McCain And Obama Agree To Forum At Rick Warren's Saddleback Megachurch

New York Times:

It has taken a man of God, perhaps, to do what nobody else has been able to do since the general election season began: Get Barack Obama and John McCain together on the same stage before their party conventions later this summer.

The Rev. Rick Warren has persuaded the candidates to attend a forum at his Saddleback Church, in Lake Forest, Calif., on Aug. 16. In an interview, Mr. Warren said over the weekend that the presidential candidates would appear together for a moment but that he would interview them in succession at his megachurch.

Word of the forum came as a leading conservative Christian, James C. Dobson, signaled that he might reverse his position and endorse Mr. McCain, The Associated Press reported.

"I never thought I would hear myself saying this," Mr. Dobson, chairman of Focus on the Family, said for radio broadcast on Monday. "While I am not endorsing Senator John McCain, the possibility is there that I might."

The forum still falls short of the kind of face-to-face, town-hall-style debates that Mr. McCain, of Arizona, has called for this summer before formal debates scheduled for this fall.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[KillgoreTrout43]

No it hasn't. I just typed it. Now stop this crap!

[Paula1953]

I found this article from The New York Times. It pretty much says it all when it comes to which party Mr. Dobson favors.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/01/politics/01dobson.html

[KillgoreTrout43]

Please stop deleting my posts!

[johnnygoodwud]

first of all it's not a debate, but a separate interview of each candidate. they will not be on the stage at the sametime except in passing. rick warren wrote a great book called the 'purpose driven life', that james dobson might want to read. there's alot more to being a christian than harping on the gays and pro choice groups. hey james dobson, what about AIDS, darfur, the homeless, the enviornment. these are things that rick warren and guys like bill hybels talk about. dobson to me is way to judgemental.

[Retrofuturistic]

I will vote for no candidate who courts the Talibangelists, megacult leaders, and right-wing fundamentalists. This is a shame, because I really wanted to vote for Obama.

We need a candidate who respects the separation of church and state. We need to take away the tax-exempt status of churches and put a cap on how much money they can "earn" by exploiting the poor, the uneducated, and the emotionally needy, because it leads to unscrupulous people having too much money and therefore too much power.

[Rescisco]

Politicians going to church for votes. OK, in the interest if inclusiveness, next they must agree to a joint appearance at a strip club. Every vote counts!

[Zanti]

If they thought it would help their cause, they'd do so, I'm sure. Politicians cut deals in far slimier environments. As well as slimy details in more polite settings.

However, re some apology being necessary for campaigning in church, please. No rules are being broken, and consequently no tit for tat is necessary. Pun completely intended.

[KillgoreTrout43]

Something for everyone's perusal;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Age_of_Reason#Intellectual_context:_eighteenth-century_British_deism

Religion relieves the subject of his conscience and places the burden upon God. This is why people can kill and slaughter, then ask for forgiveness. Not good enough! Not good enough!

[KillgoreTrout43]

How can the comment already be posted? I just typed it.

[wayoutleft]

i'm surprised mccain was invited. this is the evangelicals first attempt to ingratiate themselves with the next president. they have no intention of being excluded from access to obama; but they are a little late. they will robably try to demand that obama back off pro-choice in terms of judicial appointments; and that he not interject himself to defend science education. but i think they're too late- the obama train's already rolling. they're trapped. they hate mccain and he's a loser. all their gop congress friends are going down. they're out in the cold. i know there are about 900 billion of them out there somewhere, all doddering toward the polls as we speak. but they have no candidate.
still, only the military, the naacp, and the evangelicals have the power to summon the candidates for an accounting. for the rest of us there's the upper deck at invesco field.

[LeftLeanWing]

This is to Obama advantage because he's much more comfortable talking about issues of faith than McCain. The way McCain's brain has been going lately he just might confuse Jesus with Zarathustra .

[Cookie100]

I have read a number of times, that Dobson has lost his advantage. No one seems to care what the old fart says anymore. After all, he backed the Hedge twice and his followers also live in the Hedge's economy. Also, the guy who replaced him his a really concerned with global warming, the poor, you know, issues normal Christians think about.
Of course Dobson is all about Dobson, so go endorse Grandpa, who cares.

[shelobo]

Why are they having a political debate in a church in the first place?Religion and Politics just do NOT mix !

[MsLiz]

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. did a fine job of mixing religion and politics. My religious thoughts have a great impact on my political opinions. That is why I am a Democrat; I think it is immoral to adhere to Republican values.

[meanguy]

reading a script is easy

[nomobull]

only when you can read

[JohnFromCensornati]

Might as well have it on Fox.

[rinpochet]

Actually no. Rich Warren is a good guy and this will be great for Obama.

[JulieKay]

Rick Warren is passionate about issues such as AIDS, poverty and the environment, which is favorable to Obama.

Obama has met with Warren in the past. invited to speak today at an AIDS conference at Warren's church in 2006. Warren was criticized because of Obama being pro-choice.

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=24509

“Right wing, left wing. I’m for the whole bird,” said Warren, smiling, on the last day of the conference, which featured Obama and Sen. Sam Brownback, R.-Kan., on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1.

“You have to have two wings to fly. When I thought of all the men I knew in Congress and the Senate, and believe me there were more who wanted to come [to the conference], I thought of Sen. Obama and Sen. Brownback for three specific reasons,” Warren said, citing “their integrity, their civility even when they disagree and their openness to learning and listening.­”

“It’s pretty rare in Washington, D.C,” he said. “I intentionally brought people together from healthcare, activism, religion and government. We’re looking for a culture of civility. Frankly, I’m tired of partisan bickering.­”

[JohnFromCensornati]

Might as well have it on Fox news.

[hoopesaz]

Evangelical control of the political process should be reduced, not embraced. No matter how good a guy you think Rick Warren is.

[jimstaro]

And isn't this interesting, especially for us Vets. Giving to the Faithful? but Obama is still not giving an up or down as to a Townhall near Fort Hood in front of an audience of Military Families, Military personal, Veterans, and the Many groups, most set up helping Veterans, who are sponsoring the Townhall and CBS already OK'd to televise!

As an Obama supporter that strong support is right now waining, and no it's not going to McCain.

This forum is Much More Important to the Military and Vets as two theaters still wage and for the Country as to the blowback that these occupations have already and will create!

This should be a nobrainer for the Obama Camp!!!!!!

[jimstaro]

Media Advisory: Military and Veteran Advocates Invite Senators Obama and McCain to Fort Hood Texas

Presidential Town Hall to Focus on Military and Veterans
For Immediate Release: July 10, 2008

Contact: Carissa Picard, Managing Director, 2008 Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall Consortium, 254.554.15­13, [e-mail].

2008 Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall
Monday August 11, 2008, 9:00 pm (EST)
Bell County Expo Center
301 West Loop 121
Belton, Texas 76513

Hosted by the 2008 Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall Consortium, to be carried live on the CBS Television Network.

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/articleid/10622

[MsLiz]

If Obama suspects a set-up, he's probably right.

[neesy08]

FOR GOD'S SAKE, QUIT WHINING!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!

I'm starting to think Gramm was right. McCain, you and others are getting on my last nerves with your whining!!!!!!!!

JUST GO TO THE CHURCH AND HEAR THE MAN OUT!!!!!!!! He cannot be every place, there is only one of him!

[jimstaro]

Whining???????

And you are serving Where????

Or have what Family members in Theater??

Pr are a Vet that this Country, You, never have Given what is Owed???

And where will You be when these troops return back into the Communities, as you Look The Other Way?????

Tell ya what, You go to the Church, and claim the 'bornagain' just make sure your life style follows the teachings!­!!!!!!!!!!­!

[jimstaro]

From The Whiners:

Consortium Members

American Veterans (AMVETS)

Jim King, Executive Director

Brain Injury Association of America

Laura A. Schiebelhut, Director of Government Affairs

Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

David W. Gorman, Executive Director

Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States

MSG (Ret.) Michael P. Cline

Executive Director

Fleet Reserve Association

Joseph L. Barnes, CAE, ABC

National Executive Director

Military Officers Assn. of America

VADM Norb Ryan, Jr. (USN-Ret.)­, President

Military Order of the Purple Heart

Hershel Gober, National Legislative Director



Military Spouse Corporate Career Network

Deborah Kloeppel, CEO

National Spinal Cord Injury Assn (NSCIA)

Marcie Roth, President/CEO

The Sanctuary International

Jon Norsworthy, Director

Veterans for Common Sense

Paul Sullivan, Executive Director

Veterans United for Truth

Bob Handy, HMC USN Ret, Chair

Vietnam Veterans of America

Texas State Council

Luther "Buster" Newberry, President

Veterans Village

Nadia McCaffrey, President/Founder

WELLsville Veterans Project

Kristin Van Huysen, President/Founder

[marymansour]

We just can't help dragging churches and religion into what was once a secular nation, can we? Wouldn't some other venue be more appropriate for their first venture together and why before the conventions? That is when the REAL race begins.

[musselmanm]

I notice that when the media talks about James Dobson, they always put up a picture of Senator Larry Craig!
Is this because they both have such a wide stance?

[lainey]

For all the criticisms leveled at Rick Warren, it should be noted that he runs a very thoughtful and respectful church. The pastor is one who is inclusive in his teachings. I am not surprised by Dodson's statement, for he enjoys the limelight of his perceived celebrity and causing a stir. He does not represent most people of faith and I hope that comes across. He is the antithesis of Pastor Warren. Since Senator Obama's Christian faith is so integral to who he is, I think it is the perfect place to begin dialogue. He will represent Christians as we are--accepting and loving to all. Pastor Warren will hopefully show a glimpse into the thinking, feeling and soul of our next president. I am thanking God in advance for giving us Barack Obama.