Catholic League: Obama set the bar for Hagee in Renouncing Bigotry

"I hope the McCain camp gets the message. The difference between the way Obama and McCain have handled their endorsements by bigots is enormous."

NEW YORK, N.Y. (Catholic League) - Here is what Sen. Barack Obama said during the February 26 debate with Sen. Hillary Clinton regarding his endorsement by Minister Farrakhan:

· "I have been very clear in my denunciation of Minister Farrakhan's anti-Semitic comments. I think that they are unacceptable and reprehensible. I did not solicit this support."

· "I think I'm very familiar with his record as are the American people. That's why I have consistently denounced it."

Was this good enough? Here is what Karl Rove said last night on TV:

"And the fact that he [Obama] danced around the question of whether he both renounced and rejected in the Democratic debate recently was a problem."

"I thought in the debate he didn't seize the moment too quickly--in fact he played a word game with it."

"Rather than saying, I reject this one narrow part of him, he should have said, I reject what he stands for, and I don't associate myself with him in any way, shape or form."

Here is what McCain said yesterday regarding Hagee's endorsement:

"It's simply not accurate to say that because someone endorses me that I therefore embrace their views."

Catholic League president Bill Donohue opined as follows:

"I hope the McCain camp gets the message. The difference between the way Obama and McCain have handled their endorsements by bigots is enormous. Even worse, McCain actually solicited Hagee's endorsement.

And if Karl Rove is right to criticize Obama for not being strong enough in his denunciation of Farrakhan, what does that say about McCain's response to Hagee's endorsement?

In short, Obama has set the bar for McCain. Whether he wants to clear it or walk away is his choice."

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The Catholic League is the nation's largest Catholic civil rights organization. Founded in 1973 by the late Father Virgil C. Blum, S.J., the Catholic League defends the right of Catholics – lay and clergy alike – to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination. It is led by its' President, William A. Donohue, Ph.D.