John McCain

McCain, Obama, and their equally offensive pastors

Julien — Mon, 05 May 2008 17:33:21 +0200

Posted on Flickr by "corn1971"

While Barack Obama was in danger of being forced out of the democratic race for supporting his "anti-America" pastor Jeremiah Wright, John McCain seems to have escaped scrutiny even though he endorses a pastor who refers to the Catholic Church as the "great whore" and the New Orleans catastrophe as God’s punishment for homosexuals.

Pastor John Hagee of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, chose McCain over Republican candidate Mike Huckabee and declared his endorsement on stage with McCain on February 27. Questions have been raised about statements made by Hagee such as "what happened in New Orleans looked like the curse of God", linking the event with a "homosexual parade there on the Monday that Katrina came". But the biggest criticism has come from members of the Catholic community, who said he has compared the church’s methods with those of Hitler. Despite criticism, McCain accepted the endorsement and said that Hagee “supports what I stand for and believe in”. But when questioned about this later, he replied that "It’s simply not accurate to say that because someone endorses me that I therefore embrace their views".

Below-the-belt campaign videos

Julien — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:25:33 +0200

Campaigning for the American presidency just got nastier in the run-up to the Pennsylvania primary on Tuesday. The only candidate to keep out of the campaign video catfight is Republican candidate John McCain... although the ageing conservative hasn't managed to avert attacks fired in his direction. Here's our selection of below the belt campaign videos.

What's McCain doing in Israel?

Julien — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:12:06 +0100

John McCain arrived in Israel on Tuesday as part of a trip to the Middle East. Is the White House hopeful really interested in helping with a peace process in the region as he says, or just looking to please the pro-Israeli electorate in the US? Our Observers pose the question.

Amongst other talked-about statements during his visit to the country, McCain on Tuesday pronounced Jerusalem as the "capital of Israel". Although he urged the speeding-up of a regional peace process, he also gave his support to Israel's tough policy in response to Hamas's offensive, saying that "no nation in the world can be attacked incessantly ... without responding". While the Republican candidate did not visit the Palestinian territories, he did phone President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss negotiations.

Material compiled by our Observer for Israel, Roi Ben-Yehuda.

McCain: "al Qaeda is going back into Iran and receiving training"

Julien — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:09:38 +0100

In a speech in Amman, Jordan, on Tuesday, John McCain declared that "al Qaeda is going back into Iran and receiving training". The statement will certainly not help the Republican candidate make it to the White House, seeing as al Qaeda, a Sunni terrorist movement, is unlikely to be supported by the Iranian Shiite regime.

McCain only managed to correct his mistake at the end of the speech after receiving advice through his earpiece from Connecticut senator Joseph Lieberman. For the Republican leader, who based his campaign on his ability to be “commander in chief from day one”, the blunder could cost him dearly. Barack Obama seized the opportunity to point out that “we heard Senator McCain confuse Sunni and Shi'ite, Iran and al Qaeda. Maybe that is why he voted to go to war with a country that had no al Qaeda ties”, according to the New York Times.

Super Tuesday live blogging: 4 - 6am

Julien — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 03:34:27 +0100

Super Tuesday live blogging: 2 - 4am

Julien — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 02:34:22 +0100

Don’t know what to make of the Michigan primaries? You’re not the only one…

Julien — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:08:22 +0100

Commentary from our Observer George Shantzek on the Michigan primaries. On the Democrat side Hilary Clinton enjoyed an easy win, but it counted for nothing. While Mitt Romney surged forward on the Republican front, the victory won't weigh half as much as it seems.

Our Observers comment on the NH results

Julien — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 07:51:11 +0100

The results of the primaries turned forecasts on their head. Our Observers assess the surprising comebacks of Hillary Clinton and John McCain.