Leading Voices Call for More Media Scrutiny of Rev. John Hagee

As journalists continue to discuss the relationship between Sen. Barack Obama and his controversial former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright, prominent voices in the media are asking why the connection between Sen. John McCain and anti-gay televangelist Rev. John Hagee isn’t receiving equal attention in the news. 

After Rev. Hagee again defended his contention that Hurricane Katrina was caused by God’s anger over New Orleans hosting of a gay pride parade, the May 8 edition of MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann replayed audio of Rev. Hagee’s extreme anti-gay comments and raised the question of why Sen. McCain’s relationship with the televangelist is not being widely scrutinized by the media.  On the program, host Keith Olbermann talked with Washington Post columnist and associate editor Eugene H. Robinson about the unequal media coverage of Rev. Wright and Rev. Hagee. Robinson opined that a lack of diversity amongst leading journalists could be a reason that many reporters are not recognizing the newsworthiness of Rev. Hagee’s incendiary anti-gay views.

In addition to Olbermann, New York Times columnist Frank Rich devoted his May 4 column to address what he perceived to be a racially motivated double standard in the media coverage of the relationships between Sen. Obama and Rev. Wright and between Sen. McCain and Rev. Hagee.  Noting Rev. Hagee’s anti-gay comments, Rich argued “If we’re to judge black candidates on their most controversial associates — and how quickly, sternly and completely they disown them — we must judge white politicians by the same yardstick.”

National journalists aren’t alone in raising questions about Rev. Hagee’s endorsement of Sen. McCain.  Noting Rev. Hagee’s anti-gay rhetoric, Denver Post op-ed writer Gail Schoettler penned a May 7 piece concluding, “We need to look just as closely at the words of other ministers who preach contempt and hate. In this election year, maybe America will begin to hold all vicious preachers accountable for their loathsome words.”

With people such as Olbermann, Robinson, Rich and Schoettler calling on the media to hold Rev. Hagee accountable for his hateful anti-gay statements, it’s time for more journalists to ask Sen. McCain why he refuses to dissociate with him.

Cindi Creager is Director of National News