A closer look at McCain's 'spiritual guide'
By Steve Benen Thursday May 08, 2008 12:00pmAt a certain, a couple of months ago, news outlets decided that Barack Obama’s association with Jeremiah Wright was the single most important facet of this year’s presidential campaign, at least so far. How could a presidential hopeful have a relationship with an intemperate pastor? Who’s said nutty things? What does it say about Obama’s judgment that it took him a while to denounce Wright personally?
And then there’s John McCain, who is also associated with a motley crew of radical religious zealots, and who has largely been given a pass by the media. We’ve talked about McCain cozying up to Jerry Falwell (even after Falwell blamed 9/11 on Americans), and we’ve talked about McCain befriending John Hagee (even after Hagee called the Catholic Church a “great whore” and a “false cult system”), but Rod Parsley probably hasn’t generated the kind of attention he should.
Consider, for example, this new clip put together by Brave New Films and Mother Jones.
You’ll notice, of course, that despite Parsley’s record of sheer lunacy, McCain nevertheless said he was “honored” to have Parsley’s support. Indeed, McCain — who recently denounced Obama for some of his associations, and demanded that Obama “apologize” for people he knows — called Parsley “one of the truly great leaders in America,” “a moral compass,” and a “spiritual guide.”
Rod Parsley is, by most decent standards, something of a religious fanatic. And yet, McCain not only treats him as some kind of hero, McCain also reached out for his political support, and has refused to distance himself either Parsley or Parsley’s record of insane rhetoric.
I’m still reluctant to play the guilt-by-association game — Colbert labeled it “collateral friendage” this week — but I’m looking for some sense of fairness here. And I can’t find any.
Maybe, you’re thinking, the problem is that Parsley wants the United States to destroy Islam, and because there’s so much anti-Muslim bigotry out there, McCain thinks he can get away with his relationship without paying a political price. That may be. But let’s not forget that the extent of Parsley’s hate goes well beyond one religious minority.
Parsley has written several books outlining his fundamentalist religious outlook, including the 2005 Silent No More. In this work, Parsley decries the “spiritual desperation” of the United States, and he blasts away at the usual suspects: activist judges, civil libertarians who advocate the separation of church and state, the homosexual “culture” (”homosexuals are anything but happy and carefree”), the “abortion industry,” and the crass and profane entertainment industry.
Best of all, his rhetoric frequently includes what sounds like appeals to violence, telling his followers, “I came to incite a riot! Man your battle stations. Ready your weapons.” (One wants to assume he’s speaking metaphorically, but it’s not entirely clear.)
Earlier this week, Tim Russert said the media would pay more attention to McCain’s radical preacher allies “if there was video.” Well, guess what, Tim, you’re in luck. All you have to do now is put it on the air.
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Fairness?
Hagee is bad but Parsley is the religious fanatic we can hang around McCain's neck. He's known him for years..."we get off on warfare?" excuse me?
It's creepy the way Parsley stares down the camera. Wow.
Hagee prays for Armageddon in the Middle East.
Parsley says America's purpose is to destroy Islam.
They're bringing McCain to the ball, and he's going to have to dance with them to the tune they call.
If you think that this will put the McCain supporters on the defensive, you are naive. This is just the sort of thing that conservative middle America wants to hear. This is the core belief going all the way back to America as the new Jerusalem, the City on the Hill.
Remember, it's OK to hate, as long as you hate for the Lord.
Except somebody took it off the air...or at least took it off youtube.
The "pssst... do something" at the end of EVERYTHING
Brave New Films cranks out has come to really detract
from the otherwise fairly decent content of their work.
Why be so damned condescending? And, boring.
Why not let the message speak for itself?
It will be interesting to see what Timeh does this weekend after his comments this week. Keith commented on it twice(?) this week. Maybe, just maybe the shit will hit the fan.
Stop making something outta nothing. This man is white and so is McCain, no need to be afraid.
The only way the Cons can be defeated is by mobilizing the largest, most determined and fierce it's do or die Dem voter base ever to turn out in U.S. History.
Thats why the cons are working so hard to tear apart the Dem campaign. They know Dem voters easily fold and will stay home and not vote out of frustration or disappointment.
I don't even think Diebold can counter a massive tidal wave of Dem voters at the polls across the country in Nov or if they would even want to bother trying.
The Media dropped the Race Bomb on Clinton and it's been chaos ever since. Even Bill wasn't given a chance to expose it for what it was and where it came from. The Torches and Hounds came out instantly and that was the end of any communication.
.
Because only Good Loyal(R) Christians know how to hate properly...
.
Have you reported on the Evangelical Manifesto yet? It seems the sheep are tired of being used by shepherds. Here is one writer's take on it
Jacques Berlinerblau
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/georgetown/2008/05/the_evange...
(sorry, my format buttons aren't working)
I think a petition needs to be started. We should draft a letter, collect signatures and buy a full page ad in several newspapers. I don't know how these things get started but I think it needs to be done. What is happening to Obama is incredibly unfair and is most likely a manifestation of the underlying racism that is still present in our society. Does anyone know how to do something about this?
McSame will not DARE bring up 'associations' as an issue because he would be fried.
It will live strong in right-wing hate radio all year, but those listeners already hate Obama so it's no net loss.
Once Obama starts debating ISSUES with McSame, it will be obvious to most everyone ... including some GOP'ers... that Obama is the right choice.
"I just love to talk about your money. Let me be very clear -- I want your money. I deserve it. This church deserves it."
-Rod Parsley (An Empire of Souls, pg. 35)
"I'm talkin about your money you know one of the greatest things that is going to happen in the year 2,000 we're about to see the church rise up with a revelation that only this generation has ever been given of God's word concerning high finances in the kingdom of God and we are just about to see the greatest transfer of wealth out of the hand of the wicked into the hand of the just."
-Rod Parsley (Breakthrough Jan.7, 2000)
rod parsley to the poor: fuck off.
The Rev. Wright fiasco is a boomerang that will smack McWar and all the other "righteous" hypocrites(including some so called progressives at this site) in the back of their empty skulls.
Freak @ 4:
In general you're right, at least with respect to Parsley. But many conservative middle Americans would blanch at Hagee's characterization of the Catholic Church as the "great whore." After all, the majority of those nice Republican Supreme Court justices are Catholic (Roberts, Kennedy, Scalia, Thomas, Alito). And they're going to save them from the godless liberals.
Good clip but the problem is, a good chunk of Merka would agree with this nutjob's sentiments. I think we should concentrate on Hagee's "God destroyed New Orleans 'cause of homos" meme. Me thinks it will get a lot more traction.
Should we call him..
McSame
McWar
McHagee
McCentury or
McBush ?
The next time some reich winger tosses Wright out, shove these baboons up their ass.
That's it? That's what you got on this guy? Sorry, anti-American (Wright) rants will win over anti-Islam rants any time of the day.
It's not pretty, it's not right at all, in fact it is disgusting. But I think about 50% of the people in this country, sadly, probably agree with this fucking lunatic.
I think one of these type clips with Falwell blaming America for 9/11 interlaced with McCain taking his support would be far and away more effective.
Billy Says @ 6
Pssst… do something, other than complain about the ending of Brave New Films sign off. That's a lat easier to take than McInsane's "My friends", IMHO.
Embittered-Max-Hussein-1 @ 10:
Yes but you have to keep in mind the Pentagon has to invent more and more expensive and sophisticated weapons so these "folks" can sit on the couch and watch the shows on TV and not be bothered with all that killing stuff.
We're seeing drones, robots, pilot less aircraft operated by computer geeks with a joystick being tested in battle now.
It's pretty insane.
"As followers of "the narrow way" ,our concern is not for approval and popular esteem. Nor do we regard it as accurate or faithful to pose as victims, or to protest at discrimination. We certainly do not face persecution like our fellow-believers elsewhere in the world. Too many of the problems we face as Evangelicals in the United States are those of our own making. If we protest, our protest has to begin with ourselves.
Rather, we are troubled by the fact that the confusions and corruptions surrounding the term Evangelical have grown so deep that the character of what it means has been obscured and its importance lost. Many people outside the movement now doubt that Evangelical is ever positive, and many inside now wonder whether the term any longer serves a useful purpose."
From the Evangelical Manifesto
http://www.anevangelicalmanifesto.com/docs/Evangelical_Manifesto.pdf
I am not an evangelical, but I find it encouraging that they are speaking out against the tide of I get to do unto you in the name of the Lord partisan politics. That's not what they are about, they are deciding.
Other than Sean Hannity's broken record radio show in which he mentions Rev Wright about 3,800 times during his 3-hour show, I really think the Rev Wright issue is over with, and Senator Obama has prevailed.
I think that parsley may be;
1. a vegetable, although not classified as high up as catchup on the food chain
2. more than a religious fanatic, because he is advocating murder and genocide. that would be more like a felony. There are several laws that pertain to inciting hatred and acts of violence, many apply to the statement.
excellent way to show mcsame for what he is. since mcsame doesn't know what he is, it is up to us to show him so he can have a sense of identity that he lacks now.
Chico Hussein @ 13:
You can be sure that the rules for the debate will be tilted in McCains favor.
"A closer look at McCain’s ’spiritual guide’'
Mine's the spirit of an ancient Sumerian topless dancer.
Filthy Harry @ 8:
I was trying to come up with the answer, but you hit the nail right on the head!
Obama elitist = uppity
McC elitist = budweiser queen and friends
Obama outspoken preacher = liberation theology
McC outspoken preacher = sees it "our" way!
L.A. Confidential @ 22:
Like this?
23; please understand that being an evangelical is a crime. From a hate crime to something as simple as noise pollution, but it is still a crime.
Chico Hussein @ 24:
No it's not over. The Cons are going to bring it up again. The cons are going to say how can you trust a guy who tossed his mentor and pastor overboard to the sharks for his own political and personal gain to lead this country.
It's going to get ugly better prepare yourself.
22 L.A. Confidential Says:
"Yes but you have to keep in mind the Pentagon has to invent more and more expensive and sophisticated weapons so these “folks” can sit on the couch and watch the shows on TV and not be bothered with all that killing stuff.
We’re seeing drones, robots, pilot less aircraft operated by computer geeks with a joystick being tested in battle now.
It’s pretty insane."
That is true. the Pentagon has to invent new, unmanned weaponry because they know full well that people like Parsley's followers do not have the guts to carry out what they call for themselves.
emphasa @ 29:
That stuff your referring to is early brainwashing and desensitization training.
The idea of Christianity as a vehicle for war is disgusting and utterly antithetical to Christ's teachings.
Dosido:
That's right.
NO ONE in good conscience can continue to support the anti-Christian, anti-Humanity, anti-Unity messages that the Republican party is (currently) based on.
They (the Evangelicals) embraced them a while back due mostly to their supposed conservative social issues. When they peel that onion back a little more, they dont like what they see.
Good people CAN be fooled..... but only for a little while.
FALWELL: "But you've got to kill the terrorists before the killing stops. And I'm for the president to chase them all over the world. If it takes 10 years, blow them all away in the name of the Lord".
The first time I saw Rod Parsley, he was writhing around in a dumpster filled with peoples bills "forgiving their debts"!!!! I kid you not. I thought it was the craziest thing in the world, even crazier, because the people in the audience seemed stupid enough to believe this shit.
Someone needs to remake that old classic Elmer Gantry. They are remaking everything else in the world, that would be topical.
This isnt what is happening.
The democratic party historically had the majority of the racist rednecks - until the civil rights legislation of the 60's. Then, Bush and Reagan moved them to the republican party. McCain is pandering to get votes and will be seen as doing that. His voters will understand it. His voters (and others) will also see Wright as an uppity N****r that is involved in politics. This is about racism and racists. Hagee and the others will not be seen as McCains spiritual advisors.
The layout of this page is off (too wide) - probably due to an ad.
"I’m still reluctant to play the guilt-by-association game...."
Not reluctant enough, it seems.
The thing that scares me about Parsley (other than his comments) is that he comes across as very charismatic - he knows how to address a camera, and he has a strong voice that he knows how to use. I can see some people falling for the messenger while completely missing the message.
If only Parsley could pull a "Robert Tilton" - then I think we'd all be happy.
#1 of 20 questions John McCain will never be asked:
1. Do you agree with Pastor John Hagee that war with Iran is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy?
In February, you shared a stage with Pastor John Hagee and said you were "very proud" to have his endorsement. You also called the Reverend Rod Parsley, a man who said of Islam "America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed", your "spiritual guide." Do you believe America's mission is to destroy Islam? Do you join Pastor Hagee in believing the United States must attack Iran to fulfill the biblical prophecy of Armageddon in Israel in which 144,000 Jews will be converted to Christianity and the rest killed? Is that why you joked about "bomb bomb Iran?" If not, why will you not renounce the support of Hagee and Parsley?
here is how it works
as long as you use religion to spread hate about everyone but america...you are ok
as long as you use religion to spread hate about everyone but white america...you are ok
"(even after Falwell blamed 9/11 on Americans)"
Problem is he singled out certain Americans that were to blame! If he had said "American foreign policy" I wouldn't have a problem with it. Wright said, "Goddamn America" which is more accurate. Hagee accused the Catholic church and that's almost laughable. Parsley blames all- "activist judges, civil libertarians, the homosexual “culture”, the “abortion industry,” and the crass and profane entertainment industry.
Between Parsley, Falwell and Hageethe blameless are those that follow and worship their inane rants. Reverend Wright is a saint comparatively.
Wow, so the Muslim Religion wants to conquer the Christian world with violence!
Wonder where the Muslims learned about using violence to help them convert the world?
Maybe it was from the Religious Crusades waged by much of Christian Europe against Muslims, pagan Slavs, Russian and Greek Orthodox Christians, Mongols,Cathars, Hussites and of course "THE POLITICAL ENEMIES OF THE POPE!"
So you got Rod "A Elmer Gantry Wanna-be" Parsley whining about the Muslims and their use of violence, verses Rod's Christian World, who for hundreds of years enslaved entire countries with their cult like beliefs about "THEIR GOD, AND THEIR BS!"
Religion is for losers/followers and faux born-again polilticians!
Every time I have heard Obama supporters waxing lyrical about hopes, deams, visions and change I have wonder what the exact timing of the American atack on Iran will be.
Political orthodoxy holds that in times of crisis people rally behind the safe option.
As someone in the thread already said, middle America wants to hear about war aggression and global dominance.
As Shakespeare put it in Henry iV Part 2:
Therefore, my Harry,
Be it thy course to busy giddy minds
With foreign quarrels; that action, hence borne out,
May waste the memory of the former days.
Just substitute Sen. McCain for "Harry."
I do wish modern media pundits would read more Shakespeare.
The pandering in McCain's groveling for these religious nuts is sickening.
THEORY: I think the media is waiting until it's an actual two-candidate race and *then* this will hit the air, maybe later in the year. They all know how people get over old news, and maybe the idea is to slam him hard with it - when he's had a year to reject parsley and hasn't - before whamming him with his own hyprocrisy. [/unbridled optimism]
If 15% to 20% of Americans are admittedly "not religious", then there are very strong odds that we have non-religious representatives in Congress.
John McCain refused to be a part of CNN's "Faith" debate, has been quoted by campaign workers as making anti-religion slurs, and refuses to discuss his own faith. Why isn't the rabid religious right questioning this? Why aren't we on the left exposing this?
I'm an Atheist who grew up in a religious household. I know firsthand how devoutly spiritual people act (they talk about Jesus - a lot), and I also know firsthand how Atheists/Agnostics avoid spiritual discussions when they make us uncomfortable. John McCain acts less like the religious people he's supposed to represent and more like those of us who don't believe, but have to hide it from people who will use it against us (e.g. religious bosses, religious constituents, etc.)...
Think about it.
"I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles, personally I prefer someone who I know has a solid grounding in my faith. But that doesn't mean that I'm sure that someone who's Muslim wouldn't make a good president. I don't say that we would rule out under any circumstances someone of a different faith." (or NO faith?)
---John McCain (Interview with beliefnet.org, answering question if there could ever be a Muslim US president.)
Proofread much? "At a certain, a couple of months ago, news outlets..." Why read further?
If Lieberquisling hadn't already gotten the job, Parsley would have done a bangup job serving as McInsane's personal rasputin.
[Deleted. Flame bait-Sitemonitor]
The response from the reich-wing McSame Stream Media: *crickets chirping*
Oh right, little Timmy Russert will report on McSame's Hagee, Falwell, Parsley problem when there's videotape. Do we have to do his job for him all the time!?
racism is alive and well no matter what anyone says. I was in my local American Legion and some young rich idiot who was extremely drunk got to talking politics with me. After just a few comments he noticed and commented about me being a liberal then asked who I was going to vote for the cunt or the coon, ain't America great. I told him to either move to a new seat or I would move him myself, he moved.
Just wondering if true Christians call their wives trollips and c**nts. What denomination is McCain anyway and how often does he go to church?
This is the real dynamic. Its not about race, its about belonging. See most people like to THINK that despite how they've lived they are going to be treated well in the after life by their religion of choice. So when a white preacher says, everyone who doesn't do what I say is going to hell, this is interpreted by most listeners to mean everyone outside the congregation and can be safely ignored without feeling any stress. This becomes a problem for angry black religious people because the majority of people in this county are white so they CAN'T pretend to belong to that congregation. So whereas they are made to feel smug by the white preacher, they are made to feel threatened by the black preacher, whose message if pretty much the same.
Spicegal @ 56:
I believe he is a Political Expediencian. They go to church once every election cycle.
"My invisible sky-fairy friend is bigger than yours. Send me some money. Cha-cha-cha."
and repeat... oldest game on the planet.
have i done something wrong with my post?
have i done something wrong with my post? it says waiting for moderation
Will somebody please show me where Pastor Wright said ANYTHING that was ANTI-AMERIkAN? Please!
I looked just a few minutes ago and the number of folks that watched part 1 @ the Press club was 263,161. But only 78,168 had watched part 4. I have seen them all. please tell me where he said anti-amerikan things.
While you're at it, read Psalms 137
Rod Parsley is infinitely more dangerous than Jeremiah Wright. While Wright grouses about the imperfections of America's treatment of blacks, Parsley is actively advocating military action against Islamic nations.
Which man's beliefs and recommendations are more destructive?
"A closer look at McCain’s ’spiritual guide’'
http://www.johnrozum.com/images/casper.jpg
Guys, it isn't going to hold and do any damage and we all know it. We're stuck with Obama, we need to make sure he doesn't push defeat closer than it already is by picking some nobody like Dodd or Biden as Veep, and we need to find a good way to corral all those angry disaffected disenfranchised Hillary supporters before they go off and vote for McCain just for spite.
I wish this was powerful and useful and damaging; but it isn't and wishing it were so just puts our collective heads and asses in the sand.
Time to leave the sleaze ball politics to Clinton's legacy and get back to debating McCain on issues of importance to swing voters and independents. THAT'S where we will win and that's where Sen Obama won against Hillary.
Keep this kind of stuff locked up; it only hurts us.
AngryOne @ 42:
In terms of the way the media treats McCain, if they do ask him these questions, they will actually be phrased the way this list phrases them. Because they give McCain an opportunity to explain himself.
If the media were to treat McCain the way they will treat the Democratic nominee -- whether Clinton or Obama, or even if it had been Edwards or Richardson -- the questions would be largely rhetorical. They'd be phrased so that the question was really a statement, and the candidate's answer wouldn't really count for much.
They wouldn't ask, "Do you agree with Pastor John Hagee that . . . " McCain would just say, "No, of course not. I renounce that part. But he is a leader of a Christian community . . . [blah blah blah]" (That's largely what Stephanopolous did in his attempt to be fair.)
Instead, it'd be more like, "John Hagee says [insert something inflammatory and insane]. How can you possibly want this man's endorsement?" That way, it wouldn't matter what McCain said. The argument would have been made, and the sentiment would already have come across: Hagee is fuckin' nuts, and McCain wants his endorsement.
As the general election draws closer, no matter whom we nominate, expect the media to feign fairness by asking the Democrat, "What were you thinking when you made this mistake?" and to ask McCain, "Could you explain what might seem like a similar mistake?"
the last part -- which is only audio -- should have been juxtaposed with an image of hitler "we get off on warfare" sounds sooooooo hilter-esque!!!!
my god -- this sh** is scary.... america is becoming more and more scary by the day
There's a huge difference. Wright black, Parsley white. It's like the difference between a black man and a white man holding a wallet or cellular phone. Looks like a gun in the black man's hand. Shoot to kill.
"The idea of Christianity as a vehicle for war is disgusting and utterly antithetical to Christ’s teachings."
Bzzzt. Sorry. Perhaps you should read your "good book" again:
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." - Jesus Christ, as quoted in Matthew 10:34.
But thanks for playing our game. We have some lovely consolation prizes for you.
Rusty Shackleford @ 3:
And these two nut jobs would love for that old fart to have his finger on the button...
that's what they really want. So tell me how christanity, as they present it, is not a
religion of violence either.
I can't see this clip being useful in converting anyone who doesn't already slant progressive. Violent anti-Islam rhetoric is not going to offend as many people as you may hope - all the otherwise-moderate Americans in my experience agree with Parsley, and so if anything this clip would drive them into the arms of McCain.
A clip showing Hagee roasting the Catholic Church would be more effective.
Parsley is just another Christian nationalistic fascist who makes his living reciting Biblical passages and wrapping himself with the flag. These kind of guys were with us in the during the Cold War bringing fear politics and ringing the false alarm that there was a Communist under every trash can. Today, they have a new boogie man and that boogie man is Islam. Christian fascist preachers get away with all this false patriotism because their followers are either too scared or too dumb, or both. I can see how enough of these idiots kept Ohio competitive for Repubs for the last couple of decades.
Remember, that's not my Cadillac outside this good church. It's God's Cadillac.
The problem is, a whole lot of white people actually believe what the crazy white preachers say is true. As a white guy who spent the first half of his life in church, I know of what I speak. You might as well be screaming "HOW COME THE NEWS PUNDITS AREN'T EXPLAINING TO EVERYBODY THAT THERE REALLY IS NO GOD???!?!?!?!"
"I’m still reluctant to play the guilt-by-association game....."
re·luc·tant
1. unwilling; disinclined
Does McCain call him "Ralph" Parsley throughout the video. Is this another sign of McCain slipping -- he can't even remember the names of the people who endorse him?
I just love it! The more the Rod Parsleys of this world are thrust into the political spotlight, the more likely thinking people in this country will begin to examine their religious beliefs and see that these bigoted blatherers are the reductio ad absurdem of illogical, superstitious mumbo-jumbo. They might, then, turn to Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens are find out just how silly their beliefs are, perhaps even realize that much of what the Rod Parsleys of this world denounce is more in keeping with what their prophet preached than the sick, hypocritical rantings of our modern evangelical clerics.
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