Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain Thursday tried to reject the backing of Rev. John Hagee, who once said that the Book of Jeremiah makes it clear that Hitler's attempt to annihilate Jews was part of the Almighty's plan. Hagee, who is popular with Christian fundamentalists who also are pro-Israel but often are suspected of having missionary motives, quoted Jeremiah in a sermon several years ago, "And they the hunters should hunt them," which he said refers to Jews, "from every mountain and from every hill and from out of the holes of the rocks. If that doesn’t describe what Hitler did in the Holocaust--you can’t see that?"

Sen. McCain told California voters, "Obviously, I find these remarks and others deeply offensive and indefensible. I did not know of them before Rev. Hagee's endorsement, and I feel I must reject his endorsement as well." Hagee has withdrawn his support of the senator because "people seeking to attack Senator McCain have combed my records for statements they can use for political gain…. I am tired of these baseless attacks and fear that they have become a distraction in what should be a national debate about important issues."