NPR: McCain: Hagee's Comments About New Orleans 'Nonsense'

McCain: Hagee's Comments About New Orleans 'Nonsense'

After reading this quote, it easy to see Sen. John McCain's frustration. During his trip to New Orleans Thursday, he was asked about Pastor John Hagge's comments on Tuesday that God was angry at New Orelans for plans to hold a gay parade and Hurricane Katrina was the result.

Here was McCain's reply as reported by Fox News:

McCain: "It's nonsense, it's nonsense, it's nonsense, it's nonsense, it's nonsense. I don't have anything additional to say. It's nonsense, it's nonsense, it's nonsense, I don't have anything more to say....it's nonsense. I reject it categorically."
Q: Do you regret accepting his endorsement?

McCain: It's nonsense. I don't have anything more to say about that. Of course--I apologize for that. It's nonsense. I reject that categorically and I would point out there's a lot of people who have endorsed me. They support my views. That does not mean that I support--would I consider repudiating his endorsement? I certainly condemn those parts of his remarks. I continue to appreciate his support for the state of Israel and for many of the good things that he and his church has done. But I repudiate as strongly as possible those remarks and those of the Catholic church as well.

McCain had actively sought Hagee's endorsement (according to Hagee). But ever since he did, he's spent a lot of time "repudiating" comments made by Hagee, particularly about Catholics.

McCain said last Sunday that accepting Hagee's endorsement was probably "a mistake" but that he's still glad to have it.

Do you think Hagee could become McCain's Rev. Jeremiah Wright? Obama sat in Wright's church for 20 years, but McCain went after Hagee's endorsement, knowing what he had said about other groups. Is there a difference?

Does Obama need to go farther in terms of distancing himself from Wright? Does McCain have to renounce Hagee's endorsement?

2:30 PM ET | 04-25-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Could we just stick with covering the issues?

If we spend all our time tracking what all these "endorsement" crack pots spew out we never get to hear important facts.

Once the politicians figure out they are in a world where we can track every comment made by their endorsement monkeys the importance of an endorsement will diminish.

Then we will can track what individual donors say on their blog and track that back to a candidate.... Won't that be just as educational?

Lets move past this please.

Sent by turph | 2:50 PM ET | 04-25-2008

McCain to Obama: "Do as I say, not as I do." Given that he didn't seem to capture the neo-con's in PA (I think 11% voted for Huckabee), maybe he should just agree to it. Stupid statements like this seemed to work for Santorum...

Sent by James Cutler | 2:53 PM ET | 04-25-2008

McCain pretty much owns up to every single thing that is put before him.

That is truly a refreshing change.

Sent by deek | 2:57 PM ET | 04-25-2008

Does he have to? Do you mean from a viewpoint of ethics, or merely of political utility?

Ethically, it would be good to. Politically, he doesn't need to. Saying "god damn America" is politically unacceptable, while hating gays is, unfortunately, still politically in vogue in most red states (witness the gay marriage ban amendments).

It's also a little disturbing to see that eight years of being "led" by an alcoholic without an iota of honesty in his body has so conditioned Americans to being reprehensibly lied to and cozened, that a candidate like McCain can merely act *ordinary* and appear to be a saint by comparison.

Don't get me wrong: I believe that no matter what happens, America will begin to improve after 1/21/09. McCain is certainly better than Bush - though that's not enough reason for me to vote for him. But I also don't buy into the Clintonian fantasies of instant turnarounds and first-100-day mandates. People may be fed up with Bush, but they're also fed up with a do-nothing Congress. I expect we'll get a Democratic president, a Republican Congress, and another 2-4 years of deadlock.

Sent by Kasreyn | 3:14 PM ET | 04-25-2008

I think we need to know why John McCain loves people who hate America. I believe it's because of the programming he received in North Vietnam. Just don't show him the Queen of Diamonds.

Sent by H.R. Haddley | 3:14 PM ET | 04-25-2008

I do not see this as an issue. What I notice is McCains reaction and the way he answers. It opens a window to his anger management problem. he does not have to say nonsense a hundred times etc.

Sent by Ty | 3:17 PM ET | 04-25-2008

Seeking Hagee's endorsement for a quick fix for votes is a poor political judgement.

Attending the whackjob Wrights' church for 20 years with your family is poor personal judgement indicative of a systemic problem.

Either Obama believes the garbage spewed by Wright or he has really, really bad judgement. Either way, it equals bad President.

Sent by deek | 3:19 PM ET | 04-25-2008

Being in church while something offensive is being said, and actively going after the endorsements of people like Hagee and Robertson, who have uttered equally repulsive things- the two are equally offensive and one does not trump the other. McCain has oftentimes tried to have the cake and eat it as well as is the case with the NC ads on Obama. He is no saint, he is an equal opportunity panderer and should be called out as such. Even out the non-existent moral high ground- there is none- and let the players play. Also, more issues and less pin lapels. Also, let Hillary not be pilloried unfailry anymore!

Sent by moo | 3:30 PM ET | 04-25-2008

What about the follow up questions about whether Hagee loves the country as much as McCain does? Whether others who follow Hagee, and whom McCain is courting, believe "nonesense"? The media let him off easy. He just repeated Obama.

Sent by P. Shears | 3:31 PM ET | 04-25-2008

Why is it nonsense, John? Explain please. Be sure to show your work.

Sent by Sweetie | 3:35 PM ET | 04-25-2008

I agree that this really should be a non-issue, but there is a difference between the two situations that should be pointed out. Obama developed a 20 year relationship with Rev. Wright. Over that time he saw many of the great things Rev. Wright did in his community and, therefore, knows a great deal more about the man than a couple of whacky soundbites. McCain, on the other hand, knew nothing about Hagee except for the hatefullness and chose to pursue his endorsement anyway. McCain obviously thinks he needs the Falwell, Robertson, Hagee, Dobson hate machine in order to win in November.

Sent by Rusty Bienvenue | 3:37 PM ET | 04-25-2008

turph says "Could we just stick with covering the issues?"

Issues? What issues? Have we already known all the issues? Moreover, have we already known all the candidates position on all the issues?

There aren't any new issues to cover, except perhaps the candidate's character, and then the candidate's association becomes relevant.

Sent by Jian | 4:06 PM ET | 04-25-2008

Rusty, how do you know "McCain, on the other hand, knew nothing about Hagee except for the hatefullness?"

Sent by deek | 4:27 PM ET | 04-25-2008

From what the Oreilly's, Hannity's, and all the other republican nutjobs are saying, I gather it means that, the fact that we still live in America and love America, we are in agreement with the war in Iraq and the bombing of innocent citizens and deaths of our honorable men and women. I wonder about those who have lived in America for eighty years sorry 20years is the threshhold (because there have been good things and bad things). we are supposed to get out of America and go live in the sea to show our dislike for what is being done.Anytime you ever hear someone say anything you disagree with you need to distance yourself from them, if in a school quit the school.....talk about Ridiculous. Hillary I guess agrees with cheating in a marriage that is why she is still there, what a message to send to married couples.

Sent by Ty | 4:57 PM ET | 04-25-2008

McCain said last Sunday that accepting Hagee's endorsement was probably "a mistake" but that he's still glad to have it.

Where's the ethics in that? I'm sorry I stole your car but I'm glad to have it?

Sent by Maddie | 5:28 PM ET | 04-25-2008

McCain may have met Hagee for "30mins". Who knows how long he had been interested in Hagee and followed his sermons. It could be more than 10 years. The fact that there is no evidence at this point in time does not mean they do not have a long-term relationship. Relationships come in different forms. There are many people who believe in people they have never physically met. This is common sense but not to the American media.

Sent by Ty | 6:10 PM ET | 04-25-2008

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