Debate! Debate! 2 (sort of)
Now McCain
1. Who are the three wisest people you know?
Gen. David Petraeus - one of the great leaders of American history. John Lewis. Meg Whitman, former CEO of eBay (and my vice presidential pick?)
2. What has been your greatest moral failure? And the greatest moral failure of America?
My greatest moral failure was my first marriage. America's greatest moral failure is that we haven't always devoted ourselves to causes that are greater than our self interest.
3. When did you lead on an issue against your party's best interest?
Climate change, out of control spending, torture... Voting against sending troops to Beirut early in my career.
4. What is your biggest flip flop?
Offshore drilling. We have to drill now!
5. What's the most gut-wrenching decision you had to make?
In a prison camp in Vietnam, I said no when offered early release. Toughest decision but also the one I'm most happy about.
6. What does it mean for you to believe in Christ?
Means I'm saved and forgiven. Describes the torture he received in Vietnam and the cross drawn in the dirt on Xmas Day.
7. When does a baby have human rights?
At the moment of conception. I will be a pro-life president and this administration will have pro-life policies.
8. Define marriage?
A union between a man and a woman. (Followup, was Supreme Court of California wrong on gay marriage?) I think they were wrong. We should preserve the unique status of marriage. If a federal court decides Arizona has to honor California's decision, I would support a constitutional amendment.
9. Favor or oppose research of embryonic stem cells?
I have come down on the side of stem cell research.
10. Does evil exist? Should we ignore, negotiate, contain or defeat?
Defeat it... Repeats his pledge to get Osama bin Laden... We are facing the transcendent challenge of the 21st century, radical Islamic fundamentalism... The central battle ground is Iraq.
11. Which existing Supreme Court justices would you not have nominated?
Breyer, Ginsberg, Souter and Stephens. No legislating from the bench.
12. Should faith-based organizations have to follow civil rights laws to get federal funds?
Absolutely not.
13. Merit pay for teachers?
Yes, yes and find bad teachers another line of work. Home schools, charter schools and vouchers.
14. Define rich?
A home, a good job and an education. I want everybody to get rich. I don't believe in class warfare or the redistribution of wealth... And our best days are ahead of us.
15. When does the right of privacy and national security collide? And which takes precedence? (A question Obama didn't get. Warren inexplicably says it was because of time issues.)
We must preserve the right of our citizens as much as possible - including a secret ballot for unions. There is a constant tension and we need to stay on top of it because of changes in technology.
16. What cause is worth dying for?
Freedom. Our national security. We can't right every wrong, but we can be a beacon of hope and liberty. Our most precious asset is American blood.
17. Do you respond to genocide?
Our obligation is to stop genocide wherever we can. We have to do "more" in Darfur.
(Side question on Georgia crisis, Warren gives McCain much latitude.)
Killings, murder, villages being burned. One of the earliest Christian nations... We have to not only bring about cease fire and Russia must respect entire territorial integrity of Georgia. Have to worry about energy pipelines there as well.
18. How do we end religious persecution in foreign lands?
The bully pulpit. We are an example to the world and we are privileged and I know what it's like to be without it.
19. Would commit to an emergency plan for the world's 148 million orphans?
We have to make it easier to adopt in this country. And we adopted a girl who was not expected to live and she's now 17.
20. Why do you want to be president?
I believe America's greatest days are ahead. I also believe we face great challenges. I want to make sure everyone agrees this is a time to come together. America wants hope and optimism. I'll always put my country first.
21. What do you say to people who say I should ask you these questions in a church?
I'm happy to be here. Judeo-Christian values. I'm honored to be here.
Showing posts with label saddleback. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saddleback. Show all posts
Aug 16, 2008
Debate! Debate! (sort of)
The Rick Warren presidential sort-of-debate gets underway from Lake Forest, California. Warren starts by explaining that we have to learn to disagree without demonizing each other.
Obama first
Who are the three wisest people in your life?
1. Michelle Obama, not only wise but honest. 2. My "no fuss, no frills" grandmother. 3. A table where a lot of points of view can be expressed, and my blind spots exposed and assumptions challenged.
2. Greatest moral failure of your life? Greatest moral failure of America?
For me, being self-centered as a youth. For America, not abiding by the maxim that whatever you do to the least of them, you do to me.
3. When did you go against party loyalty for the good of America?
Working with John McCain on campaign finance reform and opposing vote to allow use of force in Iraq.
4. What's your most significant flip flop (change of mind)?
Welfare reform - feared the Bill Clinton plan would have disastrous consequences. (Is this really a change of mind?)
5. What was your most gut-wrenching decision?
Opposing the war in Iraq.
6. What does it mean for you to trust in Christ?
He died for my sins and I am redeemed through him. I don't walk alone. Deeds, not just words. Acting justly and walking humbly.
7. Abortion?
There is a moral and ethical issue here, but I do support Roe vs. Wade.
8. How do you define marriage?
Man and a woman, but my faith and marriage is strong enough to allow civil unions between gay couples.
9. Stem cell research?
Yes. "In a careful way."
10. Does evil exist? If so, do we ignore, confront, contain, destroy?
Evil does exist. We see it in Darfur, on the streets of our cities, in the abuse of children. It has to be confronted, but we have to do it with humility. A lot of evil perpetrated in the name of good.
11. Which Supreme Court justice would you not have nominated?
I would not have nominated Clarence Thomas. Or Antonin Scalia. And oppose John Roberts because he supports the encroachment of the executive branch on the other branches of government.
12. Would you force faith-based organizations to follow anti-discrimination rules in hiring to take federal funds?
Yes. (But he says it with so much nuance that makes me wonder why he's touching this subject.)
13. Merit pay for teachers?
Yes, but it has to be negotiated with the teachers. Raise teacher pay and then reward excellence.
14. Define rich?
If you have book sales of $25 million ... (haha). But seriously. If you're making more than $250,000 you're well off. On taxes, you can't spend $10 billion a week on a war and then not have revenues to pay for it. Oh, and get rid of the loopholes.
15. What's worth dying for?
American freedom, American lives, America's national interest.
16. When do you commit troops in response to genocide?
No hard and fast line, always a judgment call. If we have it in our power to prevent genocide and mass killing, and we can work in concert with the international community, then we should act. Gives Bosnia as an example.
17. 148 million orphans in the world - Would you commit to funding a plan to help alleviate?
Yes.
18. What should the U.S. do to end religious persecution in foreign lands?
First, we have to bear witness and speak out. And lead by example by preaching religious tolerance in the United States.
19. What do you do about human trafficking?
Better laws to prosecute here. Speak out internationally.
20. In a minute, why do you want to be president?
The basic idea of empathy. Build bridges to come to common sense solutions to difficult issues that a broken Washington pushes off to future generations.
21. What do you say about people who criticize me for asking you these questions in a church?
We need these conversations so people know who we are and not focus solely on negative ads.
22. What would tell the American people if you knew there were no repercussions?
Solving big problems is going to require us to pay a price. (Uses energy as an example). If we pretend everything is easy, we are betraying the next generation.
The Rick Warren presidential sort-of-debate gets underway from Lake Forest, California. Warren starts by explaining that we have to learn to disagree without demonizing each other.
Obama first
Who are the three wisest people in your life?
1. Michelle Obama, not only wise but honest. 2. My "no fuss, no frills" grandmother. 3. A table where a lot of points of view can be expressed, and my blind spots exposed and assumptions challenged.
2. Greatest moral failure of your life? Greatest moral failure of America?
For me, being self-centered as a youth. For America, not abiding by the maxim that whatever you do to the least of them, you do to me.
3. When did you go against party loyalty for the good of America?
Working with John McCain on campaign finance reform and opposing vote to allow use of force in Iraq.
4. What's your most significant flip flop (change of mind)?
Welfare reform - feared the Bill Clinton plan would have disastrous consequences. (Is this really a change of mind?)
5. What was your most gut-wrenching decision?
Opposing the war in Iraq.
6. What does it mean for you to trust in Christ?
He died for my sins and I am redeemed through him. I don't walk alone. Deeds, not just words. Acting justly and walking humbly.
7. Abortion?
There is a moral and ethical issue here, but I do support Roe vs. Wade.
8. How do you define marriage?
Man and a woman, but my faith and marriage is strong enough to allow civil unions between gay couples.
9. Stem cell research?
Yes. "In a careful way."
10. Does evil exist? If so, do we ignore, confront, contain, destroy?
Evil does exist. We see it in Darfur, on the streets of our cities, in the abuse of children. It has to be confronted, but we have to do it with humility. A lot of evil perpetrated in the name of good.
11. Which Supreme Court justice would you not have nominated?
I would not have nominated Clarence Thomas. Or Antonin Scalia. And oppose John Roberts because he supports the encroachment of the executive branch on the other branches of government.
12. Would you force faith-based organizations to follow anti-discrimination rules in hiring to take federal funds?
Yes. (But he says it with so much nuance that makes me wonder why he's touching this subject.)
13. Merit pay for teachers?
Yes, but it has to be negotiated with the teachers. Raise teacher pay and then reward excellence.
14. Define rich?
If you have book sales of $25 million ... (haha). But seriously. If you're making more than $250,000 you're well off. On taxes, you can't spend $10 billion a week on a war and then not have revenues to pay for it. Oh, and get rid of the loopholes.
15. What's worth dying for?
American freedom, American lives, America's national interest.
16. When do you commit troops in response to genocide?
No hard and fast line, always a judgment call. If we have it in our power to prevent genocide and mass killing, and we can work in concert with the international community, then we should act. Gives Bosnia as an example.
17. 148 million orphans in the world - Would you commit to funding a plan to help alleviate?
Yes.
18. What should the U.S. do to end religious persecution in foreign lands?
First, we have to bear witness and speak out. And lead by example by preaching religious tolerance in the United States.
19. What do you do about human trafficking?
Better laws to prosecute here. Speak out internationally.
20. In a minute, why do you want to be president?
The basic idea of empathy. Build bridges to come to common sense solutions to difficult issues that a broken Washington pushes off to future generations.
21. What do you say about people who criticize me for asking you these questions in a church?
We need these conversations so people know who we are and not focus solely on negative ads.
22. What would tell the American people if you knew there were no repercussions?
Solving big problems is going to require us to pay a price. (Uses energy as an example). If we pretend everything is easy, we are betraying the next generation.
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