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