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’m gonna try to do both...i missed the beginning of BO earlier.
Thanks for reminding me.. I would much rather root for our athletes than watch Obamalamadingdong stutter..
IF you can’t watch it, I highly recommend recording it.
Rebroadcast just started on FoxNews — Obama interview first.
McCAIN KICKED BUTT TONIGHT.
He covered more territory in 10 minutes - with facts and conviction - than Obama did in the whole hour. So much for the “age issue”.
That was nice......as a person who taught for one year.....if you are a bad teacher, leave. Few things make me more angry than teachers who stay when they are doing kids a disservice. I could not connect with the kids (a lot of the problem was teaching MS instead of high school, but I have still chosen another path though may go teach in college at some point since I could do a great job there). Good teachers need supported, but the bad ones need to leave, and if they don’t leave, they need kicked out.
I’m watching the rerun and highlights, and I’ve got to admit, McCain seemed the most sincere that I’ve seen a candidate.
The Obamao’s spray in gray hair thing is pure nonsense.
Sorry, I was taking a shower;
David Gergan was stunned into stumbling over his own words. He said Obama is going to have a much bigger fight to win this election that he releases. I do believe that gergan was completely blown away by McCain’s performance.
They will spin it all away tomorrow, but everyone who watched konws that McCain is the only adult in this race.
McCain body surfed all over the messiah tonight. The news media is still trying to put a shine on a pile of crap.
point
Tom Coburn is Obama’s friend? Say what?
FoxNews — NOW — just started. Someone said also n CSPAN, but I am not sure about that one.
I don’t know if it’s on the internet, but it’s on TV.
McCain was smokin hot! Obama well, uh uh uh...it it it...
I’m voting for McCain. Fight your own battles.
He does test the water,wanted to throw a banana peel on the the floor tonight.
Takes after me.
Deep down I do worry about this youngin”.,and this Country.
You’ve got a huge Hot water heater, or that continuous hot water system advertised by Rush, or you like cold showers. [shivers]
And the lib/commie media is already junping on JSMc’s comment re: rich being $5M, which was a total tongue in cheek.
Hell, 5M is rich... and so is 500,000/year. I just wish Warren had asked each to define WINDFALL PROFIT!
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