The more I hear about John McCain the less I like what I hear. The most recent instalment came from Bill Moyers Journal, which had two segments on its March 7 show.

The first, on Christians United for Israel and its leader, John Hagee, frankly alarmed the heck out of me. Senator McCain has pursued and received the endorsement of Hagee, a man who credited Hurricane Katrina’s devastation of New Orleans on God’s divine retribution for gay parades in that afflicted city, and who has referred to the Catholic church as an “apostate church” and “false cult system”. I ordinarily look on such people as the best living evidence that evil does exist in this world, and pay them no more attention. But it’s profoundly troubling that when confronted with questions about this endorsement McCain has tried to two-step around the issue, even though he’s pandered to Hagee and his base for their support. Some maverick.

The second was an interview with Mickey Edwards and Matt Welch, both students of modern Conservatism and John McCain, both strongly opinionated about his suitability. Scariest quote in the segment: “the most pro-war candidate in the last decade”.

I’m slowly realizing I know very little about this man. And as Senators Clinton and Obama slowly grind each other down and the Democratic Party resumes devouring its own, its beginning to seem to me that I ought to know more.