Associated Press photo.
The joint appearance of Senators John McCain and Barack Obama was an interesting two hours of policy discussion. I actually liked this format over the traditional "debate" format.
They appeared at the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California Saturday night.
First, Obama took the stage and answered questions from "mega-pastor" Rick Warren that lasted an hour. McCain remained off-stage and wasn't able to hear Obama's answers. Then McCain came out, shook hands with Obama and posed for photos with Warren for a few minutes.
Obama's answer on abortion was considered by some pundits as a major gaffe. Asked at what point a baby gets “human rights,” Obama, who strongly supports abortion rights, said: “… whether you’re looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity … is above my pay grade.” McCain simply stated that human rights begin at conception.
Obama's attack on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was ironic. He said that Thomas didn't have the "experience" and "not a strong jurist" or "legal thinker" that justified his appointment. Obama's own lack of experience has been a major, and valid, point of attack by his opponents.
McCain was more direct and decisive in his answers. Both candidates appeared relaxed and conversational, but as a former college speech class student, I felt McCain did better. When Obama answered Warren's questions, he directed his responses to the pastor, whereas McCain directed his attention and answers to the audience. In public speaking, this is considered much more effective and is rated highly by speech scorers. In trials, this technique is also used when witnesses direct their attention to the jury, rather than to the questioners. Both talked of their faith, but Obama was more comfortable in doing so than McCain.
I hope more joint meetings of this type are used in the future, it drew out the contrasts of both candidates effectively.
Warren is the author of "The Purpose Driven Life," which has sold 25 million copies, is now reportedly the best-selling hardback book ever. Saddleback Church, which Warren founded in 1980 with one family, now has 22,000 people attending each week.
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