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MCCAIN'S "SPIRITUAL GUIDE."
Yesterday at a rally in Cincinnati, Ohio, John McCain was flanked by Rod Parsley, who called the candidate "strong, true, consistent conservative," according to the Columbus Dispatch. McCain referred to Parsley, who preaches the same word of faith doctrine as the televangelists under investigation by McCain's fellow Republican Senator Charles Grassley, a "spiritual guide."
Later, according to the Dispatch:
Parsley said he supports McCain because the senator will be tough on national security and "protect the unborn."The megachurch pastor, criticized in the past for mixing religion and politics, acknowledged that McCain isn't the ideal candidate for evangelical Christians, who overwhelmingly backed President Bush in 2004.
"Yet at the same time, when you put John McCain up against Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, the ideological and philosophical differences are overwhelming," Parsley said.
In conservative circles, Parsley's considered one of the religious kingmakers in the 2008 presidential race. While he's not universally loved in evangelical circles by any stretch of the imagination, McCain is likely very pleased with the, er -- shall we call it an endorsement? Add John Hagee, the chairman of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), along with McCain-endorser Gary Bauer, who serves on CUFI's board, and Parsley, who is a CUFI regional director, and it looks like McCain is lining up the support of a contingent of the Christian right that could make McCain's off-the-cuff bomb-bomb-Iran and 100 years in Iraq remarks seem, well, prophetic.
--Sarah Posner
COMMENTS (5)
The IRS needs to start investigating them... and all the other conservative churches (white separatists?) that have been endorsing Republicans.
And the IRS sure should be sure to send out lots of press releases about those investigations.
just sayin'
Posted by: dr.steveb | February 27, 2008 12:08 PM
...McCain referred to Parsley, who preaches the same word of faith doctrine as the televangelists under investigation...
I thought they were under investigation for how they handled the money, not their faith. What a smear-job the lovely Miss Sara engages in!!
The IRS needs to start investigating them... and all the other conservative churches (white separatists?) that have been endorsing Republicans.
Great! but let's be fair about it and investigate all of the predonimately black churches that have used their pulpits for political endorsements as well. While you're at it, The American Prospect is a tax-deductible entity that is not supposed to endorse either. I think you can see the lee-way given to organizations in this area.
Posted by: El Viajero | February 27, 2008 5:14 PM
As a Christian, I refuse to blindly follow the lead of someone just because he pastors a church or has a national tv show. This just goes to show you that there are alot more people, than just "evangelicals", keeping Gov Huckabee in the race!
I will not give my vote to McCain, no matter who gets to step away from the pulpit and step behind him! A brokered convention is the way to defeat McCain and as long as we can keep him from getting 1191 confirmed delegates, it will go to a brokered convention! Come on Texas, Ohio, and the other states...turn your tv off, look at the issues and vote for the person you would vote for if you had not heard the lies that "Huckabee was out of the race" or "McCain has it wrapped up". If he had it so wrapped up, why would he be manipulating these Christian leaders at this time? Nope, he knows that Huckabee can beat him in these states...
Posted by: Lisa | February 28, 2008 11:01 AM
I cannot believe for the life of me these evangelists (whom of 1 my husband and I have met - John Hagee and his wife, Dianne) are siding with McCain. It really sets me off big time, as a Christian and a Republican too. Gov. Huckabee has been the ONLY true conservative in this election. And we will vote for him again, if we have to!
Posted by: Hannah | February 28, 2008 7:08 PM
http://www.livinghopeinjesus.com/JOHNHAGEEISNOWAPOSTATEREADITFORYOURSELF.dsp
Posted by: Living Hope In Jesus | March 1, 2008 6:37 PM