Wondertrash®

When the Rev Jeremiah Wright shocked America with his inflammatory rhetoric, Barak Obama had to quickly distance himself from a potential political embarrassment. The Senator was quick to drop the firebrand preacher, and find himself new spiritual counsel. After all you can't run for President while your preacher is saying things like "God Damn America", even if it was said for dramatic effect. Obama spokespersons were quick to stamp out the fire clarify, pointing out that the preacher's opinions in no way reflect the Senator's. Barak might have more easily sloughed it off by saying "I had no idea he was saying this sort of thing. I mean who pays attention in Church?" Voters might find that not only believable, but reassuring; since America is suspicious of the genuinely religious. Then again no one really believes that Obama has any serious problem with white folks, since his own mother is one.

Well now it seems like John McCain has his own preacher problems, and these are doozies. McCain has been sniffing around Texas fundamentalist John Hagee for support. He's hoping that Hagee will instruct his loyal parishioners to do the Lord's will and vote Republican on election day. Now Hagee isn't the sort of preacher who say "God damn America" in the pulpit, but he will say a lot of other outrageous stuff.

For instance Hagee says that hurricane Katrina was caused by New Orleans hosting a gay parade. The good reverend's exact words were, and I quote, "I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God and that they were recipients of that judgment of God for that. There was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that Katrine came. And the promise of that parade was that it was to reach a level of sexuality never before demonstrated in any Gay Pride Parade. So I believe that the judgment of God is a very real thing." The pastor makes God sound like the sort of no fun spoil sport who might be as opposed to parades, as to homosexuality. Still the statement is not as outrageous as it at first seems. At least he qualified it with "I believe", instead of claiming it as some kind of direct divine revelation. As for cities with an unacceptable level of sin, I wonder how the Almighty has missed out on Washington DC? Now there's one guy who just blew his chance at an invitation to Bohemian Grove.

Strangely enough, for a man so opposed to homosexuality, he also doesn't seem too fond of the fair sex. Hagee has said, concerning women, "You know the difference between a woman with PMS and a Doberman Pincher? Lipstick." He goes on, "Do you know the difference between a woman with PMS and a terrorist? You can negotiate with terrorists." Since the pastor is a married man, of many years, perhaps we can give him a pass on that one. Besides, he seems to be on the right side of the terrorist issue.

The pastor comments aren't limited to gender orientation or gender equality. He also has dabbled in literary criticism. It seems that the popular Harry Potter books have peeked his ire (not a hard thing to do from the sounds of him). What could he possibly find objectionable about these books, apart from the sheer enjoyment that they've given to millions of readers? Well Hagee says, "The whole purpose of the Potter books is to desensitize readers and introduce them to the occult." Fortunately he seems unfamiliar with video games, since he might never recover from that shock. Also I'm guessing that he's no fan of Elizabeth Montgomery and Bewitched. He may have a point: reading is a dubious habit, that introduces people to potentially dangerous ideas, and takes valuable time away from the shooting range!

We know what pastor Hagee thinks about most issues, since he isn't shy about sharing a piece of his mind with anyone who will listen, and many who would rather not. What does John McCain think about Hagee? McCain has said of the fiery Texas preacher, I think that he's a fine leader and I appreciate his commitment to Israel." McCain made that remark on his campaign plane back in February, according to Reuters. Though it must be said that McCain also said that he wasn't familiar with most of Hagee's teachings. Some one must've clued him in, because later on McCain qualified himself on Hagee. McCain stated, "It is important to note that Pastor John Hagee, who has endorsed my candidacy, supports what I stand for and believe in. When he endorses me, it doesn't mean that I embrace everything that he stands for and believe in." Well that's sort of reassuring - in a non committal kind of way.

While Barak has made a clean break from his former pastor, to hear John Hagee talk you'd think that he and McCain as still as thick as thieves. Hagee boasts in the New York Times, "It's true that John McCain's campaign sought my endorsement." nor has McCain tried to distance himself from Hagee. It seems that there is some unswerving blind support to be had amongst the religious extremists. Just look how the religious fanatic angle has worked for America's enemies. If that works for Al Qaida, then why shouldn't the Republicans also avail themselves of that advantage? If you fight fire with fire, then combating crazy with crazy might be an idea crazy enough to work. Besides, the good old days when ministers were bland, slightly inspirational, and only mildly disapproving are probably far behind us.

Wondertrash Bogus Zen: Remember that violence isn't the only way to resolve a conflict, but it is the only way to win it! Sheer bloody mindedness built this planet, and it's the American Way.