John McCain told to dump spiritual guide in row over "war" on Islam

Times Online ^ | 13/03/08 | Hannah Strange

[isrul]

(Reuters)

John McCain described Rod Parsley, a televangelist who urged a Christian war on Islam, as his spiritual guide

Hannah Strange John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has been called upon to renounce a church leader he considers his spiritual guide for urging a Christian war to destroy the “false religion” of Islam.

A number of prominent US weblogs demanded he reject the support of Reverend Rod Parsley, of the World Harvest Church of Columbus, an influential televangelist and political figure who campaigned alongside him in the run up to the Ohio primary.

On February 26, a week before the Ohio vote, Mr McCain appeared at a campaign rally in Cincinnati with the evangelical pastor, who praised the candidate as a “strong, true, consistent conservative”. With Mike Huckabee, a Baptist preacher, then continuing to snap at his heels, Mr Parsley’s endorsement was a boon to Mr McCain’s efforts to knock out his last remaining challenger and win over social conservatives. Standing side-by-side with the minister, Mr McCain hailed him as a “spiritual guide”.

Since then, the writings of Mr Parsley have attracted attention from political commentators. Several have noted that Mr McCain's Democratic rival, Barack Obama, was forced to publicly denounce and reject the support of Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, after he received unsolicited praise from the controversial figure.

[isrul]

So will McCain throw his spiritual adviser under the bus? Perhaps the question should be when and not will.

[cardinal4]

Apples and Oranges. Most people know Islam is a false religion..

[Red Badger]

But O’Bama’s spiritual adviser is aok?..............

[goldstategop]

Liberals will demand McCain dump a pastor who gets it about Islam but they excuse Obama's retaining a pastor known for his anti-America views. No bias there!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[indcons]

McInsane will apologize first. After he apologizes, he’ll throw him under the bus and then will apologize to Obama for the “dishonorable” questions re: arch-racist and terrorist sympathizer, Jeremiah Wright.

[misterrob]

I really wish these evangelists would stay the hell out of politics. They damage candidates while abusing their tax exempt status.

Or maybe we should have government get involved with religion since so many of these types think it’s okay to get involved with government.....

[isrul]

That's an interestinmg question. I would like to hear McCain answer it.

[RedRover]

The Obama camp makes a preemptive strike on McCain.

[isrul]

You may be right.

[silverleaf]

So now candidates (or anyone else) must kowtow to “prominent weblogs”? I don’t think so.

Any idiot with a keyboard can be a weblog...and call himself “prominent”. Get real.

[TheBattman]

What about Obama’s hyper-racist Black Liberation Theology preaching pastor?

[isrul]

Be interesting to see how McCain handles it.

[LowTaxesEqualProsperity]

We are in a war with Islam. Islam freely admits this. What’s the problem?

[farmer18th]

Rod Parsely. It sounds like we actually have someone in the pulpits telling the truth about Islam. (They won’t let him last long.)

[isrul]

McCain would repudiate you for mentioning that.

[isrul]

We are not in a war with Islam!! Bush says so. Rice says so. McCain agrees. You need to get with the program. It’s a great religion of peace. So roll over and bend over and believe what your betters tell you.

[isrul]

Nope. Truth is dangerous, these days.

[camerakid400]

Europe is in a predicament, and so is America. They should agree to become Islamic in the course of time, or else declare war on the Muslims.

-Muammar Qaddafi

http://www.memritv.org/clip_transcript/en/1121.htm

[Retired Greyhound]

sounds like a Bush Air National Guard story designed as a counter-attack.

[isrul]

alas, I think I know what the choice they will make.

[Resolute Conservative]

There are a lot more but they get cowed down and no attention other than to be called zealots.

[pissant]

Yes, he will. I can almost guarantee it.

[marron]

What percentage of the voting public will be offended if you say that Islam is a false religion?

Muslims, of course, can’t blame them. Thats a tiny demographic. Otherwise most of the people who will be offended will be the permanently outraged Left, who believe in no religion at all.

Most of them aren’t going to vote for McCain whatever he does.

So when he does throw Parsley under the bus, he will do so gaining not one voter in the process.

[isrul]

"What percentage of the voting public will be offended if you say that Islam is a false religion?"

It will offend McCain, in his self righteous, sanctimonious stupor. That's the problem.

[TommyDale]

I would throw Rod Parsley under the bus regardless of what he said about Islam. He teaches a false doctrine of his own.

[donna]

Like McCain actually listens to his “spiritual adviser”.

[isrul]

I just heard on Rush that, in so many words, yes. McCain spokesman says candidate can't be held responsible for what adviser says. Especially since Obama has repudiated what he said.

Some guy named Black on Scarborough actually said that false crap.

[isrul]

He would be more likely to listen if the adviser was across the aisle.

[Cicero]

I don’t think McCain has a spiritual adviser, any more than bill clinton does. One of his advisers told him to play the religion card, so he did. Much like clinton waving his Bible for the press outside that Church of Christ without Christ in DC.

[isrul]

I'm shocked to see that. Shocked.

[Condor51]

Denounce this, denounce that.
All this 'denouncing' is getting ridiculous. So maybe every candidate should have something like this preprinted and at the ready......

I __________ (fill in name) hereby denounce ___________ (fill in name) for offending ____________ (fill in name or group) for saying __________ (fill in topic) and that ___________ (fill in name) no longer has any association with my campaign. Furthermore, I hereby apologize to __________ (fill in name or group) for any pain and or suffering caused by ___________ (fill in name) and promise that it will never happen again.

Very truly yours,
______________ (fill in name)

Since my above attempt at humor on this Denouncing topic will obviously offend someone, somewhere, I hereby Denounce my own post.

Regards,
Denounced

[houstonman58]

"I would throw Rod Parsley under the bus regardless of what he said about Islam. He teaches a false doctrine of his own."

Thanks for saying what I was thinking. All these phony "Christian" churches out there are doing very little to promote true Christianity. What these self declared "evangelicals" have is "Christianity light", "the gospel according to my feelings", if even that.

[pallis]

I know what people mean when the say “false religion,” but I have to disagree with the term. As a Christian I tend to regard all religion as false, and in that light, Islam is a true religion, the modern version of Arab paganism. I wish more Christian, spiritual advisers to our political idols would call Islam what is is, true pagan religion.

[MurryMom]

Like McCain actually listens to his “spiritual adviser”.

If McInsane actually listens to this one, he can kiss the presidency goodbye. Parsley is a holy roller specializing in cancer and other incurable diseases.

[MrB]

The church/state wall was MEANT to be one way - gov’t out of religion.

[MrB]

So... we DO have some people who aren’t so cowed by PC that they can not only NAME the enemy, but what we have to do about it.

Unfortunately, McCain is not one of those people.

[RedRover]

Also interesting to see if the MSM uses this to defuse the bigger story of Obama’s spiritual advisor’s hatred for America.

[MrB]

Left, who believe in no religion at all

I don't think that's as accurate as saying that they're simply anti-Christianity.

[Common Tator]

Well it is like this.. McCain’s spiritial adviser wants to destroy the enemies of the USA. Obama’s spiritial adviser wants to destroy the USA.

Obviously you can’t see any differnce.

[isrul]

I think that's the reason for the story. I tried to trace the source and it seems like it may have originated in “Mother Jones”, of all places.

[Bosco]

If McInsane actually listens to this one, he can kiss the presidency goodbye. Parsley is a holy roller specializing in cancer and other incurable diseases.

If you would, please cite your source on this one.

I live in central Ohio and although I'm not a member/attender of his church I have not heard of Parsley "specializing in cancer and other incurable diseases".

He's politically active with his Center for Moral Clarity since 2000, I think and if the incurable diseases was true as you say he would have been eaten alive in the past 2 election cycles.

[TommyDale]

I denounce your post on denouncement.

LOL!

[Patrick1]

I call it even. McCain hangs on to Parsley and loses the votes of Islamists. Obama hangs on to Wright and loses the votes of Americans.

[ari-freedom]

Islam should be repudiated, not this man

[FatherofFive]

In a chapter titled "Islam: The Deception of Allah," Mr Parsley speaks of Allah as a “demon spirit” and urges "war between Islam and Christian civilisation". There is no difference between violent Islamist extremists and moderate Muslims, he argues..

The Koran and Haddith calls for muslims to kill Jews, and slay, wage war against, or cut off various body parts of non-muslims.

What part of "war between Islam and Christian civilization" isn’t understood?

Sura (2:191-193) - "And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution of Muslims is worse than slaughter of non-believers...and fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah."

Sura (5:33) - "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement"

Sura (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them"

Bukhari (52:177) - Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him."

Tabari 7:97 The morning after the murder of Ashraf, the Prophet declared,"Kill any Jew who falls under your power."

Ibn Ishaq: 327 - “Allah said, ‘A prophet must slaughter before collecting captives. A slaughtered enemy is driven from the land. Muhammad, you craved the desires of this world, its goods and the ransom captives would bring. But Allah desires killing them to manifest the religion.’”

[barb-tex]

Hasn't the first amendment been rewritten to exclude evangelicals?
barbra ann

[isrul]

If they are McCain supporters; yes it has. Didn't you get the memo.

[MEGoody]

When Obamie drops his spiritual guide, then McCain can consider giving up his.

[MEGoody]

Or maybe we should have government get involved with religion since so many of these types think it’s okay to get involved with government.

Can you please tell me where in the constitution it states that religious leaders cannot comment on politics or politicians? Oh, it's not there. Sorry.

If you wish to put into place more laws restricting freedom of expression, at least be honest enough to admit you are a liberal.

[isrul]

Well, according to a McCain spokesman, Obama has repudiated what Jeremiah said (which is false). And Obama's not responsible for what Jeremiah says in any case.

This via Rush talking about Black on Scarborough.

So let's see what McCain does about his "adviser".