Obama, McCain Set for First Joint Election Appearance at California Megachurch

[baghdad_bush]

by FOXNews.com
Monday, July 21, 2008

Barack Obama and John McCain have agreed to their first joint general election appearance, meeting at Saddleback Church on Aug. 16 for a two-hour forum that is being billed as a “non-debate,” according to the church.

Founding pastor and moderator Rick Warren will exclusively pose questions during the Saddleback Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion to the presumptive presidential nominees. Warren will speak with each candidate for one hour, reads a press release on the event.

Promising to avoid “‘gotcha’ questions that typically produce heat instead of light,” Warren said he would focus on how the candidates’ make their leadership decisions rather than having them staking out their political positions, the release states.

“The primaries proved that Americans care deeply about the faith, values, character and leadership convictions of candidates as much as they do about the issues,” Warren said. “While I know both men as friends and they recognize I will be frank, but fair, they also know I will be raising questions in these four areas beyond what political reporters typically ask. This includes pressing issues that are bridging divides in our nation, such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, climate and human rights.”

Obama will answer questions for the first hour with McCain following, an order determined by coin toss.

The church said approximately 6,500 tickets will be allotted for seating in six different venues throughout the Saddleback campus in Orange County, Calif.

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/07/21/obama-mccain-set-for-first-joint-appearance-at-california-megachurch/

[democrattotheend]

1. Why do this in California?

I'm all for Obama participating in faith-related forums and not ceding the faith vote to McSame, but he has to be careful about giving McSame too much free air time in California. He lends legitimacy to McCain's claim that he can win California and saves McCain money on advertising there.

[my3boyz]

3. McCain win California? HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA Now that is hilarious! nt

[democrattotheend]

4. McCain can't win California

But I don't want him scaring Obama into wasting money there.

[PurityOfEssence]

2. Well isn't that just special

God is now necessary and required. Shut the fuck up and smile benignly; they won't stone you in the public square or anything. (There are far more elegant ways to marginalize you...)

I have NEVER, in my 30 years of being a voter, NEVER been called to cast a vote for a Democrat who infuriates me as much as this man. I will, but not only am I not happy, I'm not hopeful due to his ridiculous bungling of his campaign in the most standard, old and unimaginative favor-currying and cynical appeasement. I question his character, I question his sense, and I continue to be amazed with each mounting outrage. He's willing to jettison anyone and anything for his aggrandizement, and just in the past few weeks has wreaked havoc with abortion rights, government support of religion, WIDENING THE WAR, enabling domestic spying, and cozied up to the gun nuts. Add this to his track record of aiding predatory lenders, shielding corporatists from lawsuits, and it starts to make one seriously question what the tipping point will be for the many lefties and moderates he takes for granted. Just wait 'til someone pins him down hard on ANWAR...

Yet still I'll vote for him...

[islandmkl]

5. since 1978? and he's at the top of your 'fury' list?

since it's your list, you deserve to decide who gets placed where...

it would be interesting to see that list in some sort of order...you know, of all the Democratic candidates (primary and general) since 1978...

yeah....it would be pretty interesting....

[PurityOfEssence]

7. Don't play games: it's about the proffered Democrat

In situations where I have had a choice between "the Democratic Party's Candidate" and other choices, there hasn't been any instance as piss-poor and abominable as this. Is that not clear, or are you merely playing games?

Sorry if I didn't make it so obvious that hair-splitters or sub-imbeciles couldn't find a toehold from which to mock, but it's pretty damned apparent what was meant by the statement.

Even if your "gotcha" interpretation is used, it would still mean being called to vote for a Democrat among a group of Democrats in a primary, and then the least objectionable one would be the measure of disgust. Never have I been offered a group without someone more tolerable than this guy, and NEVER in a general election have I had this dilemma when there was no other Democratic choice.

I held my nose and voted for Clinton twice, and I've held my nose and voted for Feinstein, but I've mercifully been able to vote for fine people like Boxer, Dellums and Becerra a few times.

[LostInAnomie]

6. I wish cnadidates would quit bowing down for these people.

If you want to show your morality, fine. Do it through your actions. Don't kiss the ring of these "morality police" and hope for a blessing.

[rufus dog]

8. This is my wifes church and Rick Warren get's a cautious .. you go for it.

Warren sent out an email on election eve '04 guiding his people to vote for Bush. I tried to get tickets but they were already gone!

So my advice it to be very cautious.