Progressive World Review

I’ve written previously on Pastor Jeremiah Wright and how far too much attention has been paid to his remarks.  I’ve also discussed John McCain’s own Pastor Wright, Pastor John Hagee, and how that in spite of his anti-Catholic and homophobic remarks, not much has been mentioned in the press concerning his connection to McCain even though McCain actively sought out his political endorsement.  My main point was that in either case, placing too much emphasis on these candidates associations obscures the real issues we should be focusing on,

But the real point has nothing to do with defending Wright or condemning Hagee because neither of these men are actually running for president.  And while I don’t mean to suggest that we should completely ignore the associations of the candidates for elected office, I do think we should put it in its proper perspective.  When it comes down to it, trying to gauge the qualifications of a candidate on their perceived personality, or that of their associations, will invariably lead us astray.

This is certainly true of Barack Obama.  Wright is a separatist while Obama preaches unity.  Obama has never played to race during his campaign; in fact, some in the black community have accused him as not being black enough.  Anyone who believes that what Obama stands for has any real resemblance to Wright is just not paying attention.

As far as McCain’s connection to Hagee, I was willing to give McCain the benefit of the doubt.  For all his faults, I certainly don’t consider McCain to be the rabid religious fanatic that is Hagee.  However, it’s been pointed out to me that I may be going to easy on McCain.  ThinkProgress published a post on this very issue to which I entered the following comment,

McCain actively sought and accepted Hagee’s endorsement, going so far as embracing this vile and disgusting bigot on stage. All the while the media has been mostly silent prefering (sic) to yammer on endlessly about Obama and Wright. While certainly some of Wright’s remarks have been out there, what really has invoked America’s ire (to the extent that anybody cares), has been his “god damn America” remark. That remark is what really pissed off the American herd, never mind that blacks were brought here in chains and that legacy remains even into today.

Wright for all of his incendiary and sometimes ridiculous comments is still just an understandably angry black man while Hagee is nothing more than a disgusting bigot. But which one is getting all the press?

More or less echoing the thoughts I have expressed here.  However, another commenter, Blueflash, in answer to my comment, pointed out something I had failed to consider,

Paul W - Hagee’s worse than just a bigot. He fervently believes the Rapture is immanent (sic) in the Middle East and apparently that it will take John-Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran-McCain to further it along. Naturally, our horse’s @ss of a media obsesses over the fundamentally powerless Rev. Wright while ignoring McCain’s association with a dangerous whackjob who can’t wait for World War 111. The fact that there are black preachers and congregants who don’t worship at the altar of blind, see no evil patriotism is just a tad less scary than the fact that millions of whites agree with Hagee and that McCain feels the need to make them his allies.

What makes the McCain/Hagee connection different from Obama and Wright is that while different in certain respects, both McCain and Hagee are in complete agreement on the necessity of attacking Iran.  And that their reasons may or not be the same matters very little.  There were a variety of motivations when it came to invading Iraq, some had convinced themselves that removing Saddam Hussein would transform the region, others, like Hagee saw this as potentially starting Armageddon, while still others were in it just for the oil.  And so while the motivations of the various factions were quite different, their goal was ultimately the same and clearly they were able to work together making the invasion a reality.

I’m quite certain that McCain is not the religious wingnut that Hagee is, but that both these influential men want to invade Iran and are apparently willing to work together to achieve it, makes John McCain a very scary prospect for president.

–Paul Wilden

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