1. While I like and respect Sen. McCain, this is indeed sad. Who cares what church he attends? This is nothing but pandering to religious conservatives in South Carolina and it is transparent.
But let's be honest - the Republican party long ago hitched it's wagon to the religious right and old habits die hard.
I guess with other GOP presidential candidates trying to "out God" each other (except for Giuliani, or maybe Thompson) McCain probably feels he has no choice. Run to the hard line base of your party when you feel threatened.

David S. at 3:49PM on Sep 18th 2007

2. Uhh, there's a difference between denominations and religions. No one says "I belong to the Baptist religion". Episcopalians don't believe that Baptists are going to hell or vice versa. This whole article is pure stupidity.

joe at 4:58PM on Sep 18th 2007

3. Seder...So his family is Baptist, attending Baptist services in AZ just to pander to SC voters....You sir are an idiot.
I was raised Episcopalian, now married to a Catholic and my son is baptized Catholic... just to pander to the Pope I guess.
What is absurd is having you two non-Christians defining a Christian.

Tom Walker at 5:24PM on Sep 18th 2007

4. I dunno, he may be on to something with the religious right. Now he's John the Baptist.

Mike at 5:28PM on Sep 18th 2007

5. Hey Cenk, it's not what denomination you belong to, but whether or not you have Christ as your Lord and Savior. Christianity is not about religion, it's about relationship with God. Labels don't enter into it. God will not ask you whether you were a Baptist, Episcopalian, or Pentecostal. He will ask you if you has His Son Jesus as Lord and Savior or if you rejected Him.

Mato1970 at 6:49PM on Sep 18th 2007

6. The ironic thing is that there are a number of Episcopalians in Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia.

Remember that those are part of the original 13 colonies, so there are a number of descendants of colonists, who were primarily Anglican.

Having been in Georgia and the Carolinas, it's surprising how many Episcopalian churches there are, even in rural areas, when compared to the upper Midwest, which is far more Catholic, Lutheran, and Methodist.

Kent at 7:21PM on Sep 18th 2007

7. I'm sorry I watched most of this. I guess I'm confused as to where the controversy is really, but then again to me, a Christian is a Christian. Doesn't matter what DENOMINATION they are. Faith, denomination, and religion all mean something different. . . .

Keri at 7:21PM on Sep 18th 2007

8. I think folks THAT is the point here. It does not matter what denomination you are. A Christian is a Christian. This blog should have shown the interview with McCain, but they did not. McCain is arguing with the reporter over and over that he is NOT Episcopalian (even though in the past he said he was) but Baptist. He emphasizes the point over and over..how can one believe this is anything but wanting to win over more hard line conservatives (Baptists are more traditionally strict than Episcopalians, for sure).
I don't think this some big scandal either, but it does make you wonder why McCain would deny his own church? It makes him sound like he is trashing Episcopalians, whether he meant to or not.

David S. at 8:08PM on Sep 18th 2007

9. ISN'T HILLARY CLINTON JEWISH? SHE CLAIMED TO BE A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

IRONBLUEEYES at 8:38PM on Sep 18th 2007

10. religion shouldn't matter in a presidential race---what you will do for the country is the #1 qualifier, or should be at least.

for political commentary, visit:
http://www.politidose.com/

Patrick at 8:42PM on Sep 18th 2007

11. John McCain is losing it. Not only the religion issue but just the other day he said that the Dems want to match the time the troops are in the field to being home. He said it was UNCONSTITUTIONA. Can you beat that one?

fran at 9:03PM on Sep 18th 2007

12. Fact is, there is a huge difference between christian denominations. To fundamentalists catholics are mystical pope worshippers and the catholics look at them as special needs children. Same can be said in relation to episcopalians, eho support ordination of gays with many pastors marrying gays in their churches. Horrible of you christians posting to ignore this. It makes you seem like liars. So many of these folks are so pathetically ignorant of their own religion. Hell, all the fundamentalists teach is revelations and that old testament crap(some of its great! lots of it is just junk). Really, they ignore Jesus. I'm done. Sorry for any offense.

tom at 9:44PM on Sep 18th 2007

13. Ooopsie, John, looks as though your flip flopped.

If you've left the denomination we all always understood you to be part of, hey no big deal. Or perhaps you wnated to be BAPTIST FOR A DAY, especially in that southern state. So hey, next week will you visit Boston and be RCC? Hmm, how's bout straight out Protestant, or Methodist, you might even try Seventh Day Advantist or for a more personal touch, Jehova's Witness's, and or go to the countryside in PA and the Mennonite communities might welcome you...Ya know ya could convoIt and become a Jew...Hedonism is good, Pagan would gain you entre` to Stone Henge but then Johny Mc your not able to really campaign there unless you run into a group from stateside.
John, really we don't care what denomination you make yourself, your campaign has already sunk into Hell!
I did not mean offense to our Muslim freinds, however, can you really imagine Johnny Mc in a turban or burka?

Steven at 10:19PM on Sep 18th 2007

14. You Turk guys are terrible at radio hosting. You really should find other jobs. It was stupid and the topic doesn't even matter. Find something real to talk about.

livinxsacrifice at 10:20PM on Sep 18th 2007

15. I was most offended at his "No matter what, I'm still a Christian" remark.

Barbara at 10:50PM on Sep 18th 2007