The Democrats clearly think they’ve got a big one here. The Democratic National Committee is taking its third big swing at John Hagee’s endorsement of John McCain, following up on its Friday and Sunday denouncements over Hagee’s controversial statements about Catholics. Here’s the latest, from a John McCain “Myth Buster” release this morning, widening the net on the charges of bigotry:

As part of his carefully crafted image, John McCain has tried to convince voters that he is a “maverick” who will stand up to the right wing of the Republican Party even when it hurts him politically. Yet just last week McCain said he was “proud” to have the endorsement of scandal-plagued pastor John Hagee, despite Hagee’s history of discriminatory comments about women, African Americans, Jewish Americans, Catholics, Muslim Americans, LGBT Americans, and the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
When confronted about Hagee’s comments, McCain said only that he does not “support or endorse or agree with some of the things” Hagee has said. [McCain Media Availability, 2/29/08] McCain and his campaign have refused to say which of Hagee’s positions he endorses and refused to even say whether McCain knew about Hagee’s history of divisiveness when he asked for an endorsement. [CNN, 2/29/08]
Apparently, like on so many other issues, John McCain is willing to embrace just about anyone to win an election.
McCain on John Hagee
“Well I think it’s important to note that pastor John Hagee who has supported and endorsed my candidacy supports what I stand for and believe in. When he endorses me, it does not mean that I embrace everything that he stands for and believes. And I am very proud of the Pastor John Hagee’s spiritual leadership to thousands of people and I am proud of his commitment to the independence and the freedom of the state of Israel. That does not mean that I support or endorse or agree with some of the things that Pastor John Hagee might have said or positions that he may have taken on other issues. I don’t have to agree with everyone who endorses my candidacy. They are supporting my candidacy. I am not endorsing some of their positions.” [McCain Media Availability, 2/29/08]
Yet Hagee Has Said…
Hagee on Hurricane Katrina
“All hurricanes are acts of God because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that.” [NPR Fresh Air, 9/18/06]
Hagee on Islamic Beliefs
Fresh Air host Terry Gross asked if Hagee believed that “all Muslims have a mandate to kill Christians and Jews,” to which Hagee replied, “Well, the Quran teaches that. Yes, it teaches that very clearly.” [NPR Fresh Air, 9/18/06]
Hagee on African Americans
The San Antonio Express-News reported that Hagee was going to “meet with black religious leaders privately at an unspecified future date to discuss comments he made in his newsletter about a ‘slave sale,’ an East Side minister said Wednesday.” The Express-News reported:
“Hagee, pastor of the 16,000-member Cornerstone Church, last week had announced a ‘slave sale’ to raise funds for high school seniors in his church bulletin, ‘The Cluster.’
“The item was introduced with the sentence ‘Slavery in America is returning to Cornerstone” and ended with “Make plans to come and go home with a slave.” [San Antonio Express-News 3/7/96]
Hagee on Catholicism
“Most readers will be shocked by the clear record of history linking Adolf Hitler and the Roman Catholic Church in a conspiracy to exterminate the Jews.” [Jerusalem Countdown by John Hagee]
Hagee on Women
“Do you know the difference between a woman with PMS and a snarling Doberman pinscher? The answer is lipstick. Do you know the difference between a terrorist and a woman with PMS? You can negotiate with a terrorist.” [God’s Profits: Faith, Fraud and the Republican Crusade for Values Voters, Sarah Posner]
“[T]he feminist movement today is throwing off authority in rebellion against God’s pattern for the family.” [“Bible Positions on Political Issues,” John Hagee]

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