The Republican Media- No. 13

From: 1)USA Today: "McCain Rejects Hagee's Views on Catholics"; 2)Chicago Tribune: "McCain Rejects Anti-Catholic Views"; 3)Philadelphia Inquirer: "McCain Rejects Backer's Views On Catholics"; 4)Associated Press: "McCain Rejects Anti-Catholic Views".

And now for Senator John McCain's actual statement: "We've had a dignified campaign, and I repudiate any comments that are made, including Pastor Hagee's, if they are anti-Catholic or offensive to Catholics."

If they are anti-Catholic? Exactly how negative, how vile, would comments have to be for John McCain to concede that they are anti-Catholic? How about "apostate church," "false cult system" (by the way, what are "true" cults?), and "the great whore?"

At least Roman Catholics get an insincere near-excuse. According to mediamatters.org, Hagee has said of the people of New Orleans: "Hurricane Katrina I believe that the Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans" (National Public Radio's "Fresh Air" on 9/18/06); of a "slave sale" at his church: "slavery in America is returning to Cornerstone" and "make plans to come and go home with a slave" (Wall Street Journal, 7/27/06); and of women: "Do you know the difference between a woman with PMS and a snarling Doberman pinscher? The answer is lipstick. Do you know the difference between a terrorist and a woman with PMS? You can negotiate with a terrorist" (Hagee's book, "What Every Man Wants in a Woman"). McCain's explanation? ".... I am against discrimination and anti-Semitism, anti-Catholic, anything racial." "Anything racial?" Is that racism, racist codes, racist remarks, other races? He doesn't say.

It is extraordinary that the mainstream media is loathe to question John McCain's welcome of support from John Hagee while so fastidious about practically anything the two Democratic candidates say..... except that it's not extraordinary, but typical.