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 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.

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-

The local Fox station showed a football game instead of the interview.  Is there anyway to view the interview, after-the-fact?  Thanks

It did not change what I thought about either guy, just confirmed my thinking.

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”.

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.”

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.

Pastor Shane - I have found it in re-runs late at night on CNN labeled “Political Forum”.  Set your TiVo:)

I agree with you, the real winner was Rick Warren. What a refreshing. new approach to Evangelical leadership!!

As to the candidates: McCain was undoubtedly helped some in solidifying the conservative Evangelicals behind him, but I think Obama won a much greater edge by demonstrating that he is clearly a Christian and many (if not most) Evangelicals can feel free to vote for him. He destroyed a lot of prejudice that had been distributed in the Christian camp by right-wing manipulators.

Pastor Tony,

While Republicans and Democrats tend to disagree about whether or not it is a woman’s choice to make, they are united in a desire that the number of abortions be reduced.  I hope that the Democrat’s current push to reach out to evangelicals will result in the two sides finding ways to work together on their common goal rather than cynically using the issue to manipulate voters.

My general thoughts: I really liked the way Warren emphasized, at both the beginning and the end, the value of civil discourse and resisting the urge to demonize your political opponents.  That’s a message that both sides need to hear if they are really interested in the best interest of our country.

I thought McCain did a good job saying what his supporters and potential supporters want to hear.  There were a couple of things that especially caught my attention.  The first was McCain’s answer to the question about what was the greatest moral failure in his life.  I knew the true answer was the failure of his first marriage, but I wasn’t sure at first if he was going to give that answer.  I was pleasantly surprised that he did.  The other was in answer to the question about adoption when he related the story of Cindy bringing home their adopted daughter from Bangladesh.  I thought that was a testament to the strength and fidelity of his second marriage (as a counterbalance to having bailed on his first marriage)…that they made adoption a part of it.  I didn’t think he should have kept apologizing for telling anecdotes.  The combination of telling so many stories and drawing so much attention to the fact that he was doing it highlighted his old codger liability.  The commentators of Fox were emphasizing how McCain was often answering the questions before Warren even finished them.  I think the commentators were complimenting him, but that wasn’t a good sign in my opinion…though his supporters probably liked it.  Personally, the past 8 years make clear to me the dangers of a president whose viewpoint is so oversimplified and black and while that it is a caricature of reality.

I thought Obama did an OK job though I doubt he made any significant gains and agreed with the Fox commentators that he didn’t make a winning play on the abortion question.  Maybe it wasn’t possible for him to do so given his positions on the issue and those of his party, but that was one of his main openings that this venue provided.  I also thought he should have mentioned Al Qaeda at least in passing in his “is there evil” answer, though I wish McCain would have also mentioned a few other examples than just Al Qaeda.

I liked the idea of a forum as opposed to a debate and the fact that they (or at least John McCain) couldn’t hear the other person’s responses. 
Unfortunately, the more I listen to John McCain, the less I like him.  I think he realizes that he’s not very personable and he just comes off like a politician to me and not very genuine.  Obama is also a politician, but I admire him taking a stance that might not be popular with certain segments of the population.  I would rather have a candidate that takes a stance even if it’s an unpopular one instead of flip-flopping to suit whatever group they’re addressing.

As much as I would like to be positive in all this, I must be realistic:  When one looks at Jesus and the apostles in their dealings with government and the like, they simply did not jump in/mix-why because God’s world is not this one.  I am not saying Christians should not be involved to some degree, but where does one draw the line????....
Rick Warren has become an anti-christ plain.  He tours the world, makes a great name for himself and chases those who are anti christ persons and powers and seeks to draw them into christianity and vice versa.  With Warren being such a problem for Christianity, I dare not even begin on that closet Mohammedan, anti American, anti christ Obama and Mr. liberal, go wither the wind blows McCain.
America and her people and her powers of governance have kicked God to the curb.  It is for Christians to serve and save people, not try to save a government that is anti-christian.
Sadly, Rick Warren, Tony Campolo and growing host of others are being de-listed from a growing number of Christians who understand that Warren’s way is not Jesus’ way at all.  One cannot in honesty to Jesus and His Word mix the world of man with the world of Christ-to do so causes one to be cast into the anti-christ domain.