Pastor Rick Warren and Saddleback Church did a good thing by holding a discourse with both Obama and McCain. The goal was civility, a value we can agree to be important regardless of our faith or lack of it. Each candidate was asked the same questions without hearing how the other answered. The tone was upbeat and the forum was informative. While I thought I knew each candidate’s beliefs and platform fairly well, I learned some new and important things.
Commentators said that McCain answered with anecdotes while Obama’s answers were more “complex.” I found many of Obama’s answers to be obtuse. He came across as thoughtful and sincere but seemed afraid of offending the evangelical audience with his answers.
Granted McCain’s platform is probably closer to the majority of those in attendance, he did an excellent job at clarity, brevity and illustration. Often he let his personal stories speak for themselves. His delivery, like Obama’s, came across as very sincere.
Both men projected a genuine humility and willingness to admit failings.
Regardless of your politics, a forum like many of us witnessed last night that focused on civil inquiry is good for America and good for our political process.
I join your praise of Rick Warren. We need more forums like this. I thank both candidates for coming.
I admit I was very disappointed by Senator Obama’s initial answer on abortion. “That answer is above my paygrade” is not an appropriate answer for someone running for President.
But I did like how Obama, unlike McCain addressed the need to work together to lower the number of abortions in this country.
Overall though, I thought that Obama came across as thoughtful. I believe we desperately need someone in the White House who will eschew quick soundbite answers in favor of well thought out solutions.
In my view, McCain had some great moments, particularly when he expressed regret over the response to 9/11 being a presidential call to go shopping. But I felt like he was more aggressive in dropping in parts of his stump speeches. And he was as evasive on the genocide question as Obama was on the abortion question. It’s great that Rwanda is recovering thanks to the efforts of their women, but what, if anything can we do about Dafur?
All things considered, this was a fantastic event. If the tone of the event could be extended until Election Day, the country would benefit regardless of who won.
I, too, believe the event could not have gone better! I liked the idea of having them answering questions without worrying about rebuttal and counter-rebuttals during the questioning. The casual, non-threatening environment was a nice change.
As far as the issues, I believe both candidates did well. There were issues that Obama addressed that helped to clarify things for me with his positions on 1) abortion, 2) teachers evaluations, and 3) taxes
I felt McCain was strong and decisive. As strong as he has been seen in recent times.
Each candiate likely provided some fodder for the YouTuber’s with Obama’s reasoning of ‘lack of experience’ for not supporting Clarence Thomas and of course, McCain’s definition of rich – $5,000,000? I am sure we will here both of those in negative campaign ads.
Finally, I felt that Rick Warren did a nice job moderating. I am sure there were other questions he would have wanted to ask, but he was able to cover a broad spectrum in one hour.