is so apparent in people like this pastor Parsley.
well, at least he got the Muslim part right.
" Islam is a religion of peace, and if you say that it isn't, we will kill you."
WAKE UP and SAVE THE WEST!
bat eet vas yust beezznes as usual... so vat's wrong wit dat?
Parsely is totally ignorant.Islam is now the largest religion on earth.He wants a war they should send him to Afghanistan or Iraq.
...and do what? Please don't start the poor victim crap.
Go kneel on your pray rug and I'll loop your head off...Sound familiar.
What is this Mother Jones, cable news? Can we please rise above this garbage? It was nonsense with Sen. Obama and it is nonsense now. LET IT GO! Can we please focus on issues? Why isn't Mother Jones listening to Mr. Obama and get on track again?
Jayne
Parsley snips "As I scan the world, I find that Islam at this moment is responsible for more pain, more bloodshed, more devastation than nearly any other force on Earth."
That qualification, of course, is reserved for the unequaled pain, bloodshed, and devastation caused by the force of Judeo-Christian fascism, as manifest in a foreign policy designed by neoconservative Arab-hating bigots and implemented by arrogant oil industry operatives and delusional Bible-brandishing mama's boys.
It's easy for an incurious self-righteous racist xenophobe (you know, the typical Bush supporter) to take Parsley quite seriously. These are Clinton's "non-college graduated hard-working white people," all of whom voted against the n!gger in the primary and will flee to the old white man in the general election, even if Clinton were to steal the nomination at this late date.
McCain can't afford to ruffle their feathers, so he'll stand by his men, which is why Obama should pin him to the mat on this one in the media. Now. Like a dog with a bone: make him eat his words of support or make him stand by them in the face of these facts.
Obama won't convince the racists to vote for him, but he could well sway clear-thinking independents who might be inclined to give McCain more credit than he deserves based on all the sugary hype promulgated by the corporate controlled media.
Many Christians are not on Parsley's team. For proof, go to the Wittenburg Door's website (do a Google search for "Wittenburg Door, Parsley" and go to the first result) to read what John Bloom has to say about this one.
Funny isn't it Republicans always accuse and slime their opponent when it is what they, themselves are are doing and guilty of. Then claim to be Christians but, don't practice being one. The ONLY way a Republican can win is by attempting to destroy their opponent. As it was clearly done to Obama except it was suppose to be a Republican supporter of Hillary who started the Rev. Wright story. Everyone's Pastor or Priest says something they don't totally agree with. Some Priests threaten their people that if they didn't vote for Bush last time they could not take communion. Look what they got us, a continued mess, I'm sure God is in favor of killing as we are doing..NOT!!
You would have to be a bigot, a racist, an idiot to listen to these co-called Christian ministers. They are Christian Monsters. When McNuts follow religious leaders like Parsley, Bob Jones,Christian Identity Group leaders, James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Ed Hindson, David Duke and even Hitler, we are doomed to a nation divided in hatred. All of these bigots are following the beliefs of Hitler laid out in Mein Kamph. He knew that that he could harness unlimited power by use of "faith alone" religious beliefs without the foundation of intelligent reasoning or real spirituality. He was a master of hatred and today's radical ministers tap into it the same way.
As Neil Young sings, "Let’s impeach the president
For hijacking our religion and using it to get elected
Dividing our country into colors
And still leaving black people neglected"
Divide and conquer. All in the name of god.
To response to Joe Paycheck and why mainstrean media do not cover stories like this. Obviously they endorse this type of rhectoric as well. Just look at the media moguls and there politcal associations. case and point Ruppert Murddock. fortunately Ron Parsley is a grain of sand on a global beach. Worldwide Islam, Judaism and Christianity co-exist peacefully. Although Islam is relatively new to westerners. We need to embrace it and understand it. I live in a community where the stores are stocked with alcohol and unfresh food. Muslims took over the store and no alcohol, pornography or unhealthy food is no longer sold there. I appuade their business and it has made a difference in my community.
My wife is a Hindu Indian, we live and work in New Delhi as well as the US.
In my 30+ years in India I have worked with, fraternized with, and travelled with Muslims, and never have I been or felt threatened, intimdated or scorned as a Christian.
India has the 2nd largest Muslim population in the world-greater than Pakistan's.
It is time for Americans to open their eyes to the reality of the world, not the narrow confines of American journalism.
Muslims are not our enemies, they have not vowed to destroy America. Radicals have, and McCann's pastor buddy, Rev. Parsley is no different than a radical Muslim-neither deserves respect or is a credible representative of his religion.
I can't believe the bigotry and hatred, not to mention the IGNORANCE this guy is spewing. Who would sit and listen to this crap? People need to start using their brains, take some cultural anthropology classes, learn where these religions come from. Then they won't be so scared and vulnerable to this type of propaganda.
Well, I don't disagree with Parsley entirely; I would just amend what he says to include all religions. Given half a chance, every religion has, or would become, a tyranical, oppressive, ignorance-embracing, superstious way of life forcibly foisted on everyone at the point of death. Always has been and always will be. Islam is the violent religion du jour, but the inquisition and the crusades were no picnic either. Imagine there was no religion, it's easy if you try...
The misleading of human beings by superstition and fascism is as old as humanity. I am no more fearful of Islamic fascists than of Christian fascists. It is tragic the heights of power fascists have gained in the 21st century despite their exposure for what they are in World War II.
Twenty-first century man is no more sophisticated than our primitive ancestors, and even more easily propagandized by the forces of fascism with the media tools they have come to own. If we allow, nay, enable them to mislead us into pseudo-holy war in these times when we should be more enlightened as a race of being, and with potential for more enlightened and studiously informed leadership than could ever have been expected in human history, perhaps we don't deserve anything better than the madness and chaos they will bring, indeed are bringing.
John McCain, Bush Lite, Bush in McCain's Clothing, will perpetuate the fascist agenda, aided and abetted by pseudo-Christian leaders, greedy commercial leaders, media leaders, and leaders of families who are so unstudied as to be blind-faith followers of whatever propaganda these flag-draped pseudo-holy men and women spew upon them.
We are a long way over the edge and down that slippery slope, evidenced by the fact media and political spokesmen seem unable to speak intelligently about the issues, or even to identify real issues. McCain had no backing, couldn't even put gas in the "Straight-Talk Express" bus. He wasn't even in the debates with all those other candidates spending millions of dollars to run for President. Suddenly McCain was meeting with the President, making junkets to Iraq where he asked soldiers to risk their lives protecting him while he had photo-ops in the markets of Bagdad. Suddenly all the other candidates disappeared, conceded defeat to the President-Select, John McCain. And no one seems to think that's incredibly odd, not even those who spent millions of their own dollars to run.
McCain came home and lied to the American people, telling them they could go to Bagdad and walk around just like he did. When advised by the reporter that most of the American people polled were against the war he said the most revealing thing possible: "I don't care what the American people think." Translated, that means, 'I don't want to be the President of the American people. I will be the President, the personal property, a puppet of the fascist gang of violent extremists whose lies misled us to Iraq, who are looting the US treasury, and whose sinister agenda is the destruction of representative Constitutional democracy in the United States, and totalitarianism there and around planet Earth.' Well, that's a rough translation, but you get the idea. The pseudo-Christians will be surprised to find themselves in the extermination camps along with all the rest of us. Perhaps the fascists will repay them for their aid and succor with the kindness of gassing them last.
This pastor and Rev Wright should lose their tax free status as any religious leader who would involve themselves in politics. Human nature has not changed and those who would impose their beliefs on others are a danger to America and world peace. It also must be said that true muslims must speak out
against those in their midst who advocate Sharia and violence against the infedel.
didn't russert say there were no videos of parsley, hagee, et al? and thats why they can get away with slamming j. wright, because there are videos? i suggest you send this along to russert at msnbc.com
If America does have a "divine purpose," it should be national health care insurance, free college and/or technical education, mass transit, investment in alternative energy, investment in our cities, etc.
McCain was wrong about Viet Nam and wrong about Iraq. Can American afford another troglodytic president?
Well,well,well! It looks as though alot of "christian" folks are "appaled",taken aback,flabbergasted,annoyed,wondering,flip flopped,etc etc. Well,it just goes to show ya. If you take a side then you invite competition.If you support Christianity or any other main stream "RELIGION" then you are iviting negativity. Christianity has a trail of blood going all the way back to JC and wether you are "appaled" or not if you are chriztian then you send a message you support what the chriztians do. You are part and parcel of the problem. you become as much of a "nut case" as the Revs. in the world. Find and understand youselves and you will understand the world. Practise simplicity of self. You will not find simplicity in RELIGINS. You will only find double messages,manipulations,misgivings,smoke screens,control,sins,black and white,etc. If we would just allow us to be ourselves we woudlnt need some [deleted]heads telling us what is correct or incorrect. We would be able to make our own choices according to Holy Spirit.We thus become our own Revs. and our own selves. We have the power to make our own choice according to our own hearts and minds. We may even find ourselves sharing a cup of tea or a beer with muslims. Scarey thought,huh? "Love your neighbor as yourself." GET IT?????
Astounding, the human trash that professes to speak the "truth" when in fact it is nothing but hate. This is what the "reverends" Hagee and Parsley really are, just ignorant southern rednecks with a chip on their shoulders. Even more astounding is that their hate-filled vomit is lapped up and enjoyed by so many people, especially by a candidate for president of the United States. John McCain's judgment is so bad that he makes George W. Bush look like a genius. What is worse is that people went crazy over Rev. Jeremiah Wright's remarks, which were far less incendiary than the outrageous spewing of these two right-wing "Christian" morons.
I agree with Parsley's perspective on Islam. As I watch world happenings, I wonder how could anyone in their right mind not also see the dangers of Islam?
Given time, writer should be able to come up with more Pastors to hang around McCains neck. He must be very busy running from church to church. Now we have Rev Parsley joining Reverend Hagee as McCains Pastors according to some left wing Liberal Fascist writers. I am waiting to see what dirt will tried to be found on person who is actually Pastor, Rev Yeary, the pastor who McCain has been attended for 15 years, the North Pheonix Baptist Church. Is this going to be a Pastor for Pastor, Religious Right and the Religious Left. Right now Obama has the lead with Rev Wright, Rev Farrakhan, Rev's Sharpton and Rev Jesse Jackson. But extra points must be given against Obama since his Reverend's have actually taken words into action and demonstrations. Rev Wright buzzing off to see Terrorist leadrs in Lybia and Syria, and dictator Castro. Or maybe the right will find out Ayers, the bombing USA terrorist is a Pastor. Tat would be a list breaker against Obama. Tony Rezko trial goes to the jury May 15, maybe we can make a religious connection there with Obama with the Almighty Dollar. I thought the playing in the mud was over now that the Democrat choice seems to be Obama for President, but I see the Democrats have decided to stay in the mud and play pitty patter in the mud with McCain
Not attempting to beat a dead horse; but,I believe it was Mother Jones, among
others, who pointed out that the situation with Obama and Wright was really about race. This article attests to that being a reality. McCain has not missed a beat with his campaigning....no need to explain....won't explain.. these two horrific, ignorant "preachers" who support him; and, yet Obama's gone through hell and back. Prejudice is still alive and well. Thanks to all
who have written so many wonderful,
sensible responses. Our world is shrinking....we cannot tolerate hating
our fellow human beings.
Yes, it is all about race. The Democrats history goes back in time where they were the slave traders and owners. The Democrats fought to keep slavery in the Civil War. Racist in voting and selection of the possble President. Yes, Democrats have that history. Since I have heard Hillary Democrat supporters called racist for not supporting and voting for an almost black man, Obama. And now the call that Republicans will be Racist if they do not vote for Obama. Lets go back a little bit in time. What party showed how much of a racist party it was when for 2 Democrat Presidential Primaries, 84 and 88, think those the right years, the Democrats pushed aside and did not nominate a real black man, Rev Jesse Jackson. That fits being racist does it not?
So whats your point? I'm no McCain fan, but this guy is probably not too far from the truth.
five dollars to whoever can tell me what the most common name in the world is.
a hint:
it starts with m and ends with d
David Corn has dutifully quoted Pastor Parsley as though his comments were self-evidently false. Far from it. No honest evaluation of Islam and its teachings would lead the reader to any conclusion other than the ones Parsley has drawn. Of course, that would take some research and an open mind, neither of which are in supply on the American Left.
"T" - please help me here. You are contending that, (according to texts written between the 100-300 AD by the [mainly Jewish] members of an obscure Middle Eastern mystery cult), a small number of Jews in the 1st Century AD had some "complicity" in the Roman execution (crucifixion was a Roman method of execution) of a Jewish carpenter's son turned rabbi named Yehosuha ben Yosef, and thus Jews collectively down to the present are somehow still culpable in this matter - and that therefore this raving lunatic and obvious anti-Semite is not bigoted against Jews?
Tell me, what color is the sky on your planet? I want to avoid it if we ever get space travel.
In the interests of full disclosure: I was raised a Catholic in a mixed (Catholic / Protestant) marriage, and am now an agnostic tending towards atheism - the more so from seeing all this garbage... in fact, I am contemplating methods (short of suicide, at the moment) of resigning from humanity as I did from the Most Holy and Apostolic Mom Church...
T. R. Miller - you seem moderately literate and sane (compared to some who support Parsley on this forum), so I find it puzzling that you agree with Parsley - when in fact, his version of Christianity is as much to be feared and despised as any radicalized Islamic sect, such as the Saudi Wahabi sect that propels much of the Islamic extremism.
I would suggest that you engage meet and engage some none-radical Muslims, and get to know them. I think you would find, as I have that they are "just people" - like you, me, and our own families and friends.
I also suggest that you meet and get to know some people like Rev. Parsley - get to really know them - and you may find yourself with a different opinion of him and people like him.
I agree with several other comments here that religion is often used as a tool to divide and confuse people, not to educate or raise them up.
"Religious" extremism and hatred, whether Muslim, Christian, or any other flavor, is repugnant and repellant - and "Revs." Parsley, his gay-hating (and gay!) predecessor Haggard, Hagee (funny how many seem to have "hag" embedded in their names!) et al, are just as dangerous and atrocious as the worst Muslim extremist in the world...
The majority of America will only support a politician, much more a president if he is religious. Given the outrageous beliefs Christianity, or any religion holds dear, the quotes should not be surprising from any preacher, pastor, or reverend.
I think Wright's problem is arrogance, and the American people's problem is ignorance.
I do not disagree with a lot of what Wright says, but I disagree with the funk of arrogance that swirls about when he delivers it.
to an extent, I have to agree with Parsley, too. A destruction of Islam. but lets not stop there, lets defenestrate the whole lot until humanity is the only thing we believe in.
I question the integrity of both McCain & Obama for associating with these pastors who promote such hateful and divisive ideas. Obama failed to do so at first, but finally did after seeing the negative impact this had on his popularity. Despite his claims of being different, he is simply a politician just like everyone else in the race. Still, I hope that he can recover to put the Demo platform in place, but I can see this issue remaining at the forefront for the entire campaign -possibly giving McCain the presidency. McCain will not distance himself from Parsley because he knows that many Americans, particularly the conservative Republicans he is courting, share similar ideas about the Islamic faith. Besides, he would rather have the focus on this, instead of his involvement in the Savings & Loan scandals.
I have heard that Parsley also made outrageous statements in the wake of Hurricane Katrina stating that New Orleans was purposely destroyed by God for sanctioning homosexuality. I don't know how he reconciles the fact that the French Quarter, the greatest bastion of gay pride here, is still standing unscathed while the areas that were destroyed were the communities that housed families (rich & poor, Demos & Repubs) here, just like any other place in America. The hypocrisy of people who claim to be religious continues to astound me. I would like to see those statements publicized. It worries me that current polls show that in Louisiana, Hillary would beat McCain, while McCain easily beats Obama. I worry that this may ultimately be the case throughout the southern states. Now that Hillary seems to be going down, I wish that my first choice, John Edwards was still in the race. I believe that if he had been on top of the ticket in 2004, the Democrats would have beaten Bush despite all of the Republicans' dirty tricks to win. I loved Obama 4 years ago, but I like him less and less now. Still I plan to vote for the Demo ticket, but I know many others who will go with McCain or abstain from voting if Hillary's out of the running. I think that the Democratic party leadership is on crack.
Thank you for writing this.I think that Parsley and Hagee are about the only pastors in America willing to tell the truth. I appreciate that you have let the people of America know of these great pastors. I will now vote for John McCain. I was on the fence as a conservative. By the way, the Catholic Church calls itself 'Babylon the Great'.
Because of people like you, Islam will destroy Ameerica.
The one thing that unites all Muslims, even rivals like Saudi Arabia and Iran is their great offense at blasphemy against Mohamed their prophet.
Just wait until the world's attention in Muslim countries falls on Parsley's preaching. This guy will make the Danish cartoon saga sound like a walk in the park. McCain should renounce this guy fast otherwise he could start his first day in office even more reviled by a billion people than Bush is.
