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 ...
I don’t know. Warren was sweating and fidgeting and swallowing. All signs of being uncomfortable and “anxious”. Warren knows people were falling asleep.
NObama was boring!
But McCain... I found myself in tears. I have been
praying for months that if he is our President, God
would make him “our man”.
McCain IS OUR MAN! I had Reagan goose bumps
and hope. God bless John McCain!
Yep. With tonight's sterling performance, McCain moved from my NObama candidate to my John McCain for president candidate.
Just crossing my fingers that he continues the momentum of the past 3-4 weeks by picking a solid running mate.
My prayer was that God would fashion this man for greatness because we need him to become more than he has been. I think we may be witnessing just that!
Thats a new thread called
“Obama could not bring himself to state that a baby’s human rights begin at birth!,”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2063170/posts
NObama’s head cocked to the side the whole time gave me a
freakin’ HEADACHE! Someone tell that guy to sit straight.
Well I’m falling asleep on the keyboard...
I’ll get weird looks at Church for the strange pattern on my face if I dont go to bed now
LOL
:)
McCain talked to the audience.
NObama talked down to them.
MCain is the real deal. Did you know he had an adopted daughter from bangladesh?
McCain’s faith is so personal to him, he could barely tell the story of the guard who drew the cross in the dirt on Christmas Day.
McCain will be President for ALL Americans.
McCain knew about Rick Warren’s ministries.
McCain won me over. I haven’t felt this excited since
I campaigned for Ronald Reagan. If you could see me,
you’d notice that I’m wagging my tail... er... (inside
family humor). Never mind. (blusing)
I’m with you....remember it’s all about their fruit.
Not good, unfortunately.
I disagree. Since I will be voting for neither, I was looking forward to doing a back to back comparison on these two and, content aside, the differences were stark. Obama appeared far more relaxed and confident about the discussion...almost happy to be there. His answers were thoughtful, to the point, and from an offensive position. McCain appeared anxious and defensive from the minute he sat down, almost like he was forced to participate.
Like I said, I’ll be voting for neither, and IMO, content aside, where presentation is concerned, Obama took this, hands down.
Yes, definitely go to bed ... you never know what your ears may be typing as you catch that ‘cat nap’ on the keyboard.
Was it something I said?
mark
Gergen looked shell shocked. It was the high point of my night.
Put icecubes in your next drink ...
You said finger wagging ?????
You betcha!
Gergen did look devastated. He knows the dems are in trouble.
On to the debates! Meanwhile, here’s a poll to Freep about the forum tonight - McCain’s ahead.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/obama-warren-strong-2127616-people-first?slideshow=1
LOL! I said “tail” wagging. Now I get it.
When my daughter was really little she got
so excited she couldn’t stand still. Her
little butt would wag. Pretty soon, the
whole family started wagging their tails
when we got excited. It’s actually pretty
cute.
Do you have a smiley face with a waggily tail?
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