McCain Softens Language on Jerry Falwell

[FVZA_Colonel]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060402/ap_on_el_pr/mccain2008



McCain Softens Language on Jerry Falwell
Sun Apr 2, 12:59 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Potential presidential candidate John McCain says he longer considers evangelist Jerry Falwell to be one of the "agents of intolerance" that he criticized during a previous White House run.

The Republican senator from Arizona will be the commencement speaker in May at Liberty University, the Lynchburg, Va., institution that Falwell founded in 1971.

"We agreed to disagree on certain issues, and we agreed to move forward," McCain said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

In 2000, as he sought the Republican nomination that eventually went to George W. Bush, McCain said: "Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance, whether they be Louis Farrakhan or Al Sharpton on the left or Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell on the right."

[blueinindiana]

1. Mr. McCian... I have lost all respect for you...

I am a fellow navy man and admired your courage being a POW but selling out everything you believe in in order to secure the GOP nomination fro President is just too much, it really saddens me.

Yet this pandering will never secure you the nomination..the GOP base will never vote for you in the primary no matter how much you try.

[glarius]

3. When he embraced Bush after the horrible things Bush said about him

during the election campaign was when I really lost all respect...I never did trust him anyway. He always seemed to be trying too hard to portray himself as a "straight-talking" "just one of the guys" type.

[0007]

7. I never ever like him either. Trust is a pretty powerful word.

How can anyone trust John McCain?

[juliana24]

8. His temper tantrums are famous. No way I would vote for him ever!

[journalist3072]

11. EXACTLY!!! You know, most politicians will say to their opponents

'I am fare game, but you leave my family alone.'

He never seemed to defend his family's honor. In fact, I think he's defiled it by cozying up to the very people who made those awful phone calls to White households in South Carolina saying "You know John McCain has a black baby."

[Vincardog]

2. McCain panders to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of

intolerance Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell on the right

[ClintonTyree]

21. "Radical Clerics", Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell!

Don't ever forget the "radical clerics" part, for that's exactly what they are. They're always so willing to attack other religions because they're not the "true" religion. :eyes: If these guys are the poster-children for christianity, count me out!

[saigon68]

35. Here is tthe IDIOT

[LibertyLover]

39. That photo

says it all. The look on McCain's face says to me that he is happy to be embracing Bush. After all the things that the Bush campaign did to him in 2000, including denigrating his adopted daughter, and he didn't say one damn word made me dislike the man, but with this photo and the announcement that he and FoulSmell have made up and agreed to let bygones be bygones, I have lost any lingering shred of respect for McCain as a politician. I still respect him as a former POW, but not as a politician.

[bunkerbuster1]

47. We must always call them "radical clerics."

Yes, I've been an early proponent of this terminology, and I've been slacking off of late.

[msongs]

4. just another prostitute doing whatever he's told for cash nt

[greekspeak]

9. He is worse than that...that is far too simple

Hell greed drives his party. But in his life he has been through things that should have made him liberal to the core, or at least made him detest human suffering. However, this has not happened. Instead, he is American politics' greatest opportunist. He will do ANYTHING to win. He would sleep with Shrub if it got him a soundbite, and he would sleep with Jimmy Carter for the same outcome. If he thinks pandering to the fundamentalists is going to get him anywhere, he will act like a bloodthirsty neo-crusader for "morals and truth." If he thinks pandering to moderate dems will get him someplace, he will dress up in a Clinton costume and dance round with a jism stained blue dress. Anything for attention, for political points. That is all this man cares about. He is not a pragmatist, as the media likes to prentend. He is a self-serving opportunist.

[BoneDaddy]

28. I don't think I could agree more

that is a very honest and accurate assessment of mr. McCain.

[Salviati]

5. Clearly he thinks he's going to be a contender in 08...

Methinks that this effort to please everyone is going to just end up turning everyone off. The fundy nutcases don't trust him, never have, never will. His efforts to reach out to them are just souring his support amongst ill-informed moderates, which was his strong suit.

[redqueen]

40. "ill-informed moderates" ... I love it!

:)

[Judi Lynn]

6. He has really come so far, hasn't he?

Simply too much to grasp. How could this have happened?

Here he is as an infant with his dad and grandfather... and as a pilot... and a returning prisoner of war,



who was trashed viciously by _Bush

and NOW we learn he is begging for the blessing of this bloated, reeking idiot.

[bkcc]

10. If McCain were any more of a whore....

he'd be wearing lipstick and high heels and standing around on a corner.

This guy was once a straight-shooter, but now he's got zero credibility.

[Ratty]

12. I'm glad

I know better. People have told me McCain is evil. But he just has this appeal of being reasonable, fair minded, tolerant, and especially an honest straight shooter who tells the truth. But I know better. People have told me. They've shown me things. He's evil. But a part of me just won't believe it.

This clears things up, thank you very much. I'll post this on my refrigerator so the next time I get the urge to like the guy I can slap myself in the face with it.

[MrPrax]

13. The ONLY silver lining

in this reptile was that great quote!!

I thought at the time...GREAT! The right is moving back to the center with this guy...good...that we can work with...but NOW he disowns even that 'reasonable observation'... oh shit.

[azurnoir]

18. It may still be a silver lining

alot of moderate rupubs are completely turned off by the religous aspect and consider it a dishonerable way to win. (iknow honor and repub in the same sentance = oxymoron), he may well have lost more than he's gained.

[MrPrax]

23. Good to hear...

It will move them to dems in '06 as a hedge on whatever rock they find their new champion...maybe McCain...if it is McCain, the posting is a keeper.


on edit--change "WASHINGTON - Potential presidential candidate John McCain says /he longer considers/ evangelist Jerry Falwell to be one of the "agents of intolerance" that he criticized during a previous White House run.

to: he /no/ longer considers ] --)

[Siyahamba]

14. The sad thing is...

So many people continue to laud him for his moderateness and independence. Considering all the previous evidence for how conservative McCain is, I don't think this incident will change their opinion.

[Sagan]

15. The SELL-OUT EXPRESS is picking up steam!

All aboard!

[jzodda]

16. Over time I have lost all respect for this guy

He is for sale to get his party's nomination, plain and simple.

He has changed more positions then any politician I can remember over the past few years. From independant thinker to loyal Bush spin man. Now this?

In 2000 there was a chance I would have even voted for this guy, but its obvious I was mistaken. This guy changes his views depending on the political winds, plain and simple. Just the kind of guy we don't need as a leader of this country.

[progressivebydesign]

17. God.. that man will do ANYTHING to get elected.

WHY on Earth does ANYONE believe that McCain is a man of conviction. He's a total fake. He'll do anything, say anything, and kiss anyone, to get elected. Is there anything that man won't do to get elected?? He can't win the nomination because through it all... the republicans know what a sham he is. Sorry he was held hostage during the war. It doesn't earn him some type of brownie points when running. He has always creeped me out, and I think because it's obvious that he has no moral compass. If he had one, it's been long buried in George Bush's ass, and cannot be read without sticking his head up there to read it.

[dmr]

38. McCain - the ultimate flip-flopping opportunist n/t

[xchrom]

19. heels to the ceiling, senator McCain,

Reverend Falwell will join with you in just a moment.

[ClintonTyree]

20. Should read...."McCain puckers up to kiss Falwell's ass".

For that's exactly what's he's doing. McCain has no principles whatsoever, not one iota of self respect. How can that asswipe live with himself? Apparently, being President means more to him than his honor and self respect. If he gets the GOP nod for President it's up to us to make sure he NEVER lives that down! :grr: What a worthless piece of shit!

[Orrin_73]

22. McCain sells out to Teleban

why am I not surprised.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

24. As an aside: what an aptly named town. -nt

[leesa]

25. Ahhh...sucking up to the Christian Crime Family.

[cboy4]

26. A C-5 cargo plane should dump crates of K-Y on the Capitol lawn

for McCain who is clearly bending over now for anyone he thinks can help him in '08

To think I admired him for taking stances against the lunatics on the right.

Now he's speaking at Falwell's institute of hate. What's next, poker night with the KKK? :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[radfringe]

27. McCain misread the Bible

Jesus WASHED the feet of his disciples - Sen. McCain - he didn't lick their boots

[Inland]

29. Everyone get a good look at McCain in these coming months.

The guy just wants to be the republican nominee, and is willing to kiss the ass of vile American political figures to do it. Get a good look.

[OnionPatch]

30. Can you say FLIP-FLOP

Yeesh, they called John Kerry a flip-flopper? This McCain flip-flops like a tumbleweed in a Santa Ana. He makes Kerry look like a rock. Just what does he stand for anyway?

[rocktivity]

55. If Kerry's a flip flopper, McCain is a gryoscope.

:headbang:
rocknation

[myrna minx]

31. I couldn't believe McCain's answers on MTP yesterday.

I use to have a great deal of respect for the Senator. I could agree to disagree with the man because I thought he had honor. Sadly, after watching his tap dancing with Tim Russert, I couldn't believe that he considered his "flip-flopping" answers to the most basic of questions even remotely acceptable. It's as if he did a total 180 turn. How can he take *himself* seriously let alone expect us to maintain any respect for *him*. "Straight-talker" indeed. :eyes:

[eek]

45. MTP: that was the most disgusting, servile

pandering flippy floppy suck-up I think I have ever seen.
It was odd to see Little Russ actually ask a republican tough questions. though.

McC's reference to his POW-hood at the end of the segment was icing on the shark cake.

Reminded me of Jack Kenp with his pretend football pass thing he's always do.

Blech.

[warrens]

32. Well, now we know he's running

He knows no candidate in the Taliban party can win without the fundies. They'd get about 25 percent of the vote if the fundies stay home.

[Strathos]

33. Did you expect him to be any different

than all the other crooks he rubs elbows with? They'll all do anything and say anything to get more power.

[wowfundude]

34. McCain is a traitor to what is right

Here is a guy who gets attacked by Bush and then kisses his ass. He represents one of the greatest disappointments of the past five years.

[spanone]

36. I no longer care what McCain has to say....about anything.

[BrklynLiberal]

37. John McCain has either totally lost what is left of his mind or what is

left of his principles.

[AzDar]

41. McCain has gone from sometimes sensible to utterly loathesome

in record time. WTF has happened to him...blackmail...dementia??

[DUHandle]

42. McCain will run for Prez in 2008

The GOP recognizes that they need a moderate Republican to keep the White House and McCain is it.

[bunkerbuster1]

43. The teensy list of "mitigating factors" shortens...

Mitigating as in, "Yes, he's a weasle and I'd never vote for him against any Democrat under any circumstances, but at least..."

I used to be able to say "...but at least McCain managed to upset Fundies in 2000." Well, that last little "at least" is, effectively, no more.

You just know that right-wing "Christians" will line up to support McCain if he's the Gooper nominee. They would've anyway, but now they've got cover to do so.

[redqueen]

44. they do as they're told...

that's a major reason why this country's in the mess it's in.

[bunkerbuster1]

46. I'm just wondering what kind of gymnastics would be involved

to reconcile a Rudy Guiliani and his (generally, and certainly from a typical RW Christian's viewpoint) pro-choice, pro-gay-rights record?

They'd do it; they'd make it happen if necessary, I'm sure. but it would be entertaining to see.

(I'm sure Rudy would have to have some kind of religious vision kinda thingie happen to him, but it'd take more than just that.)

[redqueen]

48. I doubt even that would be necessary.

It'll sure be entertaining, whatever method they use to corral the herd. :)

[tenshi816]

49. Hmm. I guess it's OK to be a flip-flopper

as long as you're a Republican flip-flopper.

McCain has such a hard-on for the Presidency that he's willing to prostitute himself and allow his wife and daughter to be disrespected in the process as well (and by his own side to boot). I wonder how low he's willing to go.

[indypaul]

50. Seeking promotion from

the piano player to the number one prostitute in the
biggest whore-house in history. How does one show
respect to a person who has no self respect?

[madmark]

51. McCain's prostration to Bush and Falwell et al is nauseating; that said

he made me laught at the end of the show when he told Russert that he hadn't had this much fun since his last interrogation. Ha ha. That's a sense of humor.

[Rex]

52. Spineless POS and I'd say it to his face!

Why not? He obviously lacks a real backbone.

[DebbieCDC]

53. McCain is scum

After how they trashed his wife and daughter in 2000 and then he literally kisses the dim son's ass in public? What does that tell you?

Plus when I lived in DC (no longer thank God) he was instrumental in holding up much needed $$ for National Airport (which by the way I will NEVER refer to by it's GOP name) until SW Airlines got to land more bigger noisier jets past the 10 pm shut off time (and just as a coincidence they fly DIRECT to Arizona, but that didn't enter into the equation at all). Of course the people who live under the flight path and are trying to sleep at night mean nothing to this prick.

My sister has always advocated the position that the BFEE has McCain's debriefing file (which has NEVER been declassified) from his POW days and they have something on him in that file. Who knows? All I know is he's scum and can go to hell along with all his fundie buddies. I'd vote for a turd in a toilet bowl before that bastard.

[OutsidetheBox]

54. One word: "Whore"