Critics Wrong! McCain Proves His Tolerance By Tolerating “Agent Of Intolerance” Jerry Falwell
By John Lofton, Editor
McCAIN AND FALWELL building bridges of tolerance regardless of what the nattering nabobs of negativism say!The cheap-shot, politics-of-personal-destruction, character-assassinating jackals need to shut up and get off Sen. John McCain’s back! So, the Arizona Republican once said Jerry Falwell was part of a bunch of “agents of intolerance” and then McCain gave the commencement address at Falwell’s University.
So what? Big deal!
What these bloodthirsty, logic-chopping, nattering nabobs of negativism don’t seem to understand is that had McCain refused to speak at Liberty University then he would have become the very thing he has denounced — a person who is intolerant, in this case a person who is intolerant of agents of intolerance!
But, of course, the McCain-bashers don’t get it.
Instead these pathological McCain-haters — over and over — obsessed by consistency — hung up on the absurd notion that politicians ought to practice what they preach — mindlessly repeat what McCain supposedly said when he ran for President in 2000. You know the quote and so do I. We’ve seen it repeated thousands of times. On February 28th, 2000, just after he’d lost the South Carolina primary 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 Lewis Farrakhan or Al Sharpton on the left or Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell on the right.”
Adding insult to injury, the McCain-maulers then note that in 2000 McCain’s campaign bus was called “the straight-talk express.” And countless times we’ve seen that TV news clip of him saying: “I got to give you the straight talk.” The ridiculous, pathetic point here is, I guess, that by speaking at Liberty University, McCain — who called Falwell one of the “agents of intolerance” — is no longer talking “straight,” that he, I guess, is now talking — what? — crooked?
Balderdash! Hogwash! Aardvarks and xylophones!
I guess it never occurred to the McCain critics that by speaking at Liberty University McCain not only demonstrated that he is indeed a tolerant man but also McCain demonstrated that he wants to broaden his base by reaching out to what is, arguably, the most marginalized, disenfranchised group in America — the “agents of intolerance” vote.
Seriously, would the McCain critics have preferred that he simply ignore and write-off the “agents of intolerance” vote? I mean, are “agents of intolerance” not also human beings? Do they not have feelings? If you cut them, do they not bleed? If you tickle them do they not laugh? If you poison them do they not die? If you wrong them, shall they not seek revenge?
In addition, I would argue that McCain has talked “straight” on his speaking at Liberty University. When first asked if it was true he was speaking there, McCain replied (notice, please, this is a direct quote) “yes.” Got it? “Yes.” Sounds pretty straight to me!
RABBI YOFFIE speaks at L.U. advocating homosexual marriage and the ‘right’ to an abortionI would also point out, as a Liberty University press release has pointed out, that McCain is “an American military hero” and “one of America’s most recognized Republican lawmakers” and that Falwell and McCain share “common values.” What, exactly, these values are we are not told. The point is that both men have “values.” They value “values.” Get it? Probably not if you’re an anti-McCain bigot.
Oh, and this press release also notes: “Sen. McCain is a practicing Christian” — the best kind of Christian I might add.
On May 11, 2006, a report on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” program said that McCain is at odds with Falwell on, among other issues, gun control and campaign finance reform. But, again, I say: So what?! Picky, picky, picky. So, McCain’s position on these two issues are blatantly un-Constitutional violating, respectively, the Second and First Amendments. Big deal! There’s a lot more to our Constitution than just these two amendments!
In another interview on “National Public Radio” (4/13/06), McCain said, regarding his address at Liberty University: “Christian conservatives are a part of the Republican Party. They’re a very active part of the Republican Party. Should we eject people from our party, because we may have disagreements? I think the great strength of the Republican Party is for us all to get involved, debate, come to consensus and have honest and open disagreements.”
Now, it’s true that when Democrat Presidential candidate John Kerry changed course on many issues he was derided as a “flip-flopper.” And it does appear that McCain has “flip-flopped” on Falwell. But, he has not! No way! Why not? Because McCain is a Republican and thus, as the GOP cheerleaders see it, he’s OK and therefore incapable of “flip-flopping.” End of argument.
The trashing of McCain for speaking at Liberty University has been scandalous beyond belief. On the Fox News Network’s “O’Reilly Factor” (4/3/06), Democrat strategist Jacques DeGraff said of McCain’s address at Liberty University: “I believe he has revealed the real McCain. It seems like political schizophrenia, to on the one hand compare [Falwell] to Louis Farrakhan and the next hand say, ‘I’d love to speak at your graduation.’”
“Political schizophrenia?” Really? Not at all. And please, Mr. DeGraff, spare us the psychobabble. Does Mr. DeGraff know for a fact that McCain would never, ever speak to a graduating class of Mr.
Farrakhan’s “Nation Of Islam?” No, he does not. In fact, I’m sure McCain would speak at such a Farrakhan event if he thought it would help him advance himself politically. So, no “political schizophrenia” here — none!
In a Knight-Ridder news story (5/11/06), Falwell — making all Republican Party cheerleaders proud — says that if McCain gets the GOP Presidential nomination: “He deserves to have my unswerving support.” And in a “Washington Times” article (5/11/06), McCain strategist John Weaver says: “Senator McCain spent some of his career burning bridges. All of us have learned from that, and he is very much in the process of building bridges now.” Falwell is quoted as saying he invited McCain to speak “because he is a great American.”
A great American indeed! And McCain’s greatness has never been greater than his patriotic attempt — as I have said — to build a bridge to what is, arguably, the most marginalized, disenfranchised group in America — “agents of intolerance.” It’s way past time that we had a Presidential candidate who acknowledged our existence and sought our vote.
Finally, for-the-record, in defense of Falwell’s hosting McCain, it should be noted that Liberty University has hosted speakers a lot more inappropriate and bizarre than McCain. An article in the national homosexual publication “The Advocate” (4/28/06) was headlined: “Rabbi to Liberty University: Gay couples deserve rights.” This story reports that the leader of the Union of Reform Judaism, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, spoke recently at L.U. calling for the acceptance and support of gay and lesbian couples.
The Rabbi is quoted as saying, to shocked murmurs, scattered hisses, and boos at the packed campus stadium:”Gay Americans pose no threat to their friends, neighbors, or coworkers, and when two people make a lifelong commitment to each other, we believe it is wrong to deny them the legal guarantees that protect them and their children and benefit the broader society.” He also laid out the fundamentals of Reform Judaism including church-state separation and a woman’s right to be the ultimate arbiter about whether to have an abortion.
This article noted: “Yoffie has been a vocal critic of the religious right, and Falwell’s invitation was a signal of reconciliation after some difficult times between evangelicals and Jews. Yoffie began [his] speech by emphasizing common ground on issues such as Israel and defending persecuted religious minorities overseas. He received warm applause when he praised evangelicals for their resolute opposition to what he called ‘the moral crisis in America.’”
Now, it’s true that the advocacy of “homosexual rights” by people such as Rabbi Yoffie could, of course, be cited as an example of “the moral crisis in America.” And one could say that his being invited to a Christian University to poison the minds of young Christians is also an example of “the moral crisis in America.” In fact, as I ponder these possible arguments, I suddenly realize that they make sense which is why I shall not dwell on them.
In any event, I write these things to praise John McCain, not bury him. And I urge you to do likewise. Regardless of what the carping critics say, “The Straight-Talk Express” is on track! It lives! And don’t you forget it!