Thoughts On the Civil Forum

On Saturday, I attended the Saddleback Civil Forum. It was an energizing evening and a once in a lifetime opportunity to watch both presidential candidates on the same stage. Rick Warren was the moderator and posed questions related to leadership, faith, worldview, and character. Each candidate was interviewed separately by Warren and the order was decided by a coin toss. Here is how I interpreted the responses from each candidate:

Obama

• Overall, Obama's performance was solid. He appeared comfortable talking about his faith in Jesus and his shortcomings in his early adult years. Compared to previous Democratic nominees Obama is attempting to break the mold. However, that might worry many secular-progressive democrats.
• Perhaps Obama's biggest mistake was his definition of human conception. He stated, "Its above my pay-grade." I felt that was a very weak response and will hurt him with the evangelical vote. This apparently a grey area for him...and he waffled on this question.
• Obama affirmed that marriage is between a man and a woman. 
• Obama's loose references to scripture citing "thinking of the least of these..." to give him the basis for his massive social agenda (socialized medicine, wealth redistribution).  However, I believe that is a distortion of scripture to apply concepts intended to the individual to the state.
• Biggest surprise: throwing Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas under the bus. Clarence Thomas is the only african-american justice in the Supreme Court. 
• Biggest mistake: his definition of human life. 

McCain

• I felt that John McCain outperformed Senator Obama and provided a unmistakably clear contrast between the two.
• McCain's style was direct and unequivocal. 
• On abortion: human rights begin "at the moment of conception."
• On gay marriage: it is a sacred bond between a man and woman. 
• He took full advantage to discuss the conflict in Georgia, the need for offshore drilling, activist judges, national security, and the need to keep taxes low. 
• Often, McCain mentioned his time as a POW during the Vietnam War and how that experience shaped his faith and his character
• Biggest surprise: citing that the failure of his first marriage as his worst moral mistake
• Biggest mistake: his definition of "rich"

After watching the debate twice, I believe that McCain ruled the night. Speaking in front of a crowd that was more receptive to his ideas allowed him to settle in and showcase his personality. For someone who has not had the coziest relationship with the evangelical community, McCain took a giant step forward to strengthen the Republican base. Obama, on the other hand appeared uneasy on questions such as the Supreme Court and abortion. He was at times indirect and lacked definitiveness in his responses. 

With the 2008 campaign a statistical tie, both candidates will be engaged in a dogfight for every vote. Warren's vision to achieve civility may have been fulfilled for at least one night in the summer of '08. But I wonder if this forum will be remembered as the last moment where both candidates and the nation were one.