McCain Slammed By Christian Conservatives Over Hagee Endorsement

Austin, TX (AHN) - Christian conservatives are demanding that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) denounce the endorsement of controversial televangelist James Hagee. The Republican frontrunner defended his refusal to do so on Friday, but his latest statement was met with continued criticism.

"McCain's latest response is helpful, if disappointing. I expected more from the self-described 'Straight Talk' presidential candidate," Catholic League president Bill Donohue said in a statement. "Why couldn't he have spoken specifically to the Catholic-bashing record of John Hagee? We would really appreciate it if McCain gave Hagee some 'Straight Talk' and told him to zip it."

Donahue previously reacted to Hagee's endorsement of McCain by calling Hagee a "bigot." He added, "There are plenty of staunch evangelical leaders who are pro-Israel, but are not anti-Catholic. John Hagee is not one of them. Indeed, for the past few decades, he has waged an unrelenting war against the Catholic Church... calling it 'The Great Whore,' an 'apostate church,' the 'anti-Christ,' and a 'false cult system.' "

Another group, Catholics United, wrote McCain a letter the same day asking him to reject Hagee's support "publicly and in unequivocal terms."

"In his book "Jerusalem Countdown, Hagee has a chapter entitled "Centuries of Mistreatment" where he makes derisive claims against the Catholic Church. Hagee suggests that Hitler's attendance in a Catholic grade school produced Hitler's anti-Semitic world view," the group wrote.

McCain, a maverick Republican struggling to win over wary Christian conservatives behind his campaign, said during a rally in Texas on Friday that he was not agreeing with everyone who endorsed his candidacy. He later released an official statement saying: "Yesterday, Pastor John Hagee endorsed my candidacy for president in San Antonio, Texas. However, in no way did I intend for his endorsement to suggest that I in turn agree with all of Pastor Hagee's views, which I obviously do not. fI am hopeful that Catholics, Protestants and all people of faith who share my vision for the future of America will respond to our message of defending innocent life, traditional marriage, and compassion for the most vulnerable in our society."

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is also disgruntled about the endorsement, but for different reasons. The Republican hopeful said he was unhappy with Hagee's decision.

"Sen. McCain supports human embryonic stem-cell research, does not support the Human Life Amendment, has expressed support in the past for same-sex marriage," Huckabee, a Baptist minister, said in an interview with MSNBC. "Those are all issues that are very problematic to many conservatives I don't know how to speak for Pastor Hagee. He's a friend. I was shocked and disappointed by his decision."

Donahue has also criticized Huckabee for the Republican hopeful's remarks. "If Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama were fighting over the support of Louis Farrakhan, we'd say they're nuts. So what are we to conclude about McCain's embrace of Hagee, and Huckabee's lament for not getting the bigot's endorsement?" he said.

Hagee, founder of the 19,000-member Cornerstone Church in San Antonio and prominent figure in the Christian-Zionist movement, has faced criticism for numerous controversial statements. One of them was his 1996 announcement to church members of fundraiser called "a slave sale" that read, "Slavery in America is returning to Cornerstone...Make plans to come and go home with a slave." Another was his statement in a 2006 NPR interview that said, "All hurricanes are acts of God, because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they are - were recipients of the judgment of God for that."