You might be interested in this, from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Graham_%28evangelist%29

Anti-Jewish Statements

In 1994, H. R. Haldeman posthumously published "The Haldeman Diaries," which alleged that Billy Graham had conspired with U. S. President Richard Nixon to remove prominent Jewish members from the media, on the belief that they were responsible for the nation's problems. The assertions received little attention until 2002, partly because of Graham's denials, until the U. S. National Archives released a tape of one of the conversations Nixon had recorded (on 1 February 1972).

"... a lot of the Jews are great friends of mine, they swarm around me and are friendly to me because they know that I'm friendly with Israel. But they don't know how I really feel about what they are doing to this country. And I have no power, no way to handle them, but I would stand up if under proper circumstances."

When the evidence was available to the public, Graham issued a brief apology, indicating that he did not remember making the statement. Later outcry from the Anti-Defamation League brought a longer apology from Graham.

That's great Ziggy. And very old news. Billy Graham is an upstanding, wonderful man who deserves your respect, and I had a feeling that you might sink this low, but fortunately, it won't accomplish anything.

wow...i'm not even gonna dignify that with a comment...

Well, I guess you're not going to the crusade...but you should, maybe you'll change your mind.

Hmmm...if you take a remark made over THIRTY years ago this seriously by Billy Graham, then surely you take the fact that Sen. Robert Byrd used to be the head of the KKK.

If anyone is racist nowadays, it is the liberal wing of the Dems. How they have portrayed Condi Rice recently is beyond the pale--talk about hateful, racist, bigoted speech. You want to focus on 30 years ago, or something right now that's going on?

Sounds like my question to the Swift Boat Vets For Truth.

No, it isn't like your question to the Swift Boat Vets. There is a huge difference between a remark someone made in the privacy of the moment to one other person, and Kerry making his sworn comments before Congress and the entire world. If you insist on equating the two and refuse to admit we're talking apples and oranges, then there is no debate or intelligent discussion.

P.S. and how about those Dems and their racist remarks about Condi Rice? Any takers from the left about the hate speech your own party indulges in???

Hasn't it been shown that Kerry's comments to Congress were largely correct? And hasn't he apologized for some of the things he said then? That's what I read on factcheck.org, anyhow.

But The Swift Boat Vets for Truth weren't all about Kerry's comments to Congress, were they? Many of the charges they made turned out to be distortions or minority opinions that many, many more people who were with Kerry and around Kerry in Vietnam said were just not true. It is the Swift Boat Vets themselves who made a big deal out of something THIRTY years ago, as you put it. It's not apples and oranges so much.

The racist remarks you speak of -- I haven't heard any, so I can't comment on that.

Oh, also, I think one question mark at the end of your last question would have been sufficient. Three just makes it seem like you're too emotionally involved in your argument.

So now you're editing my posts?

It's time you got off the Swiftboat issue. They won. Kerry didn't. I suppose if you fought in the jungles of Vietnam and some twit who only spent four months there came back accusing other soldiers of heinous crimes, saying outrageous things about being in Cambodia that were 'seared' into his memory (which turned out to be lies), carrying around a rumpled hat that supposedly belonged to a CIA agent he met while on a secret mission in Cambodia (which was seared into his memory), having the North Vietnamese venerating you with pictures in their museums...you aren't going to win any arguments here Henry. And this thread isn't about the Swifties.

I suggest you look up what your party is saying about Condi Rice, then get back to me. Those racist comments deserve more than three question marks.

Emily:

You might not be surprised by my comments, but I am a little surprised by yours. You seem like a basically decent person, so I would not have thought you would be dismissive about anti-Semitism.

As for Byrd's KKK membership or racist comments about Rice, those also deserve to be condemned and taken seriously. Racism and anti-Semitism are immoral, no matter who is guilty of them, and no matter how long ago--preacher, Democrat, or Republican.

That's true, Ziggy, but I think that those who show remorse and a change in their beliefs shouldn't be condemned for their prior statements/beliefs. This goes for Billy Graham re: his anti-Semitic remarks; Byrd re: his association with the KKK; and Kerry re: some of the things he told Congress.

Dee, I don't like the namecalling of Kerry there. That's not civilized debate; that's too emotional. Also, may I remind you that atrocities did occur in Vietnam by some US soldiers. FactCheck.org's articles on the Swift Boat Vets talks about this. But I realize this thread isn't about that.

I looked around to find the racist comments you spoke of, and all I found were editorial cartoons. A couple were clearly racist, or unecessarily made race an issue, and that is horrible. Others that right-wing people seem to be making an issue of don't seem to be racist to me. But the fact remains that some are, and that's just wrong. That being said, it's not as if the Democratic leadership has gone and made racist statements or implications. So it's not really "my party" saying these things about Condaleeza Rice. That's a grossly warped generalization.

But I realize that this isn't a thread about this, so apologies for veering off topic.

I agree with both you and Ziggy on taking racism and anti-Semitism seriously. There is no wiggle room for anyone to engage in either of these things.

Racism is hateful and divisive. No one has a 'bigger tent' than God; it says over and over in the Old Testament that He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, but He desires them to repent and have life.

As far as Israel goes, I support her wholeheartedly, unequivocally and without reserve (am I being redundant here?:)

Ziggy, thank you. I am a decent person, and I'm glad you think that. I've never, nor ever will be, dismissive of anti-Semitism.

Billy Graham made those comments in private and has since profusely apologized and has never said anything to that effect since. He's not an anti-Semite. He just happened to say something un-wise 30 years ago. If that's all you've got on him, that's great. That was my point. He's a stand-up, wonderful man who'd never hurt a fly, and he said something un-wise years and years ago. When's the last time you said something you regret?

...These are the issues I'm trying to raise. I'm not excusing what he said, though I don't think his comments were as much anti-Semetic as they were misguided, I'm just saying that's all he's ever said and you're trying to smear him on account of that.

It's old news too...that came out years ago. So, it's not as though that will surprise anyone. We all know he made those comments and he's since completely regretted them. I think I've beat this horse to death.

And I second Dee: my support for Israel and all her inhabitants and decendants is unwavering. I love her almost as much as I love the US.