Different Candidates, Completely Different Pastor Problems

The left thinks they can make a Rev. Wright type of case against John McCain because of controversial statements made by two pastors who have expressed support for McCain. They're wrong:

If turnabout is fair play, then John McCain critics believe his association with controversial pastors should be held to the same scrutiny as Barack Obama’s ties to Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

After all, they point out, one of McCain’s religious supporters, John Hagee, called the Roman Catholic Church “the great whore.”

Another, Rod Parsley, referred to Islam as a “false religion” that America was called on to destroy.

Still, when McCain’s link to both men came to light, the backlash was negligible compared with the furor Obama has faced for nearly two months over his relationship with Wright, his former pastor.

“McCain got a bit of a pass on that,” Democratic strategist Bob Beckel said.

Political analysts and the McCain campaign say it was the difference in his relationships with those pastors — more than the news media’s decision to use kid gloves — that spared him the kind of public trial Obama endured.

Hagee and Parsley are just supporters, McCain’s campaign points out. Obama’s relationship is personal, with Wright having officiated at the candidate’s wedding and baptized his two children.

“I didn’t attend Pastor Hagee’s church for 20 years,” McCain said last week, taking a shot at Obama. “There’s a great deal of difference in my view between someone who endorses you and other circumstances.”

But while Obama has repeatedly moved to reject and denounce such supporters, McCain will only go so far. And critics warn the issue could come back to hurt him.

There's no comparison between Obama who joined Wright's church, was a contributing member (tens of thousands of dollars) for over 20 years, and McCain who was never a member of Hagee or Parsley's churches, nor to my knowledge, ever gave them a dime. Obama chose to sit under Wright's preaching, McCain simply acknowledges the two pastors as supporters. It wouldn't be fair to hold either candidate responsible for statements made by supporters who are not part of the campaign and have no other connection to the candidate.

Nice try, Dems, but you'll have to come up with something else.