Lieberman and Hagee an Unholy Alliance

As a progressive Democrat, I resent that the mainstream media labels Senator Joseph Lieberman an ‘independent democrat.’ He is nothing of the sort. His steadfast support of the offensive and bigoted Reverend John Hagee brings disgrace on the U.S. Senate. In spite of the furor as a result of Hagee’s outrageous comments, Senator Lieberman will indeed be the keynote speaker at Hagee’s Christians United for Israel (CUFI) summit this July. The fact that his colleagues allow him to continue his blind support without calling for him to reject Hagee only serves to deepen the disgrace. Hagee’s latest piece of poisonous propaganda would have us believe that he has a direct line to God (perish the thought), but it is only one more hateful verbal assault in a long line.

The latest furor comes over a sermon Hagee gave on the eve of the invasion of Iraq describing the coming anti-Christ as a “blasphemer and a homosexual.” In this insult from the pulpit, called “The Final Dictator,” Hagee goes on to tell 19,000 members of his Cornerstone Church that the anti-Christ will come out of Germany and that he will at least be “partially Jewish.” If Hagee has the Jews in his sights, they are not alone. He has already stated that Hurricane Katrina happened because New Orleans had schedule its Gay Pride Parade for the Monday Katrina came ashore. He also tells his followers that Muslims have a mandate to kill Christians and Jews because it is taught in the Quran.

Perhaps the most chilling belief harbored by Hagee was revealed in a 2006 address to CUFI that proposes the United States and Israel must collaborate on a military pre-emptive strike on Iran in order to fulfill God’s ultimate plan. According to Hagee, the plan is “a biblically prophesized end-time confrontation with Iran, which will lead to the Rapture, Tribulation, and Second Coming of Christ.” While many Americans shrug Hagee off as a “nut” that nobody listens to, think again. CUFI has rapidly grown into one of the most powerful and influential Christian grassroots organizations in America. Hagee clearly has the ear of those formulating government policy or long-time, influential public servants like Joseph Lieberman would not give him the time of day let alone agree to be a keynote speaker at one of his summits.

There’s plenty of disgrace to go around Washington over this, so let’s by all means share some with the House. Representatives Elliot Engel (D-NY) and Republican Mike Pence will also be joining Lieberman at the CUFI summit in July, speaking on the “Middle East Briefing” panel. Engel’s participation is surprising since he has amassed a pretty progressive voting record. Bill Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard and conservative New York Times columnist and right-wing Christian activist Gary Bauer will also participate.

That Kristol and Bauer are participating is not surprising. One only has to visit the CUFI site to get a feel for Hagee’s supporters. That Washington policy makers are participating is both disturbing and absolutely frightening. Senator Lieberman should reject Hagee’s venomous beliefs by backing out of the summit immediately. He should then call on his compatriots Engel and Pence to do the same. There is absolutely no place in our government for such an unholy alliance.