Comments on: McCain Rejects John Hagee Endorsement http://philcooke.com/mccain_rejects_hagee_endorsement/ Change Revolution Tue, 22 May 2012 02:39:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Steve K. http://philcooke.com/mccain_rejects_hagee_endorsement/#comment-5356 Steve K. Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/McCain_rejects_Hagee_endorsement#comment-5356 <p>Hagee said some whack stuff, Phil, and while Hagee isn't McCain's pastor, McCain did actively seek out his nomination, so ... What was once a politically motivated act (seeking Hagee's endorsement), McCain is now doing the politically expedient thing and "rejecting and denouncing" Hagee. </p><p>I think McCain is doing the right thing now, but he did the wrong thing first. He should've never sought Hagee's endorsement (and Hagee should've never given his endorsement to McCain). </p><p>Now the question becomes, when will McCain "reject and denounce" Rod Parsley? Answer: As soon as the political pressure piles up on McCain because of Parsley, as it did because of Hagee. </p> Hagee said some whack stuff, Phil, and while Hagee isn't McCain's pastor, McCain did actively seek out his nomination, so … What was once a politically motivated act (seeking Hagee's endorsement), McCain is now doing the politically expedient thing and "rejecting and denouncing" Hagee.

I think McCain is doing the right thing now, but he did the wrong thing first. He should've never sought Hagee's endorsement (and Hagee should've never given his endorsement to McCain). 

Now the question becomes, when will McCain "reject and denounce" Rod Parsley? Answer: As soon as the political pressure piles up on McCain because of Parsley, as it did because of Hagee. 

]]> By: Elizabeth Conley http://philcooke.com/mccain_rejects_hagee_endorsement/#comment-5357 Elizabeth Conley Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/McCain_rejects_Hagee_endorsement#comment-5357 <p>Just yesterday.</p><p>Good Call!</p><p><a href="http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/05/mccain-rejects.html" rel="nofollow">http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/05/mccain-rejects.html</a></p><p>I'm not McCain's biggest fan, but if he keeps on exercising common sense, I may have to vote for him. </p> Just yesterday.

Good Call!

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/05/mccain-rejects.html

I'm not McCain's biggest fan, but if he keeps on exercising common sense, I may have to vote for him. 

]]> By: Bart Breen http://philcooke.com/mccain_rejects_hagee_endorsement/#comment-5358 Bart Breen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/McCain_rejects_Hagee_endorsement#comment-5358 <p>This is not anything particularly new in the historical sense.  Religion and religious figures have played prominently in American Politica historically ever since its founding.  In fact, a lot things in our remembered past in recent campaigns has actually been pretty mild compared to things like the Jefferson Adams campaign in 1800.  You want to see religion used as a club, read some of the history there!</p><p>What's different now is of course the means and the quick cycle on issues.</p><p>My guess is this is only going to get more attention and see more issues raised and used in the days ahead and even campaigns ahead.  Church, Pastors etc. are now fair game and it will be automatic for journalist and opponents to dig all the dirt and inuendo that they can moving forward.  The ground has been broken.</p><p>Ministries that have political figures associated with them now have to consider when and how they will be portrayed in the media should their members gain a national political spotlight.</p> This is not anything particularly new in the historical sense.  Religion and religious figures have played prominently in American Politica historically ever since its founding.  In fact, a lot things in our remembered past in recent campaigns has actually been pretty mild compared to things like the Jefferson Adams campaign in 1800.  You want to see religion used as a club, read some of the history there!

What's different now is of course the means and the quick cycle on issues.

My guess is this is only going to get more attention and see more issues raised and used in the days ahead and even campaigns ahead.  Church, Pastors etc. are now fair game and it will be automatic for journalist and opponents to dig all the dirt and inuendo that they can moving forward.  The ground has been broken.

Ministries that have political figures associated with them now have to consider when and how they will be portrayed in the media should their members gain a national political spotlight.

]]> By: A2 Brewtay http://philcooke.com/mccain_rejects_hagee_endorsement/#comment-5359 A2 Brewtay Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/McCain_rejects_Hagee_endorsement#comment-5359 <p> It appears that something else is also at work here: The growing public perception, based on these two very vocal pastors, is that Christians (since all are lumped together in the public mindset) are "hate mongers." </p><p>Their fiery rhetoric does draw from scriptural terminology. So, if such terms and phrases are actually found within the Bible--regardless of the manner in which they were presented by a pastor's very subjective presentation--the public will come to certain conclusions about the whole based on misrepresentation of or by the few.</p><p>It seems as though the ebb and flow of the current of public acceptance of Christianity in America is changing radically. </p><p>Again, I find it interesting that pastors who are praised for blasting out are now being blasted as they prove to be the lightening rods of controversy in this election campaign. </p><p>Without dominant voices to direct the masses of Christians in their voting by coalescing behind a single candidate, Evangelicals and Charismatics alike will now be forced to think and pray for themselves about whom to support. Hmmm... that can't be all bad...</p><p> </p>  It appears that something else is also at work here: The growing public perception, based on these two very vocal pastors, is that Christians (since all are lumped together in the public mindset) are "hate mongers."

Their fiery rhetoric does draw from scriptural terminology. So, if such terms and phrases are actually found within the Bible–regardless of the manner in which they were presented by a pastor's very subjective presentation–the public will come to certain conclusions about the whole based on misrepresentation of or by the few.

It seems as though the ebb and flow of the current of public acceptance of Christianity in America is changing radically. 

Again, I find it interesting that pastors who are praised for blasting out are now being blasted as they prove to be the lightening rods of controversy in this election campaign. 

Without dominant voices to direct the masses of Christians in their voting by coalescing behind a single candidate, Evangelicals and Charismatics alike will now be forced to think and pray for themselves about whom to support. Hmmm… that can't be all bad…

 

]]> By: Tin http://philcooke.com/mccain_rejects_hagee_endorsement/#comment-5360 Tin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/McCain_rejects_Hagee_endorsement#comment-5360 <p>Let's see.... McCain seeks out Hagee's endorsement then disses him. He seeks out Parsley's endorsement, then disses him. This is a fore-taste of his leadership skills and character.</p><p>Sadly, methinks we have three skunks currently to choose from. Its down to picking which flavor of stink we want to be stuck with for four/eight years.</p> Let's see…. McCain seeks out Hagee's endorsement then disses him. He seeks out Parsley's endorsement, then disses him. This is a fore-taste of his leadership skills and character.

Sadly, methinks we have three skunks currently to choose from. Its down to picking which flavor of stink we want to be stuck with for four/eight years.

]]> By: Mary Hutchinson http://philcooke.com/mccain_rejects_hagee_endorsement/#comment-5361 Mary Hutchinson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/McCain_rejects_Hagee_endorsement#comment-5361 One thing about McCain, he sure has no problem thumbing his nose to the conservative/evangelical base.  If the dems were not in meltdown, he would not have a chance.  One thing about McCain, he sure has no problem thumbing his nose to the conservative/evangelical base.  If the dems were not in meltdown, he would not have a chance. 

]]> By: Lynnette http://philcooke.com/mccain_rejects_hagee_endorsement/#comment-5362 Lynnette Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/McCain_rejects_Hagee_endorsement#comment-5362 <div>I have always believed that high-profile preachers who publicly endorse one particular political candidate or party put themselves in a vulnerable position.  Conservative Republicans especially court their support, in hopes of getting the evangelical Christian vote, obviously because they seem to think we are all monolithic in our thinking.  Because they are either naive or egotistical, these preachers announce that they are "behind" this-or-that candidate,  as though doing so is some momentous event.  They find, however,  that , all of a sudden, their sermons and remarks are scrutinized and/or taken out of proper context.</div><div>Perhaps I lean on the skeptic's side here, but I tend to think that the only use politicians have ever had for the so-called "Christian Right" is for the sole purposes of obtaining their votes.  McCain, if you may recall, had no love for the religious right until the past couple of years, when he wanted to gain their support.  All of a sudden, there he was speaking at Liberty University's commencement and, most recently, basking in the light of approval from Hagee and Parsley, two heralded and influential  televangelists.  </div><div>McCain has now distanced himself from Hagee and Parsley, not out of any sense of "rightness", but because they have now become a liability.  He is, after all, just another politician and he does have to protect his own interests here.</div><div>One of the reasons I so admire Billy Graham is that he has never really endorsed one politician over another, at least not publicly.  He has visited and prayed with and for Presidents, over the course of his ministry, no matter what their party affiliation was.  I'm certain that he, like any of us, has had his own personal preferences for whom he wanted to vote for, but he kept them private.  In this way, his own ministry has not been compromised nor has the media been able to misconstrue his remarks, as has been the case in this recent situation.</div><div>Should Hagee and Parsley encourage their church members and viewers to exercise their civic responsibility to vote and prompt them to pray for wisdom, regarding who to cast their vote for?  Certainly.  However, making a huge show of backing one politician and party over another alienates others and puts them at risk of being unfairly criticized by a secular press that is incapable of ever understanding anything based upon the Scriptures.</div><div>Big "surprise":  The world, just as Jesus told us would be the case, does not love us!</div> I have always believed that high-profile preachers who publicly endorse one particular political candidate or party put themselves in a vulnerable position.  Conservative Republicans especially court their support, in hopes of getting the evangelical Christian vote, obviously because they seem to think we are all monolithic in our thinking.  Because they are either naive or egotistical, these preachers announce that they are "behind" this-or-that candidate,  as though doing so is some momentous event.  They find, however,  that , all of a sudden, their sermons and remarks are scrutinized and/or taken out of proper context.
Perhaps I lean on the skeptic's side here, but I tend to think that the only use politicians have ever had for the so-called "Christian Right" is for the sole purposes of obtaining their votes.  McCain, if you may recall, had no love for the religious right until the past couple of years, when he wanted to gain their support.  All of a sudden, there he was speaking at Liberty University's commencement and, most recently, basking in the light of approval from Hagee and Parsley, two heralded and influential  televangelists. 
McCain has now distanced himself from Hagee and Parsley, not out of any sense of "rightness", but because they have now become a liability.  He is, after all, just another politician and he does have to protect his own interests here.
One of the reasons I so admire Billy Graham is that he has never really endorsed one politician over another, at least not publicly.  He has visited and prayed with and for Presidents, over the course of his ministry, no matter what their party affiliation was.  I'm certain that he, like any of us, has had his own personal preferences for whom he wanted to vote for, but he kept them private.  In this way, his own ministry has not been compromised nor has the media been able to misconstrue his remarks, as has been the case in this recent situation.
Should Hagee and Parsley encourage their church members and viewers to exercise their civic responsibility to vote and prompt them to pray for wisdom, regarding who to cast their vote for?  Certainly.  However, making a huge show of backing one politician and party over another alienates others and puts them at risk of being unfairly criticized by a secular press that is incapable of ever understanding anything based upon the Scriptures.
Big "surprise":  The world, just as Jesus told us would be the case, does not love us!
]]> By: Mary Hutchinson http://philcooke.com/mccain_rejects_hagee_endorsement/#comment-5363 Mary Hutchinson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/McCain_rejects_Hagee_endorsement#comment-5363 Correction to above...Jimmy Carter invited him onto Air Force One.  Both looked for an endorsement. Correction to above…Jimmy Carter invited him onto Air Force One.  Both looked for an endorsement.

]]> By: Mary Hutchinson http://philcooke.com/mccain_rejects_hagee_endorsement/#comment-5364 Mary Hutchinson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/McCain_rejects_Hagee_endorsement#comment-5364 <p>Republicans since Ronald Reagan have depended on the evangelical vote to get elected.  In fact, when running for his first term, Reagan invited Jim Bakker to interview him on Air Force One.  </p><p>It wasn't Bakker looking to  endorse Reagan, it was Reagan knowing that Bakker had the ear of millions of Christians who watched his show, and wanting Bakker's nod. </p><p> My point is, these preachers have not sought McCain out ...it was the other way around.  </p> Republicans since Ronald Reagan have depended on the evangelical vote to get elected.  In fact, when running for his first term, Reagan invited Jim Bakker to interview him on Air Force One. 

It wasn't Bakker looking to  endorse Reagan, it was Reagan knowing that Bakker had the ear of millions of Christians who watched his show, and wanting Bakker's nod.

 My point is, these preachers have not sought McCain out …it was the other way around. 

]]> By: Mary Hutchinson http://philcooke.com/mccain_rejects_hagee_endorsement/#comment-5365 Mary Hutchinson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/McCain_rejects_Hagee_endorsement#comment-5365 Correction to above...Jimmy Carter invited him onto Air Force One.  Both looked for an endorsement. Correction to above…Jimmy Carter invited him onto Air Force One.  Both looked for an endorsement.

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