[whmatthews]

http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/ ... 2009990001

STOCKTON, Calif. (May 22) - Republican John McCain on Thursday rejected endorsements from two influential but controversial televangelists, saying there is no place for their incendiary criticisms of other faiths.

Here's what stuck out to me...

McCain released a statement announcing his decision about Hagee, saying, "Obviously, I find these remarks and others deeply offensive and indefensible." The presumptive GOP nominee discussed Parsley in an interview with The Associated Press later in the day. "I believe there is no place for that kind of dialogue in America," he said.

Sure there's a place for it in America, it's called Free Speech. At least he didn't call him an "agent of intolerance."

[jcmanson]

I think the real story here is Hagee. Did anyone hear what he had to say about Jews?

[adam42381]

I think the real story here is Hagee. Did anyone hear what he had to say about Jews?

I keep hearing about the uproar on the radio and reading about it but haven't hear what was actually said. Anybody have the actual transcript of the Hitler comments?

[LUconn]

I don't think you can reject an endorsement. It's not really up to McCain who Hagee endorses. It's CYA so that Wright is still in play for the general election.

[ALUmnus]

Hagee pulled his endorsement previously, so McCain basically rejected something that was already taken away. The whole thing is so stupid, because every remark that was supposedly so outrageous was taken greatly out of context and Hagee didn't say at all what the press is portraying him to say. But I guess if you repeat a lie enough times it becomes fact.

[Sly Fox]

I've heard the comments and this is completely being overblown. Essentially what Hagee did was use a passage from Jeremiah that talked about "hunters" chasing Jews into the Promised Land. He simply stated that Hitler could be a hunter be referenced. Frankly it is pretty benign stuff and I am not a big Hagee fan.

I am more concerned with how quickly McCain is bailing from the slightest bit of controversy. That's hardly what I would expect from a man who built his reputation as a maverick who loved to fight the establishment. Perhaps being a septegenerian (?) Is softening him a bit too much.

[RagingTireFire]

That's exactly what I would expect from a man who built his reputation as a maverick who loved to fight the conservative establishment.

Fixed it.