The first presidential "debate" of the general election season occurred on Saturday. But instead of occurring at a university campus, hotel, or convention center, the debate was hosted at a location that seems at odds with a democracy based on the principle of separation of church and state: the mega-sized Christian Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. 

Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) appeared in interview format separately with Pastor Rick Warren, who asked them each a series of similar questions. Each candidate responded to questions regarding their views on such topics as evil (both say it exists and must be dealt with), abortion (McCain is pro-life; Obama is pro-choice), and gay marriage (both define as a union between a man and woman but neither supports the idea of a constitutional amendment asserting that definition).

Obama wisely used the venue to ward off suspicions that he's not a Christian by peppering his speech with quotes from The New Testament. "Obama showed the ‘He's a closet Muslim crowd that if he is, he sure knows his Christian catechism, too," said the L.A. Times. "He invoked the Book of Matthew and seemingly easy familiarity with expressions like ‘walking humbly with our God.'"

McCain on the other hand, seized the opportunity to demonstrate the "straight talk" he's built a reputation around, by answering questions directly and without the floury and nebulous word clouds Obama is accused of enshrouding his beliefs in.  

"When asked when he believes life begins, he [Obama] led with a wonderfully disarming comment about the answer to that question being "above my pay grade," said the Huffington Post. "But he then proceeded to offer a somewhat rambling, discursive response that I can't readily summarize after having just read the transcript three times."

McCain's answer to that same question, "At the moment of conception" sharply contrasted Obama's and was given kudos by the media for its clarity and succinctness.

But the straight talk express didn't completely steamroll Obamania. When asked about their positions on faith-based initiatives receiving federal funds - a concern for government employees because increased diversion of federal funds to faith organizations could lead to the elimination of government jobs at all levels - Obama's intellectualism served as an asset more than a liability.

After reasserting that he approves of the concept and gave a speech on the topic earlier this year, Senator Obama said that "faith-based organizations should not be advantaged or disadvantaged when it comes to getting federal funds" but that a "level playing field" should be created. He made a distinction between ministry-based activities, like selecting a pastor, in which religious organizations are always free to hire whomever they want, and public service activities, for which they would receive federal funds. For public activities, faith-based groups cannot create a situation where they are using federal funds to discriminate.  

Obama argued that this is not a new rule and has been the reality in the Clinton and Bush administrations. "In 95% of the circumstances it's not an issue," said Obama, "because people are careful about how they use the funds."

Senator McCain's answer to the same question was much more unequivocal.  "Absolutely not," he said.  "It would mean a severe crippling of faith-based organizations and their abilities to do the things that they have done so successfully." In other words, McCain believes the organizations should retain the ability to hire or fire anyone for any reason, regardless of whether they receive federal funding.

He went on to tell an anecdote about his own experience in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, where he saw volunteers from all over the country coordinated by the Resurrection Baptist Church who were "doing so much more than the government organizations."  

While only one small issue in comparison to concerns about defense, economy, and health care, the candidate's positions on faith-based initiatives and issues will undoubtedly prove important for impassioned votes come November.

Video Recap

Obama on Abortion

McCain on Abortion

             
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