Hagee Bashes Obama at Christian Zionist Summit

Christians United for Israel, which claims some 700,000 members, and whose executive director says "represents the soul of the Tea Party," recently concluded its sixth annual summit, which featured a satellite address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and an energetic and spirited Glenn Beck.

In what can only be considered a disastrous choice of words to sell a message of unwavering support for Israel, Pastor John Hagee, the founder of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and the head of a multi-million dollar ministry, paraphrased Alabama's segregationist Governor George C. Wallace when he told the assemblage of more than 5,000 at the close of the recent CUFI summit in Washington, D.C. that, "We gathered here with one message. Israel today, Israel tomorrow, and Israel forever."

A history of controversial statements

It was during his 1963 inaugural address that Wallace declared his undying support for a segregated Alabama: "In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny . . . and I say . . . segregation today . . . segregation tomorrow . . . segregation forever."

Hagee has a history of god-awful statements. As documented by People for the America Way's Right Wing Watch, Hagee "referred to the Catholic Church as `The Great Whore,' an `apostate church,' the `anti-Christ,' and a `false cult system'; believes that Hurricane Katrina `looked like the curse of God' and ravaged New Orleans in order to stop a `homosexual rally' and punish the city's high `level of sin'; said that if gay marriage becomes legal `you can kiss this country goodbye'; alleged that the US is `rebirthing Sodom and Gomorrah' and demanded that the government stop funding AIDS research and treatment to stop benefiting a `sinful lifestyle'; demands that `wives submit yourselves to your husbands' and said that the `husband has a God-given role as leader of your home'; [and] said that God won't allow the United States to win wars anymore because `we have allowed the worship of Satanism in the U.S. military.'"

One of Hagee's most notorious previous utterances came on what is now known as the "God Sent Hitler" video. According to investigative reporter and Talk2Action co-founder Bruce Wilson - who discovered the video - the essence of Hagee's message was that "God had sent Hitler, a `hunter' to chase Europe's Jews towards Palestine." Wilson's discovery made national news and ultimately forced Senator John McCain to disavow Hagee's presidential endorsement; an endorsement he had zealously sought.

CUFI 'represent[s] soul of the Tea Party,' says executive director David Brog

These days, Hagee appears to have put the God Sent Hitler scandal behind him, as witnessed by his sixth annual CUFI soiree which drew the likes of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (via satellite), radio personality and former FOX News Channel television host, as well as best-selling author, Glenn Beck, Israel's ambassador to the United States Michel Oren, and George W. Bush's UN Ambassador John Bolton.

Hagee, the head of a 19,000-member Texas mega-church, and the fellow who has been primarily responsible for turning CUFI into a powerful lobbying group, is once again a major player in Republican Party politics. He is a much-touted endorser of Texas Governor Rick Perry's upcoming stadium prayer event in Texas called "The Response." (Perry is still weighing whether he will make a run for the presidency.)

According to its website, CUFI "is the largest pro-Israel organization in the United States and one of the leading Christian grassroots movements in the world," and it claims some 700,000 members.

At a midweek press conference, David Brog, the executive director of the organization, maintained that CUFI "represent[s] the soul of the Tea Party," and urged members of Congress not to fiddle with foreign aid to Israel. According to the Jerusalem Post, Brog "argued against the views of some Tea Party-backed members of Congress, singling out Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and his son, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), who, according to Brog, hold that `cutting the budget extends to cutting our role in the world.'"

CUFI welcomes Netanyahu and Beck

"We need to defend the truth that Israel is the only reliable ally the U.S. has in the Middle East," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said via satellite. "When you support Israel, you don't have to choose between your interests and your values; you get both ... Our enemies think that we are you, and that you are us: and you know something? They are absolutely right!"

According to Worthy News, Hagee "condemned President Obama's suggestion that Israel revert to the 1967 borders to broker peace with its Arab neighbors." Hagee declared that "President Obama has told Israel not to build homes in Jerusalem. He has no right or authority to tell the Jewish people what to do."

Hagee advised Obama to "Go tell Iran, China and Russia what to do. Israel is not a vassal state of the United States. It is free to determine their borders and their destiny. They are free to retaliate against anyone who attacks them."

"The Jewish people are not occupying the land of Israel, they own the land of Israel," said Hagee. "America should never pressure Israel to give up land for peace, not for any reason, not to anyone, ever ... If the US Administration forces Israel to divide Jerusalem, God will turn his back to the United States of America. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is watching, America."

While Beck should not be considered the fulfillment of the Second Coming, his recent visits to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp and to Israel where he spoke to the Knesset (Israel's parliament) and his plans to return to Israel next month for his "Restoring Courage" rally in Jerusalem, has supporters agog for more. (Readers shouldn't confuse being "agog" with the battle of Gog and Magog, according to Ezekiel 38-39 figures prominently in the End Times.

"Israel is the canary in the coal mine," said Beck. "If Israel goes away, so does our Western way of life. We have to stand up for Israel. This is a test of our lives and of our civilization. We must do it not because it will bring in the Messiah, or give us more baptisms, but because we love our fellow man and because it defends our way of life."

Beck, who was a keynote speaker at the "Night to Honor Israel" gala, and according to The Christian Broadcast Network (CBN), "pledged $10,000 to CUFI on Campus, a student movement dedicated to fighting back against anti-Semitic and anti-Israel propaganda on college campuses," pointed out that "We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor," and quoted from the book of Ruth: "To our Jewish friends, `intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.'"

According to David Horowitz's FrontPageMag.com, Beck received "rousing ovations and thunderous applause" from the CUFI crowd.

On a recent radio broadcast, Beck announced that he would be moving to Dallas where he will "build a film and television center and radio center." According to a mid-July CBN report, "Beck's new Internet venture called GBTV....comes at the same time as Beck's call to stand with Israel."

Meanwhile, Pastor Hagee recently hosted Newt Gingrich - before his candidacy melted down - and appears to be a supporter of Rick Perry. He is also currying favor with sectors of the Tea Party movement, as evidenced by executive director David Brog's statement that Christians United for Israel "represents the soul of the Tea Party."

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