By Don Frederick
Pastor John Hagee has revised his view of God's wrath, and chances are John McCain couldn't be happier.
Without fanfare, in an e-mail sent the latter part of Friday, Hagee backed off his assertion that Hurricane Katrina was the Almighty's punishment of New Orleans because it had planned to host a gay pride parade.
Hagee's history of anti-Catholic statements already has made his high-profile endorsement of McCain a mixed blessing. And much to the McCain camp's chagrin, Hagee earlier this week reiterated his opinion that God targeted New Orleans -- remarks coming as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee geared up for a campaign stop in the still-recovering city.
A McCain spokesman quickly stressed that the candidate rejected such statements. And then Hagee, in the e-mail billed as an "official statement" from the influential televangelist, did so, as well. He wrote:
"As a believing Christian, I see the hand of God in everything that happens here on earth, both the blessings and the curses. But ultimately neither I nor any other person can know the mind of God concerning Hurricane Katrina. I should not have suggested otherwise. No matter what the cause of the storm, my heart goes out to all who suffered in this terrible tragedy. There but for the grace of God go any one of us."
That's quite a different opinion thhan he publicly expressed in September, 2006. During an interview with NPR, he said the devastating storm "was, in fact, the judgment of God against ... New Orleans." The city, he continued, "had a level of sin that was offensive to God" because "there was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that the Katrina came."
On Tuesday, Hagee refused to disavow those comments. He told talk radio show host Dennis Prager, "What happened in New Orleans looked like the curse of God... . It was a city that was planning a sinful conduct.''
Don Frederick writes for Top of the Ticket, the L.A. Times political blog.
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Comments
After watching Bill Moyer's interview with the Reverand Wright, it is obvious to me that our corporate media were engaged in character assassination. The waving of sound bytes, as evidence of unpatriotic, or racist remarks, is not only ludicrous, it is proof that certain parts of America are not ready for an African American, as our President. They would rather sink America deeper into that chasm, that is Republican related!! Come on, America, wake up!!! Senator McCain wants more tax cuts, for the rich and Senator Clinton wants to destroy the Democratic Party, if she doesn't get her nomination. The only sensible choice is Senator Obama, who is holding his own, against the tag team of McCain-Clinton!!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | April 26, 2008 10:26 AM
Yeah, its ok for Hatee to retract his statements now that mcbush's campaign said it could cost mcbush the election. Of course, the drive -by - media was busy focusing on Rev. Wright's comments, so they never noticed Hagee's equally offensive statements. Now they can completely forget about what they refused to cover in the first place. Typical slobbering conservative media bias to be slobbering over an olde man incapable of understanding basic economic theory and thinking it's ok for American troops to continue to die in Iraq for another 100 years. As they say - Four More Wars!
Posted by: rncbs | April 26, 2008 1:30 PM
Gee, where are the hundreds of posts condemning this hateful preacher along with the admonishing of McCain for listening to him? I guess only white preachers are allowed to say God Damn America.
Posted by: DD | April 26, 2008 1:44 PM
This is getting about as much outraged media coverage as Pat Robertson's and Jerry Falwell's comments after 9-11 that stated 9-11 was the United States' punishment for homosexuals and feminists. Now this Hagee guy? But when Rev. Wright says there is a conspiracy brewing he is a left-wing, anti-american, race mongering nut? Even if they are all nuts, why should one candidate pay and not the other?
Posted by: Stephanie H. | April 26, 2008 6:03 PM
One wonders if Hagee thinks God targeted that Chicago bus stop where two people were killed.
Posted by: C.Morris | April 26, 2008 9:21 PM