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 ...
Fox news 10 pm central and may be on Saddleback Church website
try c-span.org
Sounds like comments that could be worked into bumper stickers and Tee shirts to work against him.
CNN: Tony Perkins: McCain was more comfortable tonight. He connects with Americans. He did extremely well tonight.
He must have missed the part when Obama mentioned twice his 25 mil in book sales.
Oh I see. Last time I heard Keyes on Hannity’s program he sounded kind of loony. Maybe he was just having a bad day though.
Did you hear that lady crying about the abortions ???
she said the choice is sex or not..
Good for you, I thought you were leaving the thread.
“I WILL LEAVE YOU TO YOUR LOVE FEST. “
Starts in an hour or two.
Mail me, we need to scour Hunter again. Time to get it on.
Thanks for the “heads up” notice!
I love to hear the C-SPAN phone calls, even though they usually raise my BP.
If that doesn’t get you off your duff to take a chance on him instead of letting BHO win the Presidency then it’s YOU who has no fight.
Stay home on Election Day. Politics is no place for whiny babies. I’ll sign someone up to replace.
McCain has powerful stories that connect with middle America and that is what people want.
******
I think that his personal stories are what carried him to first place in Florida. Lots of retired military down there.
Rick Warren wrote a book that sold 25,000,000 copies
Seen several times in the Salvation Army store, must be one of the top donated items
no you are voting for Obama by proxie.
Thats is not a conscience, those are blinders.
Watching Fox News and wondering how the talking heads see Obama as having a “strong performance.” If they can’t be honest they should not be allowed to be a commentator. McCain was much better than Obama.
Gergen is a total a-hole. How he got anointed by the MSM as some kind of Beltway Oracle is beyond me. He makes me throw up in my mouth a little....he’ll get on his knees for whoever is in power or in favor at that moment.
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