While on it, also check or ask that idiot of a pastor that he should confirm or deny if he abuses children.
Ridiculous

Sent by Liza | 12:44 PM ET | 04-22-2008

Stay classy, South Carolina.

Sent by c | 12:45 PM ET | 04-22-2008

What a moron, he should be ashamed of himself and his congregation should demand he repent and apologize for his dishonecty and attempt at dividing.

See how easy it is to do the right thing without throwing your gramma and fellow senator under the bus Mr Obama?

Sent by deek | 12:48 PM ET | 04-22-2008

They say when the devil shows up we will not be able to identify him. When asked if he believed that Pastor Byrd at a small church in Jonesville was the devil himself, the reply was "I don't know. See it asks a question:?Are they brothers? In other words is Pastor Byrd the devil? I don't know. He says he's not. I hope he's not. But I don't know. And it's just something to try to stir people's mind's. It was NEVER intended to hurt feelings or to offend anybody."

Sent by Roger | 12:54 PM ET | 04-22-2008

Every member of that church must renounce the pastor's words and quit the church!!!

Or not.

Sent by ron | 12:57 PM ET | 04-22-2008

Apparently this guy has never heard of the First Amendment. Who cares what religion a president might follow? As Lewis Black said, "I DON'T CARE! My president could worship Ronald McDonald for all I care. All I care about is that he has a moral compass." The amount of ignorance in this pastor's statements is astounding on a level that I can't even begin to describe.

Sent by James Cutler | 12:57 PM ET | 04-22-2008

Roger Byrd, Roger Clinton, hmmm. Is Rev. Byrd Hillary's half-brother in-law? I'm just asking.

I'm embarrassed to even live *near* South Carolina.

Sent by Ruby Sinreich | 12:57 PM ET | 04-22-2008

As a Christian, I am offended by this pastor's church sign. Not only does it draw attention away from relevant issues and make Christians everywhere look stupid, but his response "what possibly could happen if we were to get someone in there that does not believe in Jesus Christ" is only further proof of how screwed up politics have become from people mixing church and state. If I'm not mistaken there have been a lot of presidents claiming to be "Christian" w/out any display in their own lives of living the Christian life, i.e. the Ten Commandments.

Sent by B.D. | 1:07 PM ET | 04-22-2008

Deek: I guess you claim you know McCain. Did you say 20+ years, I have news for you.Refute this if you can!!!!!
The great McCain.
http://www.realchange.org/mccain.htm

Sent by Christy | 1:07 PM ET | 04-22-2008

I have suffered on the job discrimination since 9/11 simply because of my last name. As an American I am profoundly embarrassed by this so called pastor. The truth is that this so called pastor probably has issues with Senator Obama's skin color so he's using the vicious rumor about Sen. Obama possibly being a muslim (not that there is anything wrong with that) to manifest his hatred of blacks. What a shame!

Sent by Dea Mohamed | 1:09 PM ET | 04-22-2008

Just when we thought it couldn't get any sillier....

Sent by Gary | 1:13 PM ET | 04-22-2008

What is going on...these bloggers are beginning to establish a very dangerous pattern of attacking anyone that dare question or consider taking a second look at Obama...bullying others that want to go slow and not just jump on the bandwagon speaks awful for Obama supporters...this method may very well backfire and cause "the others" to vote for the other candidate (especially, if Obama proves to be anything like his supporters)...Obama supporters need stop hammering any opposing view of their beloved Obama...so much for differing opinions and mutual respect...I thought I still lived in America.

Sent by ard | 1:14 PM ET | 04-22-2008

Think about this. The pastor insists that if someone believes one fairy tale (Christianity) instead of another (Islam) that he's a better person. Nope, they're both just as gullible as the other. The very idea of religion is man-made, and we need to free ourselves from it before it does any more damage. You can be a good person without believing in mythology.

Sent by Steve | 1:14 PM ET | 04-22-2008

Sounds to me like Rev. Byrd is engaging in electioneering (clear grounds for revocation of the church's tax exemption). While the IRS is investigating the political statements made by Rev. Wright, it should drop by South Carolina and investigate Rev. Byrd as well.

Sent by Julian G. | 1:16 PM ET | 04-22-2008

Christy, LOL, that looks like it was thrown together by a gradeschool student but I'll look through it anyway.

Anyone can write anything about anyone, yes even gradeschoolers.

Sent by deek | 1:41 PM ET | 04-22-2008

It seems even NPR is susceptible to the perpetuation of trivial information.

Sent by Joe Smith | 2:01 PM ET | 04-22-2008

He's even a bigger idiot because he probably doesn't realize that Osama's brothers are our allies and good friends of the Bushes!

Sent by Anonym | 2:01 PM ET | 04-22-2008

Democracy is predicated on the premise that you have an intelligent and concerned voting public. This reverend shows that we cannot count on the benefits of a democracy as long as people like him are voting. Voters like him scare me more than al Quida terrorists.

Sent by David Kimball | 2:27 PM ET | 04-22-2008

I don't see why we even consider religious people's opinions about politics relevant at all, let alone ones that are clearly insane, like Mr. Byrd.

Sent by Annon Amos | 2:47 PM ET | 04-22-2008

In addition to most people's comment who thinks the pastor is uneducated and uniformed. I want to add to this belief that assumes that being Muslim is inherently a "bad" thing. There are Muslims who have done bad things, but there are people from all religions who are guilty of shameful acts. We don't look at Oklahoma City bomber and say all white males are evil. So, my point is, I don't like this presumption that being Muslim is just a thing to look down upon or use against someone. Obama is culturally sensitive and has ties to a lot of cultures, religions, and people which is what i think makes him a better candidate. And that comment about him being elitist is just obsurd!

Sent by Aaliyah | 2:54 PM ET | 04-22-2008

There are dangers here.
Consideer the following hypothetical situations:

- That preacher may wonder
"McCain, McVeigh. Hmm. Are they brothers?"

- The preacher may go further and ask: "Are we witnessing the ascendancy of radical Irish terrorism in America? Do we appreciate as Americans what would happen to our way of life if we allow IRA-style terrorist extremism to take root in our homeland"?

Unaccepatable.

Rev Hagee, Rev Parsley / McCain '08, WRONG for America

Sent by chokora | 3:48 PM ET | 04-22-2008

This so called pastor is obviously a bit deranged. His idea of provoking thought is a poorly vealed attempt at charecter asassination against a person who's intelligence and accomplishments are far beyond what he could ever hope to achieve. This so called christian is a racist and an idiot.

Sent by Scott Torsey | 5:06 PM ET | 04-22-2008

episode 392 of the dumbing down of the american political discourse. today brought to you by the letter "s". (say hello to the nice folks, big bird and gluten-free-low-sodium-healthy-snack- substitute monster).

Sent by tim in exile | 6:20 PM ET | 04-22-2008

The prefix Mac or Mc means "son of." Cain killed Abel, his brother, so is McCain killing his brothers? Do Republicans really want to get into a name fight with the son of Cain as their candidate?

Sent by disgusted | 5:08 AM ET | 04-24-2008

Is Roger Byrd the devils brother? I think he really could be! His actions are right for it.

Sent by GiGi | 5:19 PM ET | 04-27-2008