Swampland, TIME

Christian Conservatives Uniting Behind McCain

At a meeting Tuesday in Denver, about 100 conservative Christian leaders from around the country agreed to unite behind the candidacy of John McCain, a politician they have long distrusted, marking the latest in a string of movements that bode well for McCain's general election prospects among the Republican base.

"Collectively we feel that he will support and advance those moral values that we hold much greater than Obama, who in our view will decimate moral values," said Mat Staver, the chairman of Liberty Counsel, a legal advocacy group, who previously supported Mike Huckabee's candidacy.

"There are people who came through the primary with very mixed emotions of the candidate," Staver continued, noting that many in the group had been in Denver to attend a separate meeting for pastors. "This event was to put those aside."

The group included leaders like Phyllis Schlafly, the long-time leader of Eagle Forum; Steve Strang, the publisher of Charisma magazine; Phil Burress, a prominent Ohio marriage and anti-pornography activist; David Barton, the founder of WallBuilders and Donald Hodel, a former secretary of the Interior, who previously served on the board of Focus on the Family. Jim Dobson, the head of Focus and an outspoken critic of McCain, did not attend. The McCain campaign was also not directly represented at the meeting.

A second person who attended the event, but asked not to be named, said that the group was motivated principally by a desire to defeat Barack Obama. "None of these people want to meet their maker knowing that they didn't do everything they could to keep Barack Obama from being president," the participant said. "You've got these two people running for president. One of them is going to become president. That's the perspective. That that's the whole discussion."

In recent weeks, the McCain campaign has been trying to spell out clear policy differences on social issues with the Obama campaign. Last week, McCain came out in favor of a constitutional amendment in California to outlaw gay marriage, which was legalized this spring by the state Supreme Court. Though McCain opposes an amendment to the federal constitution to ban gay marriage, he has previously supported similar state constitutional amendments.

More recently, McCain has said he wants to push for a Bush Administration proposal to allow faith-based organizations to make employment decisions based on religion even when using federal funding. Obama has said he supports applying state or local laws that prohibit hiring choices based on sexual orientation.

On a recent swing through Ohio, McCain met with a group of religious leaders and activists, including Burress, who has previously been critical of McCain's lack of outreach to Christian conservatives. According to two participants at the Tuesday meeting in Denver, Burress spoke out strongly in favor of uniting behind McCain's candidacy.

Staver said the McCain campaign was making progress but still had more work to do. "I think that the outreach to the community has to increase significantly," he said. "There is a clear enthusiasm."

UPDATE: The most detailed account of the meeting, from inside the room, can be found here, thanks to Steve Strang of Charisma magazine. And don't miss this nugget:

More than an hour was spent listening to younger leaders tell the group that religious conservatives must be perceived "to care" about social issues and the environment to appeal to young people who are voting for the first time.

Also:

Burress said he grilled McCain on his beliefs and has decided to support him. After the McCain meeting Burress sent an e-mail to supporters that he read to the Denver group. The e-mail said in part: "I was once one of those people who said ‘no way’ to Sen. John McCain as President. No longer. The stakes are too high. And if Obama wins I need to be able to get up on November 5th, look at myself in the mirror, and when I pray, say, ‘Lord, I did all that I could.’”
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Reader Comments (57)

Duvall:

In recent weeks, the McCain campaign has been trying to spell out clear policy differences on social issues with the McCain campaign

Recent weeks? That's pretty much been McCain's whole presidential campaign, hasn't it?

Red Snapper:

"None of these people want to meet their maker knowing that they didn't do everything they could to keep Barack Obama from being president,"

This reminds me of an Onion story years ago, when Bush first assumed (stole) the Presidency. "Our Long National Nightmare of Peace and Prosperity is Finally Over!"

Incidentally, Mike. You? Still a disgrace.

Paul Dirks Author Profile Page:

The Sheep and the Goats
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

You may call these people Christians, but that doesn't make it so......

KathyR:

Paul - thank you for that. Sometimes I get so apoplectic I can't think of an appropriate response.

Collectively we feel that he will support and advance those moral values that we hold much greater than Obama, who in our view will decimate moral values Well, as long as their clear that it's the moral values they hold dear. God help them.

FriarTuck:

"A second person who attended the event, but asked not to be named . . ."

Stay cool under that white hood now, you hear?

Mike M.:

I'm guessing this isn't the same David Barton who owns that gay friendly Manhattan gym...

NoMoreBlatherDotCom Author Profile Page:

Damn those Xian bigots! President Obama will know just how to take care of them.

And, a thumbs way up to Paul Dirks. There's only one way to help one's neighbor, the liberal way!

Go Obama!

Crust Author Profile Page:

Christian Conservatives Uniting Behind [Republican Candidate]

It's amazing to even see that headline, that it's not something that can be taken for granted. (And indeed you note e.g. Dobson was conspicuous by his absence.) Things have changed.

Rustydog:

RKA Author Profile Page:

Funny how the evangelicals want to unite behind a serial adulterer in John McCain in part so they can "save traditional marriage."

Rustydog:

Where is Rev Wright? Maybe he will come to Obama's aide once more.

dwhite10701:

this was an informative post.

cedarflute:

The named participants are "professional" Evangelical Christians, in leadership (i.e. political) positions. They are not the rank and file--which I am--and they don't reflect the opinions those of us who believe Christ's message was one of love and forgiveness, not judgement, hate and killing. Obama's is the only soul who even comes close to that message.

bobcn:

Paul Dirks,
How dare you post that 'bleeding heart liberal' hippie propaganda? Have you no shame?

Nick:

Wake up cedarflute, God says he knows us by name before we are even formed in our mother's womb. Jeremiah 1:5. God was vehently opposed to gay marriage (Sodom and Gomorrah ring a bell)

God is not a softie, as you seem to believe.

By the way:

1.) Obama supported the pro-choice interests of NARAL 100% in '05, '06 and '07

2.) Obama supports the excruciatingly brutal act of partial-birth abortion

3.) Obama doesn't believe in the rights of parents to be notified if their 13 year-old daughter goes across state lines to get an abortion

4.) Obama has said he doesn't want voters in California to decide whether they want marriage to be defined as being between one man and one woman.

5.) Obama is against DOMA, or the Defense of Marriage Act

Nick:

*vehemently.

FlownOver:

The usual first reference is "Dr. James Dobson," but I'm not surprised Scherer uses the more familiar identification.

How about Ted Haggard? Was Ted there with his buds to stand up for family values?

Or John Paulk?
Paul Barnes?
Lonnie Latham?
Richard and Lindsay "Fun Couple" Roberts?
Bishop Earl Paulk?
Coy Privette?
Joe Barron?

I mean, when it comes to "outreach," this gang is tops!

xtsam:

god sell for cheap

RKA Author Profile Page:

This is old and perhaps a bit over-the-top, but its essential message of republican religious hypocrisy is true:

http://members.aol.com/howigun/command.htm

Formerroadie:

As a person that was brought up in this atmosphere and has learned better with age, it is amazing the so called "Christians" can back someone even remotely like McCain. Their so called "Bible based values" are hypocritical and frankly sickening. All the names on that list are fundamentalists and, frankly, scare me. Obama lands squarely in line far more with Christ's compassion than McCain's warmongering, rich lovin' policies.

I am still amazed that people still buy this crud.

Channard:

You said Obama lands squarely in line far more with Christs compassion than McCain?...

If so, why does Obama support abortion? Does Christ compassionately permit abortion?

I don't think so.

DeaconStruck:

@Nick - Your use of Jeremiah 1:5 in this context directly conflicts with Exodus 21:20.

If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. - Exodus 21:21

Clearly, the Biblical standard is that a fetus is not a lawful person, but is instead the husband's chattel.

Your presumptive misinterpretation: that The Lord's Words, spoken directly to Jeremiah, one of His Chosen Prophets, has applicability to others insignificant, implies you carry a great excess baggage of personal pride, well over the acceptable tolerances, and as configured, will never be able to pass through the eye of the needle.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. - Proverbs 12:15

Channard:

If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. - Exodus 21:21

Clearly, the Bible is stating that if you hurt a fetus, so that it departs her... HE WILL BE PUNISHED.

How do you contrive Chattel.. Property from this? Do you realize that the judges would sentence this person to death?

Lando Griffin:

So what you guys are saying is, that George W. Bush is going to hell because of all those pregnant Iraqi women he has slaughtered, along with their fetuses? And I guess McCain is in the same boat - that plane he flew in Vietnam wasn't dropping rose petals on those women (some of whom were pregnant) and children.

Jake Gittes:

Sounds like this is bad for Democrats.

Memekiller Author Profile Page:

I only get my news from Swampland, and I was wondering: how come Democrats never get Swiftboated?

Centfan:

Hey, I'm all for women losing the legal right to their bodies. Do you realize how much a kidney or a liver is on the open market? Don't even mention hearts. A little legal organ harvesting by mail-order from the lesser sex and the price drops like oil from ANWR. It's only a right-wing Supreme Court decision away.

Whew! Thank God Jesus was a man... and God too for that matter.

mcp1234:

"who in our view will decimate moral values"

Republican moral values...

1. Lie about WMD to start a war thats killed 4,000 + Americans and 100,000 + Iraqis.

2. Add $ 4 trillion to the nation debt which our children and our childrens children will have to pay for.

3. Show complete incompetence in governance when natural disaster strikes their own country (awww who cares, they're black).

4. Feel free to lie in any way shape or form possible to ensure the continuation of the above lies.

Just A Thought:

This is a very weak list of Christian conservatives. They seem to be the old guard and a rather extreme list at that. These people endorsing McCain have been losing influence.

Most people, including Christian conservatives, have never heard of most of these names.

It is false to think this in any way is some huge breakthrough for McCain. This represents very tepid support for McCain and should not be represented as anything else.

The evangelical Christians of today are not a monolithic bunch anyway...at least not any longer.

And the people on this list have lost much of their moral credibility by attaching themselves to the Bush administration.

I'd love to ask some of these people why they didn't speak up against torture, or a war of choice? Where are they on taking care of the poor and sick? Why do they support tax cuts more than the poor? Etc...etc...

Formerroadie:

No, I'm not saying his abortion record is equal with Christ's opinion. In fact, Christ never spoke of abortion, at least not in the extant canonical Gospels. What I am saying is that Barack is closer than McCain. Neither is perfect and people need to stop thinking they are going to be. Our government is not a theocracy and the abortion issue is far more complicated than most conservatives want to admit. It's insane. I, for one, find abortion as contraception to be disgusting. But, there are cases where an abortion could save the mother's life or losing the mother could save the child's. Either way, it's killing someone. I find war to be despicable and I am a pacifist because killing other images of God is horrendous. Both acts, abortion and war are heinous. At least Barack wants to provide financial policies that limit and help women choose to keep the baby instead of giving it up in an abortion because of financial difficulty.

Lastly, many of you have blamed Barack for his voting record on abortion. Your comments are unfounded and, if you go and look at his actual voting record on government pages, you would find that he didn't vote FOR partial birth, etc. In fact, he put in a no vote at the Illinois legislature while a federal law was going through at the congressional level. The Congressional law passed and he was in Illinois busy doing other things when it passed (ALL SENATORS AND HOUSE REPS SPEND TIME IN THEIR STATE AND MISS FEDERAL VOTES. SO, DON'T GIVE ME THIS THING ABOUT HIM MISSING A VOTE AND THAT SAYS SUCH AND SUCH ABOUT WHATEVER). Plus, until you read the policy, don't say one way or the other in terms of a no vote since there could have been hidden spending packages in it. He is against government funded abortions. Tax payers should not have to pay for them. So, it seems, the issue is much more complex in terms of Obama's record. Don't just read right wing fundamentalist websites, but be informed from the source.

tc125231:

Pauk Dirks is on target. As Jesus said "many will come in my name"...but, of course, they will not really support hs teachings.

tstartarraf:

Check out this hilarious parody of Obama's volunteers denying two Muslim women seats behind the podium at a rally.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOgrdrjWKdk

Bullseye:

"Wake up cedarflute, God says he knows us by name before we are even formed in our mother's womb. Jeremiah 1:5. God was vehently opposed to gay marriage (Sodom and Gomorrah ring a bell)

God is not a softie, as you seem to believe. "

No, He's NOT a softie. BTW, do you know WHY Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed?

Try Ezekiel 16:49-50

"49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, PRIDE, FULNESS OF BREAD, and ABUNDANCE OF IDLENESS was in her and in her daughters, NEITHER DID SHE STRENGTHEN THE HAND OF THE POOR AND NEEDY.

50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good."

(emphasis added)

How many times has McCain and Rethuglicans opposed Welfare, Social Security, etc?

How many times has McCain and Rethuglicans opposed aid for Katrina victims?

How often do you hear the likes of Limbaugh compare welfare recipients to suckling pigs and otherwise dehumanize poor people?

You guys on the right continually hammer on homosexuality, but conveniently omit the latent hostility to the poor that also enrages God, according to Scripture.

If you are looking for ways to avoid a repeat of the Sodom and Gomorrah episodes, the ways of the Republican Right are far from a complete prophylactic measure (no pun intended).


The Essene:

The reliance on Jeremiah seems misplaced. When God speaks to Jeremiah, he is speaking to a living person. Of course, because God is omniscient he knows us as a fetus, and as an egg and sperm. Just because God knows us as a egg and sperm, however, does not mean he expects us to ensure that every egg and sperm become a child.

Also the analysis that a person who causes the abortion of a fetus would be put to death relies on an interpretation of the word "pay" meaning something other than money damages to the husband (not father necessarily). I dont have my Greek dictionary, but I somehow suspect that is not an acceptable interpretation of the word.

Finally, so-called Christians who put sexual issues first put their emphasis on something that Jesus does not address at all in the extant gospels. How could sexual issues be the most important part of being a Christian when Christ put so little emphasis on it. Christ's emphasis was clearly on putting other people first, living a simple and humble life and looking to establish a kingdom of God not seek power in an earthly kingdom. Not one of the people named in the article do any of those things. Only a fool would follow them into the gates of Hell.

Lou R:

Maybe the plan is for Cindy McCain to provide a chicken for every pot; John sure will not! I suspect the religious right leadership is concerned about tithing dollars dwindling from a base who has to be severely impacted by job loss, high health, energy and food costs. Of course, its been those down and out for many years who have continued to underwrite these free spending conservatives. Each election cycle amazes me how the same groups of people consistently vote against their better interests. It must be God's will!

bibschol:

These leaders are selling out their conservative souls to a partisan devil.

James Dobson on McCain:
"I'm deeply disappointed the Republican Party seems poised to select a nominee who did not support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage, who voted for embryonic stem cell research to kill nascent human beings, who opposed tax cuts that ended the marriage penalty, and who has little regard for freedom of speech, who organized the Gang of 14 to preserve filibusters, and has a legendary temper and often uses foul and obscene language... I am convinced Sen. McCain is not a conservative and, in fact, has gone out of his way to stick his thumb in the eyes of those who are... He has at times sounded more like a member of the other party... I believe this general election will offer the worst choices for president in my lifetime... I simply will not cast a ballot for president for the first time in my life."

bibschol:

These leaders are selling out their conservative souls to a partisan devil.

Who is the candidate of Christian character?

McCain frequented strip clubs as a young man, slept around with all kinds of women, dumped his first wife when he returned from Vietnam because of her weight and disabilities, was an absentee father to the children of his first marriage, committed adultery in a prolonged affair with a rodeo queen before deciding to marry her, built his political career on his second wife's alcohol money, routinely cussed out even his fellow Republican senators, called his second wife an unmentionable expletive in public, and shoots craps at casinos for fun.

Obama gave his life to Christ as a young man, married a strong woman from a lower-middle class background, has been a good father to his two girls, started his public service by working to bring churches together to help those in need, and plays poker with his political buddies with a $3 max bet.

Bullseye:

"The reliance on Jeremiah seems misplaced. When God speaks to Jeremiah, he is speaking to a living person. Of course, because God is omniscient he knows us as a fetus, and as an egg and sperm. Just because God knows us as a egg and sperm, however, does not mean he expects us to ensure that every egg and sperm become a child.

Also the analysis that a person who causes the abortion of a fetus would be put to death relies on an interpretation of the word "pay" meaning something other than money damages to the husband (not father necessarily). I dont have my Greek dictionary, but I somehow suspect that is not an acceptable interpretation of the word.

Finally, so-called Christians who put sexual issues first put their emphasis on something that Jesus does not address at all in the extant gospels. How could sexual issues be the most important part of being a Christian when Christ put so little emphasis on it. Christ's emphasis was clearly on putting other people first, living a simple and humble life and looking to establish a kingdom of God not seek power in an earthly kingdom. Not one of the people named in the article do any of those things. Only a fool would follow them into the gates of Hell."

You and I are in agreement.

I am not using Jeremiah to argue against abortion or sexual issues.

I am using Jeremiah to show that emphasis on homosexuality and abortion to the detriment and villification of poor and needy is as wicked as the sins du jour the Right crusade against.

bibschol:

These leaders are selling out their conservative souls to a partisan devil.

Who will do more to reduce abortions?

McCain has himself said that overturning Roe v. Wade is not possible at this point in history. Even if this federal decision were overturned, the legal authority reverts back to states, most of which allow for medically supervised abortions (within certain limits). The pro-life platform of opposing sex-ed and contraceptions actually has increased the number of abortions, especially in the South.

Obama, by supporting sex-ed and contraception, creating policies that actually prevent unwarnted pregnancies, will do far more in reality to reduce the number of abortions.

bibschol:

These leaders are selling out their conservative souls to a partisan devil.

It is time for Evangelicals to support a consistent pro-life policy, as found in Catholic social teaching. The Right-Wing Evangelicals were pro-choice themselves until the 60s when they took one selective piece out of Catholic teaching and made it into a political platform, one which has entirely failed to produce significant results.

Being fully pro-Life means being against any unnecessary and unjust war. In the Bible, Cain was the first murderer, and his sons, the inventors of warfare. The Son of Cain, following the lead of the Rebel Son, will leave a long trail of blood behind him in Iraq. The earth is crying out again--can you hear it? The time is coming for the earth to be cleansed and healed in a new politics of life and peace...

My2Cents:

I distinctly recall Jesus saying "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." It seems to me that the things that are Caesar's and the things that are God's are often not the same things.

Does Jesus even care who's elected President? Does God wring His hands up in heaven and think, "Oh, I hope Americans don't vote in Obama, because it would thwart My purposes and my plans for the world"? I doubt it. The worse governments in the history of the world have not thwarted God's purposes, and, gladly, the kingdom of God on earth can prosper and grow regardless of who's President.

Christians, both left and right, concern themselves too much with politics and the outcome of elections.

Ging:

"What you do to the least of these you do unto me"
"Before I knit you in your mother's womb I knew
you".

Both the present Pope, the previous one ohn Paul II and Mother Theresa said that abortion was the pre-eminent moral issues.
Without the right to life all other
rights have no meaning. That precious
infant in the mother's womb deserves a chance just like all of us.
Mr. McCain had an 89% pro-life voting record in the Senate .
Mr. Obama? 0%.
In addition to being our most pro-life
president ever, Mr. Bush spent more on social
welfare programs and combatting AIDs than any
previous chief executive. He appointed more
African-Americans to top positions in the
Federal government tnat anyone previously had.
He tried but failed to come up with some
kind of immigration reform.
More money was put into New Orlean for disater
recovery than anywhere else in the history of the country.
We've lost 4000 soldiers in Irag but progress
is being made. We lost 50,000 in Vietnam and left there with nothing really accomplished.
The present Pope, when he was a cardinal, said
that one could disagree over issues such as war and the death penalty and still be a good Catholic. Abortion and homosexuality are always
and forever more wrong and serious evils. They
were wrong two thousand years ago and will be
two thousand years from now.

Ging:

I should qualify what I wrote about Mr Obama's
pro-life voting record in the Senate. He did
cast one pro-life vote (to save the life of Terri Schiavo). He now said he regrets doing that, however. So, de facto he does have a 0%.
By the way, when he was in the Illinois legislature he voted against requiring a physician to save the life of an infant who
had survived a botched abortion. This is a more extreme position than even most pro-abortion groups like NARAL have. He is as far as I know the most pro-abortion, pro homosexual candidate ever to run for president. If this man represents the new Christianity, God help us all.

Chicago:

Christians conservatives support McCain for this reason: Obama, by his own admission, supports a universal faith that is non-specific-just like the UN is promoting. (See UN Charter)

A generic faith is not Christian, with Christ as the centerpiece. The UN is pushing a "earth" type of religion. There is no mind control, so they cannot force people to believe it, but they can muzzle people from preaching the gospel of Christ. Say anything you want, but no true Christian is going to give up their faith in Christ for a pseudo faith.

I say GOOD for these conservatives seeing through the rhetoric of a faith based initiative. I hope all Christians will be able to see through it before its too late!

BillSanford:

Good post.

Frankly, I am surprised that Time would report this - Time is extremely biased towards Obama, and regularly slants 'reporting' in his direction.

In my part of the country (West Michigan) it is not a contest among mainstream & conservative Christians. McCain is the candidate to support.

Among liberal congregations, like Obama's UCC, Obama is leading. Those that say Evangelical Christians are supporting Obama don't know just who Evangelicals are...

RubyPanther:

"marking the latest in a string of movements that bode well for McCain's general election prospects among the Republican base"

So he's shooting for at least 70 electoral votes, then? Good for him! Make a race of it!

DeaconStruck:

@ The Essene - Also the analysis that a person who causes the abortion of a fetus would be put to death relies on an interpretation of the word "pay" meaning something other than money damages to the husband (not father necessarily). I dont have my Greek dictionary, but I somehow suspect that is not an acceptable interpretation of the word.

My citation of Exodus 21:21 is directly from the King James. Are you intimating The King James Bible is not of Divine Inspiration? You reference the Greek, which causes me to believe that you do not accept the Vulgate as a proper Biblical source. Why do you play games of semantics, instead of accepting what was law as given in Exodus one chapter past the Ten Commandments?

@ Ging - "Before I knit you in your mother's womb I knew
you".

You are asserting that the words of a Pope carry the same weight as direct Biblical citations? Why did you hide the attribution then? This is not a Biblical citation.

trent1280:

I trust that Sen McCain's right-wing Christian endorsements also include the likes of the reverends Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, Ted Haggard, Prophet Peter Popoff, faithhealer Benny Hinn, Ernest Angeley, John Hagee, Earl Paulk, Warren Jeffs, Creflo Dollar, Richard Roberts, Oral Roberts, Paul Crouch... and on goes the list of crackpots and kooks.

Is Sen McCain really so desperate as to require the support of these characters? Has any one of them ever been able to answer a simple question: how did Noah get the polar bears on the Ark? Were they well-behaved? Or did they try to eat everybody? Surely Sen McCain is entitled to be told by his new 'advisors'.

If only 'Rev' Jerry Falwell could come back from the dead to offer his wise advice. Or perhaps he already has.


trent1280:

I trust that Sen McCain's right-wing Christian endorsements also include the likes of the reverends Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, Ted Haggard, Prophet Peter Popoff, faithhealer Benny Hinn, Ernest Angeley, John Hagee, Earl Paulk, Warren Jeffs, Creflo Dollar, Richard Roberts, Oral Roberts, Paul Crouch... and on goes the list of crackpots and kooks.

Is Sen McCain really so desperate as to require the support of these characters? Has any one of them ever been able to answer a simple question: how did Noah get the polar bears on the Ark? Were they well-behaved? Or did they try to eat everybody? Surely Sen McCain is entitled to be told by his new 'advisors'.

If only 'Rev' Jerry Falwell could come back from the dead to offer his wise advice. Or perhaps he already has.


trent1280:

My apologies for the double-post. First time here. Sorry...

John:

Altogether, McCain was held as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for five and a half years. He was finally released from captivity on March 14, 1973. McCain's return to the United States reunited him with his wife and family. His wife Carol, who remained loyal to John, had suffered her own crippling ordeal during his captivity, due to an automobile accident in December 1969. As a returned POW, McCain became a celebrity of sorts. His admitted immaturity led him to cheat on his wife who was now unattractive to him.

McCain underwent treatment for his injuries, including months of grueling physical therapy, and attended the National War College in Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. during 1973–1974. Having been rehabilitated, by late 1974, McCain had his flight status reinstated,thanks in part to his father and in 1976 he became commanding officer of a training squadron stationed in Florida. He turned around an undistinguished unit and won the squadron its first Meritorious Unit Commendatiion. During this period in Florida, McCain had extramarital affairs, the McCains' marriage continued to falter, and he would later accept blame for his womanizing.

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texmess:

From the New York Times, July 7, 2008:

“BAGHDAD — American and Iraqi officials have completed nearly the last chapter in dismantling Saddam Hussein’s nuclear program with the removal of hundreds of tons of natural uranium from the country’s main nuclear site.

The uranium, which was removed several weeks ago, arrived in Canada over the weekend, according to officials. The removal was first reported by The Associated Press.”

I thought that there was no nuclear program? It appears that Pres Bush is a man of great integrity. How hard is it to have your character assaulted before the WORLD and to have even the most supportive of your own nation thinking you to be a lying manipulator, yet to be strong enough to patiently allow time to verify the truth behind and the validity of your condemned decisions? The safety of the very people who have virtually crucified him depended on his silence and selfless sacrifice. That's a strong parallel to someone else I know, someone President Bush claims to be friends with. It now appears that they are much closer than most of us know!

goldstonesoft:

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Michael J.Arch:

Obama stated that he is a man of western American faith . I take him for his word. I see his sound judgment regarding his personal- individual relationship with the supreme authority who is over all believing or non believing individuals. Who am I to judge when faith is the finger print connected to heavens from the individual human basis?
Who are these people of faith to judge anyone when it does not belong to men, to judge, beyond the realms of Earthly matters under the heavens? I choose not to interfere with what does not belong to me to decide . Faith is the deepest part of a persons soul for which it cannot be measured by men.

Surely these followers have other reasons why they make it an issue to favor one over the other in the name of judgment regarding faith? Judgement they cannot see and condemn others for the very same act they have placed on themselves?

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Ana Marie Cox

Ana Marie Cox is the founding editor of Wonkette and the author of the novel Dog Days. Read more

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Karen Tumulty is TIME's National Political Correspondent and has also covered the White House and Congress. Read more

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Jay Carney is TIME's Washington bureau chief. He has covered the Clinton and Bush 43 White Houses as well as Congress. Read more

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Jay Newton-Small has covered the Bush 43 White House and Congress since the DeLay era. Read more

Michael Scherer

Michael Scherer is a TIME Washington bureau correspondent covering the 2008 presidential campaign. Read more

Mike Murphy

Mike Murphy is a GOP consultant and was a senior strategist for John McCain's 2000 presidential campaign. Read more

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