Billy Graham Responds to Lingering Anger Over 1972 Remarks on Jews

AP via NY Times ^ | March 17, 2002 | AP via NY Times

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"Guys, think about this. Whose purpose does it serve, to dig up these kinds of remarks [...] in the first place? [...] Second, why now? Let's see. [...] is approaching his end, about to pass on his legacy. [...] have been agitating for years to find some way to destroy his credibility, especially now [...]. Can you see the political gamesmanship here? Destroy [...]. Fracture [...]. Sap [...] support [...] Scorched earth tactics, 101... " Fill in the blanks, and you pretty much have Clinton's televised speech to the nation after giving his grand jury testimony.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"it appears I have another anti-American religion to investigate more fully [...] If Billy Graham [...] is labelled as anti-semite,than I will start declaring myself the same." Is Sara home? Maybe it would be better if you put her on line and took a nap or something.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"[Libertarian Billy Graham is] a punk, a loser, and a scumbag rolled all into one." You forgot to add that his clothes don't match and his momma is real ugly.

[Hacksaw]

"Foxman makes his living getting offended [...] he sees enemies everywhere." Hmmm ... Sounds familiar. Does he post on FR using a whole bunch of different names?

The ADL was recenly successfully sued for wiretapping and slandering a couple.

[Hacksaw]

Mr. Graham, like Mr. Jackson, purports to be a minister of God. He spoke as a bigot. He lied about it. He was caught on tape. Now he admits there is enough evidence to convict him and repents.

Comparing Billy Graham to Jesse Jackson is a horrible slur. Graham does not do around fleecing companines and slandering people as racists if they do not cave in to him. That was a below the belt comment.

[Check6]

Who would have thought that the Jews would end up running America?

[alnick]

Do YOU remember every comment that you made in private conversations 30 years ago?

[PhilipFreneau]

Mr. Graham, like Mr. Jackson, purports to be a minister of God. He spoke as a bigot. He lied about it. He was caught on tape. Now he admits there is enough evidence to convict him and repents.

Christians have always made the distinction between secular Jews ("satanic Jews") and orthodox Jews (the good guys).

[Mfkmmof4]

I still think the Rev. Graham is an honorable man. The fact he does not remember from 1972 is understandable and he at least apologized. But yet there are those that will forgive Clinton and he lied under oath.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"Who would have thought that the Jews would end up running America?" President Bush is Jewish? Dick Cheney? Tom Delay? Dennis Hastert? Ascroft? Rumsfield? Powell? Rove? Hughes? Scalia? Renquist? Thomas?

[fightu4it]

"Here we have an American icon, the closest we have to a spiritual leader of America, who has been playing a charade for all these years,"

I happen to think Rev. Grahm's remarks were right on target for the time. How that that translates into a charade I'm not sure.

I do know what has happened to the reputation and careers of several other patriotic Americans who have been critical of the Jewish influence when it has appeared to run counter to the best interests and security of America.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

You sum things up well.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

"Soon Billy will learn that, unlike his vices, his crimes injured his neighbors and he is personally responsible for their losses until he repents and his debts are forgiven."

What crimes are you talking about, sicko?

[fightu4it]

"What crimes are you talking about, sicko?"

The only crime I see is that people of Rev. Graham's stature do not publicly express their concerns.

Who was it that said, and I'm paraphrasing: In order for evil to triumph it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.

[Libertarian Billy Graham]

According to the article, Mr. Graham said that if Tricky were re-elected, "then we [he and Tricky] might be able to do something" about the media being controlled by Jews who are "putting out the pornographic stuff."

Notice that Billy didn't have faith that God could sufficiently use evangelists like himself to preach against the vice that Billy perceived was promoted by Jews.

According to the recordings Billy said that Tricky needed 4 more years of state power before they "might be able to do something." It is at this point, I'm sorry to say that Billy Graham, who was one of my childhood heroes, crosses the line of criminality.

At the judgement, Billy may argue that he didn't know that it was a crime to use the power of the state to attack purveyors of vices like pornography. If Billy argues along this line, God will have Billy take a look at a few of Billy's own vices.

He'll point out to Billy that joking about the ethnic makeup of industries like popular media and the NBA might be minor borderline vices at worst, but if not practiced in moderation (for example, if you whoop it up along with known bigots like Tricky and Haldeman) it could lead to even bigger more self damaging vices like lying. And then it could spin out of control from there until finally Billy was taught a good lesson in virtue and vice and his responsibilites to himself.

And then God will have to point out to Billy that his crimes are a much more serious matter than his vices because they, by definition, involve victimized third parties--and, that means that a whole new principle is involved that was not involved in the matters of his vices--namely Billy's responsibilities to his victimized neighbors.

And then God will explain to Billy how crime can get out of hand and create much havoc for many victims, just like vice can spin out of control and cause much damage to one person. For example, when Billy and Tricky gave more power to J Edgar to enforce Billy Graham and Tricky's morality on liberal society, then it was just a matter of time until Reno and Slick would be using even more state power to enforce their morality on conservative society.

[a_witness]

Christians have always made the distinction between secular Jews ("satanic Jews") and orthodox Jews (the good guys).

Jews have not always make a distinction between righteous Gentiles and those who are aligned with the adversary. Since there are so many CINOs who betray them it is a difficult endeavour.

[a_witness]

One might acuse Graham of bias in his 1972 conversations, but don't pretend that the tapes have him saying what Haldeman quoted, I haven't heard it, and it isn't even in the article. If its in the tapes somewhere, fine, bring it on, and give it to us, and we can say Graham lied in his denial. But don't call the man a liar about one quote and then show as evidence totally different quotes. That too is lying.

No, Graham denied every saying anything negative about Jews to Nixon. He lied. He was caught on tape and he issued a Clintonian apology. He seems to know now it was insufficient and be slowly heading toward full repentance and disclosure. At this point I would not be surprised if he made other statements similar to those on tape and in line with Haldeman's recollection. People that speak that way about Jews do it until they repent, if ever.

A final note. If we had YOUR private conversations on tape, and picked out just one conversation, could we "prove" you were a bigot? Or have you never, ever, made a bigoted comment in your life? Yeah, right, lol....

I see your standards in a minister approach those of Bill and Hillary. Were you ever a defense attorney or spokesman for Mr. Clinton ?

[a_witness]

Mr. Graham said in a public statement in May 1994. "I have never talked publicly or privately about the Jewish people, including conversations with President Nixon, except in the most positive terms."

Patently untrue

[mv1]

See this Free Republic thread:
Feiglin calls for War; Claims "Christian Morality" holding it Back

[Fast 1975]

The media and everything associated with it is private property. No one is forced to patronize it. Graham and his large following have every opportunity to start their own newspapers and television channels.