Since so much has been made of Obama’s old preacher, here are some people reporters could ask other politicians to renounce:
John Hagee, who’s support John McCain is “very proud” to have, told NPR that hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment of the city of New Orleans for homosexuality. Read more about Hagee.
Robert Tate, music director at a church George H.W. Bush attended growing up, was convicted of possessing child pornography.
Douglas Coe, who Hillary Clinton said “is a unique presence in Washington: a genuinely loving spiritual mentor and guide to anyone, regardless of party or faith, who wants to deepen his or her relationship with God.” I don’t even know where to start on this guy. Here’s some stuff his son said about the members of the religious organization they run:
He walked to the National Geographic map of the world mounted on the wall. “You guys know about Genghis Khan?” he asked. “Genghis was a man with a vision. He conquered” – David stood on the couch under the map, tracing, with his hand, half the northern hemisphere—”nearly everything. He devastated nearly everything. His enemies? He beheaded them.” David swiped a finger across his throat. “Dop, dop, dop, dop.”
David explained that when Genghis entered a defeated city he would call in the local headman and have him stuffed into a crate. Over the crate would be spread a tablecloth, and on the tablecloth would be spread a wonderful meal. “And then, while the man suffocated, Genghis ate, and he didn’t even hear the man’s screams.” David still stood on the couch, a finger in the air. “Do you know what that means?” He was thinking of Christ’s parable of the wineskins. “You can’t pour new into old,” David said, returning to his chair. “We elect our leaders. Jesus elects his.”
He reached over and squeezed the arm of a brother. “Isn’t that great?” David said. “That’s the way everything in life happens. If you’re a person known to be around Jesus, you can go and do anything. And that’s who you guys are. When you leave here, you’re not only going to know the value of Jesus, you’re going to know the people who rule the world. It’s about vision. ‘Get your vision straight, then relate.’ Talk to the people who rule the world, and help them obey. Obey Him. If I obey Him myself, I help others do the same. You know why? Because I become a warning. We become a warning. We warn everybody that the future king is coming. Not just of this country or that, but of the world.” Then he pointed at the map, toward the Khan’s vast, reclaimable empire.
Read more about the Coes at Harper’s, Mother Jones, and Wikipedia.
Since Obama has denounced Wright, and the media has spent a great deal of time covering the controversial statements Wright made, it follows that McCain, Bush, and Clinton will also denounce these controversial religious figures and the media will spend equal time covering their statements and actions. Right? Right?
