This is the second offensive pastor to be associated with McCain. And it's also the second time that McCain has refused to reject and denounce the offensive pastor. Yet McCain had no problem going after Obama over Rev. Wright. From ABC (you can watch the video of this story here):
Despite his call for the U.S. to win the "hearts and minds of the Islamic world," Sen. John McCain recruited the support of an evangelical minister who describes Islam as "anti-Christ" and Mohammed as "the mouthpiece of a conspiracy of spiritual evil."
McCain sought the support of Pastor Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church of Columbus, Ohio at a critical time in his campaign in February, when former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was continuing to draw substantial support from the Christian right.
At a campaign appearance in Cincinnati, McCain introduced Parsley as "one of the truly great leaders in America, a moral compass, a spiritual guide."...
"America was founded with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed," Parsley says...
The campaign did not answer the question of whether it was aware of Parsley's widely publicized statements prior to seeking his endorsement in February.
McCain has not disassociated himself from the pastor, but the campaign statement said, "Just because someone endorses John McCain doesn't mean he endorses all of their views."
An even bigger problem for John McCain? He went after Obama over Rev. Wright. That makes McCain's pastor - his second pastor bimbo eruption, mind you - more than fair game. ABC's Jake Tapper quotes McCain saying the following about Wright just last month:
"I saw yesterday some additional comments that have been revealed by Pastor Wright," McCain said. "One of them, comparing the United States Marine Corps with Roman legionnaires who were responsible for the death of our savior. I mean, being involved in that. It’s beyond belief. And then of course, saying that al Qaeda and the American flag were the same flags. So, I can understand. I can understand why people are upset about this. I can understand why, that Americans when viewing these kinds of comments are angry and upset."
[This is Tapper writing here] Wright never said "al Qaeda and the American flag were the same flags."... You may well find that offensive in itself, but McCain misrepresented what Wright said, in his April 2003 sermon.... After making a political issue out of an issue he said he wouldn't make a political issue, McCain then pivoted to attach Obama to Wright in making comments McCain considers to be out-of-touch, saying Americans would be offended by what Wright said
