I watched last Saturday’s “forum on faith” at the Saddleback Church in California, hosted Rev. Rick Warren, and it was pretty obvious that McCain, who was questioned after Obama had an unfair advantage.

McCain got some notice that Obama did not.

NBC political reporter Andrea Mitchell reported Sunday that Obama aides thought McCain “may have had some ability to overhear what the questions were to Obama.”

She was right.

A Republican pastor plus his “God-Smooching” crowd…..Please!

The so-called evangelicals follow some of the most racist and bigoted Ministers (pastors) in the United States, who freely advocate American wars based on Biblical mandates, rant hatefully against Islam, and argue that natural disasters occur because God hates gay people.

Pastor Warren might not utter the same, but he and his congregants belong to the same cesspool — a snake pit of the most racist vipers in America, who have and continue to use Religion (Christianity) to persecute others who do not think like them.

The entire Republican establishment is permitted actively to lavish them with praise and court their support without the slightest backlash or controversy.

To me, Religion is a disease, an affliction that is the catalyst of 90% of the world’s problems.

Comedian Bill Maher says: “Religion as brain disease,” “Christians have neurological disorder,” ……”I think religion is a neurological disorder…. When you were a kid and they were telling you whatever you believe in religion, do you think if they had switched the fairy tales that they read to you in bed with the Bible, you would know the difference? Do you think if it was the fairy tale about a man who lived inside of a whale and it was religion that Jack built a beanstalk today, you would know the difference? Why do you believe in one fairy tale and not the other? Just because adults told you it was true and they scared you into believing it, at pain of death, at pain of burning in hell.

My friend at afriqueonline.com says: God doesn’t exist. He never did . . . he never will. Wake up . . . grow up . . . and get over it! Religion is a fairy tale for adults, a scam run by priests, ministers, rabbis, nuns, witch doctors, bishops and popes so that suckers will pay for their big houses, fine clothes and BMW’s. As scary as it might sound, you alone are responsible for what happens in your life, not some imaginary spook living in a paradise in the sky . . . not some evil goblin living underground in a fiery pit . . . You!….[read more]

I agree with both, and it pains me to admit that my own dear mother is hooked to Religion like a junkie on crack-cocaine.

I rejected Religion (All Religion) at the age of five. At first my mom could drag me to church by force, but when I got bigger later in my teen years and she got older, the best she could do was scream at me (poor mama).

But don’t get me wrong — she is the best human being on earth and so are many other evangelicals — those who are not bent in shoving religion down my throat.

My early rejection of religion has not prevented me from knowing what’s right and what’s wrong — several decades later.

Now, back to ReTHUGlican McCain.

The New York Times and so many others reported that John McCain was not sitting in what Pastor Rick Warren referred to as “the cone of silence” while Barack Obama was questioned during Saturday night’s Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency.

McCain staffers told journalists that the Republican candidate was in a motorcade on his way to the church when Obama was on stage, but heard none of the questions.

Several times the pastor allowed McCain to “Stump” as if in a town-hall meeting, a luxury that was not accorded Mr. Obama.

After this charade, as usual, blood-sucking right-wing snakes(pundits) rushed out to toast McCain’s victory over Obama.

Rick Warren is just another lying and conniving “give GOD 10% of your wealth” pastor. I bet you he discussed every question with McCain before conducting the forum.

That had to be the case — judging from how relaxed the bumbling McCain was on Saturday.

This was a setup!

God’s Profits: Faith, Fraud, and the Republican Crusade for Values Voters

Special Comment on McCain: Olbermann chastises McCain: Grow up!
Senator is acting like a child, needs immediate attitude adjustment

Popularity: 13% [?]

You may have heard of Rev. John Hagee, the McCain supporter who said God created Hurricane Katrina to punish New Orleans for its homosexual “sins.” Well now meet Rev. Rod Parsley, the televangelist megachurch pastor from Ohio who hates Islam. According to David Corn of Mother Jones, Parsley has called on Christians to wage war against Islam, which he considers to be a “false religion.” In the past, Parsley has also railed against the separation of church and state, homosexuals, and abortion rights, comparing Planned Parenthood to Nazis….[more]

A look at Jeremiah Wright, Geraldine Ferraro and John Hagee, who have been associated with the campaigns of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain respectively. Only Hagee is still an adivsor.

Video(s) Courtesy: BraveNew Films

Popularity: 28% [?]

By: Prof. Ken Bode

Prof. Ken Bode
Today, 80 percent of Americans think our country is on the wrong track.

With a cratering economy, an endless war in Iraq and an uncomprehending president, that is understandable. Rarely has there been a moment when clarity of choice and opportunity for change has been so clear.

On Tuesday, Indiana voters have a monumental opportunity to help set our country on a new course.

I have cast an early vote for Sen. Barack Obama, and I’ll tell you why.

In the Democratic primary, the choice is between experience and judgment. For all the experience she extols, Hillary Clinton still carries the albatross of her opportunistic vote favoring the Iraq war. She explains lamely that she didn’t realize President Bush would take her blank check and cash it. Obama rightly opposed the war from the start.

Both candidates say they would get out of Iraq, but Obama would approach the necessary regional security arrangements in the Middle East by opening a dialogue with states like Syria and Iran, abandoning the stubborn silence of the Bush policies. Clinton approaches the problem with threats to obliterate Iran with “massive retaliation.” Her rhetoric is drawn from the Cold War past, revealing the “bring-them-on” mentality of Bush.

Overall, Obama represents the best chance we have to address the greatest threat facing America, the stateless terrorism of the Islamic world. As The Atlantic magazine’s Andrew Sullivan said, if you seek the simplest and most effective weapon against the demonization of America that fuels Islamist ideology, Obama’s face gets close. It proves them wrong about America in ways no words can. Obama’s mere presence in the Oval Office would help defuse anti-American passions around the world.

The electorate also is hungry for change in the way our government does business at home. Clinton has more experience in Washington, but that has not helped her to understand its problems. She solicits money from special interests and picked a major lobbyist to run her campaign. Judging by their different policies, Obama’s shorter time in Washington is more an asset than a handicap.

The most important reason that Indiana voters should support Obama on Tuesday is that he represents America’s greatest opportunity to pivot away from the past. While Clinton talks about change, Obama embodies it. He radiates a sense of possibility and has a proven ability to engage and inspire young people to public service like no candidate since John F. Kennedy. He has produced a nationwide surge of new voters, in itself an expression of the nation’s hunger for change. For the past 20 years, two families, the Bushes and Clintons, have run the country, longer than the newest voters — and many serving in Iraq — have been alive. Obama would change that.

Too late for many, Obama finally and firmly denounced the pronouncements of his preacher. Rev. Jeremiah Wright now takes his place in the pantheon of pastors who bring strange ideas from the pulpit to politics.

Bush supporter Rev. Jerry Falwell claimed the 9/11 attacks occurred because American secularism had forfeited God’s protection.

Rudy Giuliani backer Pat Robertson claimed that accepting homosexuality could result in earthquakes, tornados and a possible meteor. And John McCain’s supporter, televangelist John Hagee, said Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment for a New Orleans gay rights parade. Politicians cannot be held responsible for the crazy rantings of preachers.

Voters also must remember that the Clintons represent a partnership of endless uncertainty. Bill Clinton squandered the last two years of his presidency by recklessly dallying with Monica Lewinsky, producing impeachment, and jeopardizing the election of Al Gore. Had that not happened, America would not be in Iraq today. In our choice on Tuesday, Hillary and Bill Clinton clearly represent the past, a page turned backward, and Barack Obama represents the future.

While endorsing Obama, a former Clinton administration official put it this way: “I don’t think I’m ready for the circus to come back to town.”

About The Author: Ken A. Bode is the Pulliam Professor of Journalism at DePauw University and a Hudson adjunct fellow. His academic career includes being the John S. and James L. Knight Professor of Journalism as well as the Dean of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University from 1998 to 2002; a John L. Hughes University Professor and Director of the Center for Contemporary Media at DePauw University from 1989 1997; and an assistant professor of political science at Michigan State University from 1965 to 1969 and at SUNY Binghamton from 1969 to 1970. Bode received his B.A. (cum laude) from the University of South Dakota in 1961 and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina.

Popularity: 29% [?]

From MoveOn.org

Right-wing pastor John Hagee says Katrina was New Orleans’ fault. John McCain sought out, and embraces, Hagee’s support. MoveOn members are trying to deliver a petition to McCain in New Orleans just a few hours from now: will you sign?

Here’s the background: McCain wants America to see him as a compassionate, mainstream politician. So he’s going to New Orleans today for a photo-op in the 9th Ward.

But he’s still trying to shore up his right-wing base—so this past Sunday, he again welcomed the support of right-wing evangelist John Hagee, who said “Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans.”

MoveOn members in New Orleans have organized an emergency rally outside McCain’s event today. With the media looking on, they’ll try to deliver our petition asking him to stop pandering to right-wing bigots like Hagee. They’ll announce an up-to-the-minute number of signatures, and we’ll have a real impact if we can say that hundreds of thousands have signed in only a few hours. Clicking here will add your name.

The petition reads: “John Hagee continues to blame the people of New Orleans for the catastrophe of Katrina. Senator McCain: If you reject intolerance and bigotry, reject Hagee’s political support and stop courting hate-mongers like him.”

This is not a gaffe or a “gotcha.” Hagee has a history of bigoted comments and he stood by his New Orleans remarks just days ago. And McCain’s strategy is intentional—he’s been working hard to court far-right leaders like Jerry Falwell and John Hagee, despite their hateful views. Even when he was pressed about Hagee’s hateful views, McCain said he was “glad to have his endorsement.”

Hagee’s words matter. Katrina was a terrible reminder of the consequences of bigotry and exclusion. People without resources, without political power, literally sank beneath the waves while our government did nothing.

John McCain is relying for political support on a man who preaches bigotry and exclusion, who spreads the kind of hate that allowed Katrina to become a man-made tragedy. While the media is focused on his New Orleans visit, we need to call him on it.

The more folks who sign the petition in the next few hours, the greater our impact. Clicking here will add your name right now.

We need to let Senator McCain know that he can’t use New Orleans for a photo-op while still courting the political support of hate-mongers like Hagee. New Orleans deserves better and America does, too.

Thank you very much for all you do.

– Eli, Justin, Lenore, Patrick S., Anna, and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team
Thursday, April 24th, 2008

Sources:

1. “Will MSNBC devote as much coverage to McCain’s embrace of Hagee’s support as it did to Obama’s rejection of Farrakhan?” Media Matters, February 28th, 2008

2. “Hagee Says Hurricane Katrina Struck New Orleans ‘Because it was ‘Planning a Sinful Homosexual Rally,’” Think Progress, April 23, 2008

3. “Hagee: McCain ’sought my endorsement,’” ThinkProgress, March 20th, 2008

4. “McCain Gets Into Bed with the Religious Right,” People For the American Way, February 28th, 2008

5. “McCain Woos the Right, Makes Peace With Falwell,” ABC News, March 26th, 2006

6. “McCain Flip-Flops In 30 Seconds: Hagee Endorsement A ‘Mistake,‘ But ‘I’m Glad To Have’ It,” ThinkProgress, April 21st, 2008

Support our member-driven organization: MoveOn.org Political Action is entirely funded by our 3.2 million members. We have no corporate contributors, no foundation grants, no money from unions. Our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. If you’d like to support our work, you can give now at: http://political.moveon.org/donate/email.html?id=12500-9122941-QnWmDn&t=6

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

RELATED STORY:

John McCain was rightly booed in Memphis a few weeks ago.

…because in 1983, he voted against the creation of a holiday honoring Dr. King, a vote which was not supported by most Republicans.

McCain’s excuse: “I was unaware on the importance of King’s work at the time, due to my Vietnam-era service.”

HogWash!

Speaking to reporters, he explained that his conversion occurred around 1990.

No amount of spin can swing my vote in the GOP direction, for their record speaks for itself. Everything the Republican party stands for is divisive, bigoted and in numerous instances outright racist.

Take for example the Immigration issue — instead of working towards a just and comprehensive solution, the Republican party — especially the right-wing block, has chosen to use the issue as “demonizing vehicle,” with which to transport hate and xenophobia all over the country.

In the late sixties to early seventies, there was Nixon The Creepy Crook, and then came Ronald Reagan in the eighties, to the current Bush. Republican presidents have been bunch of heartless, immoral, and evil individuals when it comes to the issue of civil rights and the treatment of African-Americans and other minorities.

In 1984, on the steps of the Capitol in Washington, Bishop Tutu of South Africa denounced Ronald Reagan’s speech in support of Apartheid:

Tutu said of Reagan’s speech: “It was reminiscent of Hitler’s Aryan madness.” … declaring that “constructive engagement is an abomination, an unmitigated disaster.” “Apartheid itself “is evil, is immoral, is un-Christian . . .”

“I found it quite nauseating. I think the West, for my part, can go to hell . . . Your president is the pits as far as blacks are concerned. He sits there like the great, big white chief of old.” said Desmond Tutu.

That is exactly the same attitude the current crop of Republicans has towards blacks and minorities.

McCain may be exempted on the issue of immigration, for he was in the forefront fighting for comprehensive reform — but he seems to have made a 180 degree turn, ostensibly to get votes from the right-wing block of poisonous Black Mamba’s and miscellaneous reptiles.

As testimony to the entrenchment of racism in the Republican party, take for instance — Last year, the NAACP invited all 9 Republican presidential candidates to a discussion forum, and only one showed up: Tom Tancredo, the most vicious anti-immigrant trogdolyte - with nothing to lose.

All the Democratic Presidential candidates showed up for the discussions.

I am tempted to give McCain a pass here — but I won’t, for “A slumber-friend of my enemy (The ReTHUGlicans) is my enemy,” …and “birds of a feather flock together.”

Even Worse — his recent gaffes prove to me once more that the “Grand Old Party” is getting ready to elect yet another IDIOT, like the one in the video below:

RELATED: John Conyers To McCain: “We’re Not Just African Americans”

Popularity: 24% [?]