Legal Commentary

Obama and McCain Agree to Jointly Appear at Megachurch Event

By Jeralyn

For months, John McCain and Barack Obama have been unable to agree on town hall forum debates. Today, however, they agreed on their first joint appearance -- at a megachurch.

The Rev. Rick Warren has persuaded the candidates to attend a forum at his Saddleback Church, in Lake Forest, Calif., on Aug. 16. In an interview, Mr. Warren said over the weekend that the presidential candidates would appear together for a moment but that he would interview them in succession at his megachurch.

....He said that both had readily agreed, perhaps reflecting how each candidate is courting the evangelical audience to whom Mr. Warren ministers.

Warren says he is friends with both candidates and there will be "no gotcha" questions.

As far as I'm concerned, I've heard more than enough already about the candidates' faith and religion. [More...]

I don't think evangelicals as a group belong in politics. It's fine for individual evangelicals to line up with a candidate or party because they share their views on issues, but as an organizing force, out to imprint their views on a party, particularly the Democratic party, they are pure danger.

We should keep religion and morality out of politics. It's a private matter that should stay private. What's next, debates at churches? Televising prayer breakfasts instead of congressional hearings? This is a slippery slope.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on July 21, 2008 (boomark / email).