McCain's Spiritual Advisor is a Whackadoodle Too.

DealMonkey

Lifer
Nov 25, 2001
13,136
1
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I wonder why the MSM isn't bashing McCain over his equally wacky spiritual advisor? Damn liberal media, always attacking their own and ignoring the conservatives with the exact same PR problem! <shakes fist at sky>

McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam

Washington Dispatch: Televangelist Rod Parsley, a key McCain ally in Ohio, has called for eradicating the "false religion." Will the GOP presidential candidate renounce him?
Senator John McCain hailed as a spiritual adviser an Ohio megachurch pastor who has called upon Christians to wage a "war" against the "false religion" of Islam with the aim of destroying it.

On February 26, McCain appeared at a campaign rally in Cincinnati with the Reverend Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church of Columbus, a supersize Pentecostal institution that features a 5,200-seat sanctuary, a television studio (where Parsley tapes a weekly show), and a 122,000-square-foot Ministry Activity Center. That day, a week before the Ohio primary, Parsley praised the Republican presidential front-runner as a "strong, true, consistent conservative." The endorsement was important for McCain, who at the time was trying to put an end to the lingering challenge from former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, a favorite among Christian evangelicals. A politically influential figure in Ohio, Parsley could also play a key role in McCain's effort to win this bellwether state in the general election. McCain, with Parsley by his side at the Cincinnati rally, called the evangelical minister a "spiritual guide."

The leader of a 12,000-member congregation, 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. And Parsley targets another profound threat to the United States: the religion of Islam.

In a chapter titled "Islam: The Deception of Allah," Parsley warns there is a "war between Islam and Christian civilization." He continues:

I cannot tell you how important it is that we understand the true nature of Islam, that we see it for what it really is. In fact, I will tell you this: I do not believe our country can truly fulfill its divine purpose until we understand our historical conflict with Islam. I know that this statement sounds extreme, but I do not shrink from its implications. The fact is that America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed, and I believe September 11, 2001, was a generational call to arms that we can no longer ignore.

Parsley is not shy about his desire to obliterate Islam. In Silent No More, he notes?approvingly?that Christopher Columbus shared the same goal: "It was to defeat Islam, among other dreams, that Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World in 1492?Columbus dreamed of defeating the armies of Islam with the armies of Europe made mighty by the wealth of the New World. It was this dream that, in part, began America." He urges his readers to realize that a confrontation between Christianity and Islam is unavoidable: "We find now we have no choice. The time has come." And he has bad news: "We may already be losing the battle. As I scan the world, I find that Islam is responsible for more pain, more bloodshed, and more devastation than nearly any other force on earth at this moment."

Parsley claims that Islam is an "anti-Christ religion" predicated on "deception." The Muslim prophet Muhammad, he writes, "received revelations from demons and not from the true God." And he emphasizes this point: "Allah was a demon spirit." Parsley does not differentiate between violent Islamic extremists and other followers of the religion:

There are some, of course, who will say that the violence I cite is the exception and not the rule. I beg to differ. I will counter, respectfully, that what some call "extremists" are instead mainstream believers who are drawing from the well at the very heart of Islam.

The spirit of Islam, he maintains, is one of hostility. He asserts that the religion "inspired" the 9/11 attacks. He bemoans the fact that in the years after 9/11, 34,000 Americans "have become Muslim" and that there are "some 1,209 mosques" in America. Islam, he declares, is a "faith that fully intends to conquer the world" through violence. The United States, he insists, "has historically understood herself as a bastion against Islam," but "history is crashing in upon us."

At the end of his chapter on Islam, Parsley asks, "Are we a Christian nation? I say yes." Without specifying what actions should be taken to eradicate the religion, he essentially calls for a new crusade.


Parsley, who refers to himself as a "Christocrat," is no stranger to controversy. In 2007, the grassroots organization he founded, the Center for Moral Clarity, called for prosecuting people who commit adultery. In January, he compared Planned Parenthood to Nazis. In the past Parsley's church has been accused of engaging in pro-Republican partisan activities in violation of its tax-exempt status.

Why would McCain court Parsley? He has long had trouble figuring out how to deal with Christian fundamentalists, an important bloc for the Republican Party. During his 2000 presidential bid, he referred to Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell as "agents of intolerance." But six years later, as he readied himself for another White House run, McCain repudiated that remark. More recently, his campaign hit a rough patch when he accepted the endorsement of the Reverend John Hagee, a Texas televangelist who has called the Catholic Church "the great whore" and a "false cult system." After the Catholic League protested and called on McCain to renounce Hagee's support, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee praised Hagee's spiritual leadership and support of Israel and said that "when [Hagee] endorses me, it does not mean that I embrace everything that he stands for or believes in." After being further criticized for his Hagee connection, McCain backed off slightly, saying, "I repudiate any comments that are made, including Pastor Hagee's, if they are anti-Catholic or offensive to Catholics." But McCain did not renounce Hagee's endorsement.

McCain's relationship with Parsley is politically significant. In 2004, Parsley's church was credited with driving Christian fundamentalist voters to the polls for George W. Bush. With Ohio expected to again be a decisive state in the presidential contest, Parsley's World Harvest Church and an affiliated entity called Reformation Ohio, which registers voters, could be important players within this battleground state. Considering that the Ohio Republican Party has been decimated by various political scandals and that a popular Democrat, Ted Strickland, is now the state's governor, McCain and the Republicans will need all the help they can get in the Buckeye State this fall. It's a real question: Can McCain win the presidency without Parsley?

The McCain campaign did not respond to a request for comment regarding Parsley and his anti-Islam writings. Parsley did not return a call seeking comment.

"The last thing I want to be is another screaming voice moving people to extremes and provoking them to folly in the name of patriotism," Parsley writes in Silent No More. Provoking people to holy war is another matter. About that, McCain so far is silent.

Linkage

Let's see:

- Bigoted beliefs against another religion. Check.
- Wants to destroy Islam in a new Crusades. Check
- Hates gay people. Check.
- Compares abortionists to nazis. Check.

I guess I'm now waiting for McCain to denounce the "good" pastor. I won't hold my breath considering these beliefs probably resonate pretty strongly with the typical GOP rank and file.
 

Sinsear

Diamond Member
Jan 13, 2007
6,439
80
91
"Destroy Islam" will go over much better than "God Damn America" and whacko conspiracies that the US government created AIDS to kill black people.
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,251
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umm McCain is known as a secularist. These types of charges really aren't going to stick.

Obama on the other hand called Wright his spiritual advisor AND used a sermon of his as the title of his book. Makes it harder for him to distance himself from Wright.
 

TheSlamma

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2005
7,625
5
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Originally posted by: Sinsear
"Destroy Islam" will go over much better than "God Damn America" and whacko conspiracies that the US government created AIDS to kill black people.
I was gonna say, when it comes to the trailor park vote thats a winner right there.

It's amazing how this country prides itself on freedom of religion as long as it's always in the shadow of Christianity.

 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,816
83
91
what was that line said to some arab leader in like the west wing or something... "I could shoot you in the middle of times square and the american people would elect me in a landslide"?
 

Tab

Lifer
Sep 15, 2002
12,145
0
71
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
umm McCain is known as a secularist. These types of charges really aren't going to stick.

Obama on the other hand called Wright his spiritual advisor AND used a sermon of his as the title of his book. Makes it harder for him to distance himself from Wright.

Umm... No...

Religion Christian

If turnabout is fair play, then John McCain critics believe his association with controversial pastors should be held to the same scrutiny as Barack Obama?s ties to Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
 

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
21,030
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McCain speaking to and associating with CUFI makes me uncomfortable. It should make anyone uncomfortable.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,095
513
126
The left will try their hardest to uncover anything on McCain that sounds like Wright. They will ultimately fail.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,085
5,618
126
So the US's "mission" is to destroy Islam, but Islam may destroy may destroy the US. So whose religion is "false" again?

Answer: All Religion is equally False.
 

magomago

Lifer
Sep 28, 2002
10,973
14
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Well to be fair - those who endorse him doesn't imply that he follows them straight up. Otherwise it would be hippo critical since RP did get some white supremacists to endorse him, and Obama has his (Which imo is overblown) Reverend Wright issue following him.

Its hard to decide - damn America because we are sinning right now and need to fix out problems, or goooo America you are the light and kill the Muslims. Even though I most likely will not vote for either - a mantra of "angry criticism in hopes of improving" sounds shitloads better than the mantra of "wage 'war' against magomago"
 

Tab

Lifer
Sep 15, 2002
12,145
0
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Originally posted by: Genx87
The left will try their hardest to uncover anything on McCain that sounds like Wright. They will ultimately fail.

And... Your point is this is politics as usual? Wright might be crazy and all but Parsley asking for the elimination of an entire religion is something much more serious.

Or do you disagree?
 

daveymark

Lifer
Sep 15, 2003
10,576
1
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Originally posted by: DealMonkey

Let's see:

- Bigoted beliefs against another religion. Check.
- Wants to destroy Islam in a new Crusades. Check
- Hates gay people. Check.
- Compares abortionists to nazis. Check.


close friends with McCain for 20 years. oh wait
Married McCain to his wife. oh wait
Is McCain's close spiritual advisor. oh wait
McCain locked him in the basement of the Old State Capitol while white politicians introduced him as he began announcement to run for president. oh wait




 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,415
14,303
136
Originally posted by: Genx87
The left will try their hardest to uncover anything on McCain that sounds like Wright. They will ultimately fail.

Well yeah... 'cause all they really need is SC 2000 primary where McCain told the religious right he hated them and never wanted their votes. Oh snap! The neocon betrayal of the RR's will be as complete as it already has been for the real conservatives. The only difference is that the RR's will be smart enough to know it.
 

Corbett

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2005
3,074
0
76
Please show evidence that Parsley is McCain's "spiritual guide". I believe Digg users have already proven this article is not accurate.
 

Corbett

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2005
3,074
0
76
Originally posted by: Genx87
The left will try their hardest to uncover anything on McCain that sounds like Wright. They will ultimately fail.

Bingo. Nothing Hagee, Parsley or most any other Christian pastor of a large church comes remotely close to what Reverend Wrong spewed. Not to mention, even if you can find just one who is, you'd have to ask if McCain sat if the front rows for over 20 years.
 

BMW540I6speed

Golden Member
Aug 26, 2005
1,055
0
0
I know the answer is obvious, but why does our "liberul" media never point out the fact that not only did McCain "accept" Hagee's endorsement, but actively cultivated it?

I know the now stock footage of the unbalanced crazy and frothing avuncular black man in preacher regalia is the predicate for all things informational in American society, but when is that clip ever cleverly juxtaposed next to the Obama/Wright joint endorsement news conference appearance, you know, the one where Obama lionized and genuflected at Wright's altar of wisdom and knowingness?

Of course, there was no such Obama/Wright news conference, however, there actually was a Hagee/McCain media event where our brave hero lavishly heaped praise on the originator of such inspiring bromides such as the Catholic Church being the "great whore", and the devastation of New Orleans being the result of "God's Wrath" over a planned gay parade.

Yes. It's all clear to me now. Obama is a bad man because he never sought the endorsement of Wright, but McCain is a noble warrior for overtly, blatantly and actively begging for then touting the endorsement of a certified nut from nutty nutville.


 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: Sinsear
"Destroy Islam" will go over much better than "God Damn America" and whacko conspiracies that the US government created AIDS to kill black people.
It will, but it is not good. It is not a full, but it is a partial counterweight to wright, should the media run away with this.
 

Dari

Lifer
Oct 25, 2002
17,134
38
91
Originally posted by: loki8481
what was that line said to some arab leader in like the west wing or something... "I could shoot you in the middle of times square and the american people would elect me in a landslide"?

A prelude to downfall.
 

Drift3r

Guest
Jun 3, 2003
3,572
0
0
Originally posted by: Tab
Originally posted by: Genx87
The left will try their hardest to uncover anything on McCain that sounds like Wright. They will ultimately fail.

And... Your point is this is politics as usual? Wright might be crazy and all but Parsley asking for the elimination of an entire religion is something much more serious.

Or do you disagree?

I can find a whole lot of Christians in this country who would have no problem with this idea. More so then those who agree with Wright's assessment and condemnation of America.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,095
513
126
Originally posted by: Tab
Originally posted by: Genx87
The left will try their hardest to uncover anything on McCain that sounds like Wright. They will ultimately fail.

And... Your point is this is politics as usual? Wright might be crazy and all but Parsley asking for the elimination of an entire religion is something much more serious.

Or do you disagree?

My point is you guys will try to uncover anything on anybody and paint it in the same light as the Wright\Obama relationship when it is clearly apples and oranges. Dont waste your time because people wont buy it. What is this, the 3rd attempt in as many weeks trying to do this? And nothign has stuck because people see right through it as a lame attempt.
 

DealMonkey

Lifer
Nov 25, 2001
13,136
1
0
As I suspected, there are a shitload of conservative christian republicans who are just fine with a candidate having a hate-filled spiritual advisor, so long as he hates the right things. Islam, and gay people as just two examples. Pathetic.
 

Dari

Lifer
Oct 25, 2002
17,134
38
91
Originally posted by: Genx87
Originally posted by: Tab
Originally posted by: Genx87
The left will try their hardest to uncover anything on McCain that sounds like Wright. They will ultimately fail.

And... Your point is this is politics as usual? Wright might be crazy and all but Parsley asking for the elimination of an entire religion is something much more serious.

Or do you disagree?

My point is you guys will try to uncover anything on anybody and paint it in the same light as the Wright\Obama relationship when it is clearly apples and oranges. Dont waste your time because people wont buy it. What is this, the 3rd attempt in as many weeks trying to do this? And nothign has stuck because people see right through it as a lame attempt.

It doesn't stick because, as Drift3r mentioned, most Americans agree with such sentiments. Double standard? Of course not. This is politics.

What's sad is McCain went looking for these guys endorsement even though he called them "agents of intolerance." then again, this is politics as usual.