Obama, McCain to attend joint forum at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church

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Obama, McCain to attend joint forum at Saddleback Church
Monday, July 21, 2008
By MARTIN WISCKOL
The Orange County Register

LAKE FOREST - Presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama will speak Aug. 16 at Saddleback Church in what is expected to be the only joint campaign event for the candidates before the national conventions.

The Lake Forest megachurch’s pastor, Rick Warren, will moderate the joint appearance, which will take place on the eve of the two national party conventions. After a brief appearance together, the two candidates will separately spend an hour talking with Warren.

"This is a critical time for our nation, and the American people deserve to hear both candidates speak from the heart – without interruption – in a civil and thoughtful format absent the partisan ‘gotcha’ questions that typically produce heat instead of light," Warren said.

The event will be part of the church’s "Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion," with 6,500 seats available at six viewing locations – live and televised – throughout the church campus. When ticketing details are worked out, information will be available at saddleback.com.

The appearance underlines the reach of the 22,000-member church, and the value the campaigns place on connecting with Christians. Obama spoke live at the church’s annual AIDS Summit in 2006, and both candidates gave a video address at that event last year.

"The primaries proved that Americans care deeply about the faith, values, character and leadership convictions of the candidates as much as they do about the issues," Warren said.

"While I know both men as friends and they recognize I will be frank but fair, they also know I will be raising questions in these four areas beyond what political reporters typically ask. This includes pressing issues that are bridging divides in our nation, such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, climate and human rights."

The candidates requested that question be posed exclusively by Warren, instead of a panel or members of the audience, the church’s founding pastor said. It will last from 5 p.m. to 7p.m., with a coin toss determining that Obama would go first.

"While debates typically focus primarily on the candidates’ positions and only secondarily on how they’d lead and make decision, this Saddleback Civil Forum will reverse that ratio," Warren said. "Leadership involves far more than promoting programs and making speeches, and since no one can predict what crises will happen over the next four years, it is vital to know the decision capacity and process of each man."

A spokesman for the McCain campaign said the Republican welcomed the opportunity to reach out to the religious right.

“This appearance will show conservative Christians and Republicans that Sen. McCain stands with them on issues such as life and gay marriage, and remind them of the type of Supreme Court justices he will appoint as president,” said Rick Gorka, a regional communications director.

Obama's campaign did not respond to inquiries.
 
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