Weekly Standard Executive Editor Fred Barnes writes today that he doesn’t think much of the questions in last night’s town hall debate between John McCain and Barack Obama.
Barnes goes after moderator Tom Brokaw for asking the kind of questions that an “East Coast” newsman would ask. Barnes wanted more questions similar to what Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren posed during his candidate forum. Warren asked about character, religion, abortion, like that.
Barnes wanted a freewheeling town meeting where Brokaw didn’t pick the questions from those submitted by the group of undecided voters Gallup chose for the Presidential Commission.
Just a couple of words before I ask you to tell me what you think.
Yes, for years Brokaw anchored NBC News, based in New York. But the now mostly retired anchor was born in South Dakota and now lives in Montana. Not exactly an East Coaster. And secondly, obviously the focus of Pastor Warren’s questioning was totally different than what was on the minds of last night’s audience - the economy, war, etc. But also, at least last night, there was some interaction between the candidates, however limited.
people blame the format, they need to blame the candidates. first of all, warren didn’t host a debate, as they were not on the same stage at the same time. they never would have agreed to that, and there’s the rub. just like politicians work to rig the game so that they have a substantial advantage against any electoral challenge, they conspire to make debate conditions that will guard against the possibility of spontaneity or embarrassment.
I think the questions were geared towards THE issue that matters right now: The economy, stupid! Abortion, religion? Non factors in this election, and that’s why conservative Sarah Palin energized the GOP base and nobody else.
Warren did a masterful job of promoting his church. I love how he and the candidates had Saddleback Church in the background on every camera shot. I think it would have been great if Pastor Rick would have invited religious leaders from others religions and churches and they had a series where they stopped at other houses of worship. Pastor Ricky never would have shared the spotlight though. I really think Pastor Warren should spend 40 days teaching his followers about the history of religion in America. I think they would find it enlightening to hear that we are not a Christian nation, but a nation that allows religious freedom. This freedom allows them to pray to whomever they may like within their private area. The minute we give too much power to one church or religion, we begin to head back down that slippery sloop our forefathers didn’t want us to go.
I beg to differ. I care very much about a future president who voted to not provide medical care for live infants as the result of botched abortions (basically, to let them die or suffocate them). Obama voted on this 4 times, fearing that the women “might have second thoughts about their decision.” My God - this is the sickest thing I can even think of. A nation that doesn’t protect it’s most innocent will certainly not be protected. As yes, I do believe in God Almighty, the Maker and Creator of heavens and earth. He blessed our nation and we prospered, but He can and will allow a curse to come on it. I fear that time is coming. So with all due respect, I are very much about abortion and the world Christian view of our future leader.
Mark. I couldn’t disagree more. Neither of these guys can fix the economy, they will only make it worse. They will however have the ability to change Roe v. Wade. 3 Supreme Court Justices will be chosen by this president.
Mark, I couldn’t agree with you more. While I don’t support abortion personally, those that are voting on that issue alone right now absolutely amaze me. It’s the economy, stupid.
Also, the Rick Warren “talk” was an absolute sham. The candidates were NOT asked the exact same questions. Period.
Neither McCain nor Obama instilled confidence in me. Each was about as out-of-touch with the economically shattering events of the past three weeks and how that impacts the average American as each could possibly be.
Both talked “middle class” class- warfare while each ignored the plight of senior retired Americans who have had their life savings devastated and who now anticipate dog food on the dinner table in their waining years because, IF a recovery comes, it will be too late for most retired seniors who will by then be long dead!
All I heard was the usual campaign hyperbole of pie-in-the-sky and an obfuscation and aversion to replying to specific questions.
The format and the selection of the questions were, for the most part, a disaster. In addition, Brokaw was a disaster by failing to hold the nominees to the questions instead of allowing each nominee to bloviate.
The “debate” had no winners; however, there was a loser: the American public.
You know I have been to Saddleback one time, not enough to give any analogy of the Fellowship, but it was different from what I am used to. Verse by Verse study of the Bible. I know my Pastor was there that night because it was an Important event. The economy is Important, BUT if that is all everyone is worried about….people need to check their priorities at the door. Sure the Economy is Important, I don’t think either of the 2 Canidates overlooked that situation, they have capable people ready to tackle that Issue. It is the Issues of 2-10 that we have to look at. Yes, we need someone who has Virtues and Values and Backbone. A God Fearing Leader is one who will do His Will, not the Will of the People. For God’s Will is to take care of his People, he will Supply the Mana for them. So why would anybody want someone who believes against the things of God to be President? Really? “I never knew you” are words no one wants to hear.
Through a proxy, Pastor Rick lied to me in an email about how tickets would be allocated. I inquired about how tickets would be allocated, and the response was akin to “… uh, dunno …”, when you know damn well the tickets were already given/sold to his congregation. He is a lying hypocrite. He knows if we knew before the event the tickets would be given/sold almost exclusively to his flock, we would have raised holy hell with the media.
Hi Bill,
There has been no decision on ticket price or distribution. When a final decision has been made, it will be posted on http://www.saddlebackcivilforum.com
All God’s Best,
John
John Mogush
Assistant to Pastor Rick
Saddleback Church
Barack Obama’s Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Connection
By John Gibson (Fox News)
Lehman Brothers collapse is traced back to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two big mortgage banks that got a federal bailout a few weeks ago.
Freddie and Fannie used huge lobbying budgets and political contributions to keep regulators off their backs.
A group called the Center for Responsive Politics keeps track of which politicians get Fannie and Freddie political contributions. The top three U.S. senators getting big Fannie and Freddie political bucks were Democrats and No. 2 is Sen. Barack Obama.
Now remember, he’s only been in the Senate four years, but he still managed to grab the No. 2 spot ahead of John Kerry — decades in the Senate — and Chris Dodd, who is chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.
Fannie and Freddie have been creations of the congressional Democrats and the Clinton White House, designed to make mortgages available to more people and, as it turns out, some people who couldn’t afford them.
Fannie and Freddie have also been places for big Washington Democrats to go to work in the semi-private sector and pocket millions. The Clinton administration’s White House Budget Director Franklin Raines ran Fannie and collected $50 million. Jamie Gorelick — Clinton Justice Department official — worked for Fannie and took home $26 million. Big Democrat Jim Johnson, recently on Obama’s VP search committee, has hauled in millions from his Fannie Mae CEO job.
Now remember: Obama’s ads and stump speeches attack McCain and Republican policies for the current financial turmoil. It is demonstrably not Republican policy and worse, it appears the man attacking McCain — Sen. Obama — was at the head of the line when the piggies lined up at the Fannie and Freddie trough for campaign bucks.
Sen. Barack Obama: No. 2 on the Fannie/Freddie list of favored politicians after just four short years in the Senate.
Philip,
I respect your opinion, but there is no way I would vote for a hate monger, such as McCain, over Obama, even though Obama is pro-choice. McCain has run the most despicable, repulsive and dangerous political campaign in our nation’s history. And believe me, that DOES count in God’s eyes.
Steph, you shouldn’t believe everything you hear on Fox News. Obama voted against that bill because there already was a law on the books in Illinois that guaranteed medical treatment for those babies. There was no need for him to vote yes to something that already existed. Please read both sides of the story before forming your opinion and especially before posting incorrect information that might influence the minds of other people who believe all that they read and hear.