RAFIQUE TUCKER OP-ED: About That Saddleback Forum Saturday Night...

The moderate-liberal Democratic blogger opines about last weekend's forum, moderated by Pastor Rick Warren, featuring the U.S. presidential candidates: "I watched it, and just had some quick thoughts:I thought Rick Warren did a good job. He was trying to create a civil discourse with both candidates, and I thought he did that to the best of his ability. As to the debate itself, I thought both did a good job, although as far as getting done politically what needed to get done, McCain did better than Obama. Despite the growing consensus in many quarters, I don't think Obama did that bad, although he did make some missteps. First off, let me say that McCain had some implicit advantages in some of the questions. I don't mean that there was cheating or foul play afoot (I'll deal with that in a moment), but I think certain questions intrinsically favored McCain. The 'gut wrenching decision' question is an example. I've no doubt that Obama wrestled with the decision to support the Iraq war, but that doesn't really compare with the decision to turn down early release from that Vietnamese prison camp. It just doesn't. There's really nothing Obama could've done to counter that, although I find myself wishing he had a better answer. In fact, Obama had no real legislative authority to effect the decision to go to war (Not that settling the moral question in one's heart and mind isn't a serious one), so the effect is diminished slightly. Some may balk at this, but I think he should've mentioned his decision to break with his former church. Surely it would've opened him up to more scrutiny by his opponents, but I take Obama at his word on his explanation of why he left Trinity. The gay marriage answer was pretty good, although he did stumble through the last part. McCain does get a benefit on the gay marriage, abortion, and the question of judges, because his views on those issues are more in line with those of the audience. Staying on the abortion question, I think Obama's biggest gaffe was the obvious one, the 'above my pay grade' answer, to Rick Warren's question. That was a sloppy mistake. I know what he was trying to say (it's up to God), but it came off as evasive, cold, and stupid."

Mr. Tucker continues his commentary: "I do think he had a different attitude about the debate than McCain did, that may count as a mistake. I do think some of his answers, particularly his foreign policy answers, were a b[i]t too abstract and philosophic, while McCain went directly to policy and specifics. When asked about evil, McCain went directly to 9/11 and al-[Q]aeda. McCain mentioned Russia and Georgia. McCain sounded forceful on those answers. Obama's answers weren't bad, it's just that McCain seemed to keep the focus on the issues at hand. I still hesitate somewhat to call this a mistake on Obama's part, as both candidates have different approaches, and had different tasks during the debate. McCain saw this as his opportunity to shore up his evangelical base, and the talk from many righties is that they like what they saw. Obama had to make a good impression with evangelical voters, an[d] he may have hurt himself somewhat with the abortion answer, and the dis to Clarence Thomas. Not that most conservatives were going to vote for Obama, anyway."

My response: Sen. Obama was definitely tap dancing & stumbling on the abortion questions - one of the few policy areas where I'm in line with him and not Sen. McCain - about when does life begin and when (if ever) does the fetus have rights. Pastor Warren and the audience weren't looking for an evasive dissertation, but a solid response. I'm pro-choice, and could've answered those questions more directly and succinctly than did Sen. Obama. It seems like Sen. Obama always stumbles when he is asked about abortion. It makes me wonder if Sen. Obama is truly pro-choice on abortion, or pretending to be so in order to get ahead in Democratic politics.