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 ...
My beeber was royally stuned by that comment.
She has been very quiet lately. Think they are hiding her like the Kerry campaign did with his drunken wife.
Gosh, that lady on Fox is one ugly woman.
John Podhoretz thinks McCain did well. “If John McCain can perform during the three debates the way he is performing tonight with Rick Warren, he will win this election.”
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/jpodhoretz/20581
Fox is trying too hard to be “balanced”. That witch is just awful.
I am not trying to be ugly to you, and I love Alan Keyes, but are you serious? Can you really not understand that your vote for Keyes is really a vote for Obama? And that doesn’t bother you? McCain was not my first, second, third or fourth choice. But against Obama, he is my ONLY choice.
Good one!
Amen. I have received several emails in the past months asking me to pass on to everyone that we stop to pray for our nation on a nightly basis at 9pm eastern, 8pm central, 7pm mountain, and 6 pm pacific. It only takes a minute.
Most definitely. God bless and protect the Georgians.
You don’t write, you don’t call...
I think we all are coming to the realization that our choice is Obama or McCain- that's the real world. And to quote the late, great, Winston Churchill:
In war as in life, it is often necessary when some cherished scheme has failed, to take up the best alternative open, and if so, it is folly not to work for it with all your might.
HEARTILY agree, though I wasn’t asked ... ;)
Her brother is Barney Frank./Just Asking - seoul62......
Lol! Great potential for a song there....
;-)
Quite correct.
The Messiah knows the answer to that question.
Obama should, too... even if his answer is the wrong one, he should have given one.
I submit that the answer is no.
I gotta agree. McCain showed me a likability that I never expected. My enthusiasm for him as president just grew from the NObama candidate to the John McCain for president candidate. Well done Mac!
I think you’ve nailed it.
I understand why Obama said he hates Clarence Thomas. Basically, he wants you to think he’s not a racist. He wants you to think that he hates people based on their ideology, not their color. Too little, too late, Barack.
Hi LP (((((HUGS)))))!
I have been good. We must get together soon.
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