[ad_1]
(JTA) — Pastor John Hagee, the influential pro-Israel evangelical chief, blasted Republicans for trafficking in “thinly veiled racism” and a “contagious viral pressure of anti-American, anti-Christian, and antisemitic politics.”
Hagee, the founding father of Christians United for Israel, has lengthy been related to the pro-Israel proper and has praised and endorsed a collection of Republican presidential candidates, together with Donald Trump. He gave a benediction on the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem in 2018, and the next 12 months, 5 Trump administration officers — together with Vice President Mike Pence — spoke at CUFI’s annual convention.
However this 12 months, Hagee distanced himself from Trump, delivering a prayer on the launch of Nikki Haley’s presidential marketing campaign. And on Monday, the eve of the Republican main in New Hampshire, he revealed an op-ed within the Christian Publish containing implied jabs at Trump, whom he didn’t point out by identify.
“A number of would-be Republican customary bearers constantly attraction to the worst of their viewers by trafficking in thinly veiled racism whereas cynically trampling on our Structure,” he wrote. “Likewise, religion is just not decorative, and the Phrase of God is just not a political prop.”
He continued, “It’s removed from unprecedented for folks to be led astray by these promising an unrealistic view of a nostalgic previous, however when this nostalgia is rooted in insult, racism and antisemitism, it’s essentially un-American and most assuredly evil.”
Hagee has lengthy aimed his rhetorical fireplace at Democrats, and the piece additionally criticizes that social gathering at size, together with President Joe Biden. “Socialists and authoritarians are on the precipice of taking on each of America’s political events” Hagee wrote. He added, “I essentially disagree with most mainstream Democratic insurance policies.”
However even when naming Biden, who Hagee stated “failed to avoid wasting his social gathering from the perils of socialism,” Hagee took a veiled swipe at Trump and his baseless claims that the 2020 election was rigged: “President Biden was duly elected,” Hagee wrote.
Trump and his allies have championed the rioters who sought to overturn Biden’s 2021 election, and Trump has just lately stated immigrants are “poisoning the blood” of the nation, language that resembles phrases in “Mein Kampf,” by Adolf Hitler. At a rally in December, Trump denied plagiarizing Hitler and stated he had by no means learn the ebook.
Haley, the previous South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, is the final remaining critical challenger to Trump within the main and has staked her marketing campaign on a robust displaying in New Hampshire. She has drawn help from institution Jewish Republicans who wish to see a substitute for Trump and favor her interventionist international coverage and strong embrace of Israel. Haley spoke final 12 months at CUFI’s annual Washington convention.
In his piece, Hagee singled out the GOP in his residence state for condoning antisemitism by rejecting a ban on associating with Nazi sympathizers and Holocaust deniers. Referring to that rejection, Hagee wrote, “So as to add insult to harm, the vote on this decision was taken in secret, successfully reserving the social gathering’s proper to collaborate with Nazis.”
CUFI is likely one of the largest and most influential right-wing pro-Israel lobbies on the federal and state stage. It has led efforts to cross state legal guidelines concentrating on the motion to boycott Israel, and on the federal stage was one of many first teams to foyer for the profitable effort to hyperlink funding Palestinian establishments to slicing off funds for households of terrorists.
Along with main CUFI, Hagee is the founding father of Cornerstone Church and of Hagee Ministries, a charitable group that directs thousands and thousands of {dollars} to Israeli charities, together with some in West Financial institution settlements.
Hagee endorsed the late Republican Sen. John McCain within the 2008 presidential election however withdrew his endorsement when a few of his previous remarks drew scrutiny, together with feedback suggesting Adolf Hitler was fulfilling the phrases of the Bible, and a reference to the Catholic Church as “the nice whore” — remarks for which he later apologized. He has additionally made anti-Muslim statements.
His statements havre continued to spark controversy. A contingent of dovish pro-Israel teams objected to his having a talking function on the large pro-Israel Washington rally in November, partially due to his incendiary rhetoric about LGBTQ folks.
[ad_2]
Source link
