Question US
John McCain Campaign rejects Christian Leaders John Hagee, Dr. James Dobson, and Billy Graham. Does this make you more or less likely to vote for McCain?
PolyTicks June 09, 2008 21:50:19
- 10 answers
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Source: http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/mccain_graham_meeting/2008/0...
In another disturbing sign that Sen. John McCain has little interest in reaching out to his conservative base, including evangelical Christian voters, his campaign has declined an offer to meet with the Rev. Billy Graham. For almost six decades, Graham has been America’s most influential preacher and evangelist, a man sought out by every president since Harry Truman....
In recent weeks I have been involved with Brian Jacobs, a Fort Worth, Texas, minister and consultant to the Billy Graham Association, to broker a meeting between McCain and Graham. In May, we contacted the McCain campaign with an offer to arrange such a meeting, as we had done between candidate George W. Bush and Graham during the 2000 election....
The rejection of an offer to meet with Graham is yet another indication that the McCain campaign has made a deliberate, strategic decision to chart a new course for the GOP, a course without the sizeable evangelical Christian voting bloc serving as its base....
When Jacobs called me earlier this year to suggest that we try to arrange a similar meeting between Graham and McCain, I was skeptical. During the 2000 primary race, McCain called evangelicals “agents of intolerance.”
Though McCain actually is quite engaging with religious believers -- I have been with him a couple of times at religious events and once interviewed him for a television show that aired on a religious network -- his staff is notoriously hostile. McCain adviser, Charlie Black, and campaign manager, Rick Davis, have a long, troubled history with the evangelical wing of the party.
The pair were said to be behind McCain’s decision to throw televangelist John Hagee “under the bus” after audio recordings suggested Hagee believed Adolf Hitler was an agent of God. Though Hagee’s views of “predestination” are mainstream among many Christian denominations and Hagee obviously never suggested support for Hitler or Nazis, McCain called Hagee “crazy.” Only weeks before he denounced Hagee, McCain had publicly trumpeted the pastor’s endorsement.
Indeed, Hagee has been one of the greatest supporters of Israel and Jewish causes in the evangelical community.
McCain’s hasty decision to discard Hagee was seen by many evangelicals, even those who are not fans of Hagee, as a betrayal.
Although it was done in the context of Sen. Barack Obama’s Rev. Jeremiah Wright controversy, it was a moment that seemed to pander to the media’s ignorance and hostility toward religion in general. Many evangelicals saw it as grossly unfair.
Even McCain’s friend, Jewish independent Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman said he would still speak at a Hagee gathering. Ed Koch, the former New York mayor and leading Jewish Democrat, scolded McCain for the decision.
“It has become fashionable among liberals, including Jews, to ridicule and denounce Hagee and other fundamentalists,” Koch wrote in a Newsmax.com column. “I do not. I appreciate their support of the state of Israel.”
But Hagee and Graham are not the only evangelical leaders to be rebuffed by McCain. Press reports indicate McCain has turned away olive branch invitations from the influential Dr. James Dobson for the senator to visit him at his headquarters in Colorado Springs.
The theory behind the McCain campaign’s strategy to ignore evangelicals is that they have nowhere else to go, that Obama is too liberal, and they’ll vote against him come November.
But McCain’s team is missing the fact that the vacuum created by the GOP’s divorce from them is being filled by the Democrats.
Both Clinton and Obama have been quietly courting evangelicals, the former in private meetings last year and the later with open, religious language....
McCain’s decision not to meet with Graham will likely provoke outrage. And the campaign will likely back down. Graham is no Hagee or Dobson. They will say it was all a mistake and blame it on staff or a “misunderstanding.” But in the process they have revealed their mind-set. Their decision to ignore the leaders of America’s 80 million born-again voters represents a stunning, high wire act for a Republican presidential candidate.
© 2008 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
UPDATE: McCain Campaign Clarifies Communications With Rev. Billy Graham http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/McCain_Meet_graham/2008/06...
In another disturbing sign that Sen. John McCain has little interest in reaching out to his conservative base, including evangelical Christian voters, his campaign has declined an offer to meet with the Rev. Billy Graham. For almost six decades, Graham has been America’s most influential preacher and evangelist, a man sought out by every president since Harry Truman....
In recent weeks I have been involved with Brian Jacobs, a Fort Worth, Texas, minister and consultant to the Billy Graham Association, to broker a meeting between McCain and Graham. In May, we contacted the McCain campaign with an offer to arrange such a meeting, as we had done between candidate George W. Bush and Graham during the 2000 election....
The rejection of an offer to meet with Graham is yet another indication that the McCain campaign has made a deliberate, strategic decision to chart a new course for the GOP, a course without the sizeable evangelical Christian voting bloc serving as its base....
When Jacobs called me earlier this year to suggest that we try to arrange a similar meeting between Graham and McCain, I was skeptical. During the 2000 primary race, McCain called evangelicals “agents of intolerance.”
Though McCain actually is quite engaging with religious believers -- I have been with him a couple of times at religious events and once interviewed him for a television show that aired on a religious network -- his staff is notoriously hostile. McCain adviser, Charlie Black, and campaign manager, Rick Davis, have a long, troubled history with the evangelical wing of the party.
The pair were said to be behind McCain’s decision to throw televangelist John Hagee “under the bus” after audio recordings suggested Hagee believed Adolf Hitler was an agent of God. Though Hagee’s views of “predestination” are mainstream among many Christian denominations and Hagee obviously never suggested support for Hitler or Nazis, McCain called Hagee “crazy.” Only weeks before he denounced Hagee, McCain had publicly trumpeted the pastor’s endorsement.
Indeed, Hagee has been one of the greatest supporters of Israel and Jewish causes in the evangelical community.
McCain’s hasty decision to discard Hagee was seen by many evangelicals, even those who are not fans of Hagee, as a betrayal.
Although it was done in the context of Sen. Barack Obama’s Rev. Jeremiah Wright controversy, it was a moment that seemed to pander to the media’s ignorance and hostility toward religion in general. Many evangelicals saw it as grossly unfair.
Even McCain’s friend, Jewish independent Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman said he would still speak at a Hagee gathering. Ed Koch, the former New York mayor and leading Jewish Democrat, scolded McCain for the decision.
“It has become fashionable among liberals, including Jews, to ridicule and denounce Hagee and other fundamentalists,” Koch wrote in a Newsmax.com column. “I do not. I appreciate their support of the state of Israel.”
But Hagee and Graham are not the only evangelical leaders to be rebuffed by McCain. Press reports indicate McCain has turned away olive branch invitations from the influential Dr. James Dobson for the senator to visit him at his headquarters in Colorado Springs.
The theory behind the McCain campaign’s strategy to ignore evangelicals is that they have nowhere else to go, that Obama is too liberal, and they’ll vote against him come November.
But McCain’s team is missing the fact that the vacuum created by the GOP’s divorce from them is being filled by the Democrats.
Both Clinton and Obama have been quietly courting evangelicals, the former in private meetings last year and the later with open, religious language....
McCain’s decision not to meet with Graham will likely provoke outrage. And the campaign will likely back down. Graham is no Hagee or Dobson. They will say it was all a mistake and blame it on staff or a “misunderstanding.” But in the process they have revealed their mind-set. Their decision to ignore the leaders of America’s 80 million born-again voters represents a stunning, high wire act for a Republican presidential candidate.
© 2008 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
UPDATE: McCain Campaign Clarifies Communications With Rev. Billy Graham http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/McCain_Meet_graham/2008/06...
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Top Comment
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Less likely. McCain is alienating his base, including me.
This is really a tough one for me. I don't like McCain or Obama. Neither of them is going to take the country in a positive direction. While McCain, with his liberal leanings, will likely do more to harm the GOP party, Obama will do more to destroy the nation itself. President George W. Bush had a great first term in office, but lost me on his second term. He still was better than the alternative (Kerry or Gore). But McCain, in my view, is a repeat of GWB in his second term. I haven't decided for sure yet; I may vote for a third party candidate in the November elections and risk giving Obama the edge, or I may grit my teeth and vote for McCain, the lesser of two evils. Either way, I am not pleased with the direction we'll be taking for the next 4 years.View thread
SodaHead Hot Trends
No difference. I support McCain no matter what happens.
It makes no difference. I'm choosing Obama.
PS:
For the sheeple who think Tom Ridge would be a good running mate: NO DICE ! McPuppet has stated numerous times, for the record, that he MUST appease the Fundamentalist Sheeple on the Right with a Sexist Pig like himself, mandated to eliminate the rights of women (including PUMA Hilla-bots... BTW: how's Hillary's $20 million extortion efforts coming along with you PUMAs ? Sent in your $2,300 yet?)
It makes no difference. I'm choosing Obama.
Undecided
As for the 'opions' McCain, Obama. ?????
2 sides of the same coin ? or
2 coins with one side ?
At the moment, The Conservative body is given Little choice: Liberal and Socialist.
At the Republican National Convention, the 'leaders' in the Party need to decide. Do the Republicans want the Conservative vote ?
I expect this race to be closer than either of the last 2, because Conservatives will be counted as 'casualties of the vote'.
If McCain wins, It will be close. His only hope? Will Nadar and C. Mckinney pull enough Liberals away from the Democratic ticket.
Undecided
It makes no difference. I'm choosing Obama.
Less likely. McCain is alienating his base, including me.
Though I'm not sure a third party candidate is truly viable quite yet...
I didn't care for Gingrich at the state level, But, I do think he has the Federal Experience and understanding.
Prefer Newt Gingrich.
It makes no difference. I'm choosing Obama.
No difference. I support McCain no matter what happens.