Presidential Candidates Field Questions on Religion
By CHARLES BABINGTON
By Charles Babington and Beth Fouhy
The Associated Press
LAKE FOREST, Calif.
Presidential rivals Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain shared a hug, two handshakes and their thoughts on faith in a televised, two- hour forum .
The two nominees-in-waiting briefly exchanged civilities Saturday onstage between their separate appearances during a forum hosted by the minister Rick Warren at his megachurch in Orange County, Calif. The two hadn’t appeared together in months, and they answered the same set of questions from Warren.
To standing applause in a packed auditorium and broadcast live on cable TV, the men held hands and made brief small talk.
The Republican McCain and the Democrat Obama shortly set aside an increasingly negative back-and-forth between them to embrace in front of one of the country’s most popular pastors.
Obama spoke first, saying that America’s greatest moral failure is its insufficient help to the disadvantaged.
Obama noted that the Bible quotes Jesus as saying “whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me.” He said the maxim should apply to victims of poverty, sexism and racism.
In several cases, Obama gave a Christian interpretation to his generally liberal political views. He showed some familiarity with the Scripture and said Jesus died for his sins.
McCain tended to give shorter answers. On domestic matters, he restated his call to “drill now” in U.S. lands and waters for oil and natural gas.
Both men said marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Obama added that he supports civil unions for gay partners, giving them rights such as hospital visits with one another.
On abortion, Obama said he generally supports abortion rights but would limit the procedure in the late stages of pregnancy if there are exceptions for the mother’s health. He said he knew that people who consider themselves pro-life will find his stance “inadequate.”
He said the government should do more to prevent unwanted pregnancies and to help women who give birth, such as provide needed resources to the poor, as well as better adoption services.
McCain said the nation’s greatest moral shortcoming is its failure to “devote ourselves to causes greater than our self- interests.”
After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, McCain said Saturday there should have been a national push for joining the Peace Corps and other volunteer organizations.
Asked to name three wise people they would listen to, Obama named his wife, Michelle; his maternal grandmother; and, not limiting himself to only a third, named several Democratic and Republican lawmakers. McCain named Gen. David Petreaus, head of U.S. troops in Iraq; U.S. Rep. and veteran civil rights leader John Lewis, D-Ga.; and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, a top adviser to his campaign.
Obama in Virginia
Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner will visit Martinsville on Wednesday to discuss jobs and trade policies with workers.
Originally published by BY CHARLES BABINGTON.
(c) 2008 Virginian – Pilot. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.