McCain changes tone on other pastor?

Posted: Friday, May 23, 2008 4:25 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Abby Livingston
John McCain’s tune toward evangelical pastor Rod Parsley has changed in three months’ time.

During the thank you section of a speech in Cincinnati, Ohio on Feb. 26 -- the same Cincinnati event at which a conservative radio host referenced Obama’s middle name, “Hussein,” three times -- McCain had words of praise for Parsley.

“I'm very honored today to have one of the truly great leaders in America, a moral compass, a spiritual guide, Pastor Rod Parsley, who is here,” McCain said. The Arizona senator then walked over and shook Parsley’s hand. “Thank you for your leadership and your guidance. I am very grateful you are here, sir.”

He continued, “And I want to assure you, he should be talking, not me. But I want to say thank you for being here. I want to thank you, Rod, for your kind introduction.”

But yesterday, per NBC/NJ’s Carrie Dann, McCan told the AP, “I believe there is no place for that kind of dialogue in America. I believe that even thought he [Parsley] endorsed me, and I didn’t endorse him, the fact is that I repudiate such talk, and I reject his endorsement.”

EMAIL THIS

Comments

he wants endorsements and refuses to talk to enemies.
Castro, endorse this old coot

tj dallas, tx (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:31 PM)

Hah Hah another evangelical christian lunatic fringe pastor tossed under the Double Talk Express Bus. That's two down and a whole lot more to go before "Bush Hugger" McCain blows off that whole lunatic crowd.

I am so happy with glee that the evangelical christian lunatic fringers who have stolen our democracy by hijacking the repugnant one's party are getting their just desserts. It's so nice to see such a clueless crowd get their comeuppance and get put back in their place as the immoral minority.

Great job today First Read article and comment posters and writers! Lots of good meaty articles to sink our teeth into.

Go Obama 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:34 PM)

McDouble-Speak is not who I thought he was back in 2000. Lobbyists in his inner-cricle, inappropriate use of wife's jet, wife's refusal to release taxes, repeated ad hominem attacks... seems more like the "straigh hypocrisy express."

Dave, NY, NY (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:36 PM)

MCBUSH IS DOOMED OBAMA/ZINNI 08

javier san antonio,tx (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:37 PM)

What's so wrong with embracing the idea of hope that Obama's promoting? I'm tired of hearing from folks that those excited about Obama's words--and the expectations he's setting himself and the country up for--are just wide-eyed blueberries, holding hands in harmony, following the leader. I'm a social conservative who, in another year--in another time--would probably be leaning toward McCain. This year, however, is different. What do we have to lose by giving this, obviously gifted American, a chance to lead our country on a new path?

A Dissertation on Disillusionment: http://blakeneven.blogspot.com

Blake, Seattle, WA (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:37 PM)

Seeking political refugee and votes is no place for the church to be in the middle of let alone Pastors.

Perhaps this is a lesson learned, don't seek christian support for political gain.

gg, fl (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:38 PM)

He condemed people like this in 2000. In 2008, he has tried to embrace them only to find thorns in places we can't mention. He is not being careful on who he talks to, gets endorsements from and praises. His staff needs to start looking into people close and quicker if this is not to bite him on the...

This could be his equvilent of Wright to Obama.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:39 PM)

This makes John McCain and his campaign advisors look like idiots. They certainly shouldn't have any swagger now in talking about the Rev. Wright!

Long Tall Texan (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:39 PM)

Chalk up another story for the Straight Talk Express. What a pitifully named vehicle.

McShame (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:40 PM)

Hey make sure to check out Chuck Todd's excellent article on the Politics page regarding what would happen to each party if it loses in November. I think Chuck has hit the nail oin the head with his insightful article!

Go Obama 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:42 PM)

McFossil is flip-flipping more than Hillary is spinning. The only sane candidate is Barack Obama! It's just a bonus that he also kind, courteous, intelligent and honest!

Diane from Illinois (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:43 PM)

yeah and what about the GOP guy that made a racial smear with a Tiger woods comment....
McCain was on the stage...
heard what he said...
smiled, shook the guys hand and gave him a guy hug!
What great, sound judgement he has...with the people he chooses to surrounds himself with!
Lobbyists, religious radicals, and racists!

Can you be my President???

coninPA (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:44 PM)

While I absolutely respect people's rights to their religion, the fact that it has become so much of politics scares me to death. And it seems to me the Republican party has been hijacked. When did conservatism become this? And why do all these influential pastors seem to be so filled with hate, xenophobia and intolerance? I don't think I could ever vote for someone who sought their endorsement to secure the votes of others who actually believe and support these half-baked ideas. And the saddest part is, I actually really liked McCain, once upon a time in 2000.

GDP, Jeffersonville, IN (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:46 PM)

Yet old man McCain will continue to bring up Rev. Wright whenever he can.

Doesn't McCain remind you of the neighborhood crazy old guy who yells at the squirrels for running across his yard?

David Kolva, MD Oswego/Syracuse NY (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:46 PM)

FORGET THIS ARTICLE ON MCCAIN.

Go back and read and comment on the statement Hillary made regarding one reason she remains in the race is because Obama (perhaps like Bobby Kennedy) could be assassinated during this primary ( in June). Drop this article now! Everyone, everyone, email and scream and holler that this is enough. The Dem leaders must stop Hillary NOW!

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:47 PM)

McBush stepped in a little religous poo poo trying to be something he is not. I hate to say this but I dont care about McBush's medical records ok he is in decent shape for an old guy. my granpa lived to be 103 but he had lost a step upstairs,just as I believe that McBush is loosing it up there as well.He is the one that flew over the coocoo's nest. His temper is starting to flare up already. First it was Old Man yells at Cloud , next is Old Man Yells at Obama. Then it will Be Old Man Yells at Middle East with finger on the Button. Naw his temper is to bad.

Brian M. De. (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:48 PM)

I think the problem is that there is no nuance in political dialogs so candidates have to adopt a binary and simplistic position of "X Good" until such a time as they must switch to "X Bad". It's not necessarily the case that Obama or McCain or Clinton are flip floppers. They're trying to condense a complicated, nuanced discussion down to the third grade level of the majority of the American Citizenry who are too stupid to understand the full discussion.

So while it's fun to point at any particular candidate for having to change positions maybe we ought to rather point at the stupid people who drag down the conversation to this level in the first place.

Jay, Indiana (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:48 PM)

After Senator Obama's thoughtful speech to the Cuban community today Old "Bomb Iran" McCain is going to lose a lot of support the GOP figured would just fall in line. Obama is being proactive for the Cuban Americans and their families still in Cuba.

bill, okla (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:49 PM)

Ahh remember the old days when we had separation of church and state...Ahh the good old days.

FL (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:53 PM)

McCain has thrown the Reverand Parsley under the bus for public political expediency. Nothing more ,nothing less. McCain is doing this to give himself cover so the Repugnicans can smear Obama with Reverand Wright, and they can sweep their tin foil hat preachers under the rug. (nudge, nudge, wink wink)

Bill, Rochester,NY (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:53 PM)

Poor Johnny. I guess Cindy's head will roll next over recipegate.

pittsburgher (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:55 PM)

McCain is dumping folks overboard like so much ballast.

donna (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:57 PM)

Many have been afraid to point out problems with McCain due to the service and sacrifice he gave this country all those years ago. Thanks to First Read for having the guts to do the digging and point out McCain's ambiguity and flip-flopping in his own words, just three months apart. These are the kinds of stories that allow readers to see through the speeches and attacks and get to the heart of what a candidate is all about. It appears McCain is all about getting elected at any cost.

Liz, New Bern, NC (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:58 PM)

McCain is too old to have such a dificiency in common sense and judgement......ooops.....maybe that's the problem.....he's too old. McCain camp to you know what vetting means? Stupid is as stupid does.

ID,GA (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:59 PM)

This is a trick John learned in the Navy, make 'em walk the plank.

west jeff., pa. (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 4:59 PM)

We need a televised debate between these two, no teleprompters, no Joe L. babysitting, along wth all McCain's past flip flops documented for full discouse. I lay down odds McCan will blow his top befor the first 15 minute mark.

Sherri Charleston WV (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 5:01 PM)

How quickly we soon forget.....

Elise Denton, TX (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 5:02 PM)

Did anyone really expect anything different from McBush!Cancer no, Alzheimers yes.

feedup in Va. (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 5:08 PM)

Remember when McCain clinched the nomination and promised to tell the TRUTH? When he called Parsley a "great american leader", was he telling the truth, or was his campaign so incompetent that it couldn't find out that Parsley was a nut? Also, McCain has been asked about Parsley for months now but only distances himself from when the news turns up the heat. McCain sure wanted that support in OH, and he only gave it up do the greater political penalty rather than due to principle.

JTS (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 5:09 PM)

This man flip flops more than a trout on dry land. "Thanks for conservatives, not get out".

I miss 2000 McCain.

DA. VA (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 5:13 PM)

Huggs and kisses and then a stab to the back - et tu brutus...et tu brutus.

I hope that everybody fries him like they BBQ Obama on Wright. Turn up the the heat, I feel like ribs for dinner.

Jon, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 5:22 PM)

The comments by these two ministers, who McCain actually sought the endorsements of, are far more repugnant and un-christian (hate speech is not Christ like), than anything Rev. Wright said. I wonder if this will be played and replayed over and over again for weeks?

Kenneth (Sent Friday, May 23, 2008 5:27 PM)

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1058954