McCain Courts "Apocalypse Pastor" Hagee

Posted by Bruce Wilson at 7:19 AM on February 23, 2007.

TIM RUSSERT: So we could have two wars at once?

SEN. McCAIN: I think we could have Armageddon.

- John McCain, on the Iran crisis. April 2nd 2006, on Meet The Press.

A few weeks ago, to little notice, Texas megachurch pastor John Hagee, founder of the new "apocalypse now!" national lobbying group CUFI [what is CUFI? see story footnote] met with Presidential candidate and US Senator John McCain and, over breakfast, discussed Israel and "other matters" Pastor Hagee declined to detail in the email he sent out to members of the CUFI mailing list because "This newsflash goes to the ends of the earth and I don't want to read it in the media tomorrow". At July 19th, 2006 Washington DC inaugural event for CUFI, after recorded greeting from George W. Bush, with four US Senators and the Israeli ambassador to the US in attendance, Pastor John Hagee stated : "the United States must join Israel in a pre-emptive military strike against Iran to fulfill God's plan for both Israel and the West... a biblically prophesied end-time confrontation with Iran, which will lead to the Rapture, Tribulation, and Second Coming of Christ."

So, what were the "secret matters" John Hagee and John McCain discussed last January 29th ? And, why is Senator McCain seeking political support from an advocate for apocalyptic war ?

Pastor Hagee's email to members of CUFI :

"CHRISTIANS UNITED FOR ISRAEL

Membership Update

January 29, 2007

Newsflash!

This morning I had an extended breakfast with Senator John McCain of Arizona.  Our topic of discussion was Israel and his candidacy for the Presidency of the United States of America.

Senator McCain's comments concerning Israel are on target!  He gets it!  While I do not want to put the specifics of our conversation in this update I am glad to report to our leadership and supporters that John McCain is solidly pro-Israel.

We discussed his positions on other matters that I will share with you when I speak with you in person.  This newsflash goes to the ends of the earth and I don't want to read it in the media tomorrow."

footnote: What is CUFI ?

Sarah Posner: Lobbying For Armageddon

Max Blumenthal :  Israel, the US, and the Christian Right: The Menage a Trois From Hell

Bill Berkowitz : Holy Warriors Set Sights

on Iran

Esther Kaplan : Christian Zionism all juiced up

Richard Bartholomew : Armey: Bush Believes in Tribulation, but not Trying to Make it Happen

Bruce Wilson : Dick Armey Denies Bush Administration Trying To Provoke "End Times"


Joshua adds ...

Don't forget that our own Sarah Posner has been on Hagee like white on rice...

"As Bush's War Strategy Shifts to Iran, Christian Zionists Gear Up for the Apocalypse"
"Apocalyptic preacher John Hagee says McCain is 'on target'"
"Can Giuliani Be the Armageddon Candidate?"

Tagged as: iran, israel, mccain, hagee, apocalypse, armageddon

Bruce Wilson writes for Talk To Action, a blog specializing in faith and politics.