Blog coverage of McCain and Obama at Saddleback
About the Author: Born in Boston, I lived and worked in the D.C. area for a time, but have spent most of my life in Tennessee, where I graduated from the University of Tennessee. My political philosophy could best be described as eclectic, though mostly right of center. Read more from this authorObama finally shows up at the same place as McCain, and now we all understand why Obama has been avoiding such occasions. The comparison is not good. Even the left, some of whom are claiming McCain must have cheated, admits defeat. Below is the excellent coverage of this event from the blogroll.
The Radio Patriot: McCain Takes the Gold: Obama Disqualified
MonkeyCrash: McCain Proves He’s “The One” For November
RochesterConservative: McCain Shines at Saddleback Forum
No Sheeples Here! TRANSCRIPTS: Saddleback Civil Forum On The Presidency , The Best Of John McCain At Saddleback (Video) , Substance Triumphed Over Image At Saddleback Civil Forum
Truman’s Take: Obama seeking a job “above his pay grade”
The Lonely Conservative: Barack Obama defines “rich”
Jeremy E. Sarber & Friends: John McCain & Barack Obama: Saddleback Civil Forum
A McCain Democrat’s Journal: The Saddleback Forum: McCain 1, Obama 0
Start Thinking Right: What’s Wrong With Barack Obama’s Abortion Position?
The Barnyard: What Happened Last Night
A Mom’s Viewpoint: McCain Hits Homerun in Presidential Civil Forum
American Sentinel: McCain’s Saddleback Homerun
Notoriously Conservative: Obama and the Saddleback Debate
(Note: This replaces today’s “Lunch with the Blogroll”)
Above His Pay Grade? Did Obama Say That?
The Saddleback political forum, which was hosted by Pastor Rick Warren and featured presumptive nominees Barack Obama and John McCain, will be remembered as the night the momentum shifted in the 2008 election. News outlets have been wondering out loud where the Evangelicals have been in this year’s presidential race? For the past 18 months, these sleeping lions have not come out in force to rally around either of the major party presidential hopefuls. Speculation has been that many, who supported George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, may stay home in November… letting this year’s election chips (or dimpled, hanging chads) fall where they may.
Well, the mighty ‘roar’ heard in many faith communities across the nation the day after Pastor Warren’s Faith and Values non-debate, was the sound of Evangelicals who have been jarred from their dens of comfort, and will begin interjecting their voices and presence into this election cycle now… by Golly!
What was the game changer? Senator Barack Obama’s answer versus John McCain’s answer to Pastor Warren’s question: “At what point does a baby get human rights in your view”?
McCain stated, in no uncertain terms:
“At the moment of conception.”
Contrast that to Obama’s eye-popping response… one that he can rest assured will hound him through November 5th:
“Well, I think that whether you are looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know is above my pay grade.”
“Above his pay grade?” Now critics can berate Pastor Warren and challenge that question as a ‘trick question” or a “question tailor-made” for Senator McCain, the Republican. But Obama had to know when he accepted the invitation to appear at this event that two issues are guaranteed to mobilize the evangelical base: keeping the homefront safe from radicals and terrorists… and what a future president thinks about the lives of innocent, unborn babies in this country.
And, because many Americans really don’t know or trust Obama, some tuned into this much-hyped forum to evaluate him specifically… but both the candidates as well, side-by-side. Why no abortion policy statement handy? Or a well thought-out answer justifying whatever his position is or will be, ready to articulate to the American people in anticipation of this question?
But for Obama to present this “Above my pay grade” answer as meaningful thought in the political debate added insult to injury? Was it intended as a flippant retort? Was it supposedly a bad joke that went wrong? Whatever his reason or rationale… that remark is out there now, and… like toothpaste out of the tube… it can’t be retracted.
The abortion conversation is certain to be a front and center wedge issue in this election. And Obama’s ill-prepared ‘pay grade’ remark, forces those in bloggersville to further scrutinize all of his abortion voting records as an Illinois State Senator, and any positions on the subject that he has articulated for the past 20 years, to circulate to the millions of evangelicals… who, by the way, won’t be sitting this election cycle out now, for sure!
Vivian–thanks for posting that. I just spent some time on your blog and plan to visit regularly. It’s fantastic.
Soul Voice: http://vberryhill-soulvoice.blogspot.com/
[...] Blog coverage of McCain and Obama at Saddleback [...]
Paul,
Thanks for the mention and link!
Andrea
The comments I have received so far on my blog are heavily in favor of McCain and lend credence to the idea that folks on the fence were willing to jump over to the McCain side based on what they heard in this debate.
I think this was mostly a debate for McCain’s base. I think McCain got all he could out of it, which was to inspire his voter.
Vivian, right-on. I only want to add that Obama did not
and was not part of the vote for the war in Iraq. He was
not in office yet. Also the bi-partisan question; Obama
never should have used that particular issue. He backed-out
on it and McCain sent him a letter shaming him for doing so.
Obama has some serious problems. And,it is not just the lack
of experience. It is the lack of Christian morality and a solid
character that he may never be able to secure.
[...] Blog coverage of McCain and Obama at Saddleback Barack Obama defines “rich” McCain Proves He’s “The One” For November Substance Triumphed Over Image At Saddleback Civil Forum The Saddleback Forum: McCain 1, Obama 0 What’s Wrong With Barack Obama’s Abortion Position? John McCain & Barack Obama: Saddleback Civil Forum McCain’s Saddleback Homerun [...]