Focus on the Family scores Saddleback: Winner=McCain. Loser=Obama

Well, the verdict on Saturday's much-watched Saddleback Forum is in from the online voice of the conservative evangelical organization, Focus on the Family, founded and headed by James Dobson.

And in the eyes of one of the nation's largest evangelical organizations the clear-cut winner, despite all the rumors that the Arizona senator is toying with the idea of picking a pro-choice running mate, was Republican Sen. John McCain over Democratic Sen. Barack Obama.

In an e-mail blast to millions of members and followers today, CitizenLink.com urged readers: "Values voters should look closely at what the presidential candidates had to say on the issues that matter.'

The article, by Jennifer Mesko, editor, said many wondered if Saddleback's pastor Rick Warren would ask about marriage and abortion.

Here's the website's summary:

Warren: "At what point is a baby entitled to human rights?"

Obama: "Answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade."

[Jim] Daly [president of Focus on the Family Action] said Obama stumbled on that one.

"When you come down to the life question, it is so core to what we believe, and what we believe God's heart is about," he said. "When a person fumbles on that question, it really gives us a clue as to what their worldview is about.

"He's contending for the most powerful seat in the world -- president of the United States -- and for him to equivocate on that issue, there's really not a lot of room for that."...

Obama continued: "I am pro-choice. I believe in ...

... Roe vs. Wade and come to that conclusion not because I'm pro-abortion, but because ultimately I don't think women make these decisions casually. They wrestle with these things in profound ways."

Obama went on to say that when life begins apparently is not up for discussion:

"If you believe that life begins at conception, and you are consistent in that belief, then I can't argue with you on that because that is a core issue of faith for you."

Warren also brought up marriage.

Warren: "Define marriage."

Obama: "I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Now for me as a Christian, it's also a sacred union. God's in the mix."

Obama went on to say that while he doesn't "promote" same-sex marriage, he does support civil unions. He opposes a federal constitutional amendment to protect marriage.

Jenny Tyree, associate marriage analyst at Focus on the Family Action, said it seems doubtful Obama will do anything to strengthen marriage.

CitizenLink also published a discussion of McCain's appearance in the second hour of the Saddleback forum in Orange County:

McCain was asked identical questions during the second hour of the forum. Daly said he "did an outstanding job" addressing the issues.

Warren: "At what point is a baby entitled to human rights?"

McCain: "At the moment of conception. I have a 25-year pro-life record in the Congress, in the Senate. I will be a pro-life president, and this presidency will have pro-life policies. That's my commitment to you."

Daly said: "He was just crisp and sharp on those answers on life. Those are insights into a candidate that really resonate with an evangelical community."

On marriage, McCain also impressed the audience.

Warren: "Define marriage."

McCain: "A union between one man and one woman."

McCain went on to say he believes the California Supreme Court overstepped its bounds this year when it struck down state law and legalized same-sex marriage. He expressed support for the marriage-protection amendment on the ballot in his home state of Arizona, though he has not supported a federal marriage amendment.

Previously, Dobson has said he might not vote if McCain was the candidate; the Arizonan aroused the ire of Focus for restrictions on political communications with non-profit members in the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law.

Late in the primary season Dobson endorsed former GOP Gov. Mike Huckabee and, since, has indicated that voting is a moral responsibility that he would live up to, taken as a perhaps reluctant choice of McCain over the more liberal Democrat Obama.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo: James Fusco / Getty Images

Comments

[Patrick]

Since when has citizen link or focus on the family ever mustered enough intellectual integrity to report anything without unfounded bias.

[Vince]

Obvioulsy believing that life begins at conception is good. Who are we to question ourselves, or "God" forbid the bible ?

I am sick and tired of religious ignorants, who seem to think they also know it all.

I think Obama gave the answer most of us would give. We don't exactly know when a cell becomes an live infant, so whay try to answer it?

I hope Mcain realizes that stems cell research might just be what will keep him alive for his hopeful presidency.

[Margaret Walker]

Too much media comment!! No one needs some reporter not yet dry behind the ears telling us anything! My husband and I raised and paid for the education of three now citizens...I am 88 years old...I support Obama!!!

[Lisa W]

Dr. Dobson,

Senator McCain voted for stem-cell research on embryos.

[David Dennis]

The last time I tried to take both sides of the issue, I was fired.

[mr krispy]

america deserves the president it eventually elects.

[Thoren]

Warren is catching some negative spin from the forum and I am noticing more and more likelihood that evangelicals will be making personal decisions in voting this year rather than relying on religious leaders. I think that's great.

Abortion existed during the time of Jesus and throughout the entire Biblical history. Yet Jesus provides no specific guidance. On the other hand, Jesus spoke and acted extensively with regard to poverty. Obama chose to forego a lucrative career following law school in order to follow his Christian faith into the streets of Chicago to work with the poor. During that same period of his life, McCain was repeatedly cheating on his first wife as she struggled with cancer until he landed his extremely rich current wife. Not surprisingly, when asked about examples of his faith, he skips back forty years ago to his POW experience.
Beyond that, John McCain is an air force bomber who had to become comfortable bombing women and children in Vietnam. He is even more focused on war to provide solutions as Bush has been. Jesus would not take that path.

[Al B]

So, Obama shouldn't be truthful, is that your point? He should lie to make the rightwing Christians happy?
He has different beliefs than Mc Cain, obviously. Are you intimating that he should mold his words to fit every audience?
Mc Cain's views on human rights 'at the moment of conception' definitely didn't apply to all those Vietnamese babies he burnt with phosphorus bombs and Napalm- friggin' hypocrite.

[cheaty mcgee]

Warren: "Define marriage."

McCain: "A union between one man and one woman (unless I meet a much younger wealthier woman and want her instead)."

[Jon]

I definitely think McCain did much better, but by the same token, I think Obama did well too. Before this debate I have disliked both of these candidates very much, seeing them as far worse than Bush versus Kerry (neither of whom I cared for).

I don't care for some of the questions asked, but I was absolutely IMPRESSED with the design of the questions... I think it's pretty sad that the media has done NOTHING to try to expose these candidates... if the media would VET the candidates BEFORE the election, maybe they wouldn't find so much to complain about.

I disagree with McCain on several issues, but he certainly believes what he believes. Obama did well (despite more uhm's and ah's than even Bush could ever muster), much better than I think Kerry would have done, but neither of them did as well as I think Hilary Clinton would have done.

I don't like her, but I think I would vote for her over McCain, and McCain over Obama... It's pretty obvious why Obama only wants a scant few debates, and rely on soundbites. In 12-16 years he would make a good president, but I just don't think he's ready.

Since the field was down to Obama McCain, or Clinton, I figure I will be irritated by 40-60% of their policy decisions... that being the case, I'd rather have someone that actually believes what they believe and knows why. I didn't get that feeling from Obama, but I didn't think he would be a complete disaster either.

Kudos to Mr. Warren on maybe the best questioning of political candidates I've heard.

[Aaron]

I dont know why you're still covering this, the election has been over for 4 days

McCain took a position on Obama's Cabinet and the called off the November fight

Read more

http://abellyacher.blogspot.com/

BTW - Ron Paul RULZ

[Ed]

I thought USA is a secular nation. Why is this debate even happening.

[Adrian]

I'm shocked!

Father Knows Best loves simple answers!

[nirad]

is anyone surprised by Focus on the Family's obvious conservative bias? Why are you reporting this as if it is news?

[captainkona]

Obama lost the Taliban forum?

Cool. Now I know he's the right man for the job.

[Hodge]

Focus on the Family prefers the Republican candidate? Really? Is the sky also blue? Do people still breath air?

Now, real news would be anyone falling for this. It's not hard to figure out why McCain is able to hit all the notes values votes want to hear. The Republican machine has been working those notes for as long as I've been alive. Does anyone really think he'll deliver better results than Bush, who had a nice little run with a Republican-dominated House and Senate, did?

[Justin]

McCain won when speaking to his base? Imagine that! Put Obama and McCain on Berkeley's campus and see who wins that one. DUH.

Per "Loser=Obama," more blatantly biased Obama bashing by the LA Times.

[Kay from CT]

Why does it seem that we are preparing for a theocracy? Which candidate is the most Christian? What about those of us of the Jewish, or Islamic faith? And is this theocracy just for protestant fundamentalists? Why did our candidates for President stoop so low as to bring religion into a race for President of a country that supposedly separates church and state?

Why? Why? Why?

And who cares what James Dobson thinks anyway. He still believes we should whip our children.
This is Presidential voting advice from people who still live in the Dark Ages and will take us all back to them if they can.

[Randster]

McCain Won? Maybe to an ultra ultra ultra fundamentalist christian fascist, but to Americans I believe the real leader won. Barack Obama! Obama showed he will be president to all Americans, of all races, of all religions, of both genders.

[Jessica]

well, no surprise here. mccain WAS preaching to the converted. you could've predicted this response at the outset. the christian right voting republican?! never saw that one coming.

i saw obama's responses as thoughtful and intelligent. i'm not too comfortable with a candidate that makes rash decisions, especially when all of them seem to revolve around WAR.

but, I guess "straight talk" now means plagiarism. McCain's cross in the dirt story was taken straight from Solzhenitsyn. Some display of "faith"... http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/politicalinsider/2008/08/is-mccain-now-copying-solzheni.html

McCain even wrote an article on Solzhenitsyn, I guess he's taking his story a little too much to heart http://www.nysun.com/opinion/solzhenitsyn-at-work/83117/

First Wikipedia, now this?

[Sandoze]

Wow! News flash! The notoriously conservative James Dobson with his right wing evangelist group Focus on the Family declare a Republican the winner of the debate. Didn't see that one coming!

[Rudy]

If McCain truly believed that life begins at conception, he would be in steadfast opposition to stemcell research, which he is not.
Then again, if James Dobson were a Christian he wouldn't be looking for political power; by supporting a man he said he would not vote for. Dobson is nothing more than a political player looking to increase his power.
Just remember, 'By their fruits ye shall know them...'

[John Wilson]

Did anyone expect any different? This continues along the same old Republican strategy of using hot-button values topics to manipulate voters into voting against thier own best interests.

[Don Wood]

Why does that evaluation not surprise me for one half of one third of a second?

[JJL]

Where on the Los Angeles Times Blog web page can I view Part 2 (the second half) of the Saddleback Church Forum video? You are only showing the first half of the broadcast on your site. 42 minutes of Pastor Rick and Sen. Obama and no video of the segment with Sen. McCain. Why?