Civic Forum at Saddleback Church Featuring McCain & Obama
Some comments on last night’s Civic Forum at Saddleback Church.
~~John Cronin~~
http://planetromney.org/
But the starkest contrast came as soon as McCain started his half of the forum. Asked the three people he would listen to as president, McCain said right off the bat Gen. Petraeus (Obama had led with his wife and grandmother). It was an immediate signal that this is a man who is concerned first and foremost with matters of war and peace—just as you expect from someone who wants to be president of the United States. Asked when he had bucked his party at risk to his self-interest, McCain rolled off his greatest hits, and went all the back to differing with Reagan on Lebanon (a reminder of how long he has been immersed in national-security issues). It made Obama’s answer about promoting an ethics law with McCain seem incredibly weak in comparison. Then, McCain’s answer about the toughest decision he had ever made—refusing early release in Vietnam—was riveting and moving.
In the first fifteen minutes, McCain had established a moral seriousness stemming from his conduct in Vietnam as a POW and his long-time as a national leader that Obama can’t match. Throughout the rest of the night, he brought up Iraq, al Qaeda, and the Georgia crisis, when Obama was more inward-looking. McCain sounded like a potential commander-in-chief, Obama more like a potential friend. This is not to say, again, that Obama was not impressive. But the skills he showed tonight—the thoughtfulness and verbal dexterity—were those of a very talented memoirist, which, of course, he is.
As for the social issues, tonight should throw a damper on the notion that Obama is going to make major inroads among evangelicals voters. Why would they vote for his social liberalism couched in exquisite equivocations, when they can vote for someone who agrees with them on most everything like John McCain?
August 17th, 2008 at 11:54 am
John,
I liked last night’s comparison forum – candidate’s answering the same questions without knowledge of the other’s performance. It was new and fresh. Rick Warren posed a few questions that attempted to reveal who these guys really are and how they think. Although refuting a rival’s response wasn’t possible, I feel this new approach has a place in the line-up of formal debates, Townhalls, YouTube extravaganzas, etc.
Last night was a yellow highlighter underlining the strengths of John McCain. Obama’s page was blank.
August 17th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Huck’s Army vs Mitt’s Militia
No one with a SANE mind can declare that SOME evangelicals hate Romney this much BECAUSE HE HAD A CHANGE OF HEART REGARDING BECOMING PRO-LIFE. No matter how much Huckabee says he likes Mike Leavitt or Orrin Hatch (Mormons) and doesn’t have anything against Mitt’s religion, your eyes will bug out when you see this: http://www.mccanes.com/newparty.html
After the Rick Warren/Saddleback Church forum last night, Mike Huckabee declared on FOX news last night that Rick Warren was a great pastor, a good man, etc. One of the great questions Rick Warren asked both Obama and McCain was: What do you think the United States should do to eliminate religious persecution in the nation and the world? Good question. I thought at the time that perhaps Pastor Warren was making a round-about statement regarding the persecution that is being directed at Romney and members of his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. If that was not Warren’s intention, at least there was an acknowledgement that religious persecution, particularly in America, and the world is alive and well.
I’m sick of Huck’s Army. It’s time we form Mitt’s Militia!
MacMitt is the ticket back to sanity!!!
August 17th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
2thepoint:
my first reaction is to agree with you completely and ask - “where can we enlist?”
However, to do that would be stooping to the incredibly low level that Huckabee and his followers have hit. I think we should follow Mitt’s lead and deal with Huckabee with civility and tact and expose him for the snake he is. We need to email Sean, Rush, Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham and Glenn Beck, et al and encourage them to expose Huckabee as a divisive force in the Republican Party and bring shame to him and his verbal assaults on Mitt. They have the microphone, we have the emails and telephones.
August 17th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I think huckabee was told to ’sit down, shut up and keep your armies in your sleevies.’ Hence, his latest concilitory tone on Fox. I also think some of his listed Mormon Friends, made a phone call telling him they and the rest of us did not buy it.
August 17th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
My first thought of that site was that it is stupid. I’m serious. You can tell an amateur has put it together. The grammar is bad and did you see some of those signatures?? LOL It’s crazy and I don’t believe for a second that the McCain camp will take this site too seriously.
I agree with Renna… we need to follow Mitt’s lead. He has class and won’t lower himself to Huck or his followers’ level.
I also agree that Sean, Rush, Laura Ingraham, etc.. need to be made aware of all this…. which they probably already are.
August 17th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I was so relieved last night to watch McCain pummel Obama. there is just no comparison between these two men; McCain is in a totally different league. His experience, his values, his honesty , and his life-long record of service to this country is unrivaled (except by maybe our own Mitt Romney, minus the “life-long service to our country” part).
I really liked the way McCain actually answered the questions, especially when he admitted his moral failure as being his first marriage–that is a big and very personal thing to admit. McCain didn’t just mumble and ramble like Obama did. I found myself totally and completely bored and disinterested when Obama was talking. Seriously. He just wasn’t saying anything worth listening to! I mean, he’d look to his grandmother for guidance if he made it to the oval office?! WHAT!?
I am totally, 100% convinced that the people who are voting for Obama are only doing it because they don’t know anything about him. And why would they? The MSM surely doesn’t expose him for who he is. His interview with Pastor Warren started peeling back those layers of what an empty suit he really is.
I hope to see more Obama pummeling in the coming weeks. . . people have GOT to wake up and see how NOT READY Obama really is. Get that guy off the teleprompter and McCain’s got a great shot. Only 79 more days ’til election day. Gulp.
Oh and PS–That anti-Mitt site is such a joke. None of the links or videos even work, and there are spelling and grammar errors all over the place. But, logistics aside, the basic POINT of its message is most pathetic of all. I don’t think McCain will take sites or people like these seriously at all. I’m not worried. Fingers crossed for M&M!
August 17th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
2thepoint,
I agree. They may have set a new style of indirect debate with the format they used. I liked it very much.
If McCain sticks with the policies he espoused last night and avoids any serious mistakes, like asking a Dem or a pro abort Pubbie to be his running mate, I think we keep the White House. Not that any of us should get over confident. We should run the election campaign like we are 20 points behind, no matter what the polls say. We’ll have plenty of time to analyze the exit polls after the election is over.
McCain looked Presidential and serious-minded while Obama looked like he was in way over his head. The “nuances” and continual equivocations really hurt him in my view.
August 17th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Amanda, I totally agree with your comparison between the two at Saddleback. McCain actually answered the questions point blank, while Obama’s non-answer, boring, rambling style made him look so, so weak. I do think that he would be a very good playground monitor. I can see him sitting down with a couple of fighting 4th graders and negotiating an apology. I think Granny could also help him here, too. (Please, America, keep this man FAR away from the oval office)! I find it really hard to believe that ANY so called evangelical Christian could support a man who has no idea or opinion as to when human life begins.
August 17th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
It’s all just a pity. Huck probably knows just what they are doing on that site. I don’t believe much of what he says. His intentions are always so self centered.This sounds like blackmail to me. What’s up with threats to a so called friend? He’s nasty. I left my comments on last nights questions to Obama and Mccain on another Romney heading.
August 17th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I watched McCain, but not Obama (yet). I shall do that soon, probbably tomorrow. I have to admit, I was actually impressed with McCain. I can seldom say that. I think I have to now cultivate a forgiving spirit and get on with it. Of course, it will go down a lot easier if he chooses our man Mitt though…
I did feel more forgiving toward him. I think he truly did suffer and I am not sure O knows what that means… not really… dilema
August 17th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Of late Karen I have been having kinder feelings towards McCain and I like what I have come to know about Cindy. I still don’t agree with all of his platform and that still causes me concern.
August 17th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Yes, me too. I think she seems quite philanthropic and I have to admit when he told the story of her bringing home the little abandoned baby and said, “meet your new daughter”, my heart was touched and it made e like her even more. I did not dislike her, I just have not known much about her. She actually seems quite philanthropic. I surely do hope he picks Mitt though. I liked him on “this week” this morning. He did a good job on Daschle.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Karen That is the very story that touched me about Cindy. Time is winding down and we will all know who the VP will be very shortly.
Mitt Romney is a fighter and he will be able to do a lot to help John McCain get elected.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Now, the whinning Dems think Mccain cheated last night. What will be next? Do you guys think Mccain could have known the questions? Claiming blackberrys etc. Boy, this is going to be a tough time, I’m getting nervous. I truly think Mccain won hands down. He woke up and did a great job!I’m so suspicious since the primaries.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
There are certainly grown up babies in the world. I listened to Rick Warren on Sean Hannity today and he said unequivocally that there is no way he could have cheated in the green room by himself. He said that someone had completely disconnectd the tv and removed the wiring. He said there is just no way he could have cheated. Besides, just because they WOULD cheat doesn’t mean he did.. they are cry baby disgusting people. I though McCain did marvelousley. I was truly impressed.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I thought Pastor warren had hai fellow evangelicals in mind, when he addressed religous persecution and demonizing others. I think he’s pulling for Mitt.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I thought Pastor warren had hai fellow evangelicals in mind, when he addressed religous persecution and demonizing others. I think he’s pulling for Mitt.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
On Cindy McCain http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=294534769646624
very interesting
August 18th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
I wondered about who he (Rick warren) was referring to as well. Some people act like this is the taliban or something. They think it is ok to be trashing whoever they want to. It is disgusting. By the way, you ought to see the desnews thread about demos attacking Romney, there are now over 600 comments on it, most positive. It has been fun, alot of those people sure do get riled up if you defend Mitt or goodness or anything like that. They prefer ickiness and badness to goodness and living well. Everyone should go visit over there. It is funny and fun and uplifting all at the same time.
Thanks for the link Ron