Glenn Greenwald has ’em. He makes some interesting observations about who journalists brand “serious” and credible — and, although he doesn’t say this explicitly (perhaps because it doesn’t need to be said), the definition of “moderate” has moved sufficiently rightward, to the point where people like Joe Lieberman are considered middle-of-the-road progressives — even when they meet with religious extremists like Evangelical minister John Hagee. This is the minister who took part in this exchange:
Terry Gross: I just want to ask you one question, based on one of your sermons, and this is not about Israel — you said after Hurricane Katrina, that it was an act of God, and you said when you violate God’s will long enough, the judgment of God comes to you. Katrina is an act of God for a society that is becoming Sodom and Gomorrah re-born.
Do you still believe that Katrina is punishment from God for a society that is becoming like Sodom and Gomorrah?
Hagee: All hurricanes are acts of God, because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that.
The newspaper carried the story in our local area, that was not carried nationally, that there was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that the Katrina came. And the promise of that parade was that it would was going to reach a level of sexuality never demonstrated before in any of the other gay pride parades.
So I believe that the judgment of God is a very real thing. I know there are people who demur from that, but I believe that the Bible teaches that when you violate the law of God, that God brings punishment sometimes before the Day of Judgment, and I believe that the Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans.
This is a person who has a fair amount of access to the White House.
Rev. Hagee also runs the group Christians United for Israel. Sen. Lieberman spoke at one of their events, and had this to say:
Thank you for that kind introduction and that warm welcome. May I in turn greet you with the ancient words of welcome offered to pilgrims in Jerusalem — “Bruchim Habaim B’Shem Hashem” — blessed be those who come in the name of the Lord.
That greeting is especially fitting for you because you have come to Washington not just as men or women, Republicans or Democrats, conservatives or liberals. You are here as Christians United for Israel. You represent a powerful force of people of faith in America who have pledged to never forget thee, O Jerusalem. . . .
I begin by thanking your founder, Pastor John Hagee. I would describe Pastor Hagee with the words the Torah uses to describe Moses, he is an “Eesh Elo Kim,” a man of God because those words fit him; and, like Moses he has become the leader of a mighty multitude in pursuit of and defense of Israel . . . .
You know his story — almost sixty years ago, a young John Hagee sat at his family’s kitchen table in Channelview, Texas, heard the news about Israel’s Declaration of Independence, and saw how moved his family was by it. Since then, he has been devoted to the defense of Israel, and to its vitality. He has done so because Israel’s fight is his fight. Israel’s values are his values. And Israel’s hopes and dreams are his hopes and dreams.
Pastor Hagee, I pray that God will bless you with all that you pray for, and I do so with great confidence because I know what the Lord said to Abraham in Genesis 12:3. If ever there was a man who will be blessed because he has blessed Israel, Pastor Hagee, it is you.
You reject the temptation of moral relativism. You understand that there is a difference between good and evil, between eternal and temporal, between Israel and other nations . . . .
In a literal sense, Christians United for Israel was founded a little more than a year ago, in February 2006. But in a larger sense, it began more than 4,000 years ago with the first words God spoke to Abraham in Genesis 12:1: “Now get thee unto the land that I will show thee, and I will make thee a great nation” . . . .
That was the covenantal promise God repeated to Isaac and Jacob and then to Moses, who, with God’s help, delivered the children of Israel out of bondage to Mount Sinai where they received the Ten Commandments — their statement of national values and purpose — and then, 40 years later, brought them to the land that was promised to them, to the land of Israel.
This is the long odyssey that has brought us here tonight. By standing with Israel today, each of you has joined that journey and taken up the torch that was lit in God’s promise to Abraham 4,000 years ago, and carrying it forward to spread that light.
I believe that Israel’s rebirth in 1948 was divinely inspired by God, but I know that it was realized by the men and women here on earth who worked so hard to make it happen. Israel will be sustained by the work of men and women like you here on Earth. And I know you know how truly American is your support of Israel. . . .
If we surrender to the barbarism of suicide bombers and yield the Middle East to fanatics and killers, to Al Qaeda and Iran, then all that our men and women in uniform have fought, and died for, will be lost, we will be left a much less secure and free nation, and our Middle East allies — including Israel — will be endangered.
Fortunately, you here tonight know that evil will not prevail if good people act. And I know you will not allow Iran and Al Qaeda to triumph over America and Israel.
This is the picture of a political moderate?
Glenn follows up with a list of questions for media elite. I’d also like to see them answered:
(1) There is a very sizable portion of our country — including a critically important part of the GOP base — that favors endless militarism in the Middle East, encompassing not just Iraq but Iran and many others, for entirely religious and theological (rather than strategic or geopolitical) reasons. Perhaps that might be worth some greater discussion in the media.
(2) Could we at least all agree that it is long past time to dispense with the outrageous taboo which prohibits a discussion of the allegiance to Israel among right-wing neocon warmongers like Joe Lieberman and the influence that it has in their advocacy of endless wars against Israel’s enemies such as Iran and Syria? Given that the likes of Joe Lieberman have formed common cause with the likes of John Hagee, and they all explicitly say that God demands that the U.S. defend Israel and wage war against its enemies, isn’t it rather impossible to pretend any longer that no such relationship exists?
(3) Is there anyone who can identify the specific views of Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul that are “crazier” and more “unserious” than the views expressed here by John Hagee and Joe Lieberman?
(4) What exactly is the difference between the view of “radical Islam” that God demands that jihad be waged against Islam’s enemies and the views expressed here by Hagee and Lieberman? Or the views of Osama bin Laden that God willed Middle Eastern land to Muslims and therefore can never be negotiated and the Lieberman/Hagee view that God willed it to Israel and can never be negotiated even if it means war?
(5) Could someone ask Joe Lieberman what exactly are the differences “between Israel and other nations”?
(6) For all of you throngs of media stars out there who spent much time condemning the Democratic Party for involving itself with such a wild, despicable radical like Michael Moore, do you have anything to say about Joe Lieberman’s close association with, and drooling praise for, someone who believes that Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment against the City of New Orleans for its wretched sins?
If it is perfectly permissible for Joe Lieberman to openly associate with someone like John Hagee and keep his membership in the Serious, Sober, Important, Respectable, Sane Mainstream Club, with whom can’t he associate himself? Is there ever a way for someone on the Right to remove themselves from respectable, mainstream Seriousness?
I’m speaking on a panel with Glenn at YearlyKos on Friday Aug. 3, and I suspect these issues will be raised. I look forward to the discussion, which also includes Mike Allen of The Politico and Jay Carney, Time‘s Washington bureau chief.