Editorial contributor and good friend, David Bahnsen submitted the following insightful analysis of the Saddleback Forum featuring Obama and McCain. How refreshing to hear an conservative Republican finally articulate real optimism about this year's election.

From David...

Anyone reading this likely knows that I am a fervent supporter of John McCain in this year's Presidential election.  As fervent as my support may be, I have not had a day since he locked up the nomination where I actually thought he would win.  My entire mood has been tempered with pessimism and fear - a fear that the electoral map just wasn't going to favor a Republican in this political environment.  For the very first time this year, though, I actually have a genuine feeling that this thing may be turning.  At the risk of getting too optimistic, allow me to suggest that Saturday night's Saddleback forum may very well have been the "turning point" in this campaign we have been waiting for.
 
I will start by saying kudos to Rick Warren for his consistent reiteration Saturday night that "everyone has a worldview" (and also to his resisting the temptation to say that they are all equal).  The statement that "church and state are separate", but "faith and politics are not", is not exactly rocket science, but it is extraordinarily accurate.  The hyper-religious secularists like Barry Lynn may hate it, but Pastor Warren deserves commendation for his production of this event. 

On to the scorecard ...


Barrack Obama:

1. The two most "non-partisan" things obama did are supporting Mccain-Feingold and opposing the Iraq war?  I suspect his handlers wish he had come up with an answer better than a piece of legislation his opponent actually authored.  And I am sure the American people wish he had said something more intelligent than that his opposition to the Iraq war is somehow non-partisan.

2. His example of changing his mind in the last ten years: welfare reform.  Well now, perhaps Rick should have given him more time here.  My list is running about three pages long of issues he has changed his mind on, in the last two months.  He couldn't think of anything different than something from fourteen years ago, and one in which 92% of Americans (or every single American not on welfare) considers to be the most obvious legislative improvement of all time?  Safe.  And pathetic.

3. His toughest decision he ever made - opposing the war in Iraq.  Spare me.  Seriously.

4. His abortion answer was just embarrassing.  When he said that determining when rights for babies began was below his pay grade, I can just see his campaign people in the back room lining up the shots of whiskey.  That should be a sound bite for McCain's people to use for months, not to mention the extensive rambling that followed the idiotic line.  Those of faith and those of something else surely believe that the President of the United States ought to have a more coherent answer than that.

5. His "federalism" on gay marriage was funny - especially when it came 20 seconds after his defense of Roe v. Wade, the most eggregious violation of federalism of the last fifty years.  He is a states' rights guy when it comes to defining marriage (as I am), but a "Supreme Court should write law" guy when it comes to killing babies.  Incredible.

6. His Supreme Court answers were honest, and downright frightening.  The three judges he trashed are the very ones we desperately need.  Mark his words - he is telling the truth here.

7. The contrast in the question about evil is the most important issue in this election: "Does it exist, and if it does, do we ignore it, negotiate with it, contain it, or defeat it?".  Obama referred to Darfur and mean parents as proof that it exists, and delivered two minutes of incoherence without saying it should be defeated.  As the hyper-liberal NBC panel said this morning on "Meet the Press", "perhaps nuance is not the best approach here.". McCain's answer to the same question, within one second of it leaving Rick Warren's lips: "Defeat it.". Very, very Presidential.

8. If a modern figure can not name Islamic extremism off the tip of his tongue as proof that evil exists, than he lacks the contemporary sensibilities and moral compass to be President - period.

9. This was the most magnified I have ever seen the fact that Obama struggles in impromptu situations.  He seemed to really have a hard time.  He stuttered excessively.  He was monotone.  He was frankly boring.  There were very few highlights, politically, rhetorically, or otherwise.


John McCain:

1. He was on.  Really on.  And I have not said that since he won the nomination.  He was humorous, natural, and comfortable.

2. "Human rights begin at the moment of conception.". Instant.  Resolute.  Outstanding.

3. His pushing of the importance of judges, and willingness to immediately tie the judge issue into the rights of the unborn was surprising and outstanding.

4. Rick Warren asked Obama which one justice he would not have nominated, and Obama said Justice Thomas.  I noticed that when Rick asked McCain the question he said which justiceS (plural) would you not have nominated.  Again, in a shock to me, but a very pleasant one at that, McCain threw out Breyer, Ginsburg, Souter, and Stevens.  All four - immediately - branded out as the judicial nightmares they have been.  My pseudo-conservative friends who continue to claim that McCain is no better on judges than Obama should be ashamed of themselves for their moronic and disingenuous pandering.

5. His interruption of Rick Warren's education questions to passionately hit home the point of "choice and competition" was a highlight of the night.

6. "It doesn't matter what my definition of 'rich' is, because I don't want to raise anyone's taxes - anyone."  I almost weeped.


Overall on the event, I thought it was a good format with good questions.  I would rather see those same questions re-asked at the debates this fall than the idiotic and loaded drivel we are sure to hear from George Stepanapholus and Wolf Blitzer.  The big takeaway for me is that maybe, just maybe, John McCain has the charm and ideology to see this thing through.  His command of the issues, and his demonstration of his own strength of character, resolve, intelligence, and preparedness to lead were loud and clear.  Obama came off as the pandering liberal that he is, devoid of a real political philosophy, and more suited to lead Western Europe than a country founded on principles of life and liberty.  His was an apologetic for class warfare and moral egalitarianism.  McCain's was a call for a strong America.
 
Maybe the voters are getting ready to make the right call ???