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

[brighterside]

Guys Rick Warren is not James Dobson. Rev. Warren is the real deal. His not like those angry, hate preachers you see on TV.

Warren is one of the few preachers I have respect for. All the proceeds to his book sales goes to fighting poverty as what I heard. I think that worthy of something.

[SouthernBlueBelle]

We have GOT to STOP giving James Dobson and exposure at all. The man is in love with the sound (and sight) of his own voice.

[luvienne]

Why is it we have all these so called men of God, trying to control the political arena? Don't they have enough biblical teaching to do in this topsy turvy world?

[dentuso]

Simple. "Men of G od" are listened to by their flocks. The flocks vote in greater numbers than any other demographic. Fringe, by definition, means active.

[KillgoreTrout43]

From R. W. Emerson's Address to the graduating class of Harvard Divinity School;

"Accept the injurious impositions of our early catachetical instruction, and even honesty and self denial were but splended sins, if they did not wear the Christian name. One would rather be 'A pagan, suckled in a creed outworn,' Than to be defrauded of his manly right in coming into nature and finding not names and places, not land and professions, but even virtue and truth, forclosed and monopolized."

[NCRESIDENT]

How can Dobson endorse a man who left his wife for another woman no matter what way you put it he broke his vows, can't name a church he's been to, and the only thing he is for is banning Roe v. Wade. Sounds like Dobson has a little haterism in him.

[MsLiz]

The anti-abortion crusade is a great fund raiser.

[KillgoreTrout43]

"When my turn finally arrived, something unexpected happened. Criswell looked at me with kind, loving eyes and said, quite emphatically, “Young man, I feel led to lay hands on you and pray for you!” He placed his hands on my head and prayed: “Father, I ask that you give this young preacher a double portion of your Spirit. May the church he pastors grow to twice the size of the Dallas church. Bless him greatly, O Lord.”

The above is a quote from Warren, about his "experience," that caused him to begin the "mega," church. Does the bible have anything to say about incorporation of religion? I mean other than denominal franchises?

[wagadog]

Oh the poopoo driven life.

Snore!

[tombollocks]

Utter nonsense. Sample questions: What rinse do you use after washing your hair? Do puppies make you feel all fuzzy inside?

Well it's exactly what Americans want and deserve. No real questions, so there will be no real answers. Maybe Access Hollywood will sponsor a debate as well...

[Daly]

How do you explain the NYer picture?

[loax]

Church and State should remain seperate! This is what our founding fathers set up, and it should be adhered to! The religious movemnts are trying, little by little, to take over democracy!

[KillgoreTrout43]

Unfortunately, the Age of Reason is long gone.

[Daly]

If they want influence; they TAX 'em.

[meanguy]

how does this forum mix church and state?

[Zanti]

Well, they're trying to catch up to the NRA, Big Energy, the rich, and all the other entities who feed off our system. Why should those other guys get all the loot?

[TNT2008]

So much blood has been shed under the guise of religious beliefs. Can't we stop the madness?

[meanguy]

most of it has been shed for political reasons...however, 'religion' has been the convenient 'whipping boy'...mush easier to cast blame on religion than examine the truth

[VOTER]

Sounds like a good event.

Looking forward to it.

[pupbayer]

LOL! Thanks for the morning smile!

[VOTER]

Your humor is curious.

What is so funny?

Obama, thanks to the most unChristian pols in the USA, REPUBLICANS,
must again state his religious beliefs.

This event should help him.

Personally, I don't care if he believes in God or Jesus Christ.
My husband is an atheist and one of the most honorable, kind and morally sound people alive.

[gorgol]

NEWS ALERT!! James C. Dobson "may" switch his support to McCain. "Oh, SURPRISE< SURPRISE< SURPRISE, ANDY" Just who is Dobson supporting now?? OBAMA??..oh yeah..sure.."wink wink nod nod". Next we'll hear that HAGEE is switching his support to McCain too..."And their fleeced sheep will follow". BAAAAAAAAA.

[compassionone]

This is probably a great idea:

"[Rick Warren] has created a global alliance of more than 400,000 pastors representing 163 countries and hundreds of denominations and has been influential in the evangelical community." The guy sold 30,000,000 books the past few years.

Warren was pretty pumped about Clinton showing up last years...so that is promising.

Exposure here would put O at the hub of the Evangelical movement. This is kind of like the end of the Matrix (1st movie) when Neo plugs in to the phone and changes everything.

[brighterside]

Yes O-bama is a christian and will use this venue to promote that he is. O-bama is one of the smartest men I know. He knows his economics and his foreign policy is very underrated. Now he will get to show his knowledge of the Bible and promote initiatives related to faith. I think this will be very good for him and bad for McRobot.

[meanguy]

i'm not one of those who ever believed the ludicrous story that obama is a muslim. however, as far as being a Christian? Christ taught: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except thru Me." this is central to Christianity, and i fail to see how someone, such as obama, who does not believe this to be the case can be considered a Christian. From what i have read of obama's description of his own faith, he seems to be more in the mold of universalist/unitarian beliefs. that is, of course, his business, and is not a reson to support or oppose the candidate-but to describe it as Christian is simply inaccurate.

[VOTER]

Duh! Huh?

meanguy: Proof stupidity and religion do mix.

[meanguy]

Christ taught: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me"...that is central to Christianity, and defines Christ as Savior. obama does not believe this. it's impossible to BE a Christian and reject this teaching...sorry, NOT a muslim, but NOT a Christian, either

[MsLiz]

They did not have dictaphones in the year 30 AD, so I take quotes with a box of salt.

I am a Christian, just not your kind of Christian. I don't believe in a supreme being, or an afterlife. It works for me.

[layman]

The church people please go away and leave us alone !!!!!!!
Seperation of Church and State !!!!!!!

[kevenseven]

Bon chance on getting seperation of church and politics..............

[Zanti]

We have separation of church and state, Congress never having established a state church and not likely to do so at any conceivable point. Our founders' orders were followed. Mission accomplished.

As for banning churches from representation in a representative democracy, how is that constitutional? Politicians can't even interact with people of faith?

I suppose that religious organizations, if they want to interact with government (let alone lobby it like everyone else is allowed to), are best advised to masquerade as gun manufacturers, Big Oil, cable providers, or poison-paint suppliers to China. No one tells those groups to get out of the way.

Then again, it would take courage to do so, wouldn't it? That's the catch.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

The separation he is talking about has to do with the creation of laws based on theological teachings.