Asshole of the Week - John McCain

O.K. kids, can we spell hypocrite?

The Asshole of the Week trophy and a loud fart go to GOP presidential candidate John McCain who says America is better off with a Christian president, and he doesn’t want a Muslim in the Oval Office.

“I admire Islam. There’s a lot of good principles in it,” he said. “But I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles and personally, I prefer someone I know who has a solid grounding in my faith.”

(Currently America is led by a president who claims to be a Christian. He started an illegal war bases on lies, and supports extraordinary renditions, secret jails, torture, and other human rights violations. Under the guise of his ‘fight against terror’ he has taken away countless liberties that until recently were taken for granted. Is America better off with a Christian president? Perhaps. But not with a president who only talks the talk, instead of also walking the walk.)

In a wide-ranging interview about religion and faith with the Web site Beliefnet, McCain said he wouldn’t “rule out under any circumstance” someone who wasn’t Christian, but said, “I just feel that that’s an important part of our qualifications to lead.”

A Mormon such as rival candidate Mitt Romney, he said, would be OK.

“The Mormon religion is a religion that I don’t share but I respect. “More importantly, I’ve known so many people of the Mormon faith who have been so magnificent,” he said.

In the interview, the senator also said the “Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation.” (There is no mention of God, Jesus or Christ in the document and this is why Johnny made it as asshole of the week.)

McCain later clarified his remarks, saying, “I would vote for a Muslim if he or she was the candidate best able to lead the country and to defend our political values.”

A Muslim rights group ripped the Arizona Republican’s remarks.

“That kind of attitude goes against the American tradition of religious pluralism and inclusion,” said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. He urged McCain to “clarify his remarks” and “stress his acceptance of political candidates of any faith.”

The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish advocacy group, could not be reached for comment because its offices were closed for the Sukkoth holiday.

Allan W Janssen is the author of The Plain Truth About God at www.God-101.com and the blog "Perspective" at http://God-101.blogspot.com