The Saddleback Civil Forum, moderated by Pastor Rick Warren, took place Saturday evening and involved presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. Kudos to Pastor Warren for conducting one of the best question and answer sessions I have ever seen in regards to a political forum/debate/interview. The format was equally fair for both candidates, the questions were unique in subject matter, and we (the American electorate) were given a deeper glimpse into each of the candidate's faith, philosophy, and personality. For me personally, and even acknowledged by our left leaning media, John McCain seemed to have the upper hand. Barack Obama was good, but John McCain was great.
I thought that I would post some of the Pros and Cons for each of the candidates in case you missed the forum and want a quick summary.
Barack Obama
Pros:
* Looked Comfortable in a Christian setting
* Answered the questions, for the most part, honestly
* The openness about his drug and alcohol abuse as a young man in response to what his greatest moral failure was.
* His toughest decision, admittedly, was his decision to be AGAINST the Iraq War
* When asked about what Christianity means to him, Obama said, "AS A STARTING POINT, IT MEANS I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR MY SINS AND THAT I AM REDEEMED THROUGH HIM. THAT IS A SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND SUSTENANCE ON A DAILY BASIS."
* Honest about his view on gay marriage
* Stem cell research should be used for advancement, but not cross a moral line
* Said we need to CONFRONT evil
* Merit pay for teachers should be negotiated with teacher unions
* Fighting human trafficking should be top priority
Cons:
* Seemed to stumble for words
* Seemed caught off guard by several of the questions, almost unprepared and, at times, confused with his own position.
* When asked who the three wisest people in his life were that he would rely on heavily in his administration, he listed his WIFE and GRANDMA as two of them!
* When asked about legislation that he crossed party lines for, Obama mentioned ethics reform. Obama DID work with McCain on this issue only to pull back his support and realign with his party in the end.
* His biggest flip-flop was welfare reform. Safe answer.
* Danced around abortion issue. First major gaffe of the night. Did not answer secondary abortion questions directly. Said that answering the question of abortion is "above his pay grade."
* Against constitutional ban on gay marriage (personal dispute).
* Confronting evil does not align with his philosophy and worldview.
* When asked which Supreme Court Justice he would have NOT nominated, Obama listed first Clarence Thomas because "I DON'T THINK THAT HE WAS A STRONG ENOUGH JURIST OR LEGAL THINKER AT THE TIME FOR THAT ELEVATION." Ironic statement from the junior Senator?
* Pushed for the idea of education reform, but his record consistently preserved the status quo in Chicago.
* His answer on his tax plan was just downright embarrassing. First, he went from saying that 150,000 or below was middle class, then 150,000 or below was poor, then 250,000 or more was rich. With so many socioeconomic factors here, the answer made him look highly uninformed on the topic and furthered the impression that he will raise taxes on you and I...which he has supported in past legislation.
John McCain
Pros:
* Spoke very well
* Very decisive in his answers, often answered before the question was over
* Showed A LOT of passion on key issues often relating the question to his political views
* Talked with the audience as though they were included in the conversation...referred to the viewers as "my friends" often.
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* Stories were relevant and conveyed his message
* Demonstrated humor, even against himself
* His experience seemed to shine through with his answers
* When asked who the three wisest people in his life were that he would rely on heavily in his administration, he listed GENERAL DAVID PATREAS (military), JOHN LEWIS (service), AND MEG WHITMAN (economy).
* Admitting his greatest moral failure was his first marriage
* His numerous works for bipartisan progress were shared (climate change, torture, spending, military execution, etc.)
* Offshore drilling and the expanding of alternative fuels was his biggest flip flop over the past 10 years. Really showed passion in this extended answer on the importance of this national security issue.
* His most gut-wrenching decision was to pass up the opportunity to be released from his prison camp in favor of releasing other POWs.
* When asked what Christianity means to him, McCain answered, "IT MEANS I'M SAVED AND FORGIVEN. OUR FAITH ENCOMPASSES NOT JUST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BUT THE WORLD."
* When asked at what point a baby is entitled tot human rights, McCain said, "AT THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION. I HAVE A 25-YEAR PRO LIFE RECORD IN THE CONGRESS, IN THE SENATE. AND AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, I WILL BE A PRO LIFE PRESIDENT AND THIS PRESIDENCY WILL HAVE PRO LIFE POLICIES."
* Marriage is between a man and a woman. Referenced the importance of constitutional judges.
* Promoted further research in skin cells and is optimistic about stem cell research.
* Evil should be DEFEATED.
* Supreme Court judges' nomination "SHOULD BE BASED ON THE CRITERIA OF PROVEN RECORD OF STRICTLY ADHERING TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND NOT LEGISLATING FROM THE BENCH.
* When asked about taxes, something he says he will not raise and possibly cut, McCain said, "I THINK THAT RICH IS -- SHOULD BE DEFINED BY A HOME, A GOOD JOB AND EDUCATION AND THE ABILITY TO HAND TO OUR CHILDREN A MORE PROSPEROUS AND SAFER WORLD THAN THE ONE THAT WE INHERITED. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY MONEY FROM THE RICH. I WANT EVERYBODY TO GET RICH. I DON'T BELIEVE IN CLASS WARFARE OR REDISTRIBUTION OF THE WEALTH. LET'S KEEP TAXES LOW. LET'S GIVE EVERY FAMILY IN AMERICA A 7 THOUSAND DOLLAR TAX CREDIT FOR EVERY CHILD THEY HAVE. LET'S GIVE THEM A 5 THOUSAND DOLLAR REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT TO GO OUT AND GET THE HEALTH INSURANCE OF THEIR CHOICE. LET'S NOT HAVE THE GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN AMERICA."
Cons:
* Answers were, at times, short...but his view was still expressed
* The issue of education could have been furthered. More of a concrete solution maybe?
* Two of the stories were from the stump
* Some funny facial expressions (hey, he's 70+)
* Could have taken the time to really drive home his work as a bipartisan. He mentioned several but then used a questionable example.
3 comments:
Thanks for the succinct recap. I didn't find out about the forum until this morning, so I haven't watched it yet. It sounds like McCain did very well.
Ryan-
Here is one of your pros for McCain "Very decisive in his answers, often answered before the question was over." How does one answer very important questions before they hear the whole question? Does that make you question the "con of silence" issue?
I simply mean decisive and prompt. He answered without hesitation. You could see that he had the answer formulated before the question was asked by Pastor Warren. Several times, obviously with questions that he was passionate about, he spoke before the completion of the question. This is McCain at his best. If I were him, I'd skip a "hope and change" speech (like someone else we know) at the convention, and hold a format similar to a town meeting.
Obama, more often than not, seemed to be searching, stumbling for words/answers. His lack of experience showed by his inability to be decisive on questions that dealt with his own opinion. When your opinions change by the day, it can be difficult to be decisive.
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