On Fox News Sunday, Kristol claimed Hagee and Parsley are "just individuals who've endorsed" McCain
On the March 23 edition of Fox Broadcasting Co.'s Fox News Sunday, host Chris Wallace highlighted controversial statements evangelist John Hagee and pastor Rod Parsley, who have both endorsed Sen. John McCain for president, have made, and asked New York Times columnist and Weekly Standard editor William Kristol: "Do you think it's fair, Bill, to compare McCain's, quote, 'ministers' to [Sen. Barack] Obama's pastor [Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright]?" Kristol replied: "No, because these are just individuals who've endorsed Senator McCain." He later added: "This would be like attacking Obama because random individuals in the Democratic Party have endorsed him." In fact, contrary to Kristol's assertion that Hagee and Parsley are "just individuals who've endorsed Senator McCain," McCain stated in a joint appearance with Hagee: "All I can tell you is I'm very proud to have Pastor Hagee's support." And in an interview with New York Times reporter Deborah Solomon, Hagee stated: "McCain's campaign sought my endorsement." Additionally, McCain reportedly called Parsley a "spiritual guide" during a Cincinnati campaign rally.
