The First Debate: Rick Warren with Obama and McCain
2008 August 18
By now the forum that Rick Warren hosted with Obama and McCain is old news. But I still want to discuss it. Sadly, I was not able to watch it. I was busy all night and the place I’m staying doesn’t have cable. Oh well, life goes on. I am quite certain I would have not learned much about either candidate but watching the first “debate” (it wasn’t really a debate, I know that) would have been cool to do.
Here are a couple thoughts of mine, while also touching on some other great thoughts on the night:
- Rich Kirkpatrick called the night historial. I tend to agree with him. Never before has a church given its congregation (and the world) a chance for 2 candidates to share on their faith. Rick Warren did an incredible job of letting both candidates share about the role their faith plays out in their leadership. Christians were recognize by national media as people who are not simply aligned with one party and I think that is historical too.
- I thought it was great to hear personal stories from both men. McCain shared a heart felt story about a Christmas day at a POW camp and Obama shared his personal faith in Jesus (of course my grandparents still think he is Muslim). No other debate the rest of this race will allow the candidates to share these stories in such a relaxed way.
- Obama called “rich” someone who makes 250k…McCain said someone who makes 5 million. Woah! Little bit of a difference there…not that it means anything, just interesting.
- Eugene Cho talked about Rick Warren’s thought process behind the event. I originally was skeptical of why Warren wanted to implant himself into a hot bed of opinions that this race has become. But as I’ve read about why he desired for the forum to happen I have been quite pleased with his ability to be a great leader for evangelicals. I don’t agree with him in all areas for sure, but I would rather have him “speak” for me than James Dobson.
Here are a couple other good things to read:
- The differences between the candidates is pretty stark.
- Brian McLaren and the Matthew 25 Network paid for an Obama ad during the CNN coverage. I’ve already shared my thoughts on this back HERE…but I think the ad further confirms my stance that endorsement is never just for yourself (especially when you go on tv supporting a candidate).
- Now they are both arguing about whether McCain was truly in a “cone of silence”. It never ends…
- A full transcript of the entire night.
All I have read so far is that no one learned anything new about the candidates…so in your thinking, what was accomplished in this forum?
My first thought was that Obama come across as more open. McCain, IMHO, seemed to play to his audience. He told good stories and dodged some very important questions such as “who is rich?” He rephrased the old “No new taxes” rhetoric we’ve heard before.
I think Obanw was very upfront on the Abortion question which could not be easy given the Venue he was in.
Alan
Wow… McLaren really did that!?! I still am puzzled by that. I do not have any offense on his personal support of a candidate, but what Warren was doing was actually to make it safer for Evangelicals to disagree on politics. That is far different, I think, than buying ad time. Could the “emerging church” be doing what conservative Christians did in the 70s by becoming involved in politics? What a reversal and irony if McLaren is the lead on this. What’s the difference between Dobson and McLaren now? Just policies, not divisive tactics apparently.
Thanks for your post and gathering of all this good information. (And, for mentioning my post, too.)
Tyler,
I personally learned TONS of new information. I’ve heard all kinds of “pop” info about Obama – but nothing about his politics until the forum. I’d heard preciously little at all about McCain.
The forum really introduced me to both candidates and told me a lot about where they stood.
I think the forum had a HUGE impact. There are tons of people who don’t read political blogs, and don’t follow the hate news, and don’t pay attention to all the noise, but they actually watched this forum and appreciated the valid, concise, and timely information it offered.
This forum hit a unique audience that other political outlets don’t even come close to touching.
i watched it. yes, i did learn something about the candidates…a few people that i work w/ and i discussed the fact that rick asked questions that are NOT typical in a debate or other political forum. they were questions that were down and dirty, dealing w/ VALUES- thought provoking and forced the candidates to answer honestly. instead of saying…”how do you feel about abortion?” he asked “when does life begin?” that is just ONE question of the many, but the point is- warren asked heart questions and the candidates gave heart answers…gave the audience an insight in to the man, instead of the politician.
I, too, did not get to see it. I am so glad that you put a link in for the transcript of the evening. I have Googled every which way, trying to come up with one. All I could find was video. Thanks SO much!
To your rich comment. A church in Colorado called Red Rocks Church did a series where they followed a person around for a day. One day it was a homeless man and the next it was a professional basketball player. I’m not sure what the point of the message was because all I watched was the footage from the day but I did think it was very interesting to see the differences between the two experiences.
What one calls rich usually depends on where they are on the food chain. I’m not a big fan of the government redistributing wealth but the church should be voluntarily.
Not that money matters very much, but since I have interest in financial health here’s my take.
Rich: I think it should be determined by the Take Home Pay and net worth.
I know a friend who makes less than $50K/year in San Francisco, able to support himself and his sister (for a couple years), two bedroom apt, and have money left over at the end of month.
His coworkers made upwards of $80-100K/year and most of them lived in $800,000 house with little equity and they were always in the red by hundreds of dollars every month, and living off the credit card.
I don’t want to use the term ‘rich’, but I’d say my friend is financially healthier than the other group.
From what I hear a lot of you saying…I am mad I didn’t get to watch it. I knew it would be very different from a typical town hall meeting or debate. Sounds like we were able to see a side of both of them not seen often or shown by the media.
Tyler,
I heard on the news today that both candidates knew about questions before showing up. Then I found this post about it:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0808/The_politics_of_distraction.html?showall
Wow that is interesting, thanks Billy. At this point, I’m glad the event happened, but all this back and forth banter makes we not want to vote. I’m flat out sick of it.
Tyler
Check out this video of Obama regarding the ‘Born alive infant act’ controversy that arose out of the Saddleback forum last weekend.
http://infidelsarecool.com/2008/08/20/raw-audio-obama-argues-against-protecting-babies-who-survive-abortions-in-illinois-senate-2002/
His callous disregard for the life of the most innocent is appalling. Don’t let his ducking and weaving, and equivocations fool you. There is no politician out there today more “Pro-Choice”.. or “Pro-Abortion” than Obama. Perhaps that is ok with you. But it should give pause to anyone considering casting a vote his way this fall.
You can find lots of the Saddleback forum event on YouTube, such as this:
thanks for sharing this…I have SO many quetions and idas in my head about the two of them…and politics in general…This was helpful with my research in WHO THE HECK I SHOULD VOTE FOR!!! lol