Rod Parsley is an Ohio-based televangelist and leader of the World Harvest Church of Columbus. He has reportedly called Islam an "anti-Christ religion"Mother Jones: McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam (March 12, 2008) and accused Planned Parenthood of carrying out a "black genocide."The Huffington Post: McCain Spiritual Guide Accused Gov't Of Enabling 'Black Genocide' (March 21, 2008)

Following the controversy over Democratic nominee Barack Obama's longtime pastor Jeremiah Wright during the campaigns for the Presidential Election of 2008, reports emerged of Parsley's ties to Republican candidate John McCain. According to the magazine Mother Jones, McCain appeared with Parsley at a campaign rally on February 26, 2008, and called the preacher "a spiritual guide."Mother Jones: McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam (March 12, 2008)