By Jennifer LeClaire
Call it a debate with a purpose.
Presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama gathered at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif. Saturday night to discuss the broad topic of faith. The moderator: Saddleback Pastor Rick Warren, author of the Christian blockbuster “The Purpose Driven Life.”
Obama’s strategy seemed to rely on quoting Scripture, especially the Gospel of Matthew and the book of Micah. McCain fell back on a familiar testimony in Christian circles of his experiences in Viet Nam. Some have described Obama as speaking to the heart and mind while McCain spoke from the heart.
The real differences emerged when Warren asked each candidate when life and human rights begins.
McCain offered a solid answer, “At conception.”
Obama replied, “Whether you’re looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity is above my pay grade.”
Christians across the nation are concerned with Obama’s evasive response.
For Heidi O’Leska, Chief Intuitive Officer for Intutive Fare, a branding, design and integrated marketing firm, McCain is the only choice because McCain believes life starts at conception.
“For Obama not to answer that question, I believe he said it was ‘a higher pay grade than his,’ confirms he does not love the Lord Jesus Christ,” O’Leska said. “Does McCain love the Lord? Only he can answer that. However, I cannot call myself a Christian and vote for a man that promotes abortion.”
Jeanne Maxwell, a Christian who lives in L.A., discerned a “stark difference” between McCain and Obama. When McCain unequivocally said he’d support pro-life policies and that a child has rights at the moment of conception, she said, he echoed the biblical truth in Jeremiah 1:5. On the other hand, she continued, Obama’s elusive statement was pathetic.
“I’m sure Obama is seriously sorry he made such a ridiculous comment,” Jeanne said. “A Christian is not afraid to stand up for the truth, even if it causes a damaged reputation in the eyes of the world…even if it causes a loss of votes!”
Warren asked Obama if he thought marriage between a man and a woman should be defined in the U.S. Constitution. Obama said it’s a state issue.
“I am not somebody who promotes same-sex marriage,” he explained, “but I do believe in civil unions.” Obama went on to say that he doesn’t believe gay partners who want to visit each other in the hospital in any way inhibits his core beliefs about what marriage is.
“My faith is strong enough and my marriage is strong enough that I can afford those civil rights to others even if I have a different perspective or a different view,” Obama said.
Did Obama get a fair shake in the debates? Some “anonymous spokesperson” from the Obama campaign, suggested as much in a blog posting at Scrappleface, edited by Scott Ott.
“Of course McCain looked good,” the anonymous Obama aide said. “He didn’t have to worry about how his answer would be perceived. He didn’t have to work to recall his talking points. He didn’t have to think, or even try to look like he was thinking. All he had to do was blurt out what he believed. Clearly, this gave him an unfair advantage, and we think the American people will see this for what it is…another Republican smear tactic.”
Maxwell, for one, made a strong counterpoint to this anonymous spokesperson: “How could he not get a fair shake? Both were asked the same questions.”
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“Of course McCain looked good,” the anonymous Obama aide said. “He didn’t have to worry about how his answer would be perceived. He didn’t have to work to recall his talking points. He didn’t have to think, or even try to look like he was thinking. All he had to do was blurt out what he believed. Clearly, this gave him an unfair advantage, and we think the American people will see this for what it is…another Republican smear tactic.”
To the Obama aide who said McCain saying what he believed gave him am unfair advantage. Excuse me wasn’t that the point of the questions, to hear what the candidates actually believed. McCain was able to answer clearly and concisely because a lifetime of expierience has established a set of core beliefs that he doesn’t have to debate internally before he says them. Senator Obama’s stuttering and evasive answers showed me he can’t state a core belief without guaging it against the audience he is appearing in front of. To call a man knowing and stating confidently his core beliefs a smear tactic is so grade school. McCain a man you can trust!!
This just to show you just how inept Obama is! How can he expect to lead the free world if he can’t even answer a simple question with a direct, clear answer??? Maybe someone should ask him simple questions like ‘what’s your name’? ‘How old are you?’ Simply pathertic!