McCain and Obama Ready For Church

(AP photo/Nick Ut)

Saturday’s ‘Saddleback Civil Forum’ will sort of serve as the preseason game to the upcoming debate season. While the two candidates will be at the event together, they will answer their questions on their own. There will be no debate, no interrupting and probably no zingers directed at the other.

The forum will still be our first exposure to something that feels like a debate. Let’s handicap it!

HOME FIELD: McCAIN

In an email that went out to his members Friday evening, Warren clarified what has been a confusing and late changing ticket distribution plan. He said, “we reserved 95% of the 5000+ tickets as FREE to our Saddleback volunteers who faithfully serve our family. We then sold 5% - less than 250 seats - to other members & outsiders in order to defray the expenses of this (now) national event.” Such a distribution virtually ensures that the Saddleback auditorium will be filled to capacity with Orange County Republicans – white, luxury import driving, ‘don’t touch my capital gains’ and do something about all these Mexicans (other than my gardener and housekeeper) Republicans; a home game for John McCain.

GOD TALK: OBAMA

Barack Obama is a real life, Bible reading Christian. He probably has pages highlighted and verses underlined. If he quotes scripture, he’s far more likely to have read it before noon on Saturday. The topic of God and faith is probably the only issue on which McCain will want to be linked to George W. Bush.

Also, I thought it would be cool to use photos of the candidates in prayer in this little piece, but I couldn't find a shot of John McCain doing anything that even looked like praying.

LIFE ISSUES: McCAIN

At least John McCain has been consistent on his anti-choice stance. No back-tracking required here. Conversely, Obama has always held a solid pro-choice position. Expect him to shift this topic to respect for life of humans living outside the womb, with issues such as care for the sick and poor and universal healthcare. He may want to consider rebutting with life numbers that help him here too – civilian lives lost in Iraq.


PERSONAL ISSUES: OBAMA

Quite simply, Obama has been married once and has never called his wife a name that rhymes with punt or bunt or hunt in front of staffers. His association with Rev. Wright could be an issue, but the sort of question that Warren is unlikely to ask.




CHARISSMA: OBAMA

While McCain usually comes off as authentic and that usually plays perfectly in church, this is still southern California. Not only that, it’s ‘the OC’ and authenticity is overrated. Obama is always the most impressive person in the room. Even the enormously likeable and real, Rick Warren will be dwarfed by Obama’s grace and presence.



OVERALL: OBAMA

With less to lose and ‘playing on the road’, Obama figures to leave the forum with more converts than McCain. His ability to naturally articulate the role that his faith plays in his life will be the difference maker. If John McCain could have gracefully avoided this, he would have.




BIG WINNER: WARREN

Rick Warren will be the big winner at the end of the forum. With a national TV audience, Pastor Warren will position himself as the heir apparent to Billy Graham as ‘America’s pastor’. This will be the first glance that most Americans get of Warren in action in the pulpit. While he has been a fixture on cable news shows for several years now, Saturday will be America’s first chance to sit in on a Warren led event. No matter who is elected in November, expect Rick Warren to be front and center at the inauguration.