Rick Warren’s “Cone of Silence” - update one
By Jimmy Orr | 08.18.08
The immortal David Coverdale said it best back in 1987 when he penned the song, “Here I Go Again.”
Undoubtedly that’s what pastor Rick Warren will be saying this evening as he goes from cable news program to cable news program explaining what he knows about the “cone of silence” and John McCain’s lack of being in it last Saturday evening. Except without, of course, Tawny Kittaen writhing on his automobile. If this reference is arcane to you, feel free to blow past it or “YouTube” it.
For a preview of what he will undoubtedly tell Larry King and other cable news shows, we look to our friends at the God-o-meter (beliefnet’s political web site) and look at part of an interview Warren had with them Sunday:
Some Obama supporters are claiming that McCain saw the questions before the forum began, giving him a leg up on Obama.
They’re dead wrong. That’s just sour grapes. They both did fantastically well. The only question he knew, I gave them the first question and I was changing the questions within an hour [before the forum began.] I talked to both of them a week before the debate and told them all the themes. I talked personally to John McCain and I talked personally to Barack Obama. I said, ‘We’ll talk about leadership, talk about the roles of government,’ I said I’d probably have a question about climate change, probably a question on the courts. I didn’t say, ‘I’m going to ask which Supreme Court justice would you not [nominate]. They were clearly not prepared for that.
A source at the debate tells me that McCain had access to some communications devices in the few minutes before he went on stage with you and that there was a monitor in his green room, in violation of the debate rules.
That’s absolutely a lie, absolutely a lie. That room was totally free, with no monitors–a flat out lie.
All the fun begins tonight at 9pm (Eastern Time) with Larry King.
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2. Charlie | 08.18.08
I do not doubt the integrity of pastor Rick Warren. He is the wrong person to put the spotlight on here.
There is absolutely, unequivocally, no way McCain could have answered the question about teachers BEFORE it was asked if he did NOT know it beforehand. Warren begins to ask a question he asked Obama - with 3 parts. As with Obama, he first sets the context, but before he can begin to ask the 3 parts, McCain interrupts him, “Yes, yes, and bad teachers…” How can he do that if he doesn’t know the question?
3. Jorge Miyares | 08.18.08
Oh, puh-leeze. Does the left wing think that John McCain is such a poor candidate that he couldn’t possibly have been articulate, funny, or sharp without having questions given to him in advance? Obama was not in his comfort zone, McCain was. McCain was not my first choice as a candidate - he’s too liberal for me - and while he may not be the enrapturing speaker that Obama can be, there is no question that he is a skilled, adept politician.
4. C. K. Justus | 08.18.08
Not to have McCain in a room at the studio which would be completely sound proof from the questions, without any kind of listening device was inconceivable and stupid. I cannot believe Rick Warren would believe a politician not matter what party he or she belongs too.
To ask McCain if he had heard any of the questions and would believe him when said no is being either senile or have little ability to know human nature.
5. Britian | 08.18.08
During question number four or five, Warren is asking a question, McCain interrupts (as he did many times) and says, “Are we going to talk about the Federal judges / judges …” (words very close to that). Warren hesitates a split second and then replies, something like, “Yes.. we’ll get to that/ cover that question later … “.
Listen to the segment yourself. I think it is during Question number 5.
6. Donald Peake | 08.18.08
I’m a life-long Democrat and plan to vote for Senator Obama–the 13th time I’ve voted for a Democrat for President. But this nonsense being floated everywhere today about Senator McCain “cheating” in Saturday’s discussion is outrageous, and the Obama campaign and supporters should be ashamed of themselves. The fact is, my candidate just didn’t do as well as Mr. McCain did, and we just can’t bring ourselves, ever, to admit any possible weakness in Mr. Obama. It’s immature, it’s whining, and it makes the candidate look feckless and something of a poor sport. Just quit it.
8. Chris | 08.18.08
Limos have TV’s, most people nowadays carry cell-phones and/or Blackberries. I’m not saying McCain cheated, but saying its impossible to use technology in a motorcade is really naive. So is saying McCain didn’t cheat because he said so.
9. Roy Pueschel | 08.18.08
It is amazing how paranoid and ridiculous Obama supporters are. They are worse than John Birch Society members by far. This paranoia will only prove to remove their candidate. Either Hillary of McCain will be President- and most likely McCain, the least of evils.
10. pekopper | 08.18.08
Oh another putz preacher with his BS story. Well, the sleazeball Republicans could never pass up a chance for a cheap soundbite. Hey get real. McCain talked to the Jesus Freaks at their level, and Obama had a conversation with the millionaire preach. That is all… That audience was made up of some of the most simplistic minds on the face of the Earth. What does anyone expect from them??
11. TB | 08.18.08
The Obama camp is just ashamed of the answers given and trying to deflect Obama’s comments.
Essentially, Obama said Its OK to abort an unborn infant, and since you aborted the child already, why waste it when you can cut off its head, and scoop out the babies stem cells……Ack no wonder they want to deflect that!
12. Joseph Watts | 08.18.08
Wait…wait…wait…McCain was going to an evangelical church and he WASN’T expecting questions about Abortion, Gay Marriage, The concept of evil, etc!!?? What kind of tools are you people? McCain knew his audience. He knew what to expect and, no surprise, nailed it. Why you impressionable idiots insist on Obama as some kind of savant is absolutely ridiculous and exceptionally and completely unfounded. Obama is a sophomoric sophist and text-book rhetorician at best and a teleprompter reading con-man at worst. The great thing about America is not that I CAN vote for a man like Obama, but that I CAN’T and won’t. Obama zealots should really be embarrassed for themselves, their party and their country. The guy is a slickly packaged tool. Trust me, coming from one who isn’t a christian let me say it plainly - McCain kicked your man’s chumperific *arse* Saturday night.
13. James | 08.18.08
I will vote for Obama. Both senators did a great job on the program. They responded with different styles. Senator Obama was more thoughtful and pensive (sort of like a law professor) . . . Senator McCain was slightly more glib and used stories to make a point (sort of like a pilot).
I listened to each question and each answer. Without regard to style, I found Senator Obama’s responses to be more substantive and reasonable.
Call me naive, but I trust that both candidates followed the rules.
14. Jeff | 08.18.08
Obama’s answers show a deeper understanding of the issues raised. Even if McCain or his staff had a chance to peek at the questions early, his flippant answers reveal the type of rigid thinking that has brought our great nation to this dark point in its history. We need a leader that actually delivers straight talk.
McCain is busy pandering.
15. gregory | 08.18.08
1. The order was determined by coin-toss.
2. This would not have been an issue if Obama had been man enough to meet face to face with McCain on the stage.
3. If McCain’s staff knew the questions, why didn’t they coach him on the “define rich” question?
You complainers are full of sh*t. Why don’t you complain about Obama chickening out of the town hall debates?
17. John Cash | 08.18.08
I think John McCain may well believe he did not get the questions in advance but while he was in the car did his staff call to coach him? Maybe they were watching andjust covring the bases as McCain drove to the studio. Bad planning. Wonder how it would have been if John McCain had went first?
18. jon | 08.18.08
anyone who remembers the great “get smart” tv show of the 60’s remembers very well that the cone of silence didn’t EVER work properly.
while JM wasn’t in a cone, he obviously didn’t cheat.
19. Tom in Alabama | 08.18.08
McCain cheated on his first wife….many times before marrying rich Cindy. If a man cheats on his spouse, why would he not cheat on a little quiz administered by Pastor Rick? This is to paraphrase the religious right who questioned Bill Clinton’s cheating heart and his ability to run the country.
20. Jack Black | 08.18.08
Surprise! Brigades of the puss-party are complaining and crying again. Like small children who hate their parents they whine when things don’t go just their way, just as they would like it, or, like any spoiled punk brat, as they demand it. The suspended adolescence of the left is truly troubling and dangerous. Now you idiots are pissed because the adult won the night. Angry, unfulfilled little b******, the lot of you.
21. Ash | 08.18.08
I don’t know, I’m more concern with the transcript itself. First of all, Warren lied (flat out) by saying in the begining
“Now, what I decided is to allow for proper comparison, I’m going to ask identical questions to each of these candidates. So you can compare apples to apples. Now, Senator Obama is going to go first. We flipped a coin, and we have safely placed Senator McCain in a cone of silence. Now, each of the interviews will be segmented into four different sections.”
then later on with McCain (forget his stories) and let’s focus on this part…
”
MCCAIN: At the moment of conception. (APPLAUSE). 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. That’s my commitment. That’s my commitment to you.
WARREN: OK, we don’t have to beleaguer on that one. Define marriage.
MCCAIN: A union — a union between man and woman, between one man and one woman. That’s my definition of marriage.
Could I — are we going to get back to the importance of Supreme Court Justices or should I mention –
WARREN: We will get to that.
MCCAIN:
WARREN: You’re jumping ahead (inaudible).
”
how’s it possible to ‘jump’ ahead. That question wasn’t even posed. That’s really disturbing…
22. al | 08.18.08
I can be accused of being cynical at times but I don’t belive for a second McCain cheated. As for the comment from the dem. who said our candidate didn’t do as well - that is subjective and I disagree. Obama was clearly the most thoughtful and realistic. Nothing is black and white - one word polarizing answers may have garnered louder applause but given the demographics of the live audience that is to be expected. I have faith in the American people to see him for the Rove parrot he is.
23. Chris | 08.18.08
Actually Obama did fine, so all you Righties saying Obama supporters are defensive about his performance are simply clueless.
It’s great to watch Righties spew all over themselves trying to figure out why the liberal black guy is ahead in the polls. I could give them the answer, but why spoil the fun??
24. Bill | 08.18.08
A history lesson:
Debategate was a scandal affecting the administration of Ronald Reagan; it involved the final days of the 1980 presidential election. Briefing papers that were to have been used by President Jimmy Carter in preparation for the October 28, 1980, debate with Reagan had somehow been acquired by Reagan’s team. This fact was not divulged to the public until late June 1983, after Laurence Barrett published “Gambling With History: Reagan in the White House,” an in-depth account of the Reagan administration’s first two years.
James Baker swore under oath that he had received the briefing book from William Casey while Casey vehemently denied this. The matter was never resolved as both the FBI and a congressional subcommittee failed to determine how or through whom the briefing book came to the Reagan campaign.
The Justice Department, in closing its investigation, cited “the professed lack of memory or knowledge on the part of those in possession of the documents.” But it said the contradictions between Reagan aides like Mr. Baker and Mr. Casey “could be explained by differences in recollection or interpretation.”
Following a brief period of heavy press coverage immediately after the story broke, interest in Debategate quickly subsided, and Reagan escaped without permanent damage to his reputation. (Wikipedia)
(Columnist George Will later admitted he saw the papers and coached Reagan on how to respond. He confessed to it only after he had appeared on “Nightline” to praise Reagan’s “thoroughbred performance.”)
25. Chris | 08.18.08
“Surprise! Brigades of the puss-party are complaining and crying again. Like small children who hate their parents they whine when things don’t go just their way, just as they would like it, or, like any spoiled punk brat, as they demand it. The suspended adolescence of the left is truly troubling and dangerous. Now you idiots are pissed because the adult won the night. Angry, unfulfilled little b******, the lot of you.”
lol *who’s* angry? You wanna try that post again?
P.S. this is the CSM website, show some class.
26. Elena | 08.18.08
Consider that the interview was a little like an oral examination. In that context, knowing the question and the correct answer is a hindrance, as the examination is graded on being able to explain the logic and the thought process at arriving at the answer. Because Obama was able to show the logic of how he analyzes information, considers other points of view and the nuances, my grade for him would be superior to that given to the the brief shoot from the hip answers that McCain gave that did not demonstrate deep analytic thought processes. But then what do you expect when you compare a magna cum laude graduate with one who graduated near the bottom of his class.
27. chill | 08.18.08
What I found very interesting in the debate is that Senator Obama had a coversation with Reverand Warren and Senator McCain did not! McCain said, “My Friends” sixteen times during the twenty questions asked of him. That sure doesn’t look like a coversation with Reverand Warren to me, but is sure looks like Senator McCain forgot to leave the “Stump” speeches at home.
28. Chuckit | 08.18.08
Obama’s reasoned responses were indicative of a serious thought process, pointedly addressing the question at hand and tailoring his answers in direct correlation. It appeared that McCain often recited canned cliches primarily geared to elicit strong favorable reactions from his very supportive audience. Both men are astute politicians, however, when it comes to leadership at the presidential level, I would lean toward the serious thinker.
29. Ron | 08.18.08
I didn’t realize until last night that McCain can lie with such a straight face….. The Democrats went after Hillary for her Bosnia story, but are giving McCain a free pass. Even Rick Warren allowed McCain to talk endlessly about his captivity. How can I trust anything that Rick Warren says. Tonight on Larry King he went out of his way to help John McCain by stating how sensitive McCain was that he teared up 3 times……….WOW……
Rick Warren…..
“How was it like in the CONE OF SILENCE ”
John McCain….
“I tried to put my head against the wall to see if I could hear any of the answers” Laugh Laugh
It’s not the deed … it’s the cover up…. Why is the McCain camp all riled up ? He cheated.
Why wasn’t his answer ” You know Rick… I have to be honest… but he wasn’t.
30. Bruce schjeldahl | 08.18.08
Let’s face the truth Obama came off poorly, and impressed no one with his answers and McCain did very well. I thoght this was a great way to interview each candidate. I would think that anyone who viewed this program and had not made up there mind who to vote for would have been impressed by McCain and disappointed in Obama who came off like a man who must have his speaches prepared before hand if he is going to sound at all believeable
31. Bob | 08.18.08
Considering the circumstances, I think both candidates did well. I give Obama’s handlers credit for agreeing to speak with his opponent, in front of an audience whom he knew would hold a “Pro-Life”bias, and lean toward more Republican values. I don’t think in a million years that McCain’s handlers would have allowed him to risk speaking in front of a clearly “Pro-Choice” or liberal-minded audience with Obama. That being said it does get tiring to witness the obvious game playing on both sides. Clearly, if one was paying attention, McCain’s comment about the definition of rich was one that if explained in context had a different meaning than out of context. That did not stop Obama from distorting the reality of what McCain was trying to say. Don’t get me wrong, one might disagree with his economic philosophy but that is different from making it seem that he includes everyone from $200,000 to $4.9M as the “Non-Rich”. I find it insulting that both sides assume that most of the electorate is stupid and gullible. I do believe that a voter and a candidate have the right to certain values, ideas, programs, theories, principles, points of view as long as they are moral, ethical and legal. This of course is also a matter of opinion and somewhat subjective. We all have a difficult time separating reasonable discourse from rationalization.
32. DavidGD620 | 08.18.08
I am not sure what to think about the allegations that John McCain had some advance knowledge about the questions Rick Warren was going to ask him. Personally, I don’t think there is much concrete evidence that this occurred. And even if it did, it should have had little effect on the outcome.
The two men’s minds work very differently. McCain is a good sound bite man, he likes short, definitive answers. He doesn’t think deeply about an out-of-the-blue question; he is a good military man and officer and realizes that he must appear to have command of any situation and not to hesitate or give too much nuance to his answers, trying to avoid the appearance of any indecision that could be transmitted to the troops by his demeanor.
In contrast, Barack Obama is a very thoughtful person. Sometimes his reasoned answers are misinterpreted as showing indecision. I understand how a person such as Rush Limbaugh, who couldn’t stay in a serious college level course for more than one week, due to overwhelming personality disorders and a lack of comprehension, would think that Obama was showing a lack of command of the subject by his nuanced answers. It is a contrast between two very dissimilar people.
The question is: “Which person would make the best Commander in Chief”? Personally, the thing that has made humans successful is their brain. And Obama uses his more that McCain. I vote for Obama!!
33. dave | 08.18.08
Re: Ash #21
Hang on a sec…You did not include the full question on abortion, which included Warren referencing Roe V Wade…
in that context, its entirely plausible for McCain to reference “getting back to Supreme Court justices.”
It’s pretty hard to delve into abortion without doing so. Warren cited the case, McCain was looking to riff further on the high court and it’s role re: abortion, and Warren cut him off and said we’ll get to that later.
Seems logical to me, and not a set up.
34. Vincent | 08.18.08
The fact that McCain knew Obama was going first (as mentioned, a predetermined coin flip), and he knew the rules with the “cone of silence”, then why was he not on site? Why would he expose himself to the appearance of impropriety, even if he didn’t cheat. I am not saying he did, but it’s another example of his bad judgment to allow himself to be in that position. The fact that Warren didn’t know McCain wasn’t in the building shows his lack of care in setting this event up, needlessly exposing himself to question. All in all, not a great, nor credible performance.
35. RadianChalant | 08.18.08
I am suffering under the Republican reign. Okay the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. Okay the U.S. meddles in every other nations’ affairs. We need a Democrat, so batter up! Barack it is your turn up at bat. Barack for President. I will be sending him my next donation. Oh yeah, the hoopla at Pastor Rick’s church on Saturday seemed pretty fishy. Why was John McCain in his car instead of the room? Barack will be debating McCain and Barack will display why he will be the next president of the United States. By the way people, America is not the United States only. America is Canada, the U.S., Mexico, the countries of Central America (Panama,Honduras, etc.) and the countries of South America (Brazil, Argentina, etc.). That was just a little geography for us Americans.
36. Anne Mudgett | 08.18.08
How about the anecdote about the “cross inscribed in the dirt?” Not only is that lifted from Solzhenitzen, but, the Hanoi Hilton is a rectangular concrete building of about 8 stories. If john were standing outside his cell, it would have been on a concrete floor, dirty? yes. but not dirt in which to inscribe a cross. Let’s see, anyone else there at the time???? Personally, I think it all reeks of hillary under bombardment in bosnia.
37. Dave | 08.18.08
If you help Barak Obama refute the lies about being a Muslim, he repays you with character assassination. I hope Rick Warren learned a lesson.
38. blip | 08.18.08
Well… yesterday they called Obama supporters conspiracy theorists. Tonight even McCain admits he wasn’t even in the “cone of silence.”
McCain took advantage of Warren to cheat.
SHAME ON MCCAIN!
39. John | 08.18.08
re: Patricia Hilton’s comment: “This is a long, long way from using fake memos for war, trashing Senator Kerry’s service to our country . . . any lie, any trick.”
Hey Patricia - what about that fake memo Dan Rather (a supposed legitimate newsman) reported on President Bush’s National Guard service? I guess the Democrat’s don’t have to play dirty tricks when the media does it for them. LOL - what a joke.
When you finally stop your allegiance to a political party you will realize what most people already know - They ALL lie and play dirty tricks! It’s called politics! Take off the blinders…
40. blip | 08.18.08
And shame on people here for trying to pin this on Warren! Not one single Obama supporter I have spoken with has accused Warren of cheating.
It is McCain who took advantage of Warren’s trust by not being where he said he would when he said he would.
41. Dave | 08.18.08
cone of silence and shoe phone , Wow a new low for Obamba. Agent 99 please help Agent Axelrod , lancelot link is usy and chaos is sell three legged turkeys again. Sounds like to much maryjuana and bad 70’s tv shows.
42. dave | 08.18.08
“”36. Anne Mudgett | 08.18.08
How about the anecdote about the “cross inscribed in the dirt?” Not only is that lifted from Solzhenitzen, but, the Hanoi Hilton is a rectangular concrete building of about 8 stories. If john were standing outside his cell, it would have been on a concrete floor, dirty? yes. but not dirt in which to inscribe a cross. Let’s see, anyone else there at the time???? Personally, I think it all reeks of hillary under bombardment in bosnia.”"
McCain said on Christmas Day they stood in the COURTYARD, which was always called “New Guy Village” at the Hanoi Hilton–it was dirt, not concrete.
Come on…is this the best you’ve got? Barack needs better surrogates.
At least, with better knowledge of US Military history.
43. Stevorino | 08.18.08
I thought McCain was channeling Rudy “9/11, 9/11, 9/11″ Guiliani. Did you know McCain was a POW? You did? Well, get ready for him to tell you again, and again, and again in answer to almost any question. By the way, did you know he was a POW? Favorite song? Abba, because he was a POW. Did you know he was a POW. How can you question his credibility, he was a POW. He’s a broken record and seems to dwell on his past as a POW. Did you know he was a Vietnam POW? That was 40 years ago. Since then he was part of the Keating 5 S&L scandal (S&L donors get special treatment, cause financial crisis), and more recently part of the Enron fiasco (big donors get special treatment, cause financial crisis). Apparently being caught and held as a POW was the peak of John’s “career” - since then, not so much.
44. Bob, Dallas TX | 08.18.08
Why should anyone assume that McCain didn’t cheat? Why the hell wasn’t he in the greenroom before Obama’s session started? Do you really expect someone with McCain’s record of dishonesty to not have received any pointers when he wasn’t even on-site for more than half of Obama’s questions?
We certainly know McCain’s capable of being dishonest to those he should hold closest: we know he cheated multiple times on his first wife; we know his own advisers think he was cheating on his current wife while exchanging political favors with lobbyist Vicki Iseman. And what about his well-known involvement in the Keating five scandal.
I was a McCain supporter, but it’s apparent that he’s just turned into another dishonest neo-conservative who’s destroyed my republican party!
45. Sarah | 08.18.08
Can someone in the correct paygrade explain Sen.Obama’s poor performance please.
47. Thoren | 08.18.08
Wow. Yet once again, the errors of significance occur after the fact. Warren has made one by unequivocally denying John McCain could have cheated. That’s a foolish statement. Unfortunately, that taints the entire forum and leaves Warren with a black eye. Too bad. The forum was puffed up to somehow be a special, religious environment and Warren got caught hoping to sustain that image. It’s curious that he spoke so strongly because it also tends to appear as though it belies a strong bias on his part, which he had made big pains to avoid.
I’m sure Warren thought he was in a win-win situation in hosting the forum. This election cycle we have seen a number of religious leaders get burned by the political spotlight. I think it is because they get accustomed to speaking in environments where all their listeners are uncritical adherents. But in the broader light of critical thinkers they overstep. Generally, it leads to the public becoming less convinced of the capability of religious leaders. More evangelicals seem to be preparing to make personal choices for whom to vote.
I wasn’t very interested in the original program but I read about the #2 comment from Charlie but on another comment forum so I watched some of it after the fact on the web. The questions were definitely tiring and familiar. Abortions occurred during Jesus time and throughout the entire history during which the Bible was written, yet no specific guidance is provided. On the other hand, Jesus did speak and act at great lengths regarding the issue of poverty. I saw a statistic recently that evangelicals under thirty rank poverty as a considerably more significant issue than abortion. I am sure that causes those individuals to lean toward Obama who followed his strong Christian faith into the streets of Chicago following law school rather than into a high-paying law office.
Republicans have had plenty of time and support to outlaw abortion. I recently have been interested at the general notion that faith frequently causes a person to be gullible. That makes logical sense but still it somehow feels contrary or counterintuitive.
48. Samina Hayaat | 08.18.08
Hi Americans,
I am Canadian of South Asian descent and closely following American Election.
I would like to share my observation on presidential race, If John Mccain wins election then it will be great victory for Al Quaida. As John’s four more year of bush policies will destroy America and fulfill O’sama bin ladens objective.
I wish you choose Mccain.. As this will bring the fall of American imperialism and start new multi polar world order.
Down with america!!!!
49. A Bit of Common Sense Please | 08.18.08
No. 48. Mind you own damn business, stay out of our’s. We don’t want your comments as they are just plain stupid.
The Democrats are pitiful. They make up stories to try and make McCain look bad. Dean even called the Republicans the white party last Friday during his speech to the National Public Radio.
Signed: Whitie
50. jon | 08.18.08
It’s really disingenuous for those attacking Obama supporters, for questioning McCain’s motives.
Both candidates knew the rules. McCain knew what time to be there.
He wasn’t there. These are facts.
Had the situations been reversed, these same hypocrites attacking Obama supporters, would be questioning Obama’s motives.
Give it a rest already… you KNOW you’d be calling Obama a cheater, if the situations were reversed!
51. Creamsykle | 08.18.08
I think Obama gave thoughtful answers, as for McCain cheating… who knows. But to say McCain won when he said things like “We need to destroy evil!” is insanity in itself. I seen a few post on here about abortion and stem cell research, first off, get over yourselves, legalized abortion is here to stay and if you want to know why go read Roe vs. Wade and educate yourself. Stem cell research is also important and should be carried out with thoughtfulness and respect, but still carried out. Creationist dreams of how this country should be are dying just like your beliefs and the people who carry those hate filled, self centered, dogmatic views.
52. Bulldog | 08.18.08
Listen people –
Take a look a the broader picture, here. If you can recall during election time 2000 — the USS Cole was attacked. However, the most salient issue on the front page of all of the newspapers was “Who is really the President- elect — Bush or Gore?” At the time, personally, I just wanted to have our Chief in tact so that the larger International Health and Safety issue could be remedied as quickly as possible once someone — anyone — was sworn in to that office. A nation without a leader is a nation vulnerable to exploit and invasion. Moreover, a nation with a weak leader is less vulnerable to exploit than not having one at all.
For those of you that believed that Russia democratized — you would be wrong. National bankruptcy does not equate popular sovereignty, which is one of the most prominent, defining factors of a real democratic state. For those of you who thought that the cold war was over — you would be wrong, again. For those of you that think that non-proliferation and containment of nuclear icbms was working — think again. For those of you that thought that Russia’s economy was based solely on petroleum — think not only petroleum but also, arms dealing and brokerage. For those of you who will ever believe Russia — think think think, again. Just because a nation state has a constitution, the constitution alone does not make the nation state a democracy.
Before you vote — ask yourself this — what is the ultimate price our globe will face if we choose the wrong candidate? Think long term — and remember that a nation divided, without a leader is a nation in dire, irrevocable circumstances. We are — if we like it or not — bound to global interdependency but only to a certain extent. Who can and will take us there? Moreover, who will make certain that we have the means necessary to protect our borders from predatory nation states? Lastly, we all have worries and sleepless nights. Vote for the person who provides the comfort to diminish that sort of anxiety…
This is not about which party is right or which party is wrong — for the love of our country — quit voting party lines and vote your conscience!!!
53. jon | 08.18.08
And one other thing… I understand McCain people wanting to think McCain *won* the Saturday Night Interviews, but please stop projecting your limited views on Obama supporters. Obama listened to the questions, and thoughtfully answered them. I actually got a sense of how he thinks, as opposed to nothing from McCain, who obviously isn’t too cerebral.
But get off this imaginary projection, that Obama supporters thought Obama did poorly. Me… I value intelligence & thoughtfulness, a characteristic any President should possess, and Obama has it.
You like soundbites… cool.
I like comprehension of complicated issues, which never lends to soundbites. In other words, McCain is shallow, and it’s no surprise he brought Paris Hilton into the campaign. I’m also not surprised that most of you GOPers, who demean Obama, haven’t a clue what he’s saying. Y’all want a person like you as President. I prefer someone much smarter than me, to deal with some very complicated issues facing our Nation.
54. Bethany | 08.18.08
Okay I am a democrat who never thought that I would be considering voting for John McCain, I am still not saying for certain that I will. I tend to agree with Obama and would have to say my opinions on taxes and Supreme Court nominations are very much in line with what Obama says he believes. But I have to say that I was very impressed with John McCain and quite surprised that I found myself feeling very moved by his answers. I have always been skeptical about this claim that he is so real. Frankly I haven’t bought it from either the McCain supporters or the Obama enthusiasts. They are both politicians, with slightly different shtick not a huge difference in comparisons but one that Obama wins. I tend to be skeptical so I get, I understand people thinking that it is possible that McCain listened to a broadcast of Obama’s answers. But what strikes me is that Even if he did that does not explain why Obama did so poorly. Obama’s performance is at his own feet. I went in preferring Obama, being ideologically more in line with him but he put in a very weak performance. The above my pay grade answer was inane. There is something to be said for speaking the truth. I respect the truth even when I disagree, as I do with John McCain’s answer. How about I believe a baby is entitled to the legal protection of human rights at birth, or sometime around the second trimester. I even would have been okay with a legalistic answer like I believe a baby is entitled to those rights when it stops being a fetus. Obama’s answer was an unskilled cop out. Obviously he like all of us has grappled with this question before. He has said he is pro choice. If he meant that he believes that the determination weather or not to abort a fetus is one that can only be made by the woman after being informed by her physician and her personal moral compass he should have said so. The pay grade analogy was bizarre. To continue the imagery can I ask what pay grade he thinks the president gets?
As far as McCain, hearing the questions in advance doesn’t give you the opportunity to describe your service to your country, self sacrifice and honor unless you have lived it. Sure he showed himself to have a depth of character but it had to be their to be revealed. I was not old enough to have opposed the Vietnam War but I know I would have. I did not support going into Iraq. I am not impressed by and generally very distrustful of anyone wrapping themselves in the flag. But come on, John McCain is a hero and good man. The question for me is does a skilled smart politician saying more of what I want to hear trump a person who has repeatedly sacrificed his own interest to follow his moral compass even if it see North a bit to the right of where I think it is. Before Saturday I would have said yes but not today. John McCain was a bomber pilot but Barack Obama’s bomb on Saturday was all his own doing.
55. Tim, Va | 08.18.08
For those who say that folks interested in McCain would “you KNOW you’d be calling Obama a cheater, if the situations were reversed!” are very WRONG. I do not know what happened in your past that makes you hate so much. If Sen. Obama was as forthcoming we( My family and I ) would vote for him.
56. Robert | 08.18.08
This is so sad!!!
Everyone is so concerned with “their guy” winning that they are not even looking at the real points.
Democrats tend to be the ones that push this change prospect and claim they speak for those who don’t have a voice yet, when god forbid someone who disagrees with them, even in their own party, they strike at them with anger and outrage. Guess what; maybe you are not always right!
Republicans are so fat and full of themselves that they collapsed under their own weight and now they are feeling the blowback. If you lose your footing any further, you lose your say in the matter. Perhaps if you stuck to your beliefs as an individual instead of as a party or your self interest, you might not have this problem.
Both parties are uncompromising and we the people try to defend them for it but it’s we the people who suffer because of it. What you all fail to understand is that all of these politicians do this because we let them by not actually paying attention to what goes on it government until an election year comes about; then we only believe what our party says instead of what is really happening and why…
Maybe mommy or daddy never explain this to you when you were a child but you can’t always have it your way and you are not always going to win. You all lack integrity and honor. You all need to stop attacking each other and start realizing that there is something out there that is more important than yourself and that differences of opinions does not signify the difference between right and wrong..
We can not even have a fair debate because someone will start complaining about it. This is a perfect example of that very fact. An attempt was made to ask the same questions to both candidates where they only needed to answer them and not attack each other in the exchange. One person is going to better then the other, that is a fact; but that is also determined on an individual basis. You yourself know that you can’t even talk to you closest friends anymore about the election unless they agree with you or vice versa. No one sees a problem with this???
If we, as a society, do not work to resolve these differences as a whole, I fear for what the outcome will bring us in the future.
57. Bethany | 08.18.08
I would like to add that I don’t think McCain cheated, I don’t think he had to. I don’t think Obama would have cheated given the chance either.
58. Bulldog | 08.19.08
Creamsykle,
Have you seen Ben Stein’s “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed?” It’s quite thought provoking. I think many of the questions that are posed have quite a lot of merit and I recommend giiving it a shot if you’re into looking at multiple perspectives.
59. YellostoneMan | 08.19.08
What can I say? Americans voted twice to keep a lying prez in office, sending thousands of innocent kids to die in Iraq for a lie. The Religious Right will endorse anyone as long as he says he is pro-choice. To hell with the other nine Commandments.
60. Shannon | 08.19.08
I was surprised how well both candidates did. However, I very much appreciated the sharp contrast between Obama’s deep thinking and conversational approach and McCain’s apparent flippant approach to issues (drill . . . .) Hopefully we’ll elect someone who, before spending trillions of dollars on another catastrophic war, will have a little more thought process than “screw Saddam.” Obama has repeatedly demonstrated the clear thinking, sound reasoning, and loads of substance that he displayed at the church. I hope he wins!
61. jon | 08.19.08
@Bethany - - You may be, but I suspect you’re not as you profess, a Dem.
Mentioning the *pay grade* answer, is a dead giveaway, as it is a GOP talking point… not to mention that you saw McCain speaking the truth.
Scientists, philosophers, medical doctors, etc, have grappled with the personhood/conception issue for eons. Nobody has answered it. Obama was saying he is not one of them, nor God. His answer was thoughtful… he said he doesn’t have the answer to that philosophical question. A politician admitting he doesn’t have an answer to a question, is about as honest an answer, as you’ll ever get from a politician.
I think you should vote for McCain, since your views are “ideologically more in line with” Senator Obama. As long as that makes sense to you… enjoy your choice, if he’s elected.
62. James | 08.19.08
It’s now a documented fact that Rick Warren lied. He lied first on his forum and then again on CNN.
Watch a CNN anchor catch him in his lies below:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/18/84334/7814/1007/569548
63. ostreetguy | 08.19.08
I just think that if you don’t believe this was planned and staged, you’re really fooling yourself. Come on people, its politics, and everything about politics when it comes to the presidential candidates and debates, regardless of who is holding them, is bias one way or the other. Do you truly think that Rick Warrens is a middle of the road Christian? Was McCain given the questions ahead of time? I’m sure that he was, and so was Obama. If they weren’t given the ‘exact’ questions you have to know they were made aware of the topics the questions would cover. The issues are and have always been clear for these people…Abortion, faith, gay marriage, etc., etc.
The question about Evil was really transparent. How do you deal with evil? Come on, that isn’t a real question. Who decides what evil is? The democrats, the republicans, the Christians, the Mormons, the Jews, the Muslims? Or maybe it’s the United States that decides what evil is, or Europe, or the Middle East? And when do you know when you have defeated evil? I mean you’d have to have a list and a plan of attack for it wouldn’t you? So, let’s pretend you have a list of 10 things that have been determined evil. When you come to the bottom of the list then what? Right, make another list.
64. Ron | 08.19.08
Whoever would have thought that a prisoner of war could lie with such ease. McCain apparently doesn’t have a problem with that. Mr. Warren started by asking Mr. McCain, “Now, my first question: Was the cone of silence comfortable that you were in just now?”
Mr. McCain deadpanned, “I was trying to hear through the wall.”
Kind of gives a whole new meaning to the cross in the sand story.
65. pat | 08.19.08
Regardless of who obey the rules or did not, I felt that Mr.Obama was more compassionate than Mr. McCain.
Mr. McCain family’s background is “military”. It’s obvious that Mr. Cain has a one-track mind “war”. I don’t mean to be unkind, but the American people do not need more war………We need to turn our focus to the poor, children who are been abused amd removed from their homes, jobs and home losses.
We have real problems………..I will take my chances with God, but I am voting vote for Mr. Obama!!!!
66. pat | 08.19.08
Regardless of who obey the rules or did not, I felt that Mr.Obama was more compassionate than Mr. McCain.
Mr. McCain family’s background is “military”. It’s obvious that Mr. Cain has a one-track mind “war”. I don’t mean to be unkind, but the American people do not need more war………We need to turn our focus to the poor, children who are been abused amd removed from their homes, jobs and home losses.
We have real problems………..I will take my chances with God, but I am voting for Mr. Obama!!!!
67. John | 08.19.08
McCain cheated, just like he did with his first wife. The question would be, “if Obama were in a cone of silence, would he cheat”? He would not need to cheat as much as McCain, so maybe not. The point is, Warren lied and McCain lied, and the people who were fed all this crap were made into suckers.
68. bethany | 08.19.08
Jon- - I guess I am not a Dem anymore but I am certainly not a Republican. In any case I still may vote for Obama.
I just think that at this point for me there is not such a cut and dry choice. I am surprised that the idea of McCain as president doesn’t really bother me. This is the least passionate and most detached I have ever felt about a presidential election.
I am very close to saying that it doesn’t matters who wins. The job of President is not Emperial and they will need to work with the congress so perhaps neither of them will be able to get anything done. For me I think it comes down to Supreme Court nominations, so Obama wins that comparison.
I don’t believe or support either’s health care or tax plan. I am concerned about the economy but fear it is beyond presidential influence. National security is also a worry but both candidates will consult with the same generals and in the end I don’t think there would be much of a difference in outcome.
Despite Obama saying he was opposed to Iraq the machinery of both parties rolled us into Bagdad and given the chance would again. I remember how the Democrats and the Republicans were one voice. I hope you are right about what a great leader Obama will be.
Suspect what ever you like, you are mistaken. If the pay grade comment is a GOP talking point it is because it was handed to them on a silver platter.
True scientists, philosophers, medical doctors, us ordinary citizens, have grappled with the abortion issue for 30 years.
I understand that none of us can attain a cosmic certainty about when life begins. I can’t convince a devout Catholic any more than they will convince me that every sperm is sacred. But in society and in government we do make decisions, pass legislation and enact laws based on how we answer this question.
I know Obama has answered the question in his own conscious because he has voted on this issue and he has said he is pro choice. So what use is it for him to say this is tough question and nobody has answered it? You say His answer was thoughtful… he said he doesn’t have the answer to that philosophical question.
A politician admitting he doesn’t have an answer to a question is about as honest an answer, as you’ll ever get from a politician. Well maybe.
But for me in light of the fact that he as well as most adult Americans has a formed position on law that flows from that very question to dodge it with the no one really knows was a cop out.
A nuanced answer that started with ultimately I can’t tell you but the working assumption that I feel ethically comfortable with is that……(My guess) a child has human rights the moment it is born, as a society we have extended none to a fetus until it is viable outside of its mother’s womb.
Maybe you heard him say something closer to that than I did. I did actually watch he entire interview, but I will go back and replay that question and listen more carefully. I still had the impression that Obama had a very weak performance and was surprised by how weak.
I still felt admiration for John McCain, maybe it is because I had very low expectations for him. You do make a good point though in that it does not make much sense for me to vote for the candidate that I agree least with.
I just wish I could feel good about voting for Obama. Maybe because he is my presumptive candidate of choice I would like to respect him. I wish he were the man so many of you think he is, and I am a bit sad that he is not.
69. Stuart | 08.19.08
McCain demonstrated just how much he has been groomed by his new staff members to “stay on message.” He has become nothing more than a Rove Robot. Adopting the tactics used against Kerry, and keeping his own answers black and white, with no shades of gray. KISS.
70. Blake Uppleger | 08.19.08
WOW! is it that inconcievable to believe that Sen. McCain was better prepared than Obama? Obama has shown time and again that if he does not have a teleprompter to read from, he stammers and stutters his way through lie after lie! McCain is in his element speaking off the cuff, Obama was not.period. besides Obama was sent by GOD to save us from ouselves, why would he need to prepare for an interview by a Pastor?
71. John IN NCA | 08.19.08
I guess Uppleger is a democrat, like me. I don’t exactly agree with or believe Uppleger’s religious comment about Obama, I do respect it. I also
think Obama is the better choice. On the ohter hand, if there were better republicans and better democrats previouisly, they dropped out of the race.
I can’t help but be skeptical of McCain and I really do think he’s not only exaggerating but also being told what to say.
72. Jeannie in CA | 08.19.08
I can only wonder what Rick Warren would have done if Barrack had gone second and was not on the premises when the questioning began. Warren is obviously a McCain supporter and is only too happy to make any excuse he can for McCain - like the $5 million mark to be rich evoked a hearty laugh from Warren. Warren basically lied when he said he didn’t know McCain wasn’t in the building and then turned around and said he wasn’t able to give McCain the same advantage by giving him a heads up question beforehand - because McCain wasn’t in the building. I guess telling a lie if you are a pastor is OK if you are trying to get funding for faith based initiatives.
73. David | 08.19.08
Why is no one asking McCain what he was doing that he had to be late for an important national televised debate?
The McCain camp could clear this whole thing up by telling us why he was unable to make the “cone of silence” on time … did he plan this so he could gain an unfair advantage? Was he just an arrogant fool who though he was just too good to have to sit in a room and wait his turn? Did he slip into one of his anger fits and had to “mind meld” with someone before he could chance being seen in public? Did he have diarrhea and couldn’t get off the john?
The fact they won’t even tell us why they were “running late”, and instead want to just lay back and dispute theories makes one wonder what they hell they are hiding.
74. Jeff | 08.19.08
No doubt that McSame is a cheater. He cheated on his wife, now he’s cheating America with lie after lie. We don’t need another liar in office. Bush’s eight years has had enough lies. Asking McSame if he saw the broadcast or had knowledge of the fourm is the mistake, ofcourse he’s going to say he didn’t see it. The correct question should have been, “Do you remember the questions from the forum?” Someone that is 72 million years old cannot remember if he saw or heard the questions or not.
75. Jeff | 08.19.08
I’d like to see McSame in a progressive/liberal forum, then we can say we got worked in the fourm. A white, conservative church asking questions that are tailored to McSame is not a true reflection of a McSame’s real performance. I cannot wait until the REAL debates, where McSame isn’t fed the questions before hand. Just watch for any odd looking things hidden between the shoulder blades under his jacket.
76. Creamsykle | 08.19.08
Bulldog
I have seen “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed?” It does bring up some interesting points, but backs those points up with distorted facts or no facts at all. In fact that movie is creationist propaganda at it best/worst which ever you would like to call it. I have no problems religion of any kind so let’s be clear about that, but I do have a problem with anyone who thinks their views should be pressed on everyone else.
77. aw | 08.19.08
PUT IT TO REST!..
we need the townhalls..direct face-to-face debates that McCain has been pleading for and Obama has continually avoided..why?
..maybe ‘coz Obama aint good in face-to-face..
..and if when they do happen, and McCain will, again, do well against the Orator..
..people will say: “McCain had a earbud..in implant..that fed McCain answers”..whatever..
GET OVER IT: Obama CANNOT..AVOIDS..direct face-to-face debates..
HE IS A WEAK speaker/leader.. unless there is a teleprompter!
78. aw | 08.19.08
i cannot believe that this board is hosted by CS..
…and all the posters support someone who says that infants still alive after an induced abortion are not human…and should be put in the comfortable dying room..
if the posters here support someone that supports that..
…then of course those posters will justify anything to make sure that theONE is POTUS..
sickening!
79. alms | 08.19.08
Ms. Hilton, if you’ve dumped the Republican party, please don’t tell me you’re a Democrat. If you’re a Democrat now you never were truly a Republican, unless you were so moderate you really more of a fence-sitter. If you’re a Christian, you can’t in good conscience be a Democrat.
Obama gives way too much thought to his answers and really dodged a committed response when asked about abortion. His answer to that question was typically wishy-washy because, as he makes it abundantly clear through all his actions, he is more concerned about keeping and gaining votes than about standing up for something unpopular but right. I cannot trust him and I worry about a country gone totally blind by his rhetoric, good looks and charm. America loves that combination–at least 50% do. The other 50% have their heads in reality and their eyes wide open.
80. warrenlied | 08.19.08
Shame, shame, shame on Rick Warren. I expected as much from McCain. In the words of Forrest Gump, “Neocon is as neocon does.”
81. Patrick Harris | 08.20.08
After the interview, I was more impressed with Obama’s sincerity and thoughtfulness regarding the questions. (I am Republican.) However, I have heard McCain speak before, and I must say he answered differently. I was impressed about how much he had improved in terms of speaking. When I found out about the issue regarding the “cone of silence,” I was disheartened. I give Mr. Warren the benefit of the doubt regarding his ignorance (although I am not sure why he hasn’t publicly apologized for misleading the public); however, I cannot help but believe McCain new more of the questions ahead of time. He claims not to have heard them (and that may be true - he could have read them off of a blackberry), but evidence points otherwise. He had a chance to explain the situation when Rick Warren asked him if he was comfortable in the Cone of Silence, and he equivocated. This points to his integrity - or lack thereof. Unless Obama makes the same egregious error, I will vote Democratic in this election. Besides, I also felt that Obama was more sincere in his faith than McCain, and that Obama will “try” to act on his faith (to do justly, to practice mercy, and to walk humbly with God).
He may not succeed in Washington, but I trust someone who can provide a quote from Habbakuk with such poignancy.
82. Bruce | 08.20.08
It would be appreciated if you would have reported the whole truth here. As a Christian, I’d appreciate it dearly. The truth is McCain was in his hotel room when the broadcast started, then in his limo, then in the green room. Certainly he could have had access to the broadcast for the first part. And then some coaching beforehand.
So why did both Warren (who admitted later to knowing McCain wasn’t in the building) and McCain make everyone think he was in a “cone of silence”.
But wait… maybe he was. This PHOTO was just released:
83. Karen Hanson | 08.21.08
Hello,
I am a 46 year old Christian from WI. My mother contacted me the other day, very frantict, stating that Sen. John McCain indicated in an interview that he will concider reinstating the military draft. Can you please confirm if this is true. I have 2 sons starting their senior year in high school this fall, so this concerns me very much. Not to mention that my Mom is beside herself. I live in a small town and have watch the both the morning and nightly news, but there has been nothing about this. One son is considering joining the Air Force, but the other is total opposed. Any information you can provide is greatly appreciated. Thank you. Karen
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Patricia D. Hilton, “The American Homemaker” | 08.18.08
Dear Mr. Orr; Thank you very much for keeping the voters informed. I was raised ‘Country Club’ republican. It was back when Eisenhower/Goldwater actually held honor & integrity. Today, the ‘moral majority’ seem to have strayed far asunder…with a “the results justify the/any means.”
My Father taught me a love of The Constitution and a self integrity which means, “Your word is your bond. When your word is no longer reliable, you have nothing of value.” This is a long, long way from using fake memos for war, trashing Senator Kerry’s service to our country . . . any lie, any trick.
I could not continue to be a member of the Republican Party; I am sad that is so. Please continue to let us know when ‘dirty tricks’ arise.
It is my hope that we end up with an election process that is as free and fair as possible. Thank you for your good representation of our “Fourth Estate.”
Grants Pass, Oregon 97526