Obama, McCain talk issues at pastor's forum
LAKE FOREST, California (CNN) -- Speaking to a group of evangelical
Christians, Sen. Barack Obama said Saturday that his greatest moral failure
-- and the country's -- has been selfishness, but his opponent, Sen. John
McCain, cited his failed first marriage.
McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, added that the
country's greatest shortcoming has been a tendency to not devote itself "to
causes greater than ourselves."
"I think after 9/11, my friends, we should have told Americans to join the
Peace Corps, expand the military, serve a cause greater than your
self-interest," he said.
Obama told the Rev. Rick Warren that "we still don't abide by that basic
precept of Matthew: that whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do
for me.
"That basic principle applies to poverty. It applies to racism and sexism; it
applies to not thinking about providing ladders of opportunity for people to
get into the middle class."
The Saddleback Civil Forum on Presidency was the first time both candidates
appeared on stage since they became the presumptive presidential nominees for
their parties.
The event was held at Saddleback Church, a mega-church in southern
California. The candidates were interviewed by Warren, pastor at the church
and author of the best-selling book "The Purpose-Driven Life."
Warren has said he won't endorse either candidate, preferring that his
followers make up their own minds.
"I have to tell you up front, both of these guys are my friends. They both
care deeply about America. They are both patriots," Warren said in his
introduction. "They have very different ideas on how America can be
strengthened."
McCain and Obama appeared briefly onstage together, shaking hands and posing
with Warren between their one-hour interviews.
Obama acknowledged his drug and alcohol use as a teenager when asked about
his personal failure.
"I was so obsessed with me and the reasons I might be dissatisfied, I
couldn't focus on other people," he said.
McCain's answer to the question on his own failings was succinct. "My
greatest moral failing, and I have been a very imperfect person, is the
failure of my first marriage," he said.
When asked what faith in Jesus means to him, McCain replied, "Means I'm
saved and forgiven. Our faith encompasses not just America but the world."
McCain got teary-eyed while discussing an experience with a guard during his
experience as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. The guard, McCain said, drew a
cross in the sand while he was praying on Christmas Day. "For a minute there,
we were just two Christians worshipping together."
Neither candidate shied away from a question about which current Supreme
Court justice they would not have nominated.
Obama's reply: Clarence Thomas.
"I don't think he was a strong enough jurist or a legal thinker at the time
for that. I profoundly disagree with his interpretation" of the Constitution,
he said.
McCain said he would have never nominated Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg,
Stephen Breyer, David Souter and John Paul Stevens.
"This nomination should be based on the criteria on a proven record of
strictly adhering to the Constitution and not legislating from the bench,"
McCain added.
The Arizona senator said he was "proud" of President Bush for nominating
conservative Justices Samuel Alito and John Roberts to the court.
McCain also touched on the conflict in Georgia, saying Russia's behavior in
sending troops into breakaway regions "is not acceptable in the 21st century."
"They achieved a revolution. ... Now the Russians are coming in there in an
act of aggression. ... We have to not only bring about cease-fire; we have to
have honor," he said, adding that Russia must respect Georgia's sovereignty.
Warren pressed Obama on two hot-button issues among social conservatives:
abortion and same-sex marriage.
Obama said that although he's pro-choice and supports Roe v. Wade, his goal
is to reduce the number of abortions in America.
"On this particular issue, if you believe that life begins at conception ...
and you are consistent, then I can't argue with you on that," he said. "What
I can do is say, are there ways we can work together to reduce the number of
unwanted pregnancies?"
He also touched on same-sex marriage. When asked to define marriage, he told
Warren, "It's a union between a man and a woman."
"For me as a Christian, it is a sacred union. God's in the mix," he said.
Obama added that he does support same-sex civil unions, saying, "I can afford
those civil rights to others even if I don't have ... that view."
McCain was also asked about his views on those issues. He said he would be a
pro-choice president and would support legislation favoring anti-abortion
policy positions.
Obama's positions in favor of abortion rights and same-sex civil unions also
have created tension among evangelical voters otherwise drawn to his
candidacy.
But the Democrat, who is Christian, has made it a point to discuss his
religion on the trail this year and launched an ambitious outreach effort
targeting these voters, including private summits with pastors and a major
campaign aimed at young evangelicals.
CNN's Dana Bash, Tom Foreman, Ed Henry, Sasha Johnson and Rebecca Sinderbrand
contributed to this report.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/16/warren.forum/index.html
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