[08.22.08] Rick Warren, founder and senior pastor of 22,000-member Saddleback Church
in Orange County, Calif., hosted presidential candidates Barack Obama and John
McCain at his church on Saturday, Aug. 16. The live broadcast was the first
joint appearance the two candidates made before receiving their party’s official
nominations.
in Orange County, Calif., hosted presidential candidates Barack Obama and John
McCain at his church on Saturday, Aug. 16. The live broadcast was the first
joint appearance the two candidates made before receiving their party’s official
nominations.
Warren, who says he’s been friends with both Obama and McCain “for a long
time,” had the candidates onstage simultaneously only for a moment. He spent
about one hour interviewing each one personally as part of a forum dubbed the
Saddleback Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion.
time,” had the candidates onstage simultaneously only for a moment. He spent
about one hour interviewing each one personally as part of a forum dubbed the
Saddleback Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion.
“This is a critical time for our nation and the American people deserve to
hear both candidates speak from the heart—without interruption—in a civil and
thoughtful format absent the partisan ‘gotcha’ questions that typically produce
heat instead of light,” Warren said.
hear both candidates speak from the heart—without interruption—in a civil and
thoughtful format absent the partisan ‘gotcha’ questions that typically produce
heat instead of light,” Warren said.
Asked nearly identical questions, the candidates discussed issues related
to stewardship, leadership, worldview and America’s role in the world. The forum
was broadcast live on Daystar, CNN and FOX News and streamed online at: http://www.saddlebackcivilforum.com/index.html.
to stewardship, leadership, worldview and America’s role in the world. The forum
was broadcast live on Daystar, CNN and FOX News and streamed online at: http://www.saddlebackcivilforum.com/index.html.
“While debates typically focus primarily on the candidates’ positions and
only secondarily on how they’d lead and make decisions, this Saddleback Civil
Forum [reversed] that ratio,” Warren said.
only secondarily on how they’d lead and make decisions, this Saddleback Civil
Forum [reversed] that ratio,” Warren said.
“Since the oath of the President is a commitment to protect the
Constitution, it’s critical to know how each candidate interprets the nature of
its principles,” he said. “Leadership involves far more than promoting programs
and making speeches, and since no one can predict what crises will happen over
the next four years, it is vital to know the decision capacity and process of
each man.”
Constitution, it’s critical to know how each candidate interprets the nature of
its principles,” he said. “Leadership involves far more than promoting programs
and making speeches, and since no one can predict what crises will happen over
the next four years, it is vital to know the decision capacity and process of
each man.”
