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 ...
Excellent CATCH! Obama’s dying his hair!
I call Hairgate!
The US Senate in washington (866) 220-0044
Of course.
All very legal, you see.
Sounds like a page from Dr. Mengele's shop manual.
Obama “steel plant closing on the south side of Chicago”
Another Obama state senator time line failure;
EX:
Obama being worthless as a State Senator in Illinois, many folks voted with their feet,
and left for Minnesota;
Between 1995 and 2000
Minnesota experienced a
net gain of more than 9,000
black alone people from other
states. Illinois accounted for
the greatest net gain. The
number of black residents
moving to Minnesota from
Illinois exceeded the number
moving in the opposite
direction by almost four to
one.
abortion is an issue of faith ???????
Nooooooooooooooooooooo
Obama, abortion is an issue of death for an unborn baby...
He is trying to make himself appear more ‘presidential’, older and experienced. Fake experience, fake hair dye.
obama is that law professor the students never want to take and avoid like the plague when there is ANY other professor teaching the same class.
Obama was not having a conversation with america, he was lecturing us about how stupid america is in comparison to him.
McCain, hands down!
I watched Rick Warren's "interviews" with a group of old school conservatives. We all came to the same conclusion. McCain far exceeded our expectations and actually did a masterful job with his answers. His remarks were detailed and to the point.
As usual, Obama's answers were thoughtful, but on just about every issue he came across as highly liberal and extremely inexperienced.
One answer that summed up the entire night. McCain said life begins at conception. Obama said the abortion issue was "above his pay grade".
Game, set, match, McCain.
Just shows once again how Obama knows nothing about most everything he talks about! Justice Thomas is one of the most conservative, constitutionalists to ever serve on the SC! I pray that Justice Thomas gets to serve for many many more years!
Wow...the whole Christian community is on fire tonight.
I don’t like the grey. Excessive grey ages people.
Obama on teachers “reward excellence”
Unions won’t like that, NEA can still vote Clinton at the Convention
visiting friends in the hospital is not equal to same sex marriage...
It’s obvious they’re brushing flour or baking powder into his hair to give him ‘experience’!
Know your enemy.
Is this the change he has been trying to make people believe in?
The stuttering will probably be called thoughtful answers
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.