Rick Warren responds to the flap over McCain and Saddleback questions

As it has turned out, John McCain was not entirely confined in the type of hermetically sealed environment that Rick Warren suggested when the pastor referred to the "cone of silence" surrounding the Republican before his appearance Saturday at Saddleback Church in Orange County.

But Warren, in interview segments posted earlier today on the God-O-Meter at Beliefnet.com (yes, that's the blog's moniker), takes great umbrage to claims that McCain got tipped to some of the queries he would face when he followed Barack Obama onstage at the much-anticipated event.

McCain was headed to the church -- in a motorcade supervised by the Secret Service -- when Warren's interview with Obama began. Upon arriving at the church, he was taken to a so-called "green room" to await his turn.

God-O-Meter Editor Dan Gilgoff asked Warren (who is much in demand after his turn as candidate inquisitor) about assertions by Obama backers that McCain got the heads-up, meaning he wouldn't have to think as fast on his feet as his rival.

"They're dead wrong. That's just sour grapes..." Warren responds.

Gilgoff presses the matter, saying: "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."

Responds Warren: "That's absolutely a lie, absolutely a lie. That room was totally free, with no monitors -- a flat out lie."

Warren's answer, of course, doesn't cover the possibility that McCain got wind, while in his motorcade, of what.... 

...Obama was being asked. But his campaign sought today to scotch such speculation.

The Times' Maeve Reston reports that Brooke Buchanan, a McCain aide who was in the entourage, says the candidate was not privy to the interview during that period and did not receive any e-mails about it.

Rick Davis, McCain's increasingly feisty campaign manager, had already moved to put NBC on the defensive after journalist Andrea Mitchell, during Sunday's "Meet the Press" show, mentioned that some "Obama people" were insinuating that McCain had somehow gotten advance notice of specific questions Warren would be posing.

As Mike Allen of Politico.com reported Sunday night, Davis fired off a letter to Steve Capus, the president of NBC News, objecting to Mitchell broaching the issue and portraying it as an indication that the network was "abandoning nonpartisan coverage of the presidential race." Davis asked for a meeting with Capus "to discuss our deep concerns about the news standards and level of objectivity at NBC."

Capus may be growing accustomed to such complaints (see here and here).

Our colleague Frank James offers this take at The Swamp on the flap over whether McCain, as the posting's headline puts it, cheated at Saddleback.

And the New York Times Caucus blog details that Warren, aside from outlining in advance for Obama and McCain general topics he would cover, also told each well before the forum convened that he would specifically pose these queries: What is your greatest moral failing? What is America’s greatest moral failing? And who are the three people you rely on most for wise advice?

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Getty Images

Comments

[Reese]

Who's idea was it to have a political forum with a church in the first place? What happened to separation of church and state?

[solomon]

Dosen't matter at all the "truth" was on stage with Warren during both interviews.

McCain didn't need to get a heads up to pander to that crowd, Steve, Black, and others knew exactly what he needed to say to appease the majority of that crowd, nevermind how faith directs his life NOW, (not in Vietnam that I could imagine)

The question I would have asked is "Sen. Mccain is it ever ok to destroy a life?"

Answer: Yes, when protecting freedom and Liberty?

Response: OK, I got that, but Sen. the bible doesn't directly state that life begins with conception, that murder by one of his flock is warranted in defense of freedom, nor for mankinds measure of punishment for sin agaisnt a child of God? Now I agree that these are reasonable interpretations, but never the less they are still interpretations, so what makes these intepretations legitamate in comparison to other intepretations made by reasonable Christians like your opponent?

Answer: That consideration is above my pay grade.

Response: (Laugh) So Sen. do you think that this demonstrates a reasonable rationale for the separation between Chruch and state?

Answer: Possibly, quite possibly, but that would be a decision for the Justices I would appoint.

Response: But Sen. Wouldn't your appointments be based on your interpretation of christian morality and thus facilitate iyour decising making process?

Answer: Off course

Response: Well, that said answer me this, would that imply that you, according to your own understanding are in effect legislating from the oval office in violation of the U.S. Constitution, since you are appointting justices based on the similarity of their biblical interpretations in these matters with yours.

Response: I didn't hear the question?

Now that would have been equitable to asking Sen. Obama "when does a human life begin"

he should have answered: "Well depends on whom your pandering to?"

[Jared]

Where is the evidence that McCain cheated? There is none. Only speculation and accusation. Did you notice a significant difference in McCain's responses to questions that were asked while McCain was IN the cone of silence? I'm sure somebody has figured out about the time McCain actually went into it and which questions were presented to Obama during that time.

This isn't the first time Obama has shown his inability to "think on his feet". This is just the beginning of people finally waking up to Obama's lack of substance. It's going to be entertaining to see what kind of excuses Obama lovers come up with the next time he performs poorly in this type of venue, which is a certainty.

[joe j]

You want an even better example of how disengenuous McCain was? Warren has revealed that BOTH candidates were TOLD the first couple of questions in advance, and yet McCain dramatically feigned surprise at them and complained how tough they were. I used to respect the guy, but what a fraud. So he didn't admit he wasn't sequestered off stage (the honest thing to do) and then he faked his reaction to the questions. That's enough for me.

[Maggie]

What does McCain's campaign statement that their candidate was in a motorcade "supervised by the Secret Service" have to do with anything? Is it to suggest that information (from what is turning out to be a pretty bogus forum) could not have made it to McCain and his entourage? Like the Secret Service confiscated all the Blackberries from everybody in McCain's car and at the forum?

This story is getting weirder the more Warren and McCain's people try to explain it.

A little truth here please, Pastor Warren.

[Scott Bundgaard]

And you people wonder why it's difficult to find good candidates for President or any office for that matter? They have to put up with this sheer nonsense and work to refute blatant lies from the liberal media and other 'sour' grapes.

[TB]

Ever notice everytime Obama blunders or complains its his "camp" that protests, never Obama, and everytime the press refers to McCain, good bad or otherwise, its never his "Camp" its McCain personally?

Regardless, what is there to think about concerning your beliefs. You already know what your beliefs are before hand, I wouldn't think you need a forewarning about what they are, nor do I think McCain had to get forewarned to what his beliefs are.

It sounds like Obamas "camp" is somehow ashamed about Obamas believes, or his expression of what they are, and was more happy about McCains beliefs or they wouldnt be whining about them.

Interesting, that Obama claimed the hardest decision of his life was how he was going to vote on the war in Iraq.... What a load.

[Dave]

I find it hard to believe that a mega church would conspire with a Republican candidate. That's nonsense.

Just kidding. Of course they did. They're both crooked. Remember Bush? I hope so since he is still president. There was all sorts of colusion between his camp and evangelical leaders during his presidential elections. Why would things be different now?

[j3]

A lot of word parsing on behalf of McCain and what he did and didn't have access to.

Kind of like "I didn't do your girlfriend a single time while you were gone."

[TESAP]

MY QUESTION WHO IS RICK WARREN??????

THE FORUM, SEEMED SCRIPTED RIGHT DOWN TO THE MATCHING OUTFITS OF RICK AND JOHN MCCAIN...... IF YOU AREREALLY BASING YOUR VOTE ON THIS FORUM THEN YOU SIR/MA'AM ARE A FOOL... IT SEEMS AS IF ALL PASTORS ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR 15 MINUTES OF FAME IN THIS CAMPAIGN..............

[Mary]

Come on people. Listen to the interview. At one point, McCain asked if Warren was going to ask him the second part of the question, and her stated the second part of the question, verbatum. How did he know? Then midway in the interview, he answer questions before they were asked. Even Warren commented on that odd behavior. It's one thing to cheat, and even worse to lie about it.

How is it this Church group was not able to do the "Cone of Silence" that TV Game Shows, Reality TV Shows, and Beauty Contest Shows on TV have all been able to do?

We have to do better. Talk about evil and honor, and then this lowly flak. A man who had several affairs, which involved much lying, who applied for a marriage certificate before his divorce was final, who remarried 5 weeks after his divorce is used to lying and cheating, and not playing by the rules.

What an example to set for the kids. We have to do better.

[Unplugged Games]

We cannot begin to have an honest and respectful debate when the event moderator opens with A COMPLETE LIE. Why suggest McCain is in an isolation room when HE IS NOT EVEN IN THE BUILDING? When someone needlessly lies about something it reveals their true character and in some cases, something worse. Why did McCain GO ALONG WITH IT?

[Ron Sampson]

Unfortunately, this typifies what has partly frightened me away from the republican party since the days of Richard Nixon- win at any cost, rules be damned, find an advantage whenever one can be manipulated. No integrity, the modern Republicans, obviously Johnathan Mccain (and Pastor Warren) included.

[Gregjames]

I find it amazing, not that I should, that the media has so completely lost its soul to its far left agenda that it would have to attribute McCains solid and impressively sincere answers to cheating the process somehow. In light of the fact that their contender looked like an aimless schoolboy in search of an answer to a test he did'nt study for I suppose that is all they have left. Good luck with that.

[ASKYOURSELF]

How is this a "debate" if they never even saw each other face-to-face? Obama is scared of debating.

[rev clay]

Did McCain hear part of the Obama interview before he went on? Not an important question to me. McCain repeatedly avoided questions, played to the audience and let me know he is more interested in pushing an agenda based decision than thinking through a tough problem. Of side note, what did McCain learn and what part did he play in his greatest moral failure? I commend Rick Warren for putting the event together, asking great questions and respecting both candidates.

[Sam]

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you! Who could have anticipated such curve balls as "When do you believe life begins" or "What was your most difficult decision?"! Clearly the only way a candidate would have an answer for such off the wall questions was if they had advance knowledge....please.

[HFF]

I am noticing fundamentalist Christian leaders backing out of the political limelight this season as they and others get hammered because of statements made in church but then criticized in a public forum. It becomes easy for church leaders to make categorical statements in the presence of their uncritical followers but as many of the other commentors here note, Warren's absolute certainty of fairness are inappropriately overconfident. How does he know what happened in McCain's motorcade? So, fall out will be negative on Warren and he too will pull back.

[Lynn]

Why are the Obama supporters now saying McCain must have known the questions in advance? Would Obama have answered questions differently, had he known them in advance? If so, which questions? These were not questions regarding undisputed facts. ALL the questions posed pertained to the candidates' opinions, viewpoint and beliefs. Any modern presidential candidate should be able to address these at the drop of a hat. Each viewer can judge the candidates' responses on the merits, according to their own viewpoint.

[Sara L. Martin]

Reading some of he "posts" on this site reminds of what is wrong with democracy. A five minute conversation with the average voter reveals the problem.

[Jon]

It's funny how the McCainites all think this is about winning or losing, when really it's an issue of a man who will lie without a twitch of remorse on national television.

[bo]

GWBush referred to the Russians war against Giorgia as unacceptable behavior in the 21st century he was right.
Here in America in the 21st century in the so called most powerful country on the planet Presidential candidates believe strongly in God and debate in public about God and his most powerful enemy Satan that s pretty difficult to swallow in the 21st century as well.
To me it is plain ridicule....That s why China today is the most powerful country on the planet not America.

[Sara]

As has been mentioned before, McCain and Warren should have come clean in the beginning. To have to have someone else bring it out and then have them get mad strongly points to cheating. Guilty/protesting too much/cover-up. But even so, Obama outshown the other guy.

[PJ]

wait a minute...are people saying that Obama didn't perform well in the forum and that McCain looked better? I watched the "debate" and I was far more impressed by Obama's knowledge, honesty, and humility. I had no idea that it was even possible for McCain to appear as the "winner". McCain was lame and talk about pandering! As far as the questions are concerned, I was under the impression that both of the candidates knew them beforehand. Perhaps that is why I was so disappointed in McCain's answers. If it's true that the candidates weren't given the list of questions prior to the sit-down then I'm even more impressed by Obama's answers.

[bo]

white supremacists....