McCain meets with evangelist Billy Graham and son (OneNewsNow.com)

McCain meets with evangelist Billy Graham and son

Liz Sidoti - Associated Press Writer - 6/29/2008 3:55:00 PM

MONTREAT, N.C. - John McCain met Sunday with evangelist Billy Graham and his son, Franklin, at the family's mountaintop retreat.

The Republican presidential candidate, who is actively courting religious voters and trying to reassure skeptical conservatives, visited privately with the Grahams on the grounds of Little Piney Cove in the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina.

"We had a very excellent conversation. I appreciated the opportunity to visit with them," McCain said after the 45-minute meeting.

McCain's visit to North Carolina was his first sit-down with Billy Graham, 89, and with Franklin Graham, although McCain and the elder Graham are acquainted. McCain's father and Billy Graham also knew each other.

The world-renowned evangelist is in poor health but apparently felt well enough to visit with McCain, who flew to North Carolina with the expectation of meeting only with Franklin Graham, who is president and chief executive of the evangelistic association his father founded in 1950.

McCain said he did not know if the Grahams would vote for him. "I didn't ask for their votes," he said, calling them "great leaders."

After the meeting, Franklin Graham issued a statement praising the Arizona senator's "personal faith and his moral clarity."

"The senator and I both have sons currently serving in the military, and also have a common interest in aviation," Franklin Graham said. "I was impressed by his personal faith and his moral clarity on important social issues facing America today."

Franklin Graham said his father told a story about meeting McCain's father, a Navy admiral, on a trip to Vietnam during the war when John McCain was being held as a prisoner of war after his military plane was shot out of the sky. The two prayed for John McCain during his captivity.

Franklin Graham said his father "expressed gratitude for the senator's long and brave service" to the country.

"We had an opportunity to pray for the senator and his family, and for God's will to be done in this upcoming election," Franklin Graham said.

He said he was not endorsing anyone for president, but was urging "men and women of faith everywhere" to vote and be involved in the political process.

"I encourage people to vote for the candidate at every level who best represents their values and convictions, and then to pray for those in authority over us as required in Scripture," Franklin Graham said.

McCain said last week that he did not consider the meeting with Franklin Graham a political one. Earlier this month, Barack Obama, McCain's Democratic rival, met with the younger Graham, who was among some 30 evangelicals Obama met with in Chicago.

"He is a man whose family is respected, incredibly respected, and I consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to meet with him," McCain said of Franklin Graham. "I think the Graham family really transcends politics in America. Billy Graham was an adviser to every president and so I'm not sure that there is any _ there certainly is no political aspect to the meeting that I will have."

Meanwhile, in Washington, Gen. Wesley Clark challenged McCain's claim to be better prepared to be president.

Clark said that while he honored McCain's service as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam war and on the Senate Armed Services Committee, McCain has no executive experience and that the Navy squadron McCain commanded was not a wartime squadron.

"He hasn't been there and ordered the bombs to fall," Clark said on "Face the Nation" on CBS.

When moderator Bob Schieffer noted that Obama hadn't had those experiences nor had he ridden in a fighter plane and been shot down, Clark replied: "Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president."

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Comments on this article:

"Great article. Although, I am not buying the comment that McCain was not there for political reasons. Yeah, right. And, Gen. Clark's comment, if we are not taking it out of context, is so ignorant. Obama definitely is not qualified to be President by Clark's standards (or anyone else's if they look at his record). And, although I am not a huge McCain fan, it is unfair and ridiculous to criticize like he did his experience in the military. I was married to a USMC officer while he served 9 years and he was a great leader. But, he was never put in a situation to order a bombing or to get shot down in a plane or anything. But, that did not make him less of a servant to his country. I am confident that, put in that situation, he would have done a great job. . ."
"Billy Graham does not hold to the view that there are other ways to Heaven. That is NOT true."
"Rate: 5 - article presents the facts clearly. Impressed with how all parties focused on the needs of our country and all Americans making wise and responsible decisions in the upcoming election. I too hope we elect a President who honors our country, our flag, and the God of our Forefathers. D. Brown in S. Georgia - Registered Democrat - Voting Republican more often than not!"
"I rather hear McCain say he meets with the one these guys serve on a regular basis."
"5 Stars"
"Should this years election rest with either Sen. Obama, or Sen. McCain.... Oh, well."
"General Clark is a good Christian man! Those who critisize this good man need to look beyond his politics. He who is without sin....you all know the rest."
"Gen. Clark thinks McCain is unqualified to be President because he hasn't "ordered bombs to fall." Yet Obama has no military credentials at all. Since he refuses to salute the flag or wear a patriotic pin, and has fascist ties, one wonders if Obama did order bombs to fall, if they might fall on America."
"Well, if John McCain's qualifications are insufficient according to Wesley Clark, just how and in what way is Barack Obama qualified? That avenue of reasoning is totally laughable and indicative of Democratic rhetoric. Makes me ashamed to be a Democrat at times like this!"
"Between the 2 I would rather have McCain lead our Nation."
"I agree with all of these comments and would only add that anyone who votes for Obama must have a death wish. He will be responsible for taking away the freedoms we have left and give away everything he can shake loose from welfare agencies, Social Security, and many other funds I don't even know about. He says, in his book, and I paraphrase, that if push ever came to shove, he would side with the Muslims. It can't be made any plainer where his allegiance is and it doesn't include you, me or the Stars and Stripes!"
"Re: "Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president." Neither is being a charismatic, "oppressed" black man a qualification for president."
"Excuse me General Clark, but besides being relieved of command what experience do you have as a war time administrator? I believe that Senator McCain is best for this great nation right now. Mr. Obama, sir, is a very scary individual who will certainly be a political puppet for the left!"
"Clark is the same liberal boot licker that I knew back when he was a company grade officer. Bucking for the VP slot no doubt!!!!"
"God bless the Grahams who surely had to think they were meeting with are a bottom feeding, 3rd rate political hack. Two weeks ago McCain was courting Hillary Clinton supporters touting his record for voting for Pro Abortion Justices Ginsburg(ACLU) and Breyer. Last week is was McCain's meeting with the Gay association Log Cabin, This week it was meeting with the militant pro amnesty La Raza, and a finale with Billy Graham(after his campaign director Mrs. Amber Johnson initially said he was "too busy") Hopefully McCain went cap in hand, tail between legs for stabbing Evangelicals in the back continually during his 20 year political career."
"I can't agree with Gen. Clark. Sen. McCain was not just riding in a plane, he was going to war for his country. The fact that he fought for his country is proof of his dedication and loyalty. Where's Obama's proof?"
"Great article. My family loves Billy Graham and family"
"What a difference between McCain and Obama. Obama has fruitcake theology and no experience with anything!"
"Wesley Clark, what you are saying is a bunch of nonsense. The fact is that Obama had only 143 days of experience as a Senator before he decided to run for President. McCain has DECADES of experience as a Senator!"
"Clark has endorsed Obama. What do you expect him to say about McCain?"
"I think John McCain has more knowledge than Barack Obama.Obama has made so many errors so far i can't believe anyone can vote for him.As far as Gen'l.Clark does he think he'd make a good Pres.just because he's an ex-general."
"This could have very well be a 5 star article -I down-graded it to a 3 because for some strange reason the writer felt it worthy to include the comments of Wesley Clark, a General in my opinion that the then President could not hide - What a terrible way to ruin an otherwise good article! Thank You - J. Goza Midwest City, Okla."
"Excellent article. Franklin Graham gives excellent advice to voters to vote for the best representative of their values and then be obedient to the Lord in praying for them."
"As I read this story my pride in Dr. and Franklin Graham grew even more, followed by a respect for Sen. McCain. And finally yet another reason to have nothing but disgust for the self-serving Gen. Clark. This guy has been saying stupid things publicly for years."
"Gen. Wesley Clark is the last person I would listen to. He sounds like a angry and bitter man"
"I enjoyed this story."
"QUOTE: Clark replied: 'Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.'*********But then, neither is going to a Muslim school, living in foreign countries and being more interested in what the rest of the world thinks. Whatever else McCain is, at least we are relatively sure he is an American. Obama? Not so much."
"blah, blah, blah"
"General Wesley Clark is a joke for his comments about Senator McCain. I'd rather have Senator McCain at 3:00a.m in the White House watching over my family and the nation!"
"Great story. I have a lot of respect for Billy Graham. He has been trying to do what is right, since I was a little boy, in the 50's. I think that who ever becomes our next president, he should listen to the people in religious circles."
"i certainly hope that billy graham and his son agree to meet with senator obama without any additional preconditions beyond that they offered to mccain. i would hope that a man who has meet with so many presidents would deny himself a chance to meet either of the next most likely. that would be unseemly politics and not worthy of such an honored man."
"4"
"In response to Mr. Clark's curt remark about being in a fighter plane and being shot down not qualifying one for President....not serving in the military at all totally disqualifies one from becoming President as far as I am concerned. How can you command the armed forces when you have never served in the armed forces? That should take preference over any other "experience" anyone has had and I have always felt that way. Obama doesn't qualify in any way, shape or form to be a leader of any kind especially President of the USA. Patricia in NC"
"Spending 25 years in the senate is a good start against Obama he has 123 days in there and never ever been in the military but I guess being a neighborhood organizer and smoking pot on the streets of Chicago is a prelude or qualification to be the leader of our country, Clark is another elite person who double speaks to get what he wants . there is nothing to compare on qualifications here McCain has the experience and Obama does not ."
"Good for the Grahams and McCain; Clark needs to get a life."
"Means nothing. Especially since Graham no holds to the view of wider mercy and other ways to heaven besides Jesus."
"I wonder if Rev. Graham talked with him about why he dumped his first wife for a younger, very rich one, and why his campaign is being financed by his wife's beer distributorship money. Think so?"