Posted on 08/16/2008 11:59:35 AM PDT by XR7
LAKE FOREST, Calif. — When John McCain and Barack Obama appear on the same stage today, they will vividly demonstrate the reach that has made the Rev. Rick Warren among the most significant evangelists of his generation.
He's a megastar who leads the nation's fourth-largest church and reaches thousands of ministers through the Internet and crusades against poverty and AIDS. That globe-trotting work and his successful book — "The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?" — puts him at the vanguard of a movement that inspires young, socially conscious Christians.
But his willingness to soft-pedal political issues once central to U.S. evangelicals, such as opposition to abortion, has opened him to criticism that he has strayed from his calling to spread the Gospel.
Today's forum also is a sign of religion's importance in the 2008 presidential campaign, and the emergence of a new style of evangelical leadership on the national stage that is not tied to a single party and has broadened its social agenda beyond that of the religious right.
"This is absolutely a changing of the guard, and it suggests that the new guard of the evangelical movement is able to generate the attention and focus of both parties," said D. Michael Lindsay, a sociologist at Rice University and author of "Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite."
Warren personally invited the two candidates — "friends of mine" — via their cellphones. His event at the Saddleback Church will be broadcast live on CNN and Fox News Channel and streamed on the Web. It has among its aims "helping the church regain credibility and encouraging our society to return to civility," he said.
It's likely that fans and critics will be watching closely...
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Hey Mc, tell them Come and see...
As the Donut Man would say... fill that hole in your soul.
Let the church say Amen.
The marriage issue is a dance with Obama talking states rights knowing all along that the different state laws defining marriage (gay in some and straight in others) will be “reconciled” by the courts.
There will be a gay marriage Roe vs. Wade and that’s why the constitutional amendment would prevent the courts making law to change the definition of marriage.
LOL, I know what you mean!
Agreed. I’d love to be a fly on the wall with Obama and his handlers right now.
He wasn’t lame... thats for sure...
It’s a wrap.. good Job for McCain.
If you had to take a thimble of wine every time John said ‘my friends’ or ‘friends’, you wouldn’t be able to read this post at this time ... hehe, even drinking folks can find a reason to vote for him!
They especially forget the first guy when he spends an hour hemming and hawing and skirting the issues.
saturday night is a big audience?
I do think this is a HUGE success for him.
I think Obama was more of the same.
Obama goes into the convention as Carter Redux.
I think what he said was 1 1/2 million make their living off ebay.
No. McCain didn’t say 1.5 million work for Ebay. McCain said that number have incomes dependent upon Ebay, e.g., pre-existing merchants who now use Ebay to sell product.
The number is likely still inflated, but not absurdly so.
Yep!
So who won the night?
“audacity of hope vs REALITY of hope”
You nailed it!
Great slogan.
EAsy to see why Obamas handlers don’t want Obama and McCain debating together on stage.
I agree as long as they don’t tax the bejeezes out of us fighting global warming!!!!
Yep,
That’s why he’s so great on the border, /s
There is no reason why a candidate for POTUS doesn’t have a good answer to that question (why do you want to be POTUS) already committed to memory. Obama stumbled and fumbled. McCain’s grade for tonight: A Obama’s grade for tonight: D
One day I hope that General Petraeus will run for President.
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Amen, jv .... bless you... ;)
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