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 ...
He has nothing at all tonight, but his lips are moving!
Sure Bosnia... I wonder why he agrees.
Ooh orphans. Will he mention Mc’s adopted daughter or same sex adoptions?
But Darfur was mentioned
America needs to “Build health infrastructure around the world” - with our tax dollars.
I think Obama hates himself.
.
Baby Butchers have no value of their own existence, and therefore,
no respect for others.
BINGO. He had all of the questions.
He certainly does! And he has the gall to call President Bush dumb and out of touch.
You sure got that right! Problem is, it is next to impossible to fire a teacher. The whole time I worked in the personnel office at a school district office .... never, not once was a teacher fire. Believe me, though there were some that should have been.
I think he just admitted he “cheated” and saw the question ahead of time. This is where he’s asked about a govt program to fund adoption.
bear witness uh uh uh uh we haven’t been taking care uh uh of our uh uh economy and and ..uh
Bush is great...
A kiss up to GOP voters
NoBama has been coached.. He knew what was going to be asked, he just w/o his teleprompter..
You are right about Fuller.
I heard that, too.
Many of us do adopt orphans. Cut the US bureaucracy. Right now we are treated like criminals in what we have to do to adopt.
.. he is uhhhh, errr...uhhmmm...
SUCH A FREAKIN IDIOT
Hey eeeev
Orange Co. where this is taking place use to be conservative but some yrs. ago they picked up two Dem Mexican sisters For congresspersons.
The place is a mexed bag.
Dear Lord please let McCain be semi likable and coherent tonight. If he can do this he will run away with this “forum”. Obama hasn’t answered a question directly yet.
the comments about abortion being “above my pay grade”
Did Obama actually say that ??!!??!!
WOW!
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