This is going a lot better than I was expecting, but Obama really let me down with his answer to the gay marriage question. I know he's one of those "anti-marriage, pro-civil union" types, and I completely disagree with him on that (I believe in full marriage rights). But why did he have to use their "one man, one woman" language? That really hurt to listen to.

Obama is doing amazing.

When he isn't stuttering.

Warren seems to like him!.

Yeah its a good civil discourse without the usual nonsense. This format suits Obama

I think Warren is considering voting for Obama!

he is better than Dobson.

Obama's hit a Home Run so far....especially considering the questions are tee'd up for Republicans.

I have seen Warren before and he is no Falwell or Robertson. While I disagree with much of his agenda he is respectful of other views and doesn't demagogue or condemn people to hell plus he is open to 'liberal' views at times. He seems to be the new trend in the Evangelical movement. Let's hope this remains true.

Joe @ 11:

someguy @ 4:

Obama is doing amazing.

When he isn't stuttering.

Warren seems to like him!.

Yeah, Obama seems to stutter a lot when he goes off script.

Which to me seems is because he weighs his words carefully and not just repeats well rehearsed answers and talking points. Hopefully thats a sign of how he makes decisions

Q: "What's the most gut wrenching decision you've ever made?"

A: " Opposing the war" (paraphrase)

Opposing the war when he was in the Illinois legislature was "gut wrenching"?

Ok. But he was fine with voting to fund the war in the senate every single time Bush asked for more money?

Unbelievable.

Rick Warren is persecuted by Spencer Pratt.

Johnny2BadObamasLikeEveryOtherLyingPowerHungryPolitician @ 18:

Q: "What's the most gut wrenching decision you've ever made?"

A: " Opposing the war" (paraphrase)

Opposing the war when he was in the Illinois legislature was "gut wrenching"?

Ok. But he was fine with voting to fund the war in the senate every single time Bush asked for more money?

Unbelievable.

I don't recall any Dems or ReThugs opposing funding every single time except maybe 1 or 2 that the American people thought were crackpots. If I'm wrong, I'd appreciate enlightenment.

So he's anti-slavery?

At the outset, Warren mentioned the separation
of Church and state. Yet in the first few minutes
religion cropped up and has kept coming back like
a bad penny.

It will be revealing if McCain is asked the exact
same questions in exactly the same way as to
Obama.

Warren doesn't have half the smarts as Obama yet
somehow people let him have his air time and the
two leaders agreed to the endeavour.

Too bad Warren didn't get a proper mainstream
theological education but then he wouldn't be
where he is today--largely a big frog in a small pond.

Rick Warren seems like a truly honest and good religious figure. I've never taken personal issue with someone's religious beliefs, only the dishonesty that some bring with it. Warren seems like a man willing to use his religion to help the world - not just to serve his needs.

Was it a good or bad thing Obama went first? He ssems to have set the bar pretty high for McCrypt Keeper. Thiat was easily his best performance on television.

Max Z. @ 31:

someguy @ 5:

Lauralu @ 3:

When Atheists make up even a 10th of America's population they might.

Till then to bad so sad.

So sorry to prick your intolerant bubble, but 14.1% of Americans identify as atheist, agnostic, secular or "non-religious":

http://www.atheistempire.com/reference/stats/index.php

ROTFLMFAO!

Agnostics are not atheists.

Joshdavis @ 19:

Damn - Obama is so good.

No shit!

Jerad @ 353:

Anybody have the wording of the last question for each candidate? I'm pretty sure the wording changed making it quite a different question.

I noticed that too. I don't remember him saying "in a church" to Obama. But I don't think it was intentional.

PeninsulaMatt @ 360:

Jerad @ 353:

Anybody have the wording of the last question for each candidate? I'm pretty sure the wording changed making it quite a different question.

I noticed that too. I don't remember him saying "in a church" to Obama. But I don't think it was intentional.

I'm also pretty sure he told Obama to speak as if there would be no repercussions.

I hope "murica votes McCain. The nation deserves him.

I just watched the interview on CNN that Barrack did with the Christian Network dude and it dawned on me that McCain and Obama had completely different objectives tonight. Barrack had to introduce himself to this crowd and McCain had to show a pulse. Both did their job.

And it was great to see Barrack get pissed off in his interview!!! Loved that!

Hokuto @ 330:

PeninsulaMatt @ 315:

Even so, I think Obama did well tonight.
And, it proves that Dems need to hit harder so McCain has to try and get into the next level of his arguments.

That's why the debates are going to be crucial; tonight, McCain could give his free-floating stump slogans without the danger of anybody calling him on them, but in the debates, he'll have to respond to real criticisms of his slogans.

yeah like the primary debates!!!!bull crappppp

Jack E. Jett @ 369:

I know have McCain's stump speech totally memorized.

The man does not have an original thought in his head. In fact, I doubt he has had a thought in his head in about 12 years.

Something fishy though with him answering the questions before they were asked.

AMEN TO THAT THE WHOLE THINK STUNK OF SET UP.

Jack E. Jett @ 369:

Something fishy though with him answering the questions before they were asked.

For me, the "tell" was early on when McCain responded to some unrelated question to the Supreme Court justices, yet interjected that he hoped "we can get back to" the issue of the justices.

Just something to think about.

Jack E. Jett @ 369:

Something fishy though with him answering the questions before they were asked.

Apologies if this is a double post. The "tell" to me is when, early on, McCain answered a totally unrelated question by interjecting that he hoped "we can get back to the Supreme Court justices" issue when it had in no manner been brought up or inferred.

What were they thinking with that background color? (SoCal Christian pink?)

Obama looked just okay in front of it, and McCain looked like a little washed-out ghost (which I guess isn't so far off the mark).

72 without a clue!!! Mcfossil's new slogan

Who was that old guy on TV tonight, man what a Fossil the term my friends comes from back in the 40s it is like dude today.
and those answers to the questions it was like watching old time TV life is a jingle oh I wish I was an Oscar Mayer wiener.

Yeah and Americans wish they still had a constitution.

Country First which Country

I also notice that he did not call his prison guard a gook someone must have talked to him about that

Texas Democrat @ 378:

I think Rick Warren had the best intentions in mind with this but let's face it. Obama was deep in enemy territory. Not so much with Warren but with Evangelicals. I wouldn't put it past someone in the church leaking the questions to the McCain camp a few days before but I think Rick's hands are clean. He strikes me as a pretty decent fellow. Not all evangelicals are slime after all.

I starting to think the same thing.

His answers came to quick.

to bad they didnt show the telaprompter setting behind the rev, for mccain

the whole smaroe was a setup from beginning to the end , just like the debates will be ,

It's Me @ 381:

Jerad @ 353:

Anybody have the wording of the last question for each candidate? I'm pretty sure the wording changed making it quite a different question.

Warren's last question:

For Obama:
I'm gonna' skip over a couple of these other important ones and I'll just ask you, What do you say to people who oppose me asking you these questions? That'll be the last one.

For McCain:
Alright. Twenty seconds left..uh, What would you say to people who oppose me asking you these questions in a church?

Thanks, I apparently misremembered.

tyree @ 385:

mccain got the gold tonight, i knew this debate was a mistake, even said so,

I have to agree it was a mistake to agree to having it televised on the major cable networks; if it had been just on the Christian Broadcast Network, it'd have recieved much less attention.

Even so, it is still a relatively minor affair that did give some people on the right see that Obama is a decent person and I think that'll help keep the smear machines honest over the next couple of months.

And, Obama does better with a bit of pressure so I expect a great convention.

☻Bangkok Bob ☺ @ 387:

tyree @ 385:

mccain got the gold tonight, i knew this debate was a mistake, even said so,

I don't know about that ... I'm a Vet myself of two conflicts Korea and Vietnam and I have to say I'm sick to death of hearing McCain repeating his own glory of capture and prisoner over and over and over. He just goes there to hide so he doesn't have to answer the real questions asked.
War is hell, it was for everyone who went through it. I don't talk about it,
but like I said, I'm sick of hearing him toot that horn.

and as good as those stories were it did seem like they happened a long, long time ago.

Have you noticed how the "liberal" media filmed McCain next to Obama ? They looked like they are the same height, while one is 5'9 and the other is 6'3 . LOL

Somehow, despite Barack Obama's astonishingly rare integrity and high intelligence, he accepted an invitation to an evangelical Christian church forum.

If the Sierra Club had offered to moderate a similar forum, what are the odds that McRelic would have agreed to attend?

the wrinkly old guy just showed up ..... This is gonna be fun to watch ...

I'll be doing shots every time he flip-flops or lies so I don't intend to be cohearant near the end of McBush ...

Holy shit balls, this guy's a great moderator.

No gotcha questions, tough questions to answer but making sure Obama didn't go into stump speech mode. And the last one was a gem. They outta just have him moderate all the debates and give the 'fuck you' to everyone else.

I wonder how 'GET OFF MY LAWN' McCain's going to do things since Obama was upbeat and message was 'we're all in this together'. Will it be 'My friends, you can't trust change and hope and we need more oil to satisfy my corporate masters,'

Okay switching off now. I can't stand to look at the senile old fart.

I love how no-BS Rick Warren is. And I LOVE his questions.

And McCain is BSing right off the bat. Yeah, go on, John, tell 'em what they wanna hear.

Looks like they will be getting the same questions .... Will be great to compare ...

Lisa Williamson @ 394:

Somehow, despite Barack Obama's astonishingly rare integrity and high intelligence, he accepted an invitation to an evangelical Christian church forum.

If the Sierra Club had offered to moderate a similar forum, what are the odds that McRelic would have agreed to attend?

Only if you got the questions ahead of time

It was a interesting moment when Rev Rick asked Obama about Federal tax dollars effecting church hiring practices. Should religious organizations have to hire more along EEOC lines or can they discriminate against their fellow man and hire their kind only. Obama stood tall and disagreed very carefully and pointed out this is a small margin of instances that occur. But when it does happen if it is Gov't funds to provide services to the public. There is a problem to allow biased hiring (discriminating) practices.

Vs/

McCain who feels its fine to have people take taxpayer money and discriminate all they want to get the job done. Because they are better than others. Sadly...........

#399 Oh my,

I agree with your accessment that this appeared to be very suited to McCain in a sympathetic biased manner.

Rewatch this forum and pay attention when Rev Rick asks McCain about bonus pay for excellent teachers. Mccain interrupted the question and answered "Yes, Yes and Yes" Before Rev Rick could finish asking. He also told John that he did not want to hear his stump speach where John went into his stump speech of charter school, vouchers, so there are wealthy schools and por schools. Further creating castes in this country instead of were all in this America thing together.

The questions were designed with McCain in mind. The reason that the question about his greatest moral failing was coupled with America's greatest moral failing was so that McCain could gloss over his "failed marriage" (nice euphemism) and move right on into America's greatest moral failing. With the two questions packaged together, McCain gets to "address" the issue of his infidelity and be receiving enthusiastic applause by the end of his answer. This doubling of the two questions was pretty irrelevant for Obama, but was a huge advantage for McCain.

When Atheists make up even a 10th of America's population they might.

Till then too bad so sad.

Do a little research. Agnostics/Atheists make up from 35-40% of population. I R 1 and I know many others. McCain is NOT religious. Probably an atheist or agnostic. Politicians know how to play the game. Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, James Maddison, Thomas Pane, George Washington - Atheist or Agnostic.

Get over yourself.

I hate to burst the troll bubble but McCain is NOT religious. If you're looking for a Christian candidate McCain is not it. Smart politicians know how to play the game and say what's expected. I don't think either McCain or Bush II attend church.

The only reason McCain seemed sure is because he's the GOP candidate and he was in friendly territory. Xtians will always buy the bullshit just because of the GOP brand.

SUCKERS!!!

You can be quick on the response providing you already know the questions, but in this case to be so quick that you don’t really answer the questions because you know that the goons have your ass anyhow.Can’t wait for the debate, where they both will be faced with a random question and answer forum, because there is nothing honest or truthful I believe that comes from any of these networks, especially with fat ass Candy and the other CNN, trick standing on the sidelines to pipe in the questions to McCain, who came flying out.

Pay attention folks.These massive Tax Breaks this fool continues to promote are not going to help average citizens in this country one dame bit, when we all know that millions of our well paying jobs have been run out of the country and the big bad greedy, slime ball corporate bastards have wiped out the companies for themselves, when they all lobbied these disgusting Congress members to vote for these massive tax shelters, under the guise that it would help them to maintain their operations and keep employees working.

They have been selling this dame lie for the last eight years, yet we now see our cities and counties, going bankrupt, because NO ONE is paying taxes, not the little people because they don’t make enough to eat, let alone pay taxes and the big bastards have been relieved from them altogether, complements of our US Congress.

Obama is right on the mark to tell the truth and to let the public know that we cannot continue down this rhode of destruction, where NO One is tasked with paying for our city, county and state services for this country to survive.

This is simply insane to keep buying into something so dame clear to anyone that would do the re-search. It’s cut and dry folks. We have to force these massive corporations to pay their fair share or we are all doomed.

And we need a President that has the guts and the courage to stand up and talk about this very unpopular need for this country, and it is so clear to me whom that person is.We are always going to get the answers that are going to be well thought out from Obama, because he knows that he is out there on his own and any kind of misstep that he makes will be recorded in debt, for days to come. Face it folks, most of us do not make more then $30 thousand a year and I am being generious believe that, so how much dame Taxes can you pay with that.

They are blowing smoke up your asses to keep thess greedy ass bastards like Shaun Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and O’Riley swimming in the big bucks, who will use it to keep on screwing you with, and then laugh all the way to the dame bank, providing its still open.

He did very well under the kind of audience he was tasked to preform under and he was very honest and forth wright about everything he believed in and was asked. We got no answers like that from big bad John and we still don’t know what he really stands for other then he is going after Van laden and will keep us engrossed in war after war after war, to make his self and his rich right wing supporter more wealthy.

Obama is just not going to sell himself or the majority of American people to these folks, or anyone else for a dame vote, like McCain will do. It is not in his interest or the interest of MOST American people to sell the rights of women and gay Americans to the higest bidders, even though he personally agrees with them, in that he does not approve of what they do, but knows it is not his personal write to make that call. I understand exactly what he is saying because I am also a person that believes the same way, yet I also believe in allwing people to make these very personal decisions themselves.

It is the right of these people to do with their bodies, what ever they need to do and NO one has the right to take that from them, period. And if these people want to use that as a reason to deny the best hope we have to get the hell out of this massive mess, we are in. Then so the hell be it. I know dame well I want NO ONE, dipping in my dame business, so who the hell am I to do unto them, what I do not want done to me.

He gave the best answer he could give to a nation that is so called split, by offering to do all that he could as President to prevent young women from having to make that choice., because the majority of us would have him do no more or less.

The flip flop answers came from McCain, who is never going to be called on to tell any kind of truth.They will roll this old ass 73 year old stump right into the White House, where he will finish the job that George Bush started.

And he will have to get it without the black and brown support, so they can forget about the 25% black vote the black republicans are now tasked with bringingng home to big daddy.

They have the nerve to tell this lap dog group of fools, that is all he will need to win this election. If the old bitch has 5% (which i doubt), he is doing real good in this day and time, and that he can bank on.

It may be they can blow smoke up the asses of some people with these abortion and gay rights issues, along with this religeous right wing bull shit. Fools that they are, will get on board with these liars and sell this entire country down the toilet, because they fail to see these people for who and what they are. How sad for this country.

It makes average well thinking and informed people that are looking at this shit, simply want to go postal on all of their stupid ass fools.

They continue to allow themselves to be played with. As faith based as black Americans are, they would never sell this country to these cheap tricks, whom all these people have to do is put the dame bibles down for a minute and get the hell on line or even read a book ( try the project for the new american centry), to see that once again if they buy into it, they will have made the 2nd worst mistake in the history of this country and they will not get an opportunity for the 3rd strike. They may be sure of that.

It did bother me somewhat that Obama did not go further will ALL the freaks that Bush appointed to the justice. He did not go far enough in my book as the entire gang need to be removed from office.

I smell a troll...

I watched Obama's portion of the forum, but didn't get a chance to see McCain. I thought Obama looked great, giving genuine consideration and genuine answers to all the questions. He took great pains to make sure he was actually answering the question, and didn't dodge very many. There were a couple positions that I didn't agree with, but on the whole, he was very strong. I thought the questions were well-thought out, challenging and relevant to evangelical constituency, without carrying any 'guilt' or any air of moral superiority. All in all, a very solid interview.

someguy @ 5:

Lauralu @ 3:

Atheists need equal time. These are not religious issues, they are ethical and moral.

When Atheists make up even a 10th of America's population they might.

Till then to bad so sad.

'Cuz y'know, America is all about the majority getting whatever it wants and F**K everybody else. What's that document say at the top again? "We the Rich White Landowning Slaveholder Fundamentalist Christian People," right?

Oh wait, no it doesn't. My bad.

Why would atheists and scientologists - or Christians, for that matter - feel the need for a presidential visit in order to feel vindicated? Doesn't make sense to me.

Conservative @ 409:

banjomon @ 405:

Conservative @ 403:

Hilary chewed him up that’s why. He wants to lead this country but can not even put the Clintons in check as they are pulling the strings.

GOP fantasy at work here. I think Obama just raised 51 Million to McSame's 27 Million in July. Our troops support Obama 6 to 1 over McCain.

Bwahahahahahaha!

You need a check-up from the neck up. The troops do not support Obama. He could not even go and see the injured troops but had plenty of time to play basketball. Raising money don't mean nothing its the votes that count. And 70% of Obama's money came from Radical's who are rich. Obama's friends know more about bombs then Obama does. And Obama has thrown you liberals under the bus a few times as he is a radical. The thing about Obama is he will not keep America secure as he wants to disarm are nuks so we can fall to are knees to Iran, Russia Etc...But this is a man who says we have 57 states....BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Russia Etc...is that your feeble attempt at another Republican start-up?
McCain said he would veto every beer, not bill. Yes, the troops do support Obama, but this is what most of us "troops" expect from someone who sits on the brain instead of utilizing for something other than a cushion.
Your use of as is leads me to suspect that you are oblivious to the English language...to correct your pathetic use of grammer, it should be "since he is a radical."
Obviously you only know certain phrases like, "check up from the neck up," otherwise you might have come here well armed, but then again, I prefer to end this exercise with the intellectualy unarmed.

Bob in Seattle @ 27:

WOW..... That's what America should demand for to being President...
A thoughtful, intelligent and honest man who can complete a sentence.

McSame will go down in flames ..... I can't wait ...

It's so funny to read these quotes that were written before McCain took the stage and apparently destroyed Obama! Even liberal MSNBC commentators said that they expected more of Obama, but he was outclassed by the "best hour of McCains campaign". According to them, McCain gave clear concise answers to the tough questions, but Obama gave grey, convoluted, philosophical monologue type answers that made him look weak. Both me and my fellow viewer both said that we never liked McCain until this very moment. He just has the presidential character. He was calm, honest, and forthcoming. His storied were right on and Obama really showed his youth and inexperience. Obama's Un-readiness to lead the most powerful country in the world came right through. He's exciting, but doesn't have much more than that. l suddenly feel like many of us whose eyes were opened this weekend, were about to be swept up and make the biggest mistake in the history of the United States. It's intoxicating to think that we might have such an electrifying president after 8 years of frustration, but without any record of any substantial time or merit, Obama CANNOT BE OUR NEXT PRESIDENT. I didn't realize it until now. Maybe in 12 to 16 years, but not right now. He is not qualified to lead the country in these times with just a few years in the senate, most of which was spent being groomed just for this position. It's just too soon. Not his fault, he's just not ready.

Please stop the ridiculous crap that McCain is going down in flames, or Obama is so glorious and amazing. Both these guys are two steps away from becoming president in a totally even race. They didn't get here by being schmucks. They both did well, but even the Obama camp claimed it was a draw (while the McCain camp claimed victory, which leads me to believe the latter claim). Think....Think....Think....it's not doing this simple thing that has screwed us so many times in the past.

McCain said we went from defeat to victory in Iraq...is it over, did I miss something?

Gen. Petraeus and the guy who started EBay are on the same level? M'kay....

rick failed to quote the scripture like he did with obama, regarding wisdom.

OH DAMN - What is your greatest moral failure? Wow. He couldn't avoid that one.

Americas greatest moral shortcoming was to tell Americans to go shopping instead of joining the military?

McCain just juxtaposed his economic plan with E-bay...great, now we all can work from home

Obama was told not to pander...McCain just went straight to the pandering box...now hes on the Regan soapbox

Did they know what these questions would be? It's sounding like they had time to think about what they would say...just noticing...and something Obama said near the end before answering one of the questions indicated that he'd "given it some thought" or something like...

YEGODS, Pander much McSHAME...how many asses can he kiss before he's done? What a tool...

Johnny2BadObamasLikeEveryOtherLyingPowerHungryPolitician @ 18:

Q: "What's the most gut wrenching decision you've ever made?"

A: " Opposing the war" (paraphrase)

Opposing the war when he was in the Illinois legislature was "gut wrenching"?

Ok. But he was fine with voting to fund the war in the senate every single time Bush asked for more money?

Unbelievable.

If people listened to you, John Edwards would be the nominee, and the Democrats would be fucked. Obama's response to the question was perfect.

Shit McCain is getting a but load of applause.

ConcernedCanuck @ 22:

Johnny2BadObamasLikeEveryOtherLyingPowerHungryPolitician @ 18:

Q: "What's the most gut wrenching decision you've ever made?"

A: " Opposing the war" (paraphrase)

Opposing the war when he was in the Illinois legislature was "gut wrenching"?

Ok. But he was fine with voting to fund the war in the senate every single time Bush asked for more money?

Unbelievable.

I don't recall any Dems or ReThugs opposing funding every single time except maybe 1 or 2 that the American people thought were crackpots. If I'm wrong, I'd appreciate enlightenment.

Obama voted for funding every time. even if nobody else did, it doesn't make it ok....it simply makes those that keep funding it but say proudly that they "opposed the war"...f-ing hypocrites.

remind me why I can't stand this old fart ....

MLK

It's a GAL who is/was the CEO of E-Bay...my friends...must say there was NO WAY McShame could avoid saying his first marriage was his greatest moral failing...I'D SAY SO...I thought they weren't supposed to give their STUMP SPEECHES (haven't heard Rick remind John of that)...

He just called out the French...didn't he blackbag them after 9/11

Chris B @ 71:

He is connecting everything around his military service.
Now on to the Religious quotes and McCain....he let him off the hook, this is a big set-up, not that you are "flip-flopping", but your view just changed.

He said the same thing to Obama. The exact same thing.

Two of the three "wisest" people McCain has listed are members of the military. Glad to know the army will be running your administration.

Five minutes in to watching McCain we can already call this one for Obama (no big surprise). Obama is going to win some of these evangelicals, and McCain isn't going to change the mind of anybody watching. This was a good idea for the Senator for Illinois...not the one from Arizona.

Looks to me like the guy is setting it up for McCain and chuckling along with him. Simple questions that are all easy for McCain to look good. Smells fishy.

Here's the "POW card". How long did that take him. Holy Shit!! A whole 11 minutes!!

I wouldn't put too much stock in an evangelical's appearance of really, really liking you. These people are masters at putting on both faces, smiling broadly and bullshitting their audience enough to squeeze real money out of them for nothing, many of whom can't afford their next meal.

Warran might vote for Obama...but almost everyone in that audience except Cindy will likely be voting for McCain.

I HATE THIS GUY!!!! He is such a SNAKE.....

Congratulations John McCain on your 25,000th telling of that anecdote!