withallyourmind.net

I was unable to watch the civil forum which took place at Saddleback church on Saturday evening, so I recorded it and watched last evening. It was one of the most enjoyable political debates/discussions I have ever viewed. I feel like I know both men better now. It was clear that both men had different styles and personalities. And it was clearer that both men had different views and positions on important issues. It would be obvious to those who regularly read this blog that my positions are more closely aligned with those of McCain. Having said that, Obama was a thoughtful, warm, intelligent individual who I think anyone would like to spend time with. Here are a couple of thoughful reviews of the forum:

John Mark Reynolds - Stunning: McCain Actually Won

Byron York - How McCain Won Saddleback

Here is an excerpt of York’s discussion of the candidates’ responses to the question, “At what point does a baby get human rights?” He starts by quoting Obama’s response:

“Well, I think that whether you are looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade,” Obama answered. “But let me just speak more generally about the issue of abortion because this is something obviously the country wrestles with. One thing that I’m absolutely convinced of is there is a moral and ethical content to this issue. So I think that anybody who tries to deny the moral difficulties and gravity of the abortion issue, I think, is not paying attention. So that would be point number one.” Obama went on to say that he is pro-choice. Even for people who agreed with him, it wasn’t a terribly impressive answer.

An hour later, when Warren asked McCain the same thing, he got this: “At the moment of conception. I have a 25-year pro-life record in the Congress, in the Senate, and as president of the United States, I will be a pro-life president and this presidency will have pro-life policies.”

“Okay — we don’t have to go longer on that one,” Warren said, quickly moving on…

To further press the case on abortion, McCain had brought along New Jersey Republican Rep. Chris Smith, one of the most forceful pro-life voices in Congress. After the forum, I asked Smith whether Obama had helped himself at all with pro-lifers. Just the opposite, Smith said. “I thought Sen. Obama’s statement in quoting Matthew 25, which is my favorite scripture since I was in high school — ‘Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do likewise to me’ — when as a matter of record he voted against [a ban on partial-birth abortion ]…well, I find it discouraging and disingenuous for him to talk about the least of our brethren.”