(Video added by Nicole B., courtesy of Bruce Wilson at Talk2Action. Think Lieberman knows about this?)
I can appreciate the fact that Joe Lieberman has finished off the McCain Kool Aid. I also realize Lieberman is completely on board with everything McCain says, does, and believes, and will defend the Republican presidential campaign against any charge, regardless of merit.
But I’m a little surprised Lieberman is willing to go so far as to defend radical televangelist John Hagee. We’re obviously well past any and all shark-jumping moments for Lieberman, but given some of Hagee’s thoughts on Judaism, I thought Lieberman might still have a shred of principle in him. I stand corrected.
From a Fox News interview earlier this week, between FNC’s Megyn Kelly and Lieberman:
KELLY: It’s great to have you again. I want to ask you about this Hagee thing before we get to the environment because it’s, you know, the late-breaking news of the day. The DNC already came out with a response to this saying this is insufficient, they want McCain to do more. Let me show you what they said. They say, “unless John McCain’s idea of being a new kind of Republican includes cozying up to radicals who compare women to dogs, hold racially insensitive fundraisers and call one of the worst natural disasters in our country’s history God’s punishment, he should renounce John Hagee’s endorsement immediately.” They don’t seem prepared to let this die. Where do you think it stands? How do we go forward on this?
LIEBERMAN: Well, look, I think that the DNC is obviously doing this because they set Pastor Hagee as some kind of response to Reverend Wright Enhanced Coverage for Senator Obama. But I don’t think that’s fair in the basic way that everybody’s already said which is that never went to Pastor Hagee’s church. He accepted his endorsement. He represents a lot of people in this country, particularly Christians who care about the state of Israel. He founded a group called Christians United for Israel.
Actually, McCain did more than “accept” Hagee’s endorsement. McCain actually worked for a year to engage Hagee, seek his support, and earn the radical preacher’s endorsement. It was active, not passive, and to say otherwise is misleading.
As Lieberman’s general praise for Hagee’s work, I’m going to have to assume that Lieberman has no idea what Hagee has actually said about Jews and Israel.
Ben Smith explained yesterday, for example, that Hagee’s support for Israel is “rooted in the belief that the Jewish state will — soon — be the site of Armageddon,” and his “brand of Christian Zionism closely links support for Israel to the end of the world and the conversion of the Jews to Christianity.”
Hagee’s predictions are very clear. Armageddon, the final battle, could begin, he wrote in his 2007 book “Jerusalem Countdown,” “before this book gets published.”
The Antichrist “will be the head of the European Union,” he writes.
Using geographical calculations based on the Book of Revelation, he writes that Israel will be covered in “a sea of human blood” in the final battle.
The Jews, however, will survive the battle, Hagee says, long enough to have “the opportunity to receive Messiah, who is a rabbi known to the world as Jesus of Nazareth.”
Hagee also believes Jews have been persecuted over the centuries, but as far as he’s concerned, it’s their own fault.
“It was the disobedience and rebellion of the Jews, God’s chosen people, to their covenantal responsibility to serve only the one true God, Jehovah, that gave rise to the opposition and persecution that they experienced beginning in Canaan and continuing to this very day.”
And while we’re at it, Hagee’s “support” for Israel is rooted in the notion that Hagee welcomes Israel’s destruction.
[Hagee] argues that a strike against Iran will cause Arab nations to unite under Russia’s leadership, as outlined in chapters 38 and 39 of the Book of Ezekiel, leading to an “inferno [that] will explode across the Middle East, plunging the world toward Armageddon.” During his appearance on Hinn’s program at the end of last March, for example, the host enthused, “We are living in the last days. These are the most exciting days in church history,” but then went on to add, “We are facing now [the] most dangerous moment for America.” At one point, Hinn clapped his hands in delight and shouted, “Yes! Glory!” and then urged his viewers to donate money faster because he is running out of time to preach the gospel.
So, it’s not that Hagee loves Israel, so much as he foresees a blood-soaked war in the Middle East that leads to Jesus’ return, at which point the Jews who survive will become Christians.
But that’s all fine, according to Joe Lieberman, because Hagee “represents a lot of people in this country, particularly Christians who care about the state of Israel.”
I can’t help but wonder if Lieberman will soon have any friends left outside the far-right evangelical Christian community. I kind of doubt it.
Filed Under: Election 08, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Racism/Bigotry, Religious Right
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Testify!
Who is it that sits in the pews and listens to these blowhards???? Scary.
One of the most…interesting parts of Lieberman’s Hagee endorsement, is referring to him as an ‘Ish Elokim’, “…a man of God…like Moses he’s become the leader of a mighty multitude, even greater than the multitude that Moses led from Egypt to the promised land.”
via Bill Moyers, PBS
Sounds like he’s sweet on him, in a self-annihilatory way.
Isn’t a source of great pride that the democrats are going to put a nominee out there for president
who has this to say about the great slug, Joe Lieberman.
“What I know is, Joe Lieberman’s a man with a good heart, with a keen intellect… I am absolutely certain that Connecticut’s going to have the good sense to send Joe Lieberman back to the United States Senate.”
Our hero, the gifted orator, B. Obama, uttered these immortal words. Who can forget them? Magic.
Ah yes. Good heart. Keen intellect. It really made good sense sending smelly Joe back to the Senate.
How did it feel down there, Barack?
The Lieberman BEAST STRIKES!!!!!!!
jackass, Israel whatever, of what value are they to us besides a tool to maintain a totally destabilized middle east in perpetuity?
Anyone who continues to deny that our nation was deliberately steered into war by a political crime syndicate is either a great fool or a great liar. Anyone who continues to support the Bush administration is co-conspirator to that war crime. Lieberman is all of those things. To speak of principle and that man in the same breath is beyond preposterous. His absence of integrity is surpassed only by his lack of humanity. He is a wretched man in every sense of the word.
I really don’t like the guy.
I am sickened. As a Catholic I wrote to that wacky Catholic group that accepted this slimeball Hagee’s apology and said that they certainly weren’t speaking for me. I don’t accept his apology. And I’m not stupid enough to think their acceptance isn’t just a way to enable them all to feel better about voting Republican, which is what they want to do anyway. If Hagee was a supporter of Obama or Hillary, they would have never accepted that apology. And old Lieberman wouldn’t be calling him a holy man.
Sen. Lieberman is through in the Democratic party, just as soon as the November elections take place, and he knows it. He’s just smoothing a little spot out for himself on the other side of the aisle.
Christianity needs to stay the Hell (pun not intended) away from US politics. The Church, when in power, is a cruel and vengeful institution.
Ah Hagee, the false prophet of psycho rednecks everywhere. Lieberman gets it, lol.
You obviously missed the Max Blumenthal clip where LIEberman introduces Hagee by comparing Hagee to Moses!
Hey Lieberman…Shut UP!!! No one cares what you think…
There are Dems in CT who still like Lieberman.
They don’t come to places like this, which they think is dominated by DFH.
They are very comfortable financially and very ignorant. And very well educated, on paper.
We need a revolution in this country.
But a revolution will go nowhere without these people onboard.
That’s nice that Lieberman will defend a man who thinks that being a Jew condemns you to a life of eternal torture at the hands of an angry god. Very, uh, flexible of ole Joe.
Friday’s (May 16) NPR show Fresh Air had an Israile journalist on who makes some very interesting
comments on the differences between “Zionism” and “Christian Zionism”, basically nailing “Christian Zionism” as radical far right group ultimately “praying” for and encouraging the destruction of Israel to help bring on the 2nd coming of Christ. From the show…
…”It’s something of a contradiction in terms, because the people who promote the idea of Christian Zionism are looking at Israel in mythological terms,” says Gorenberg. “They’re seeing the Jews as actors in a Christian drama leading toward the end of days.”
Gorenberg notes that the Christian Zionists take a position on Israel and on the Middle East that puts them at the “the radical right within Israeli politics,” opposing any land concessions that might lead to peace.
Link: http://www.npr.org/templates/s.....d=90509127
Nice to know who your friends are, huh Joe?
That part about Hinn telling his followers, “Donate money faster, because I am running out of time to preach the Gospel, ” tells it all in a nutshell. Most people leading religious organization are a bunch of lying thieveing blowhards. There are many people who go there for the right reasons, but are just bilked of their money and emotions by these assholes.
I bet most of these clowns wouldn’t pass a background check. Lieberman is a confused asshole. Anyone who would allow Israel to be used by the Christo-fascist doesn’t even have his own best-interest at heart. Does he even have a moral compass?
darkblack@3
re:Leberman on Hagee
“Sounds like he’s sweet on him, in a self-annihilatory way.”
rofalmao
Very astute.If these Evangelists weren`t so dangerous they would be a lot funnier.Fact is that they are the most evil egomaniacs in the country responsible for multitudinous spiritual violence.Well I`ve got news for Hagee and his followers:”Jesus Thinks You`re a Jerk.”
I get the distinct impression that if, as Hitler geared up to assume power in Germany, he had stated that he “supported the Jewish people and considered them allies in his quest for returning Germany to their rightful place among the nations of the world,” Lieberman would have jumped on board … and gotten around to reading “Mein Kampf” later.
McCain’s relationship to Hagee is worse than Obama’s relationship with Hagee. Here is the difference between Hagee and Wright.
Wright had a pastoral relationship with Obama.
McCain has a political relationship with Hagee.
meant to say Obama’s relationsip with Wright.
christians who care alot about israel is a bit of an understatement, isn’t it joe? we’ve got your number fucker:
john hagees’ armageddonites over at CUFI believe that we must go to war with iran in order to expedite the second coming of christ and the “rapture” and all jews will have to accept jesus christ as their savior and messiah or endure: “THE MOTHER OF ALL HOLOCAUSTS.” although judaism inherently disbelieves such nonsense the zionists embrace these pro-israel christians — joe lieberman even compares the pudgy little gluttonous sinner hagee to moses and calls him a: “EESH ELO KIM” which is hebrew for “MAN OF GOD.” these armageddonite whackos are VIPs at the AIPAC conferences, benjamin netanyahu speaks at the CUFI conferences and john mccain solicited hagee’s endorsement for his presidential bid.
every american should watch these vids to get a grip on how dangerously twisted these cultist freaks are and and what torrid and shameful pandering is bestowed upon them by some of our worlds most powerful leaders and dignitaries: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/jour.....watch.html and: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....57826.html
please take the time to inform yourselves . . . this is our path to victory in 2008. Spread the link and bring awareness to this sick, twisted, horrific anti-American fascist ideology and agenda.
We do not need these people controlling the most powerful position in the free world — it would be to our certain peril as a free nation.
sully18 @16… ” Jesus Thinks You`re a Jerk.”
I certainly miss Mr. Zappa. Had go see the youtube version for a chuckle… thanks
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=cQcE2dq3YD0
Lieberman is McCain’s puppet.
Kathy in St. louis @ 8:
If you were truly sickened by Hagee’s comments, Karen, or the ‘wacky’ Catholic group that accepted his apology, you’d speak up on the numerous anti-Catholic tirades made here frequently that are far worse than his, and for which apologies are never made.
You’ve never done that.
All hail AIPAC!
ZIEG AIPAC!
ZIEG ZION!
Lieberman is senile. Spending all that time with Susan Collins did it.
dennis @ 23:
You are SO pathetic…
McCain’s medical report has been suppressed for good reason. President Lieberman. Has a ring to it. Perhaps a death knell you say?.
It was probably a mistake to accept his endorsement + I’m glad to have his endorsement = I’m happy to make mistakes.
princess @ 23:
R O F L Princess attempts a hannity impression for our amusement Thanks for the chuckle.
I am so fucking sick of faith.
Obama’s got Reverend Wright and the conspiratorial cult of black liberation theology.
McCain’s got Hagee and the no-longer-agents-of-intolerance, Falwell & Robertson. Is Dobson on board?
HRC has her legions of “prayer warriors” and all the old white Christian rednecks who just couldn’t vote for a “colored”.
At least Obama is a former skeptic.
Hagees endorsement is much worse than the Wright controversy. Obama has made it absolutely clear he strongly disagrees with him on his controversial statements
McCain desperately wanted Hagees endorsement and Hagee with his wacko ideas about the Middle East obviously chose to endorse McCain because he felt McCain was the best candidate to realize his ideas. If McCain strongly disagrees with Hagee on Israel or Iran why would Hagee endorse McCain?
If Obama wins in November, it will be despite Wright. Obama will owe him nothing.
If McCain wins in November, it will be in part because of Hagee. McCain will owe Hagee a political debt.
How do you suppose Hagee will want to be paid?
BluePearl @ 18:
Uhh-huhh, BluePearl. Sure. Likely I guess that Obama and Wright only conferred pastorally regarding all things political. Like when he said Israel was a ‘dirty’ word.
Even though Obama’s picture was on the cover of Wright’s church’s magazine, The Trumpet, a total of three times, likely he never got around to reading anything political in it, only the pastoral things.
Like this article from Wright U.S. Must Stop Middle East Violence.
Or this A Fresh View of the Palestinian Struggle.
Only a pastoral relationship. What a joke.
princess@ 33:
Excellent job of displaying your typical expected fake outrage, Sean….er, princess.
Rusty Shackleford @ 32:
First time I’ve heard that one, Russ. I thought it’s already been determined that if McCain wins it’s because of Diebold. And then of course blatant racism. Oh, and stupidity, don’t forget that one.
I’m guessing Hagee will be well down the list.
Dr. Biitter Hussein (Mission Accomplished) Matt @ 34:
One nice thing about d is that with him around, I never need to listen to Hannity. I know exactly what ole Sean is saying.
I think d needs to check his links, too. They are… wanting.
dennis @ 35:
That’s why I said “in part.”
Rusty Shackleford @ 37:
OK.
But if Obama wins, it will also be ‘in part’ because of Wright. The controversy had a big impact on voter turnout in the NC primary according to exit polls.
dennis @ 38:
I believe I was clear on Wright in post 32, d. I know you’re frazzled after last week - tough one for you guys - but do try to keep up.
dennis @ 38:
In North Carolina, 33 percent said Wright was “very important” to their vote, while 15 percent said it was “somewhat important,” and 62 percent of those two groups combined went with Clinton.
I guess that’s what you’re referring to, d.
Now, how do you spin that as Wright being anything other than hurtful to Obama? I’m all ears.
Rusty Shackleford @ 36:
Weak, Russ. You’re better than the poster you’re attempting to emulate.
The one link that was repeated was a youtube video of Wright making the ‘Israel is a dirty word’. I’m sure you’ve seen it before- I doubt BluePearl has, judging from his previous comment.
And if Hillary had done one tenth the work Sean Hannity has done on Rev. Wright and been able to expose Obama’s relationship to him before the Iowa caucus, she would’ve won the nomination by Super Tuesday as she had origiannly planned. Obama would’ve never won Iowa.