The bit below the fold was written in response to
this diary, but I found the subject at hand diary worthy all by itself.
Ben Cardin has associated himself with John Hagee, the San Antonio, TX megachurch pastor, televangelist, and National Chairman of "Christians United for Israel", a group of the usual wingnut suspects, (Falwell, Parsley, Bauer, etc.) and involved in the Ken Blackwell campaign in Ohio, that is backing Bush's Iran entanglement folly.
Hagee also, once upon a time, back in 1996 managed to piss off African Americans by announcing a "slave sale" as a fundraiser- an event he was forced to apologize for and change the name of.
Hagee's certainly not the kind of fellow I want my next Senator sharing podiums with.
So, my comment from the other diary-
Why specifically?
Due to his making common cause with the likes of John Hagee (televangelist and National Chairman, Christians United for Israel, and well worthy of a google search if you don't already know about him) Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R), and Sen. Sam Brownback (R) at the July 19th, 2006 "Solidarity With Israel Rally" and lobbying in DC.
Specifically, see "Christian Zionists lobby for US attack on Iran", from Jewsonfirst.org.
You may consider him a "smart Jewish guy", but one really has to wonder just how "smart" it is for him to get into bed with the likes of Hagee.
Hagee's Christians United for Israel (CUFI)is associated with the likes of Rod Parsley and the Ken Blackwell campaign in Ohio, Jerry Falwell, Janet Parshall, Benny Hinn, George Morrison (board of directors of Promise Keepers) and Gary Bauer. (See Max Blumenthal's article "Birth Pangs of a New Christian Zionism". A primary aspect of CUFI's work has been support for Bush's focus on Iran. To quote from the "Jews on First" article cited above;
Hagee maintains that confrontation with Iran is necessary to fulfill God's plan for the future of the world.
I would also seriously question your characterization of him, "Cardin has shown himself to be a rational voice..." if he chooses to associate with the likes of Hagee. Back in 1996, in Texas, Hagee really pissed off the African American community by publicizing a "slave sale" as a fundraiser. Hagee was later forced to apologize and changed the name of his event, but the damage was, well shall we simply say, already done.
(note, I do not personally endorse the group linked in this, I merely use the link as a citation to tell the story.)