Rick Warren and the Candidates… What was your take?
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Mon, August 18, 2008
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OK... how many of you got to watch the Saddleback Civil Forum on Saturday night? I watched as 'my good friend' Rick Warren gathered the candidates, and I have to tell you... I really was surprised.
No offense, Rick... but I really thought you would ask some pretty boring, safe questions. But I was very encouraged to hear him ask questions like, "What was your biggest moral failure; what Supreme Court justice would you NOT have appointed; and a straight-up question about abortion.
I came across feeling differently after watching both candidates, and I'm wondering what your take is... what did you think of the forum? Who was the real winner? (My personal take: the real winner was Rick Warren). And how does this change the way you think of each candidate? I'd love to hear your comments...
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Katrina on Mon, August 18, 2008
The contrast between the candidates was striking. Obama has been accused of being too general in answering tough questions and it looks like he cemented that concensus. McCain answered directly and I think that kind of decisiveness will reflect in the polls. I just wish McCain would quit using the phrase “My friends…”
Karen on Mon, August 18, 2008
I caught most of it, and went back and watched some of what I missed. Still haven’t seen the whole Obama interview, but did see almost all of the McCain section.
I, too, was impressed with Rick Warren. He asked some tough questions. I felt like McCain answered all of the questions and got to the point much quicker that Obama. I felt like Obama skirted around some of the questions and talked way too much.
Although I liked a lot of the answers McCain gave, I’m not convinced he wasn’t just being a politician.
Peter Hamm on Mon, August 18, 2008
Karen writes [Although I liked a lot of the answers McCain gave, I’m not convinced he wasn’t just being a politician.] Yeah, you could probably substitute “Obama” for “McCain” in that sentence, too. I’m afraid it’s all politics as usual, deja vu all over again.
Wendi on Mon, August 18, 2008
Only part I saw was each candidate’s response to the question about what it means to be a Christian. Based on their responses, both candidates seem to have a clear understanding of Jesus’ work on their behalf and their need to respond to him personally. Enough for me to take their word that each of these men are Christ followers, even though their faith informs their political views quite differently. Hope to watch the whole thing later this week.
Wendi
Daniel on Mon, August 18, 2008
Obama played in generalities. McCain was more concise and clear. And more hopelessly wrong-headed.
Did you folks catch the dynamic of the ‘is evil real’ question? Obama won that one, as far as I’m concerned, simply because he was able to distinguish between evil and people. McCain pulled a Bush on us, and ranted on about Islamic extremism. You can’t ‘defeat’ evil!!! You can kill some people whom you think are evil, but that’s about it.
Notice that for two ‘Christians’ on a stage, none of them said “Jesus has already defeated evil”, or “the weapons of our warfare against true evil don’t include the military”—those would have been Christians answers.
So the fallout of the civil forum, for me, was that neither McCain nor Obama are more Christian than they are American. It’s U.S.A. first, and Jesus… well… somewhere down the line (McCain in particular, though Obama’s not exempt, really believes in the gospel of democracy—a scary thought).
Rick Warren did an excellent job.
The questions about abortion failed to get at the heart of the issue, as far as I’m concerned. McCain’s answer was direct and the same old pro-life rhetoric. Obama’s answer was typically vague and boring. I wanted to pull my hair out.
I give McCain props for his bit on energy—it caught me pleasantly off guard. But maybe I was just impressed to hear him compliment the French…
My two cents.
-Daniel-
Mark Simpson on Mon, August 18, 2008
Speaking of pulling hair out: Obama’s response to when life begins, an answer being something “above my pay grade”—I thought a Senator got paid more than an ER technician. ER medics know that when there are no brain waves, the person is dead. Yet before 90% of women even know they are pregnant for sure, their baby already has brain waves. Our pretzel logic in killing millions of innocent children comes from ignoring simple medical facts. A president will have to appoint judges to rule on this and many other momentous issues, and knowing this is “above his pay grade?” God help us.
Pastor Shane on Mon, August 18, 2008
The local Fox station showed a football game instead of the interview. Is there anyway to view the interview, after-the-fact? Thanks
JHPW on Mon, August 18, 2008
Daniel is right about the question on evil. Government can’t defeat evil, and McCain’s answer was reactionary and overly-simplistic. On the abortion question, I wish McCain would have been asked a follow-up question after his pro-life comment. After stating he wants the repeal of Roe v. Wade, I wish Rick would have asked if he then favored the criminalization of abortion, or a federal ban on abortion. I think many evangelicals may think he is more of a right to life guy than he really is. As he said, he is a federalist, and supports states rights. By repealing Roe v. Wade he just wants to put the abortion issue back in the hands of state governments. I doubt that it would really change much in terms of abortion law. In reality we’ve had 20 of the last 28 years with pro-life presidents in office, and appointing Supreme Court judges, and there’s been very little progress on abortion. I wouldn’t hold my breath for McCain to do anything more than any of the others.
Leonard on Mon, August 18, 2008
It did not change what I thought about either guy, just confirmed my thinking.
Gary Sweeten on Mon, August 18, 2008
Obama the grad school teacher and McCain the Top Gun went at it. This was a discussion about leading America not leading the First Baptist Church of my town so of course they answered for that position not for preaching.
Rick came across as deep and balanced Evangelical Christian so he certainly surprised many commentators who are used to us all being reactive, anxious and angry toward anyone with whom we disagree.
I hope Rick’s model of a Pastor/Teacher takes hold and we can leave the hip marketer model behind. Rick’s model comes directly from Eph 4 and shows him to be an equipper not just a quipper with a fast lip.
Many mentioned his 23,000 members but missed the incredible numbers of people he has equipped to go into all the world. PTL he has become the new Evangelical voice.
Pastor Tony on Mon, August 18, 2008
Candidate Obama said that we need to work to reduce the number of abortions. Why?
There are videos all over youtube.com of him saying that he will work hard and fight to defend a woman’s right to kill her unborn child at any point in her pregnancy.
So…..am I missing something? Abortion is either right or it’s wrong.
Senator No-bama has been saying that abortion is right up until this interview. Now he thinks we need to lower the number of these “right” things performed? I don’t get it. Why would he want to do less things that are “right”.
Debbie on Mon, August 18, 2008
I thought Obama was smart, thoughtful and genuine. I can understand why people like and support him. Although some of his answers were a little weak, I wondered how McCain would fare. Well, it took me all of about 60 seconds to realize McCain was the stronger candidate and the contrast between the two of them was a little startling. McCain has experience, experience and experience on his side. I thought it took a lot of guts to admit his biggest moral failure was the failure of his first marriage. Unlike Obama, he put the intellectual aside and dealt with specifics. In my opinion, McCain is stronger presidential material. And was it me, or was the applause a bit more robust for McCain?
Matt on Mon, August 18, 2008
1. “Brevity is the soul of wit.” That’s true, a good reminder for me in conversation.
I sensed Warren’s “let’s-keep-this-moving” almost frustrated looks and attempts interruptions at Obama as he nuanced his way through…
McCain’s “from the gut” responses were just easier to listen to, digest, and make sense of.
2. A National Review piece noted:
“John McCain has lived a much bigger life than Barack Obama. That’s not a slam at Obama; McCain has lived a much bigger life than most people. But it still made Obama look small in comparison.”
Mark on Mon, August 18, 2008
I really liked the “conversational format” because I believe that it gave me a clearer picture of each one’s positions in that I was able to see as well hear their thoughts through their body language. There was no place to hide. In each man’s answers and explanations you could distinguish conviction from political rhetoric.
The whole forum really just confirmed what I had already been sensing from each candidate.
Once again Rick showed why God has put him in the lime light in this generation. Well done and thank you to Rick and staff of Saddleback!
Ron Roy on Mon, August 18, 2008
As always I was disappointed because of the way in which the questions were asked. Warren asked for their opinions rather than what would be the basis for their decisions if elected and not what they think. If we are one nation under God and we are, then who should be our advisor or mentor? The answer is clear. What is the will of God in this or any issue or decision. The next question should be, how do you make your decisions in line with the will of God the Father? Do you pray, meditate, or just do what you think? We are talking about liberty and justice for all men here and no way could the solution be made by the opinions of three men. Warren was seeking the approval of the church, and the candidates the approval of the people. We ended up with their opinions, which will always bring controversy, which I for one HATE. I would embrace the real truth in the hearts of our leadership rather than what they perceive to convince the majority. We must get our candidates to quit telling us what we want to hear rather than what they really believe. As a man believes, so is he. As he thinks is the pride of life. Controversy again, one camp believes that the other does not. The best of anything for this nation is the will of God being done. Freedom with righteousness not perversion, liberty with justice, liberty never without justice. I refuse to give my opinion here, remember I hate controversy. I will say that our nation will never get the best of what God has offered us without obedience to HIM! Here is the bottom line: obey God and keep His commandments, for He will bring every act to judgment. Our nation is sure under the judgment of God these days, I pray that it will produce righteousness and truth for every citizen of the United States and all nations, including Israel.
I further see Warren as seeking man’s approval rather than obedience to God. He set the forum and failed. Purpose driven life is void of the real purpose of Christ and that is to destroy the works of the devil. (1Jn. 3:8) And we must all admit that Satan is running our country not the God of the Universe. The word of God is clear destroy the works of the devil. We must get to it or the devil will destroy us through degeneration rather than regeneration.
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