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 ...
..I’d go for that...
Media already blaming Obama being on vacation for his poor performance
Fugggedaboutit, you don’t wanna know... hanging in there though. What can you do.
Pat Buchanan:
John McCain won hands down.
Obama acted like a college sophomore who hadn’t studied theology and was now facing his oral exams.
MSNBC- Best performance of John McCain ever, Obama stumbled and mumbled.
Now let the relentless spin begin, but there you have it...McCain is a center right conservative and Obama is a leftist/socialist who will spend us into a socialist revolution with his diapers left intact and embolden our enemies.
Post or private reply me the link to the DU live thread. I couldnt find one.
That will be the excuse the talking heads will use for Barry's poor showing.
OMG so many EXCUSES FOR OBAMA’s performance!
Just back from vaction,
had a long flight,
not been in the campaign field.
Between the lines, softballs from warren and more of the same from Obama.
The only thing not said was “Obama is clean looking” (ala Biden) Obama was thought ful and articulate. blah blah blah.
They could have givent the obama analysis without ever watching this debate.
I didn’t catch all of Nobama’s appearance but from what I saw he uh uh uh umh uh SUCKED!!!
I agree. No hedging around like Obama did. He answered short and sweet. I thought McCain won this! Even though I know it wasn’t a debate! HE CLEANED Obama’s clock!
I’ve been planning on voting McCain anyway, but I haven’t been happy about it. After seeing him tonight, I will now do see gladly.
Hey watch Saddleback here:
http://saddlebackcivilforum.com/index.html
X-games, with “riders for Christ,” i.e. motorcyclists doing stunts, I guess because the Lord told them to.
Obama said ‘because he has empathy and our nation is essentially mean and he wants to change that’...blah blah blah
Thanks very much for the ping. But Senator McCain needs to put words into action, like picking a pro-life running mate.
I think she has class and is very involved in charities. I think I like her.
MSNBC saw the same thing we did and...is reporting it that way. There must be a full moon that affected not only McCain but MSNBC talking heads as well.!
McCain does not have to stutter and bumble and stall, trying to think of what the "acceptable" answer is. Obama can not say what he really believes deep down inside else HE'S TOAST!
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