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Last update - 20:26 23/07/2008
Sen. Joe Lieberman praises pastor who said Holocaust was God's work
By Reuters
Tags: Joe Lieberman, John Hagee 

One of John McCain's most prominent supporters on Tuesday praised an evangelical leader whom the Republican presidential candidate repudiated after a string of controversial remarks were made public.

Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent who frequently campaigns with McCain, said pastor John Hagee's support for Israel outweighed the remarks that led McCain to reject his endorsement.

Lieberman said he had been urged not to speak to Hagee's group, Christians United for Israel.
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"The bond that I feel with Pastor Hagee and each and every one of you is much stronger than that, and so I am proud to stand with you tonight," Lieberman told several thousand members of the group, which urges U.S. support for Israel.

"I don't agree with everything that Pastor Hagee's done and said ... but there is so much more important than that that we agree on," Lieberman said.

McCain, in an effort to reach out to evangelicals who are among the most loyal Republican voters, accepted Hagee's endorsement in March but rejected him in May after learning that the Texas preacher once said that God allowed the Holocaust to happen because it led to the creation of Israel.

McCain addressed Christians United for Israel last year. His campaign declined to comment.

Hagee, who heads the 19,000-member Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, also was criticized for calling the Catholic Church "the Great Whore" and saying that God punished New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina for staging a gay-rights parade. He has since apologized to Catholics.

Hagee said the spotlight had been unsettling and condemned what he said was misleading media coverage.

"What will I say when I'm asked to endorse a presidential candidate? Never again," he told the cheering crowd, which waved American and Israeli flags.

Hagee has written that events in the Middle East point to an imminent apocalypse Christians should welcome, and in several books envisions a climactic battle in Israel leading to the second coming of Jesus.

Christians United for Israel takes an uncompromising stance toward Israel's enemies and opposes giving land to the Palestinians.

Hagee said that it was up to Israelis to reach their own peace terms, and said the group was not trying to bring about a biblical apocalypse in the Middle East.

"We don't believe that we can speed up the End of Days one second because we believe that God has shown that he will set the time," Hagee said.

A organization supporting a negotiated peace in the Middle East, J Street, said it had delivered a 40,000-signature petition to Lieberman's office urging him not to speak to Hagee's group.

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      1.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 20:29  |  Philip 23/07/08
      2.   Obviously it was - refer to Leviticus 26-14 until the end 21:00  |  Binaymin Dissen 23/07/08
      3.   Which God? 21:11  |  Isaac Waterman 23/07/08
      4.   Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas. 21:16  |  Joan Stuchner 23/07/08
      5.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 21:17  |  Mark B. 23/07/08
      6.   Iieberman, good example of political "whoreism" 21:29  |  John 23/07/08
      7.   Courting Hagee 21:35  |  Ray 23/07/08
      8.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 22:11  |  ali 23/07/08
      9.   Stop complaining. you guys support GOP over Dems. 22:32  |  omoll 23/07/08
      10.   Holocaust was attempt to prevent State of Israel 22:32  |  JaxMax 23/07/08
      11.   Re #4, et al. Say what? 22:33  |  DJStahl 23/07/08
      12.   they are deranged lunatics 22:34  |  ap 23/07/08
      13.   Idiotic Anti-Zionists Falsely Condemning Hagee 22:38  |  Tod Zuckerman 23/07/08
      14.   Mr. Waterman # 3 22:44  |  Bill H. 23/07/08
      15.   #2 On God allowing bad things to happen 23:04  |  hala 23/07/08
      16.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 23:04  |  ali 23/07/08
      17.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 23:15  |  Edithann 23/07/08
      18.   ?The Zionist dream solution to the Jewish people" Getto of fear 23:21  |  Frank 23/07/08
      19.   Pastor Hagee Is Our Friend 23:30  |  Yosemite 23/07/08
      20.   According to some "principled" characters on 23:51  |  17 23/07/08
      21.   #14 Bill H. on Pastor Hagee, friend of Catholics 23:53  |  hala 23/07/08
      22.   it wasnt god who allowed the shoah to happen... 23:55  |  scallywag 23/07/08
      23.   Two wrongs do not make a right 00:04  |  Mike from NY 24/07/08
      24.   Mark B from Amsterdam 00:18  |  Bill H. 24/07/08
      25.   #23 Mike ..Freedom, Euality, Justice isn`t Kosher.. 00:29  |  Edithann 24/07/08
      26.   Great commetary 00:32  |  George Hobbs 24/07/08
      27.   Joe Lieberman is a principled American Jewish leader 01:12  |  Nathaniel 24/07/08
      28.   Leiberman the Hysteric 01:21  |  Craig 24/07/08
      29.   I`m More Worried About Obamas Acquiescence to Hatred 01:24  |  Dave Levy 24/07/08
      30.   To Isaac: The Typically Naive, Gullible, Near-Sighted Jew 01:30  |  Dave Levy 24/07/08
      31.   hala 21 01:41  |  Bill H. 24/07/08
      32.   Mike from NY 01:50  |  Bill H. 24/07/08
      33.   Ali # 16 02:01  |  Bill H. 24/07/08
      34.   hala on God allowing bad things to happen 02:09  |  Bill H. 24/07/08
      35.   Holy Joe Lieberman 02:41  |  Mark Lincoln 24/07/08
      36.   #19 Yosemite needs help 03:02  |  Goldstein 24/07/08
      37.   Israel would have been created without the Holocaust 03:08  |  Conroy 24/07/08
      38.   Pastor Hagee is Israels Friend 03:38  |  Nephtaly 24/07/08
      39.   Hagee is demented - Just like those who support him 04:21  |  Awake 24/07/08
      40.   Lieberman and Hagee 04:29  |  BBSNews 24/07/08
      41.   MORE INDECENCY 04:38  |  JOE 24/07/08
      42.   reprehensible 05:06  |  democrat 24/07/08
      43.   Tod Zuckerman 05:12  |  democrat 24/07/08
      44.   re: Yosemite #19 05:14  |  democrat 24/07/08
      45.   Will This Sell in Skokie? 05:43  |  Mark of Lewiston 24/07/08
      46.   False Anger directed at Hagee 07:19  |  Abraham Saks 24/07/08
      47.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 07:23  |  Dav 24/07/08
      48.   #10 JaxMax - Which Temple might that be? 07:52  |  FRitz 24/07/08
      49.   Let`s cut to the chase - Does Haaretz believe in God? 08:01  |  Kenny 24/07/08
      50.   So ANTI-SEMITISM is Now ok? Joe! 08:11  |  PADDY 24/07/08
      51.   Haaretz Let Me Respond To These Guys 08:22  |  Yosemite 24/07/08
      52.   easy,quit takeing christian money. 08:42  |  billy jack 24/07/08
      53.   Hagee did not say anything wrong 08:44  |  semsem 24/07/08
      54.   Reply to Dav (Post No. 36) 10:44  |  Johnny Weintraub 24/07/08
      55.   # 32 democrat 11:15  |  17 24/07/08
      56.   Shoah, Dav. 11:58  |  Ramius 24/07/08
      57.   NO BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 12:10  |  Robert 24/07/08
      58.   LIEBERMAN KNOWS NO SHAME 12:10  |  Arik Silverman 24/07/08
      59.   SILVERMAN A"patriot"do you complain about the Nation Of Islam? 12:42  |  PETER SM 24/07/08
      60.   Holocaust 12:43  |  Choni Davidowitz 24/07/08
      61.   God vs H - - - - - 12:44  |  Natallie Durson 24/07/08
      62.   "DAV"Your "figures" V`s Dr Wolfgang Betz German authority 12:48  |  PETER SM 24/07/08
      63.   DAV Do not forget the role of the Moslem Nazi SS 12:53  |  PETER SM 24/07/08
      64.   At least Hagee doesn`t talk of `raping` Israel 12:58  |  Ilan 24/07/08
      65.   SILVERMAN knows no shame.No problems with the Nation of Islam 13:05  |  PETER SM 24/07/08
      66.   40# DURSON 13:36  |  mike 24/07/08
      67.   DAV Do not forget the role of the Moslem Nazi SS 13:42  |  PETER SM 24/07/08
      68.   36 Dav, denying the numbers in the Holocaust 14:23  |  The Equalizer 24/07/08
      69.   Met Lieberman and went to Israel with his son 2 years ago. 14:26  |  The Equalizer 24/07/08
      70.   what`s the problem? 14:38  |  Said 24/07/08
      71.   #10 14:56  |  mary 24/07/08
      72.   No one should be surprised 14:57  |  Afikoman 24/07/08
      73.   MODERATOR..GONE CRAZY.... 15:36  |  ali 24/07/08
      74.   The Christian Evangelicals Will Vote Republican Anyway 15:38  |  Jeff Northridge 24/07/08
      75.   mike - Shhh, I can`t mention his name 15:48  |  Natallie Durson 24/07/08
      76.   OUR LIGHTS CAN REACH NORT POLE. OUR WINDS TOO !! 15:58  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 24/07/08
      77.   What idioticy! 16:00  |  kaled 24/07/08
      78.   Another fine day for the Senator from Israel 16:00  |  Ben 24/07/08
      79.   Scripture 16:33  |  American Christian 24/07/08
      80.   just for 2 days. feel free ; atilla_karagozoglu@yahoo.com 16:37  |  I will responce once 24/07/08
      81.   Jeff Northridge#69 on a `very close election` As if! 16:45  |  tyrone 24/07/08
      82.   More Scripture 16:47  |  American Christian 24/07/08
      83.   LEFTIST SMEAR PASTOR HAGEE, OUR FRIEND! 16:49  |  Rabbi Shmuel Lifshit 24/07/08
      84.   Reasonable Hagee, as far as religious explanations go 16:49  |  Tosefta 24/07/08
      85.   Lieberman is more loyal to Israel than America 16:50  |  Ibrahim 24/07/08
      86.   Frank #18 you have no idea of what a zionist is. 16:50  |  Robert/Montreal 24/07/08
      87.   Comment of Scripture 17:02  |  American Christian 24/07/08
      88.   Tosefta 17:09  |  Ramius 24/07/08
      89.   PADDY Using G-d.Worry about yourself.The next time you hear 17:12  |  PETER SM 24/07/08
      90.   To Ibrahim 17:12  |  American Christian 24/07/08
      91.   Robert/Montreal 17:17  |  Ramius 24/07/08
      92.   #74 Jeff Northridge 17:29  |  This Time 24/07/08
      93.   GOD DOES USE WEATHER CONDITIONS TO WAKE PEOPLE UP!HELLO!THE FLOOD 17:37  |  glenna 24/07/08
      94.   if today is tomorrow ! would you still take it ? 17:37  |  atilla karagözoğlu 24/07/08
      95.   DONT CARRY OLD AGES. carry ... 17:39  |  atilla karagözoğlu 24/07/08
      96.   no one is alone ! BUT NO ONE ALSO IN TRUE TOGETHERNESS 17:40  |  atilla karagözoğlu 24/07/08
      97.   if I stop my mistakes ! whould you do for yours ? 17:40  |  ... 24/07/08
      98.   we come this life, alone. we do leave, alone. 17:41  |  ... 24/07/08
      99.   live your life without teaching others ! 17:42  |  ... 24/07/08
      100.   tyrone # 81 It Looks Close To Me So Far 17:49  |  Jeff Northridge 24/07/08
      101.   This Time 17:49  |  Ramius 24/07/08
      102.   I know ! you know life things better than me ! 17:55  |  so what :) 24/07/08
      103.   The so called American senator ... 17:55  |  John Zoghby 24/07/08
      104.   JOE IS THE BEST - Shame on you Haaretz 17:58  |  B`galil 24/07/08
      105.   Jeff Northridge-not 2% Jeff. 18:34  |  tyrone 24/07/08
      106.   # 58 Aric Silverman..I say To You the same.HAVE YOU NO SHAME? 18:53  |  KATHY 24/07/08
      107.   Is Hagee out of his mind? 19:01  |  KUTW 24/07/08
      108.   No apocalypse should be welcome 19:04  |  KUTW 24/07/08
      109.   Lieberman and McCain.....shame on you 19:23  |  Harry 24/07/08
      110.   Why Praise to a Myth and Legend believing Lunatic? 19:27  |  JMK 24/07/08
      111.   #75 Natalie Durson 19:40  |  jehiel chaleff 24/07/08
      112.   Joe Lieberman praises pastor 19:47  |  Steve V Gure 24/07/08
      113.   LIEBERMAN IS PROUD? 19:55  |  tad chase 24/07/08
      114.   This Time # 92 The Evangelicals Will Vote For McCain Regardless 20:05  |  Jeff Northridge 24/07/08
      115.   JMK you forgot 20:18  |  Ramius 24/07/08
      116.   Lieberman showing true colors 20:26  |  Czarkazem13 24/07/08
      117.   Jeff Nothbridge 20:33  |  Ramius 24/07/08
      118.   I see no difference 20:34  |  Janice 24/07/08
      119.   Yes #91 Ramius There is even a website for Christian 20:44  |  Robert/Montreal 24/07/08
      120.   # 104 B`galil Obama donates to Farrakan 20:47  |  KATHY 24/07/08
      121.   #107 KUTW kudos on your argument! 20:57  |  hala 24/07/08
      122.   we are doomed 21:09  |  michael 24/07/08
      123.   I`m no Hageeite but 21:28  |  Gregor 24/07/08
      124.   Lieberman needs to just go 21:35  |  Voter 24/07/08
      125.   Hagee is an important friend to Israel 21:47  |  JM 24/07/08
      126.   WELL YES. I AM HAVING HARD DAYS. 21:52  |  ... 24/07/08
      127.   121. hala 22:33  |  KUTW 24/07/08
      128.   Time to wake up 22:51  |  Julie 24/07/08
      129.   re#110 jmk 22:51  |  billy jack 24/07/08
      130.   Even G-d makes mistakes 23:24  |  David M 24/07/08
      131.   Lieberman will do ANYTHING to be McCain`s vice president ! 23:37  |  Toronto`s Finest 24/07/08
      132.   Hagee a firm supporter of Israel but as an evangical.... 00:08  |  Jeremy 25/07/08
      133.   KUTW #107 00:43  |  travis 25/07/08
      134.   John Zoghby He is an elected senator.!How is C.A.I.R.? any 02:06  |  PETER SM 25/07/08
      135.   PETER SM - Interesting post - not really! 02:41  |  PADDY 25/07/08
      136.   Pastor Hagee & The Roman Catholic Cult 03:04  |  C.A. Fulghum 25/07/08
      137.   Leiberman 03:22  |  natan 25/07/08
      138.   And The Winner Is Going To Be... 03:28  |  Jeff Northridge 25/07/08
      139.   A Trojan Horse- Evangelical agenda for Israel- 03:35  |  Shtarka 25/07/08
      140.   #113 DID YOU EVER STOP TO THINK THAT GOD`S WORD IS TRUE;"I WILL 04:22  |  glenna 25/07/08
      141.   "...speed up the End of Days." 04:58  |  Webster 25/07/08
      142.   This is blatant pandering, and nothing less. 05:16  |  ballistic 25/07/08
      143.   PADDY do come back when you pass comprehension 1 in kindy. 05:18  |  PETER SM 25/07/08
      144.   I guess I am in the minority liking Hagee 05:21  |  Yoel 25/07/08
      145.   I guess I am in the minority liking Hagee 05:23  |  Yoel 25/07/08
      146.   Today 16 million 05:24  |  Dav 25/07/08
      147.   oh man 06:10  |  Jim-bo 25/07/08
      148.   PETER SM - I`M BACK! 07:27  |  PADDY 25/07/08
      149.   #127 Another good point, KUTW! 07:29  |  hala 25/07/08
      150.   SAINT GLENNA of Alaska... 07:41  |  PADDY 25/07/08
      151.   Dav. strange maths! 07:44  |  Fritz 25/07/08
      152.   the headline is very manipulative. 07:46  |  oren 25/07/08
      153.   hey Hey HEY, joe! nothing like money to pave the way! 09:48  |  eric 25/07/08
      154.   #150 PADDY WAGON;GOD WILL NOT GO BACK ON HIS COVENANT HE MADE 17:12  |  glenna 25/07/08
      155.   Lieberman as a VP would have Put Israel`s Interests 16:49  |  Monitor 26/07/08
      156.   Perhaps Lieberman doesn`t want McCain to be "Left Behind" in.. 06:34  |  PK 27/07/08
      157.   #48-Fritz-The wall of the 2nd Temple stands & the Arch of Titus.. 06:45  |  PK 27/07/08
      158.   Lieberman 01:15  |  Paul Tenenbaum 29/07/08
      159.   Lieberman 00:09  |  Jew 25/08/08
      160.   Lieberman is wrong 18:36  |  Mike From Boston 02/09/08
      161.   Jews should appreciate Hagee more than other Christians 00:23  |  Geoffrey Conn 08/09/08
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