Thomas Retires After Israel Remark, But Netanyahu Ally Hagee Blasts anti-Jewish Invective Worldwide

<snip>
But a prominent friend and political ally of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, John Hagee, has said much worse than - with little repercussion. Hagee has blamed anti-Semitism on Jews themselves, said God sent Hitler to hunt the Jews, claimed Hitler was "partially Jewish," and broadcast worldwide one of Hitler's favorite conspiracy theories, the allegation that Rothschild financiers control the banking system (the ADL calls this "a classic anti-Semitic myth.")

Hagee's books sell into the millions and his sermons, broadcast around the world, have an even wider reach, and so whatever anti-Jewish or anti-Israel sentiment Thomas' statement fed it is likely that John Hagee has done magnitudes worse.
<snip>
Back in May 2008 I posted a short Youtube video with an audio clip from a sermon John Hagee had given in late 2005 (which I mis-dated in the video clip as being from the "late 1990's"). In the audio footage from Hagee's sermon, the Texas megachurch pastor claimed that God had sent Hitler, whom Hagee called a "hunter," to persecute Europe's Jews and drive them towards Palestine which, according to Hagee, was the only God ever intended for them to have. In the clip Hagee the "hunters" would come again and insisted he was simply presenting clear, unambiguous Biblical prophecy.
<snip>
While Hagee was temporarily disgraced, the anti-Defamation League played a key role in Hagee's early rehabilitation by accepting a letter of pseudo-apology Hagee sent to Abraham Foxman and the ADL, "apologizing" for a sermon Hagee said he had given in the late 1990's.

But Hagee gave the sermon at the center of the controversy in late 2005 - as my research colleague Rachel Tabachnick discovered; in the sermon Hagee mentions hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
<snip>
Benjamin Netanyahu has been courting American evangelicals for, quite literally, decades and he has repeatedly collaborated with them to undermine peace initiatives. Consider:

In 1998, en route to meet with Yasser Aarafat and President Bill Clinton concerning a US-backed Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu first stopped off to attend a Christian Zionist rally at which pastor John Hagee led a crowd in frenzied chants of "Not one inch!" - referring to land-for-peace proposals at the heart of the peace talks. Jerry Falwell, who staged the event, described it as an intentional provocation meant to sabotage the peace process.

2010 saw a replay of the stunt. On the eve of Vice President Joe Biden's arrival in Israel to jumpstart peace talks, Netanyahu and top members of the Israeli government attended one of John Hagee's Christians United For Israel rallies in Jerusalem. Also in attendance were Israel's ambassador to the US Michael Oren, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, and Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon.

There's a lot more about Hagee:
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2010/6/7/1800/39693

Helen Thomas should have not said what she said. Period. It was reprehensible.

However, for some to openly give John Hagee a pass even after his heinous remarks is beyond the height of hypocrisy. He has made them repeatedly.

"the Texas megachurch pastor claimed that God had sent Hitler, whom Hagee called a "hunter," to persecute Europe's Jews"

If that is in anyway less offensive than what Helen Thomas said, I'd like to know how.

Hagee and his ilk are dangerous and hateful bigots towards a lot of people, especially gays. Allowing him to spew his hatred because he will help you in some way is not acceptable. You cannot separate the messages you like from the ones that threaten the existence of others.

Ironically, as an endtimer or Christian Dispensationalist, he wants the lands in the Mideast reclaimed to hasten Armageddon. In that scenario, two-thirds of the Jews in Israel die and the other third are converted to Christianity. That is a little worse than being sent to Poland.

I am not taking aim at the Jewish people or Israel. I am specifically taking aim at those who are using Hagee as a means to an end. The end he really wants is theirs. There are many Jewish people who are more than a little uncomfortable with this relationship. This is quite literally a cynical deal with the devil.

Who is more dangerous and antisemitic when you get down to brass tacks? Thomas or Hagee? Thomas's remark shouldn't have been tolerated. What about Hagee??

Why aren't they after Hagee for his open antisemitism?

I didn't say anybody on DU was supporting him. I'll bet he is abhorrent to DU as a whole. However, his vile behavior is given short shrift compared to the firestorm about Thomas.

That is about a personal matter such as adultery. The other is about a much more serious matter that has repercussions for the US and the entire Middle East.

And it wasn't DU'ers who pushed Thomas into retirement. It was the same media establishment that adores jew-haters like Buchanan and hagee, that relishis the islamophobic invective of Glen Beck and Sean Hannity, and the insane anti-Mexican ravings of too many people to list.

They were certainly inveighing against her here.

Neither the remarks from Thomas or Hagee's behavior should be tolerated.

Palin and her cronies are right there with Hagee if you follow their beliefs.

than I will accept your argument. Until then I condemn bigotry whether its from a conservative or a progressive.

no matter what the source is. I can't prevent all bigotry in the world with my opinion, and that should be obvious. If that is the standard for expressing an opinion, there will be a lot of silence.

I am confused by your post and may be misconstruing it???

I asked some questions in my post, but you didn't provide your answers. That would give me something to think about and it would help broaden my thinking. I do have strong ideas about this, but other ideas are welcome.