TODAY: Rev. Rick Warren puts Obama, McCain on the same stage (LIVE thread)

The Seattle Times ^ | 8/16/08 | Duke Helfand

[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...

[silentreignofheroes]

Says alot,,a thousand words.

[Earthdweller]

This guy has been hidden...where has he been!

[Tennessee Nana]

Isnt he good ?????

:)

[del4hope]

Interesting SBCF emblem. Almost looks like the O’s symbol.

BTW, we have a church here that has a billboard on a major interstate. Their symbol is a takeoff of O’s symbol with a cross in the middle instead. The billboard has the church’s symbol and name with the words “CHANGE HAPPENS”. This is a church that has dropped “Baptist” from it’s name, but I still think it affiliates with the SBC.

[TornadoAlley3]

[steve86]

I’m really enjoying your comments about Rick Warren.

[Earthdweller]

OMG...No doubt.

[Miss Didi]

Has anything happened that wasn’t predictable????

I just caught up myself...believe it or not, but McCain won the night! Bumbling Barry was still on the beach in Hawaii.

Thanks all for the great commentary...will dvr the 11 p.m. show. Mrs. Clinton is doing cartwheels again tonight.

[anglian]

Obama in an interview after the forum, said LIES were being thrown at him regarding PBA. Fight back with the truth and bookmark this. Bookmark this. August 11, 2008 Obama Cover-up Revealed On Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Bill - http://www.nrlc.org/ObamaBAIPA/ObamaCoverup.html

[Shortstop7]

Just wow!

[devolve]

.

Does Alan Keyes believe in reparations?

If so - Why?

This is a test.....

Who was the last person Alan Keyes ran for national office against?

How did he do?

This is a test.....

Could Alan Keyes beat my hound in an election?

(Tex is long gone)

.

[acapesket]

I don’t know how to post an article however I can say for certain that Rick Warren supports the Syrians as well as the So called Palestinians.
Freep Article likely 2 years old or so.
My M in L left his church after I sent it to her.

[STARWISE]

Snowbama lost so much time uhhhing, aahing,
mmmmming, urring ... he missed getting asked
a couple more questions. Good job, O.

More for us.

[AliVeritas]

I wonder how many that sit this out, were the same ones who sat the last one out?

[MinuteGal]

LOL, that handshake looks like two ships passing in the night.

Leni

[maica]

Yes

[Paige]

Rick Warren has been a disappointment. For a man who claims to understand The Bible and Christianity to embrace Obama and his Religious theologies is disgusting.

Obama is part of the Black Liberation Theological movement, which hates whites and Jews.

As for Warren, I pray God opens his eyes. He is playing with fire. This False Prophet who relishes the idea of being seen as the Messiah is no one to play around with...

AND Please, any Warren Groupies out there, don’t defend him too me, because Warren is way out in “LEFT” field and is a major disappointment.

[Tennessee Nana]

They have this junk fed to them in school at a very early age now...

[Tramonto]

I understand why Obama said he hates Clarence Thomas. Basically, he wants you to think he’s not a racist. He wants you to think that he hates people based on their ideology, not their color. Too little, too late, Barack.

I think that must have been the only name he could think of so he just blurted it out.

[Islander7]

"...Bishop Harry Jackson!! On Cspan....ripping it up! Not afraid to speak the truth!..."

Black Genocide

Minority women constitute only about 13% of the female population (age 15-44) in the United States, but they underwent approximately 36% of the abortions.

According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, black women are more than 3 times as likely as white women to have an abortion

On average, 1,452 black babies are aborted every day in the United States.