Thursday, Senator John McCain refused the initially desired backing from Rev. John C. Hagee, a televangelist, after he heard a recording of a sermon in which Mr. Hagee said that the Holocaust and Hitler also were a part of God’s plan to drive the Jewish people out from Europe and in to Palestine.

After this event, Rev. John Hagee’s Jewish allies quickly stepped in yesterday to take Hagee’s side, saying that the evangelist was clearly not anti-Semitic.

According to the Washington Times, Dennis Prager a Los Angeles talk show host said yesterday morning that Hagee was a best friend to the Jewish, bringing in discussion Raoul Wallenberg who saved Jews during the Holocaust. Orthodox Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg, of Congregation Rodfei Sholom in San Antonio said at a conference that Hagee’s words were used in such a manner that they backfired against the reverend.

The rabbi also added that the evangelist had only offered an interpretation of a biblical verse that was very much similar with some of the Jewish interpretations.

In his defense, Hagee said that his life was devoted to make sure that “there will never be a second Holocaust” and that he has made many efforts to “eliminate the sin of anti-Semitism from the Christian world,” reported the Washington Times.

Hagee is also known for his offensive remarks against Catholics, remarks which he took back in a letter of apology.
McCain also rejected the backing of the Rev. Rod Parsley who made some anti-Muslim comments in his sermons.