When Senator John McCain ran for president
in 2000, he denounced right-wing extremist Jerry Falwell as one of America's
"agents of intolerance". But now that McCain is gearing up to run for president
in 2008, he has told Falwell that he spoke "in haste"
and has accepted an invitation to give the commencement speech at
Falwell's conservative Christian college, Liberty University.
Add you name our letter asking
Senator McCain to stick with the straight talk we know him for,
and cancel his appearance at Liberty University.
McCain seems to have set out to
become the darling of the radical religious right. After sharply denouncing a federal constitutional ban on gay marriage
in 2004, he recently told Falwell that he would support a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman if a federal court were to strike down state constitutional bans on gay marriage.
McCain has also set out to
pass voucher legislation that would allow taxpayer money to be
spent on religious schools. And
to the delight of religious extremists, he said he would have
signed the recently enacted abortion ban in South Dakota were he
the governor.
Ask Senator McCain to stay true to
his word, and cancel his appearance at Liberty University.
I am writing to encourage you to cancel your visit to Jerry Falwell's Liberty University next month.
In 2000, you rightfully labeled Mr. Falwell, and his fellow religious right leader Pat Robertson, as "agents of intolerance." Now, by appearing at Liberty, you are giving legitimacy to a leader you acknowledged as the "outer reaches of American democracy," emboldening the dangerous policies for which he stands, and threatening the straight talk you pride yourself on.
Stay true to your word and decline Jerry Falwell's offer.
Sincerely,
/Your Name/
/Your Address/