MSNBC's Dan Abrams Criticizes Media for Ignoring Prominent Anti-Gay McCain Supporter
As the media closely scrutinize the campaign supporters of Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, journalists still tend to overlook the outrageous anti-gay comments made by a key supporter of Sen. John McCain. On March 21, host Dan Abrams of MSNBC's Verdict with Dan Abrams took note of the media's overall inattention to McCain's most controversial endorsees by nicknaming the presidential hopeful "Teflon John." Abrams called particular attention to the revelation in the March 23 issue of The New York Times Magazine that McCain's campaign sought the endorsement of anti-gay televangelist John Hagee. Though Hagee dodged a question in the Times interview about his allegation that Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for a New Orleans gay pride parade, Abrams provided viewers with the audio clip of his incendiary statement. With so much invested in the 2008 election, it will be interesting to see whether there will be a national conversation about Hagee's anti-gay rhetoric and his endorsement of McCain if the media follow the lead of Abrams and others by continuing to confront the public with the audio of his inflammatory comments. Cindi Creager is Director of National News
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The relationship between a christian and their pastor is on an entirely different level than that of a regular campaign suppporter. That difference is extremely significant in the reason why more is being made about Obama's situation. A regular campaign supporter is entitled to their own opinions(we democrats really like to wave around the first amendment except when someone disagrees with us) and generally those opinions don't effect a campaign. We all have people we associate with, do business with and are friends with that we don't agree with on everything.
The difference lies here. A pastor in a Christian setting is someone who guides your life morally and spiritually and therefore what they preach repeatedly must be reflected in what you also believe. If it isn't the case then your relationship to that particular church and that pastor is only for show. And, if that is the case, it is another whole problem for Obama....
So which is it....is Obama in this church for his true beliefs or is he making a joke of this church by only being there for show.....
Iowan:
Your main premise - that there is a significant difference between the relationship between a generic campaign supporter and the candidate, and a pastor and his congregation - is one which I am completely in agreement with. I would even venture to say that this is not solely the case within Christianity; whether the individual is a pastor, rabbi, or cleric, they are often a spiritual guide to their followers.
However, the second part of your comment is deeply flawed. It seems that many people choose to ignore the fact that John McCain has specifically referred to Pastor Rod Parsley as his "spiritual guide" on multiple occasions.
You stated: "That difference is extremely significant in the reason why more is being made about Obama's situation." If a pastor "guides your life morally and spiritually," shouldn't the media and the public be questioning McCain's characterization of his relationship with Rod Parsley (and Rod Parsley's comments) in EXACTLY the same way that they are questioning Obama's relationship with his pastor?
Additionally, shouldn't the same be applied to McCain's relationship with Rev. John Hagee? He has, after all, said that he praised his "spiritual leadership." If he is to rely on a religious or spiritual mode when he accepts or denies someone's endorsement, isn't this steping into a a somewhat murky realm of being similar enough to a spiritual relationship as to still be drawn into question in the way that you suggest?