I am watching the candidate forum with Rick Warren, Barack Obama and John McCain on the internet, and I want to post some thoughts as we go...
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Barack Obama is going first, and while I missed the first question (we were late getting back from BW-3!), I did hear Warren ask Obama about his and the countries greatest moral failings. Senator Obama cited his youthful indiscretions, and owned up to using/experimenting with drugs and with use of alcohol, and that even today he sometimes is more concerned about protecting himself than others. Common human self-interest. His thoughts on America's greatest failing has to do with a lack of concern for the less fortunate, which gave him an opportunity to bring up the "whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done for me"
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Now we move to worldview. What does faith in Christ mean to Obama?
Jesus Christ died for my sins and I am redeemed through Him, a source of strength, I don't walk alone. Those sins on a regular basis will be hopefully washed away (hopefully?) Expression of that not just in words but deeds. He swings back to the least of these quote, clearly his handlers prepped him to use that again and again to spin the Gospel as a liberal social agenda.
Now Rick is going to give him "the tough ones"
Abortion. 40 million since Roe v Wade. At what point does a baby get human rights?
Obama ducks the question, it is "above my pay grade".
- There is a moral and ethical dimension to this issue. Ya think?! He supports Roe v Wade, no because he is pro-abortion but women struggle with this issue.
- Have you ever voted to reduce or limit abortions?
Obama claims he has on late term if there is an exception for a woman's health. Turns his focus to the reduction of unwanted pregnancies. How do we provide the resources to allow a woman to keep a child? In other words, more money for women after
- Define marriage.
"The union between a man and a woman". It is a sacred union, "God is in the mix" He would not support a constitutional amendment, because we have not traditionally defined marriage (of course we also haven't had states marrying gays) He does support civil union, and brings up the tired gays visiting each other in the hospital argument.
Warren totally lets him off the hook, and moves to stem cells. Complete cop-out.
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Mostly dodges around the question of why not just use adult stem cells.
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Does evil exist? Do we ignore, negotiate with it, contain it or defeat it?
Yes evil exists. It has to be confronted, confronted squarely. Obama is stumbling over this question. We need humility in confronting evil? Lots of evil done in the name of fighting evil.
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Moving on to domestic issues, don't give me your stump speech.
- Which existing supreme court justice would you NOT have nominated. That is a tough one.
His answer? Clarence Thomas. He was unqualified according to Obama (which is ironic from a man who is running for President and is completely unqualified.) Also names Scalia and takes a veiled shot against Chief Justice Roberts, claiming he is too willing to give too much power.
- The role of faith based organization. should faith based organizations be forced to hire people who disagree with their beliefs or not get federal funds?
Obama responds by talking about supporting faith based groups. But...when it comes to programs that are federally funded, we cannot allow discrimination against people. Faith based groups should not be advantaged or disadvantaged when it comes to federal funding, but they cannot discriminate.
- Moves on to education, what about merit pay for teachers?
Performance pay negotiated with teachers (i.e. the union). We need to pay them all more.
- Taxes. Simple question. Define rich.
If you have booksales of $25 million, you qualify. That was funny. $150,000 as a family or less, you are middle class. If you are making more than $250,000 you are "doing well". What about those between $150 and $250,000. If we believe in good schools and good roads, we have to pay for these things. Didn't really answer the question, but you will see a "modest increase" if you make more than $250,000.
Obama is mostly ducking the questions, but he is a politician after all.
(Quick note, this clearly is Warren on stage. The politicians are just a prop for him to look important)
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America's responsibility to the world, we are the most blessed nation in the world.
- What is worth dying for?
Obviously American freedom (American freedom is more important than other people apparently). In defense of NATO nations.
- What criteria would we use to stop genocide?
There isn't a hard and fast rule. If we have it in our power and we work with the international community, we should act (In other words, why would we NOT stop Darfur that he listed as a sign of evil.)
- There are 148 million orphans. Without mommies and dads. What about a President emergency plan for orphans.
We should look at it, it is a great idea. How do we prevent orphans worldwide.
- What should the U.S. do to prevent religious persecution in Iraq, China, our allies?
We have to bear witness and speak out (more religious talk) Our relation with China is a complicated one, they are partners and lenders. Takes a shot at Guantanamo.
- Tell me in one minute why you want to be President.
Brings up his mother and the idea of empathy. I want to be President to be empathetic? I am not sure what he is saying here?
- What do you say to people who oppose me asking you these questions?
We need to have these conversations.
(Obama is really vague and not nearly as comfortable answering off the cuff) Solving big problems is not going to be easy.
---
I didn't get to take notes during McCain's session, but he cleaned Obama's clock. He was decisive where Obama vacillated. he was firm where Obama was squishy. He clearly has strongly held positions, Obama clearly has sound bytes. His best line was about education. Obama wants to pay all teachers more and then give even more money to the best teachers. McCain wants to help bad teachers find new lines of work. Anyone who can't see how shallow Obama is just isn't paying attention. Obama talks about experiences, McCain has lived it.
I figured this would be good for Obama and bad for McCain but the opposite was true. McCain came across confident and competent, Obama seemed to be searching for the right thing to say instead of saying what he believed.
-----
Barack Obama is going first, and while I missed the first question (we were late getting back from BW-3!), I did hear Warren ask Obama about his and the countries greatest moral failings. Senator Obama cited his youthful indiscretions, and owned up to using/experimenting with drugs and with use of alcohol, and that even today he sometimes is more concerned about protecting himself than others. Common human self-interest. His thoughts on America's greatest failing has to do with a lack of concern for the less fortunate, which gave him an opportunity to bring up the "whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done for me"
---
Now we move to worldview. What does faith in Christ mean to Obama?
Jesus Christ died for my sins and I am redeemed through Him, a source of strength, I don't walk alone. Those sins on a regular basis will be hopefully washed away (hopefully?) Expression of that not just in words but deeds. He swings back to the least of these quote, clearly his handlers prepped him to use that again and again to spin the Gospel as a liberal social agenda.
Now Rick is going to give him "the tough ones"
Abortion. 40 million since Roe v Wade. At what point does a baby get human rights?
Obama ducks the question, it is "above my pay grade".
- There is a moral and ethical dimension to this issue. Ya think?! He supports Roe v Wade, no because he is pro-abortion but women struggle with this issue.
- Have you ever voted to reduce or limit abortions?
Obama claims he has on late term if there is an exception for a woman's health. Turns his focus to the reduction of unwanted pregnancies. How do we provide the resources to allow a woman to keep a child? In other words, more money for women after
- Define marriage.
"The union between a man and a woman". It is a sacred union, "God is in the mix" He would not support a constitutional amendment, because we have not traditionally defined marriage (of course we also haven't had states marrying gays) He does support civil union, and brings up the tired gays visiting each other in the hospital argument.
Warren totally lets him off the hook, and moves to stem cells. Complete cop-out.
----
Mostly dodges around the question of why not just use adult stem cells.
---
Does evil exist? Do we ignore, negotiate with it, contain it or defeat it?
Yes evil exists. It has to be confronted, confronted squarely. Obama is stumbling over this question. We need humility in confronting evil? Lots of evil done in the name of fighting evil.
---
Moving on to domestic issues, don't give me your stump speech.
- Which existing supreme court justice would you NOT have nominated. That is a tough one.
His answer? Clarence Thomas. He was unqualified according to Obama (which is ironic from a man who is running for President and is completely unqualified.) Also names Scalia and takes a veiled shot against Chief Justice Roberts, claiming he is too willing to give too much power.
- The role of faith based organization. should faith based organizations be forced to hire people who disagree with their beliefs or not get federal funds?
Obama responds by talking about supporting faith based groups. But...when it comes to programs that are federally funded, we cannot allow discrimination against people. Faith based groups should not be advantaged or disadvantaged when it comes to federal funding, but they cannot discriminate.
- Moves on to education, what about merit pay for teachers?
Performance pay negotiated with teachers (i.e. the union). We need to pay them all more.
- Taxes. Simple question. Define rich.
If you have booksales of $25 million, you qualify. That was funny. $150,000 as a family or less, you are middle class. If you are making more than $250,000 you are "doing well". What about those between $150 and $250,000. If we believe in good schools and good roads, we have to pay for these things. Didn't really answer the question, but you will see a "modest increase" if you make more than $250,000.
Obama is mostly ducking the questions, but he is a politician after all.
(Quick note, this clearly is Warren on stage. The politicians are just a prop for him to look important)
-----
America's responsibility to the world, we are the most blessed nation in the world.
- What is worth dying for?
Obviously American freedom (American freedom is more important than other people apparently). In defense of NATO nations.
- What criteria would we use to stop genocide?
There isn't a hard and fast rule. If we have it in our power and we work with the international community, we should act (In other words, why would we NOT stop Darfur that he listed as a sign of evil.)
- There are 148 million orphans. Without mommies and dads. What about a President emergency plan for orphans.
We should look at it, it is a great idea. How do we prevent orphans worldwide.
- What should the U.S. do to prevent religious persecution in Iraq, China, our allies?
We have to bear witness and speak out (more religious talk) Our relation with China is a complicated one, they are partners and lenders. Takes a shot at Guantanamo.
- Tell me in one minute why you want to be President.
Brings up his mother and the idea of empathy. I want to be President to be empathetic? I am not sure what he is saying here?
- What do you say to people who oppose me asking you these questions?
We need to have these conversations.
(Obama is really vague and not nearly as comfortable answering off the cuff) Solving big problems is not going to be easy.
---
I didn't get to take notes during McCain's session, but he cleaned Obama's clock. He was decisive where Obama vacillated. he was firm where Obama was squishy. He clearly has strongly held positions, Obama clearly has sound bytes. His best line was about education. Obama wants to pay all teachers more and then give even more money to the best teachers. McCain wants to help bad teachers find new lines of work. Anyone who can't see how shallow Obama is just isn't paying attention. Obama talks about experiences, McCain has lived it.
I figured this would be good for Obama and bad for McCain but the opposite was true. McCain came across confident and competent, Obama seemed to be searching for the right thing to say instead of saying what he believed.
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