Regardless of your views on the candidates or this election, it was
awesome to see forum with hard-nosed, straight-talk questions from
Pastor Rick Warren. I was impressed to see this California clergyman
choose not to pull any punches and ask the tough questions of both
Senators. For those who missed the 2-hour CNN special, here are a few
highlights:
** Obama wins the coin toss and gets grilled first, while Johnny Mac (as my die-hard GOPers in Idaho like to call him) waits backstage under the Cone of Silence.
** Obama does the usual dance-around jig to every tough question. ... While I am the first to appreciate his ability to nuance issues -- especially those issues that usually get so divisive -- I have to say that a whole hour of this dance was just wearying. Please, Obama, stand clearly for something! ... This is the same trap Kerry fell into 4 years ago -- if he were able to stand straight on an issue without waffling, he would have won the election. Does anyone else remember the week during the '04 election when Time, Newsweek and the Economist all featured animated covers of Kerry without a backbone? ... That was in July, giving Kerry months and months to find a spine - but he failed miserably to do so and thereby lost the election.
(Quick advice to Obama and his handlers: Please, don't lose the Statesman sensibility or the ability to nuance issues and see both sides. That is the biggest thing I appreciate about your campaign. However, if you are unable to take a clear, decisive stand on anything - and every answer to a tough question takes 10 minutes - it begins to feel wishy washy even to a muddled political philosopher like myself.)
** The only question Obama answered directly was on the Abortion question. But, he gave an answer that set off all the alarms of conservatives. Given his stance on reducing the number of abortions, I think he actually could have scored some points with conservatives by framing the answer differently -- instead of waving the Roe v. Wade flag as the first comment on the issue.
** McCain looked equally awkward during the abortion question. In his case, however, it was simply because it was such a scripted answer -- he knew what he had to say to get applause from the Red half of the nation. It seems disingenuous, however, after he mentioned his openness to a pro-choice VP earlier in the week.
** Again, McCain forfeited points when he remembered almost too late that the most difficult decision of his life "took a lot of prayer" -- which he inserted awkwardly as Pastor Warren was trying to go to a commercial break. Actually, I believe him that he was probably praying a lot, but the answer seemed forced -- a quick dive to grab at some evangelical heartstrings, rather than a natural part of his answer to the question.
** Finally, I'm not sure if I got more tired of Obama's overly verbose answers, or McCain's constant references to his time as a POW. I'm thankful that Obama is resisting the "sound byte" temptation by giving more thoughtful and nuanced responses, but jeez, pick up the pace and give us a little substance! ... On the other hand, we all have to respect McCain's service and heroism, but one act of heroism does not a President make -- tell us more about the heroism, independence and courage you've displayed as a Senator during the last one, two, or three decades - your imprisonment began in 1967, over four decades ago. It's no less worthy of acclaim, but we need more stories of your courage from the 80's, 90's and the nearly-gone 00's.
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