Paging Tim Russert

Last week during what seemed like the one millionth Democratic presidential debate, Tim Russert pressed Barack Obama about his opinion of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. The leader of Obama's church has a somewhat chummy relationship with Farrakhan, causing some issues for the Obama campaign. Never mind that he's repeatedly said that he doesn't share Farrakhan's ideas or positions. Russert (with an assist from Hillary) was going to make sure Obama couldn't get away from the issue.

So one wonders if Russet will go on the same kind of offensive with John McCain next time he has the chance. As Glenn Greenwald detailed last week, McCain picked up the endorsement of fringe apocalyptic mega-preacher John Hagee. Hagee's views on Catholicism, the Holocaust, and the need to defend Israel in order to bring about Armageddon, are easily as far out and offensive as Farrakhan's greatest hits. And unlike the Farrakhan/Obama non-relationship, McCain not only enthusiastically accepted Hagee's support, but has used Hagee in the past for support on the campaign trail.

Of course, Hagee's a nutty fundamentalist Christian, which entitles him to so sort of inexplicable good will in the press. That probably means he and McCain will largely get a pass on the issue, as they so often do.