How do they compare? Obama called Wright a mentor. He has been the man's pastor for two decades. McCain went after a person Hagee for a political endorsement. There isn't even any evidence that he likes the man let alone supports his beliefs.

The Obama/Wright connection goes to the heart of Obama's beliefs. The McCain/Hagee connection just shows us what we know already, McCain is a politician. Heck, if the left really wanted to hit McCain where it hurts, they wouldn't be bringing up Hagee, they would hit him with his working relationships with real scumbags such as Teddy Kennedy and Russ Feingold. I know those are what I turn to every time I think about voting for McCain because he really i...

How do they compare? Obama called Wright a mentor. He has been the man's pastor for two decades. McCain went after a person Hagee for a political endorsement. There isn't even any evidence that he likes the man let alone supports his beliefs.

The Obama/Wright connection goes to the heart of Obama's beliefs. The McCain/Hagee connection just shows us what we know already, McCain is a politician. Heck, if the left really wanted to hit McCain where it hurts, they wouldn't be bringing up Hagee, they would hit him with his working relationships with real scumbags such as Teddy Kennedy and Russ Feingold. I know those are what I turn to every time I think about voting for McCain because he really is conservative on a lot of issues. I have to look back to see how willing he was in the past to stab conservatives in the back in order to keep his good standing with the press.

But seriously, if you want to compare endorsements, you would have to look at Obama's endorsements from the Black Panthers, or Ayers, or Hamas.... Because there is no real comparison between Wright and Hagee with it comes to their relationsips with Obama and McCain.

I can see not voting for Obama based on many things. I'm concerned about my tax burden under an Obama presidency. I'm a daytrader, and capital gains tax increases on top of higher income taxes will seriously HURT. I'm concerned about liberal policies of feeding the poor instead of teaching them to fish. But my curiousity about this issue comes from the article stating "But no one suggests McCain shares Hagee's delusions." Have you heard Obama say he shares Wright's delusions? I heard him categorically denounce his vitriolic rhetoric, but admit that the man who brought him to Christianity has an enduring place in his heart, not his politics. I do respectfully take your point on the dif...

I can see not voting for Obama based on many things. I'm concerned about my tax burden under an Obama presidency. I'm a daytrader, and capital gains tax increases on top of higher income taxes will seriously HURT. I'm concerned about liberal policies of feeding the poor instead of teaching them to fish. But my curiousity about this issue comes from the article stating "But no one suggests McCain shares Hagee's delusions." Have you heard Obama say he shares Wright's delusions? I heard him categorically denounce his vitriolic rhetoric, but admit that the man who brought him to Christianity has an enduring place in his heart, not his politics. I do respectfully take your point on the difference between a 20 year relationship and a politician asking for an endorsement of a man who brings 20000 votes with him. Who cares what they believe, just get the votes. That is a very good point, and enough to help me decide it's not necessarily a double standard, maybe it's just another really good spin job orchestrated by Carl Rove. (that's a joke)

n2, I think you are getting closer to the truth. My pastor says my dad went to hell because he was Jewish. I didn't quit going to that church because I was surrounded by a lot of good people in that congregation, I benefitted from much that the church offered. But I vehemently disagreed that my father's genetics discounted the goodness in him enough to send him to hell. He was one of the most generous, non-judgemental, spiritual human beings I have ever known. Maybe he's in hell, I don't condemn someone because they have a different belief than me. I didn't quit that church because of that one belief. It's complicated. But until Obama spouts some of the crap Wright has, I don't conclu...

n2, I think you are getting closer to the truth. My pastor says my dad went to hell because he was Jewish. I didn't quit going to that church because I was surrounded by a lot of good people in that congregation, I benefitted from much that the church offered. But I vehemently disagreed that my father's genetics discounted the goodness in him enough to send him to hell. He was one of the most generous, non-judgemental, spiritual human beings I have ever known. Maybe he's in hell, I don't condemn someone because they have a different belief than me. I didn't quit that church because of that one belief. It's complicated. But until Obama spouts some of the crap Wright has, I don't conclude he buys into it. I suspect he buys into many of the good things Wright has done to help the downtrodden as a pastor and leader of a congregation.

But why is he only suddenly offended now? Did he suddenly change his mind about how those things made him feel? I don't think so.

I really can't see how anyone can reconcile this in their minds without at least coming to the conclusion that Obama is just another lying politician who happens to have very little experience and isn't very good at the lying. So even if you don't believe that the man knew the beliefs of his pastor and mentor of two decades or that he either shared them or wasn't offended by them until they hurt his poll numbers, how can you believe he represents any kind of change? And since you aren't getting any real change with Obama, the only reason to vote for him over any ...

But why is he only suddenly offended now? Did he suddenly change his mind about how those things made him feel? I don't think so.

I really can't see how anyone can reconcile this in their minds without at least coming to the conclusion that Obama is just another lying politician who happens to have very little experience and isn't very good at the lying. So even if you don't believe that the man knew the beliefs of his pastor and mentor of two decades or that he either shared them or wasn't offended by them until they hurt his poll numbers, how can you believe he represents any kind of change? And since you aren't getting any real change with Obama, the only reason to vote for him over any of the other lying politicians is because he is black.

I've done my best to explain how I've reconciled it, but I'm obviously not that great at conveying it. I hope you'd concede I'm at least thoughtful and probing, and not just blindly defending this guy. My vote in November, whoever it is for, will be based on a much bigger picture than this disagreement about Obamas credibility, or belief in and support of Wrights fringe ideas, and certainly not because he is black, or she is a woman, or he is a war hero. Even if Obama is an agent for black liberation theology, which I don't believe for one minute, Its not conceivable that a President Obama would implement any of Wrights fringe ideas through congressional lawmaking or even appointing suprem...

I've done my best to explain how I've reconciled it, but I'm obviously not that great at conveying it. I hope you'd concede I'm at least thoughtful and probing, and not just blindly defending this guy. My vote in November, whoever it is for, will be based on a much bigger picture than this disagreement about Obamas credibility, or belief in and support of Wrights fringe ideas, and certainly not because he is black, or she is a woman, or he is a war hero. Even if Obama is an agent for black liberation theology, which I don't believe for one minute, Its not conceivable that a President Obama would implement any of Wrights fringe ideas through congressional lawmaking or even appointing supreme court judges. To even try, he'd have to start by creating a police state and breaking the law.

I am open, wide open to the next great leader, wherever we may find him/her. Partisan politics from both sides make it harder to cut through the nonsense to find that person. What I like about McCain is that his voting record shows a willingness to stand up for his beliefs, and admit his mistakes. He for sure has pandered to the right, he HAS to, and I don't hold it against him one bit. It's the only way he'd win. I don't hold it against him that he votes against his conscience once in awhile for the benefit of his party. I have considered voting for him anyway. I don't hold Obama to a higher standard either. What I want is the Republican party to return to their tradition of fiscal responsibility. These last 8 years have been a joke when it comes to that. It happened because they thought they could win on 2 billion dollars. Where's the talk of a fair tax, a balanced budget, a fiscal plan that stimulates the economy? Where? So far I've seen a McCain who says he doesn't understand the economy, who is battling the dems on who has the best health care plan, and on how he will win the war. Come on Republicans, get off Obama and get on McCain to take up the mantle of fiscal

I think this issue has everything to do with credibility and just shows
that Obama has none. That puts him right on par with the other
candidates in my mind.

How does McCain not have credibility. I do not agree with him probably more than I agree with him, but the dude has credibility. I think he is honest. If he tells me he has learned from the past and that he is willing to secure the border " to a standard to which everyone agrees", then I believe him. If he says he believes in global warming, I do not like it, but it is not an ideological difference. It is simply a misunderstanding on his part. He says he will not engage in "fixes" to global warming that do not include Chi...

I think this issue has everything to do with credibility and just shows
that Obama has none. That puts him right on par with the other
candidates in my mind.

How does McCain not have credibility. I do not agree with him probably more than I agree with him, but the dude has credibility. I think he is honest. If he tells me he has learned from the past and that he is willing to secure the border " to a standard to which everyone agrees", then I believe him. If he says he believes in global warming, I do not like it, but it is not an ideological difference. It is simply a misunderstanding on his part. He says he will not engage in "fixes" to global warming that do not include China, Russia, and India. You really think China, Russia, and India want any part of "fixing" global warming?
If McCain says he will veto any bills with earmarks in it, "any earmarks in it", then I believe him, however foolish that may be of me. McCain says he favors solutions to problems that do not continue the liberal tradition of simply making the problems bigger. I believe him. I believe he is a fiscal conservative that believes in low taxation, an effective and responsive government, and personal economic liberty. I also happen to believe he has the best grasp of the international threats facing America, and given his background, has the best temperment to handle them. He has shown much more competence than Bush and Rumsfeld in this regard, who have cost American soldiers their lives because of their arrogance.
I believe McCain will nominate Conservative judges who interpret the Constitution and do not legislate from the bench.

You can say you do not like any of the candidates. But these are all the candidates we are going to have and I think complaining that the candidate on the Right or Left is not Rightist or Leftist enough ignores the realities and possible implications of this election.

There is nothing wrong with reaching out to reasonable moderates and liberals.