Posted on 08/16/2008 11:59:35 AM PDT by XR7
LAKE FOREST, Calif. — When John McCain and Barack Obama appear on the same stage today, they will vividly demonstrate the reach that has made the Rev. Rick Warren among the most significant evangelists of his generation.
He's a megastar who leads the nation's fourth-largest church and reaches thousands of ministers through the Internet and crusades against poverty and AIDS. That globe-trotting work and his successful book — "The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?" — puts him at the vanguard of a movement that inspires young, socially conscious Christians.
But his willingness to soft-pedal political issues once central to U.S. evangelicals, such as opposition to abortion, has opened him to criticism that he has strayed from his calling to spread the Gospel.
Today's forum also is a sign of religion's importance in the 2008 presidential campaign, and the emergence of a new style of evangelical leadership on the national stage that is not tied to a single party and has broadened its social agenda beyond that of the religious right.
"This is absolutely a changing of the guard, and it suggests that the new guard of the evangelical movement is able to generate the attention and focus of both parties," said D. Michael Lindsay, a sociologist at Rice University and author of "Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite."
Warren personally invited the two candidates — "friends of mine" — via their cellphones. His event at the Saddleback Church will be broadcast live on CNN and Fox News Channel and streamed on the Web. It has among its aims "helping the church regain credibility and encouraging our society to return to civility," he said.
It's likely that fans and critics will be watching closely...
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
McCain is alert and sharp tonight, he has not missed a beat.
What’s rich? That depends on where you live and a lot of factors. Don’t worry about what someone else makes doing their job, get educated and get a better job, get a second job or stay where you are.
That's what some of you resort to, when some of us disagree with your candidate...
..you immediately push the 'hate rhetoric'....
HEY...IT'S ALL YOURS....MY OPINION ISN'T WANTED AND I WILL LEAVE YOU TO YOUR LOVE FEST.
She would make a marvelous First Lady!
Mccain is cleaning Obama’s clock with his deciveness and his honesty...it shows.
Hey TN, McCain has a clue and has lived in the real world.
and as he speaks, his youngest son is based here in San Diego in the Marines and has done a tour in Iraq
lmao....paternity issue with Da Bears.
Oh the deal is not signed yet...
I remember the AMNESTY Bil...
It still will depend on his VP
McCain is soooooo funny tonight!
I can hear Chrissy Matthews Monday: “Wow, Mccain says if you make $4MM/year you are not rich..what do you think about that Rachel?”
I am no particular fan of McCain, and I imagine some of the others here tonight who are in a good mood are not fans either.
Still, we’re seeing two good things:
1. McCain actually has a pulse, which is more than alot of us expected.
2. More importantly, he is sticking his foot square up Obama’s ass. This is a case of a guy I don’t like much punching out an obnoxious guy I can’t stand.
I woulda said ‘Bill Gates and Soros = rich’
250k is not rich. OBama is a nutter
LOL!!!
And he didn’t go to Hawaii
I didn’t believe he would really say it.
COme on, come on say it-Ginsberg!
This is not the McCain I knew...
"who the hell is this guy and what has he done with McCain? I'm blown away and I have never liked McCain. He's got my vote
"who the hell is this guy and what has he done with McCain? I'm blown away and I have never liked McCain. He's got my vote
As God as my witness, I may end up voting for this guy.
Double FRINK
hic
Yes I know
Son in Iraq
McCain is for the troops...
Theres no illegal immigration question
Wish there was...
I haven’t seen McCain this animated in a long time. He’s coming across very well.
McCain: “doesn’t matter what my definition of rich is, I don’t want to raise any ones taxes”
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