Nightline's Daily Line

world view? yes. religious views? not at all.

a person's faith is between them and their god. leave the proselytizing to religious leaders, in their houses of worship.

oh, and turn on your spell-check. it's 'important'.

Of course it matters. A leaders character and integrity will be what control him from abusing his power. If you have a charismatic leader with major short comings in his world view, you end up with an Adolph Hitler.

Nah, I think it's more important to know if he will smoking in the white house, and if not, where will he do his smoking? Pictures will be taken of the next presidnet, and I want to know what kind of an example my president will be setting for my child. World views change depending on who's running the show elsewhere. Seeing a president smoking matters more to me. I'm kinda shallow like that.

I just watch the Cynthia Mcfadden report with Rick Warren. I found that ABCNews is very bias in there reporting. Cynthia played clips of Rev. Wright and never played the controversal sermons of Pastor Hagee and Pastor Parsley. It seems to me, that the media is creating this bias picture of Barack Obama to attempt to sway the votes John Mccain's way. It is not only on Nightline but every week on This Week with George Stephanopoulous. Racial bias is very prevelent in the reporting on Sen. Obama, there is very little positive information is provided by ABC and FOX and it saddens me to see that integrity of your network has been compromised because of a candidates race. The public is taking note on how many African-Americans and Latinos appear on your network to give that political opinion. It further saddens me that 98% of your pundits are white, this closed minded view doesnt reflect the diversity and varied opinions of our great nation. As long as your network continues to display this type of media bias, America will continue to be this mean and hateful nation that murdered many slaves and indians and it can never heal the racial wounds that run deep in our communities. I pray that your network will start displaying fair and unbias reporting so that Americans can make a intelligent decision on who should be the next President, not based on fears or media distortions but on the words of truth from the candidates. Your jobs as the media is to report the truth and not push fabricated lies to the public. Shame on you ABC.

Rick Warren is a LIAR earlier today (8/18/08) on Hannity&Colmes he confessed he is a conservative and knew exactly who he supports as the next president. He added, after viewing the Saddleback Forum people should already know who they will support. In less than 4 hours, Warren suggested he is a registered independent and asserted he is not sure who he would vote for on ABC News Nightline.

Knowing McCain (McWAR) had not arrived at the forum, Warren could have informed the viewers McWAR had not arrived, yet he LIED by implying McWAR was in a “CONE OF SILENCE” Warren reason for lying, he believed by the time the forum began McCain (WAR MONGER) would have been in a room where he couldn’t hear or see anything. And by the way, why didn’t he tell the viewers the truth? Could it be his hiding something? I don’t buy that Warren is telling the truth because as a man of “god” should know a white lie is no different that any other lie. Warren was adamant McWAR was inside the forum when he wasn’t so if he could lie about the simple facts I have mentioned he could lie about anything!

This is all bull imo. No need for any religious nonsense when we are electing a president. The CFR rules both right and left because the elitists decide who wins. We are all just muppets awaiting another false flag. 911 was an inside job. Do the math!

Kitty...perhaps you should be more concerned with the example you set for your kids rather than the next president. Shallowness sounds like a great place to start.

A personal relationship with Christ and God the Father is central to my life. I want it to be central to my President's life too.

Of course it's relevant what a president's core beliefs are. Religion usually boils down to a person's core beliefs. The sanctity of life. The source of power (is it God or is it humanity?). The source of evil. Duty to others. All of these, at their heart, are religious beliefs.

Those who say religion has no place in the public discourse about who should lead because of the "separation of church and state" have NO understanding of what that Constitutional principle means. The Constitution guarantees that the state (any branch of government) can't establish a state church or religion. That is far different than saying religion can't have any place in public life. The founding fathers realized how ridiculous it would be to say "No discussion of religion in public."

It's all one big conspiracy, is it? SO, Obama walked right into a big plot? He didn't see that one coming, huh?

Religious views have absolutely nothing to do with integrity: witness the mess in which the self-proclaimed party of "Family Values" has left this country over the last eight years. I want a President who will focus her or his attention on the governance of our Nation, lowering the boom on predatory lenders, and stabilizing our interests abroad. C-Span recently televised a focus group of Pennsylvanian voters, one of whom (a self-proclaimed faith-based voter) admitted she felt betrayed, having voted her "beliefs" while - it is now obvious to any thinking person - the Republicans frittered away the economy having gotten her vote using the smoke and mirrors of "gay marriage" and "right to life" issues. She's right. She WAS betrayed. We were all betrayed. And we'd better wake up and vote with our BRAINS. AMERICA... Let your faith give bring you PERSONAL strength, and stop asking the government to legislate "moral welfare". Let preacher's preach, and let government GOVERN!

Yes, Frank, I've considered this. But I am an American after all.

President of the United States should be held to a higher standard!
I dropped out of high school ( 10th Grade ) To join the United States army. I scored so high on my entrance exam that I was given a choice as to what ( MOS ) Job I wanted in the Army.
I chose The Nike Hercules Missile system as a crewman and nuclear weapon specialist for surface to air missiles. After successful boot camp I went into my Advanced Individual Training school. ( AIT ) The time was January of 1976 The school was in Fort Bliss Texas. When it came time to move into a Top Secret classroom environment, I was the last person given a Top Secret clearance and had to sweat making it into the class.
The reason and the point I am making was that the United states government had to send government officials in to my old neighborhood in Anchorage Alaska, where I had lived and talk to many of my neighbors and friends to determine if I had Ever used drugs or alcohol and to determine my character. I later found out that there were two individuals that knocked on residence doors and asked specifically about Marijuana use and other drugs.
During my work with nuclear weapons (I was 17 years old) I was continually in front of the Battery Commander and asked specific questions regarding drug use and or Past or present Alcohol abuse. If a person in my unit were even suspected of past or present use of drugs regardless of when it occurred he or she would not be permitted to work with or around Nuclear weapons.
The army regulation is AR50-5.
My question is how in the world can a commander in chief (The President of the United States) Admit to past drug use and be allowed the entire nuclear arsenal that the Military commands at his disposal.
As a footnote: In my Barracks were the photos on the wall of the chain of command. Starting with my 1st sergeant and going to the commander in chief. (The president) This is still in every Barracks in the Military!
If I would have been denied my clearance, and at the top of the chain of command was a person who admitted to drug use, How would I have felt. Better yet, how does the commander in chief circumvent this military law? Even if he is a civilian commander of the Armed forces how can you be allowed to control this nuclear arsenal after admitting to past drug use when no military personnel would even be allowed to get near one?

I agree with Rick Warren for the most part. I watched an interview he did on CNN earlier this summer and I was quite pleased, despite him falling in the evangelical category of Christianity. I think he has a point saying that we need to do a better job of engaging politics and church.

Specifically church, not religion and not spirituality.

However, as Shapearl Wells already commented, I think ABC DID NOT have to show the clip of Rev. Wright as if we need reminding of who he is--we ALL are quite familiar with it, and yes, I think it shows biased. But honestly, Rick Warren is now back on my hit list simply because he drew far back to some Southern Baptist roots by completely not engaging the ideas of Liberation Theology and completely dismissing Black Liberation Theology. It's one thing to disagree with it, but to dismiss it as such is insulting to me as a seminary student. I also think to dismiss it and not engage it fully discounts a large segment of those in the community of faith that consider themselves followers of Christ.

I personally don't see anything wrong with Liberation theology, it seems to be open to enlarging the number of people who consider themselves followers of Christ, meanwhile traditional (read: eurocentric and western theology) seems to err on the side of drawing clear delineations as to those who are and are not Christians.

I think he could do a lot better than that, and so could ABC for resurrecting that clip.

it helps to know their world view, how they handle difficult situations, and their experience.

their religious beliefs should not play a part in their decision making, however it is good to know the type of pastors they associate with: the prejudice (against whites) type or the prejudice (against atheists) type.

warren’s views were so obviously pointed in the direction of his (republican) views mccain should be embarrassed about associating with someone who capitalizes on other's pain for his gain.

I am an independent, who is registered as a democrate this election cycle. I am a proud Perot voter of the early 1990's. I am Prolife, correction proresponsibility when it comes to children coming into this world. I am Voting Obama. Why because how do you reduce abortion? People need to have the ability to take care of their kids and republicans, Bush seems to be making it harder to do so with his unfunded mandates and his pro oil way of doing business. The government is worse at paying their bills than any normal person on the street and are showing a bad example and he and them Repubs are full of it. I beleive in God, I love this land and what they do is plain wrong. I like Mc Cain and if he still was pushing bushes buttons he would be a great candidate, The Maveric he was before, Instead he kisses Bush and Bush has been wrong for America. Come to RI where our economy is tanking and second highest unemployement in the country. Barack or bust I say

Absolutely! A person's world view is the foundation on which their house is built. The decisions the future president will make in the White House and the way he conducts himself will all be reflections of his world view. What he stands for, and ultimately what he portrays as an image of what our country stands for, stem from his world view. The forum interviews were quite enlightening. It appears that Barack Obama's world view is not fully formed and he's still sorting out where he stands on several issues because of it. Perhaps that also explains how his various associations can be so askew from what his declarations are. I'm still not sure what he was trying to say with some of his answers (could it be because he wasn't sure either?!). I was never excited about John McCain running for president. The forum interview changed my mind about him. He was firm, decisive, and clear about where he stood in his answer's to Rick Warren's questions. I don't always agree with him, but I respect his genuineness and his confident, yet humble, leadership. Now that's the kind of man we need in the White House. Perhaps I've regained a little hope for the next election. I was very concerned about both candidates prior to the forum.

When will this country emerge from it's colonial past and embrace true separation of church and state?

I want an educated president who can use reason and logic to make sound decisions, someone who isn't influenced by antiquated beliefs and fears.

I will barf if Obama is elected. I don't really care if he has any world views. He makes everything up as he goes along. He reminds me of someone, and I just can't put my finger on who. And it's not a messiah.

The religious beliefs of candidates are very important to members of religions, because:

- Some politicians want to reduce religious rights.

- Some politicians want to prohibit certain religious beliefs.

- Some religions prohibit ID numbers.

- Some politicians do things that are prohibited by certain religions.

- Some politicians openly hate certain religions.

If we had a constitutional amendment that no person can be forced to disobey his religion, then the religion of a candidate would not matter so much. But right now, government interferes too much with religion:

- The Federal Election Commission tried to suppress church teachings of the 7th commandment during the 1996 election.

- Government has attacked certain religious groups.

- Government forced some churches to collect taxes.

- Government positions on abortion and homosexuality violate nearly all religions.

I don't agree with Rick Warren's philosophies, but I can at least bear a few minutes to hear what he has to say, unlike the fanatical false prophet rantings from the likes of Robertson, Osteen, or the late Falwell. Ick! I do believe we should learn ALL that we can about our candidates--that's how voters make well-informed decisions. Their religious faith, or lack thereof, is an important aspect. The one who gets my vote is the one who doesn't wear his/her religion on his/her sleeve and who does speak from a high level of well-rounded education and intelligence. I think our country has endured all it can from President Simple. To continue to live in the free society our forefathers fought and died for, we need strict separation of Church & State--our Founding Fathers were quite the visionaries in this and many other respects. And unlike Rick Warren, I'd actually prefer a non-believing president. I'm sick of the hypocracy, and too much time is wasted on faith, religion and the like. Let's get on with governing and fixing the problems of the here n now. If a person wants to dwell on the here n after, let them keep it between themselves and their own perceived supernatural being. Because, mygawd! how many different religious beliefs are there in the world anyway--and they ALL think they are right! And while I'm on my band-wagon, get off Obama's rear! This is a young man who has beat all the odds to reach this level of running for the top position of leadership in the free world. Let's all get behind him and help make him one of the most successful presidents in history. Quit looking for faults and nit-picking stupid stuff. I'm white and unbelievably proud to have this man on the ballot in November. His election will go a long way in perhaps righting at least a few of our white male dominated horrific errors in history!

This nation's peace, the peace of our people, is supported by the two columns. The Celestial column which supports and aligns us with the source of all wisdom and the laws of God. And the Terrestrial column, which is the law of man, his good government, justice and creativity.

This nation will not stand without virtuous citizens. Virtue is a blessing of life and to be cherished and encouraged. I fear we have so maligned the church and her role in society to bring us into communion with our Source, that we have broken the balance between the two columns. Shalom is the Name of the Arch of Peace which spreads between the two columns. The worldy column of man's government is immense, clumsy and ugly. The column of the Heavenly has been weakened an hollowed out. The Peace they support is crumbling. They are Designed by the Great Architect of the Universe and we have hastened our own undoing.

A President's election is a choice about what is the proper role of the government. In the past 100 years we Americans have shackled ourselves with good intentions and bad policy, and we hold the key to our own liberty if we just get off each other's backs, and out of each other's pockets and lift ourselves up by our own bootstraps. Our Creator created us for great things, the function of freedom is freedom. A man's faith and understanding of the Lord is the greatest rule and guide, as the sun governs the day and the moon governs the night, without God, man is a merely a hungry beast.

first of all i dont think what religion he is should matter Christian catholic who cares he is running the country not the local church! if bush has taught us nothing else its that you being "religious" doesnt mean you are above lying or wrong doing or that your going to be a good president so why bother bringing it up?
second abortion being against the law will be the biggest mistake the usa ever made for many reasons.
gay marriage is the least of anyones worries right now - with economy and terrorism , 2 wars, letting people get married BY LAW isnt going to fix our problems or add to it if god doesnt agree then in his eyes it didnt happen case closed. its not like a man doesnt stand before god with a women and promise he will love her forever in front of god in gods house and then a year later take on some younger female and ditch his wife, if that isnt against the law why decide gay marriage is where we are going to take a stand for god..

Have you ever done the reverse of something that has been done to you because you know how it feels? We need know where they stand on certain issues. This forum proves once again, I still do not know where Obama stands on a lot of issues. Obama will never get my vote. At some point instead of Obama's usual "Present" a situation will require a concise and decisive answer. McCain just answered the questions and let the chips fall where they may. I know exactly where he stands. Real leaders do that. And, a real leader can be in the same "party" as another, respect that other person and still not do the job the same. Real leaders can do that to.

If we let the Evangelists dictate the politics of our State, we might end up like many Middle Eastern Islamic State like Iran.
Faith cannot be separated from the Church because it's the religions that run the church, just as the politics run the state. So with the separation of Church and State there should also be a separation of Faith and Politics.

that real leader claimed on several different occasions that the american people are doing better now than 8 years ago then said he understands were in hard times the real leader you talk about said your problems are in your head!
not to mention his lack of integrity when he mocked another country we are already in a strained relationship with and dont need another war.

real leaders dont do that.

Absolutely not. Religion and politics should always remain seperated in the Jeffersonian philosophy of a solid wall. It was interesting to hear Mr. Warren tell us that the only person he would not vote for President would be an atheist. This flies in the face of our Founding Fathers who insisted, thru our constitution, that there be no religious test in the pursuit of offices of the United States. It's obvious that Mr. Warren places a priority on religious views rather than world views.

A candidate's world views is very important to me. You can tell alot about the morals and ethics when you know these views. I want a president who not only cares about this country, but cares about the most vulnerable and defenseless people, the unborn. I also want a president who has invested himself in our country in more than a political role. I want an example of a person who knows the position of president is not equal to "class president" filled with articulate speaches, but one filled with character, courage to make unpopular decisions, and who knows that this position requires help and wisdom which comes from someone bigger than himself or herself. I believe the government should not be able to dictate one religion for our country, but I also believe that as our country was founded by Christians who wanted the freedom the practice their faith, then religious freedom should be the standard now and anyone who disagrees with Christian views does not have to believe or agree with them. There are many in this country who have come here to achieve a better life, to escape from their own country, or to enjoy the many freedoms this country offers and can offer because the men and women in our military give their lives to give us. Don't forget that the men and women in our military join without signing anything saying that they will only protect this country if they agree with the president. Anyway, if you don't like this country...LEAVE Find a better one! I will not and cannot separate politics and religion when it comes to casting my vote!

Yes, it is important to know ones world view before voting for him/her. You cannot separate a person from his world view. A world view necessarily includes ones view on religion- whether pro or con, good or bad, right or wrong. When one votes as a civilian or as an elected official they are voting according to their world view. I need to know that world view before casting my vote. Ernie Wolf

Obama, the baby killer, lied about the Illinois version of the Born-Alive Infant protection act. Some one was lying about
his record and it turns out, it was Obama. Barack "Baby Killer" Obama, I pray to GOD that you lose this election.

I think only a monster can vote to kill babies who survived abortion. Barack Obama was one of the six democratic
committee members who killed the bill that would have protected those born-alive infants. This is not abortion but
infanticide.

Barack "baby killer" Obama is a monster.

Obama, the baby killer, lied about the Illinois version of the Born-Alive Infant protection act. Some one was lying about
his record and it turns out, it was Obama. Barack "Baby Killer" Obama, I pray to GOD that you lose this election.

I think only a monster can vote to kill babies who survived abortion. Barack Obama was one of the six democratic
committee members who killed the bill that would have protected those born-alive infants. This is not abortion but
infanticide.

Barack "baby killer" Obama is a monster.

Obama, the baby killer, lied about the Illinois version of the Born-Alive Infant protection act. Some one was lying about
his record and it turns out, it was Obama. Barack "Baby Killer" Obama, I pray to GOD that you lose this election.

I think only a monster can vote to kill babies who survived abortion. Barack Obama was one of the six democratic
committee members who killed the bill that would have protected those born-alive infants. This is not abortion but
infanticide.

Barack "baby killer" Obama is a monster.

Obama, the baby killer, lied about the Illinois version of the Born-Alive Infant protection act. Some one was lying about
his record and it turns out, it was Obama. Barack "Baby Killer" Obama, I pray to GOD that you lose this election.

I think only a monster can vote to kill babies who survived abortion. Barack Obama was one of the six democratic
committee members who killed the bill that would have protected those born-alive infants. This is not abortion but
infanticide.

Barack "baby killer" Obama is a monster.

Barack "baby killer" Obama and his supporters are lying as shown by recent proof that the neutrality clause existed(that will not let Roe V Wade to be undermined in any fashion and his campaign had accepted that Obama was incorrect when he said folks were lying about his record).

A few comments for Cynthia McFadden about Rick Warren and his presidential forum.

#1) Pro-life is a misnomer. Doesn't he really mean anti-abortion? Being truly pro-life goes way beyond the womb: it involves a full commitment to the quality of life on this planet. This includes eradication of poverty, stewardship of the environment, opposition to capital punishment, and the abolition of war. If you are not concerned about the quality of life for those children once they are born, as well as when they become adults, what is the point?

#2) Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was assassinated in El Salvador, is a more representative example of liberation theology that your repeatedly distorted presentation of Jeremiah Wright.

#3) Wow. Look at all the attention that Rick Warren is getting. And, aren't megachurches just another example of the American compulsion to super-size.

#4) What is it that Islamic fundamentalists and Christian fundamentalists have in common? They both think their way is THE way, and they both are trying to impose their beliefs on the rest of us. No thanks.

Obama, the baby killer, lied about the Illinois version of the Born-Alive Infant protection act. Some one was lying about
his record and it turns out, it was Obama. Barack "Baby Killer" Obama, I pray to GOD that you lose this election.

I think only a monster can vote to kill babies who survived abortion. Barack Obama was one of the six democratic
committee members who killed the bill that would have protected those born-alive infants. This is not abortion but
infanticide.

Barack "baby killer" Obama is a monster.

Barack "baby killer" Obama and his supporters are lying as shown by recent proof that the neutrality clause existed(that will not let Roe V Wade to be undermined in any fashion and his campaign had accepted that Obama was incorrect when he said folks were lying about his record).

Some One:

Do your homework before you rant and rave about someone else being a "monster." Confront your own inner monster instead of projecting it on another.

If you're so obsessed with infanticide, then, for God's sake, turn your attention to the mass slaughters of children in the world, caused by poverty, and disease, and war.

First, the statement that one agrees with the separation of church and state BUT NOT the separation of faith and politics is using wiggle words.

Religion demands faith ("church" is a location, not a philosophy) and state demands politics. Rick's qualification is disingenuous.

Further, it's too bad there were no fact checkers to verify the truth of the answers given. Where Obama thoughtfully answered as he honestly BELIEVED on issues, McCain not only spewed stump speech rhetoric, but had the luxury of using the platform (essentially a one hour McCain for President ad) but was not queried on any of his positions for the underpinnings.

Let's take just one-- his willingness to regale the audience with his interpretation of evil through the convenient lens of Georgian/Russian conflict-- a "current" affair.

Did he also mention that his chief foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann's Orion firm (one of those unnamed other-than-three advisers he'd be taking into the White House) was paid by the Georgian government nearly one million dollars for lobbying services? ANd had a signed contract with them to continue doing the same dated as recently as April of this year?

Or that McCain has sponsored or cosponsored four Senate resolutions on behalf of Gerogia and other Orion clients?

Imagine that-- wasn't that what he was doing with, ahem, criminal Charles Keating who cost many their entire life savings in the 80's-- and was NOT among the great McCain moral failings.

Tsk. Wouldn't you think that part of the job for President requires candor about the "character" qualifications that affect taxpayer's trust more and trusting faith-based voters less? After all, his failed marriage did not cost anyone-- except him-- a penny.

So who is qualified to be President? The man who answers with thoughtful humility? Or the one who jokes, relies on a sympathetic background (while oddly omitting the more controversial aspects of his life) and addresses the audience as "my friends" 16 times over 20 questions? In other words, the politician, or The Politician?

Oh heck, who cares. Let God sort it out.

If you are a person with an honest faith, it is the core of who you are; it steers every decision you make in life. If your faith does not drive your world view, then it is not truly faith, but simply a name you wear. And, if your faith (or lack of it) does not drive your world view, then what does?

Knowing a candidate's world view is essential to know who he or she truly is. I want to know the core values a candidate will draw from deep within when faced with a decision.

True faith cannot be compartmentalized. It is not just a facet of who you are, but rather your very essence.

The Jefferson "Wall of Separation" is an historical misnomer; it should be known as "Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black's Wall of Separation" since he used the phrase in the majority opinion of Everson v. Board of Education in 1947 - 150 years after the ratification of the First Amendment.

Black, a former KKK member, was a bigot who also hated and feared Catholics. In those days parochial schools were almost all run by the Catholics. Black and his ilk wanted to build a wall around them that would separate them from the rest of society, thus limiting their sphere of influence.

Jefferson, on the other hand, was reassuring the Danbury Baptist Association of Danbury, Connecticut, that the First amendment prohibited their legislature from establishing a state church (as England had done), or in any way interfering with, or controlling the affairs or decisions of the churches in America. His letter was written to them some 13 years after the ratification of the amendment and was not based on "first-hand" information since he was not present at the Constitution Convention of 1787. He was also not present in 1789 when the First Amendment and religious freedom were debated in the first session of Congress. (Neither was he a signer of the Constitution.) He is therefore ineligible to be considered a "first-hand" reporter of the intent of the constitutional delegates. Subsequent acts by President Jefferson no not show any hostility toward Christian, or any other religious participation in the government of the Republic. He clearly understood that it was the government that was bound from making any laws restricting the free exercise of religion, establishing a religion, or in any way interfering with its decisions or controlling its affairs.

WHY THE DOUBLE TALK.IF HE BELIEVES IN THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE THAN WHAT DOES IT MATTER ABOUT A PERSONS religious BELIEFS OR NOT. THIS NATION WAS FOUNDED ON religious FREEDOM WHICH ALSO MEANS THE COVERS IS ALSO TRUE. THE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF A PERSON IS A PRIVATE AND PERSONAL MATTER AND SHOULD NOT BE INVESTIGATED BY OTHERS FOR ANY REASON WHAT SO EVER. LETS ALL GET BACK TO THE BASICS. LETS GET THIS NATION WELL AND FUNCTIONING THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. IF RELIGIOUS GROUPS WANT TO ENGAGE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITY, THEN THEY SHOULD LOOSE THEIR NO TAX STATUS AND BE TAXED BECAUSE THEY ARE STEEPING OUT SIDE OF THEIR RELIGIOUS STATUS AND INTO POLITICAL POLITICS.

Warren is a fraud. His forum will bite him in the ass for the rest of his days.

So much damage control from a reverend who lied to the viewing audience-- there was no cone of silence and he knew Mc wasn't in the building. Such liars both of them. I cannot wait until someone give an eyewitness account of Mac cheating. To hear Warren continue to refer to Obama as a friend. Lie!

As for the media, they know Warren is telling a lie and they are letting it slide right by. Larry King was too gentle with him. What is everyone so afraid of? Rick Sanchez is the only one telling it like it is.

The comment that Obama made in the News today pretty much says it all "I will win". He is still living in his self world--self interest. He said on television that he regrets the time he drank and took drugs but it was a selfishness in his life where he lived inward. He seems so arrogant--- "I will win", but maybe he knows that he has enough money to buy the Presidency...I do not know. Why can't he just explain his plans in a clear and concise manner...that is all the people are interested in and don't keep changing or what the press calls flip-flopping so the public can see what he stands for. The public doesn't know if he was ever Barry Soreoto and lived as a citizen of Indonesia because Obama has filed all the legal paperwork and he has said that he has never gone by another name. Yes the Catholic school he attended for years in Indonesia has him listed by another name Barry Soreoto and with Indonesia citizenship. So the Catholic Church has falsified these records? Or has Obama not been truthful with the American people and trying to deceive them with a story that just isn't true. How can the people vote for a leader that cannot be truthful---A man's word, his truthfulness, his character is what inspires a nation ---not deception.

Kitty, I suggest you eat light on the night of November 4th then...

Religiosity has nothing to do with morality and integrity. In fact, there might be an inverse relationship. How many wars have been started and justified for religious reasons all thru history? We need only look at the last 2 presidential elections where a Christian Evangelical who gets his counsel from Jesus Christ, lied to the nation and the world to justify a war on another sovereign country who did not attack or pose a threat to our country, in order to give our people's taxes to his friends in the Oil Industry. The deaths and maiming of thousands of Americans and Iraqis was not a problem to these Evangelicals. It is easy to be macho with the lives of other people's families.

Even Warren is not above lying when he said that McCain was in a "cone of silence," even mentioning it to McCain at the start of his interview. Then McCain played along by saying he "was trying to listen thru the wall." That was also a lie.

Whether we withdraw from Iraq in 1 year or in 10, there will be sectarian violence to determine which religion will rule Iraq. Their intolerance of each other will not allow them to share rule.

These religous groups are worse than Unions. At least with Unions, if a politicians gives them MOST of what they want, they're happy. These guys already have most of what they want, make you feel guilty about the rest, and still think they can stick their noses in other peoples' lives.
But when it comes to the voting booth, most of the women associated with these groups, vote pro choice. They can't stomach the Government choosing for them and their daughters.

With the utmost respect, I point back to "Marilyn's" comments of 8/19 at 3:28am. I disagree with her view, but think her point is the strongest support for my view: the need for the separation of church and state. She stated: > Precisely. Faith is PERSONAL. Your faith. YOUR life. YOUR decisions. Where we part ways is the desire to LEGISLATE how OTHER people interpret and live faith in THEIR lives. To me, to do so is the antithesis of the founding principles of this country. What good is religious freedom if you LEGISLATE how others believe? If one doesn't want to have an abortion, there's a simple solution: don't have one. If a man doesn't want to have sex with another man, here's a novel idea: don't sleep with the guy! But to spend precious time and energy on 'ensuring' that the Lesbian's down the street can't enjoy their lives together serves NO PURPOSE, except to distract you while they allow CountryWide mortgage to take your house away!

Why, why, WHY do American's keep allowing themselves to be BAMBOOZLED by right-wingers who are baiting them with these divisive issues that - no matter what anyone says - are, and should remain PERSONAL DECISIONS? It is worth noting that older societies in Europe and Latin America (where in some cases, social and religious mores are actually more 'anti-abortion' and 'anti-gay') look at us in disbelief at our continued attempts to LEGISLATE behavior. Meanwhile, we have allowed "the Party of Family Values" to leave our economy in RUINS, and destroy our credibility and good name across the globe! FOCUS, Folks... FOCUS!

Somehow when Cynthia says "separation of church and state" I don't think she means the same thing as the First Amendment which says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..."

The family is first human institution established by God.. God ordained the home, built on the love and mutual respect of husband and wife, as the first echelon of human authority and instruction. From this basic concept came the extended family, patriarchal and tribal systems, and ultimately more elaborate systems of government. Nations based upon the precept of family with each contributing to the mutual benefit of others and mankind as a whole were prospered and blessed. Nations which grew by political and ambitions of greed may appear mighty but suffer at the family level.

Our nation prospered greatly while honoring the family precept, but satan didn’t like this and began to attack the family. It began with declining morals and then abortion. This led to the polarization of our two party political system, with one party choosing abortion as a plank in its platform. Thus began a polarization often manifested as hatred.. I contend that satan and his hatred for the family is the root cause and curse that has promulgated this. Wittingly, or unwittingly, one political party has become his pawn and many who say they personally don’t favor abortion continue to vote as if they do. To me a candidate's belief is important, and I think his religious belief should shape his world rather than the converse.

Character and Conduct!
President of the United States should be held to a higher standard!
The army regulation is AR50-5.
During my work with nuclear weapons in the Army I was continually in front of the Battery Commander and asked specific questions regarding drug use and or Past or present Alcohol abuse. If a person in my unit were even suspected of past or present use of drugs regardless of when it occurred he or she would not be permitted to work with or around Nuclear weapons.
How does the commander in chief circumvent this military law? Even if he is a civilian commander of the Armed forces how can you be allowed to control the nuclear arsenal of the United States of America after admitting to past drug use? No military personnel would even be allowed to get near one!

I believe the majority of the above posted comments had their choice of Obama for president before they ever watched Rick Warren on nightline and didn't care one way or another what either candidates answer was. They supported Obama before the session and just wanted a reason to keep supporting him.

Wow the people who have posted here that think Rev. Wright tape being played not relevent are deluded. Faith and Politics are very important or Obama wouldn't have cut ties with his Spiritual mentor Rev. Jerimiah Wright, believer in Black Liberation Theology and hateful sermons towards USA, whites, and Jews. I personally hated seeing film of him simulating sex in the pulpit! (imitating Bill Clinton).
Obama had 20 years to figure out if this kind of preaching is UNIFYING or NOT.....and he did not pass the test. Not fit to lead this country...Barack Hussein Obama.
JOHN SYDNEY McCAIN! All the way to the WH.

To try to ascertain publicly someone’s very private faith is not only futile, but potentially very damaging to the Republic. Indeed, the increasingly public and troublingly superficial role that religion plays in US politics trivializes us as a people. If we perceive ourselves as wise enough to understand fully another man’s relationship with God (particularly by way of cable news forums and You Tube clips), then we fail in our pursuit of humility.

More specifically, trying to predict how a person’s faith will influence particular policy decisions undermines our own faith and inhibits our politics. The more I think and, yes, pray, the more deeply I realize how distorted our public perception of religion’s role in our politics really is.

In my own prayer life, I try as best I can to listen to God. I don’t hear voices, but what I do get is an occasional epiphany—a clearer and richer understanding of His will and His creation. Still—that type of experience more often leaves me with more questions than answers. Indeed, I’ve never prayed and walked away with a directive on how to feel about a specific public policy initiative. Of course one’s faith—indeed, one’s prayer life—and by extension their relationship with God—can influence their feelings about political issues, but, to claim understanding of how reveals personal pride and ignorance.

Prayer, for me, is not that particular. I don’t view God as political. I’m not completely convinced he really has an opinion about lifting an off-shore drilling ban, a federal marriage amendment, or tax cuts. Sure—he’s got something to say about stewardship, human love, and material wealth, but, God is not a politician.

Politicians, then, rely on free will. So, policy decisions are left to the feeble human mind. We must, then, fully expect our politicians to be well-informed about public policy. To ascertain one’s understanding of that is much easier, and indeed, more helpful.

I am very disappointed in Nightline for their story on the Saddleback Forum. In showing the clips from the candidate's answers to the question to define RICH only showed Obama's initial comments which was a joke about the book sales, and not the serious answer he gave a moment afterward. They compared that with McCain's idiotic response of "income of $5 million", which was his idea of a joke. What can you expect from someone who acknowledges that he knows nothing about our economy?

I think even the religious right will come to rue the day that politics and religion become completely intertwined. Where in the worlds history has the mingling of the two proven to be advantages to mankind? Do we really want a land where the government tells us what religion we must follow or a government that follows the whim of this or that religious leader? Over and over again history has shown the flaws in either scenario.

People are going to have their views on religion that is the nature of the human condition. A leader of a country can be a good leader no matter what their beliefs are, even if their belief is that there is no God. In fact one could argue that if one does not believe in God or follow any religion that they may well prove to be more responsible. Why or how could I say that? How do you act on a personal level when you know the buck stops with you? When there is no one that will bail you out? If you are a person that thinks only about yourself you will do what is best for you. If you are a person that thinks about how your actions affect others you will act in the best interest of everyone. So to me the greater question is does this person have the greater good of the country as their goal or does their personal agenda take precedent over everything else?

Believe it or not Christians were actually safer under Saddams' reign in Iraq than they are now. Saddam was an evil man there is no question but in the wake of his death Christians have paid a very high price. Why? Because religion plays and inordinately large role in the Iraqi government. For a very long time I have not been able to understand the religious rights political views and their inability to understand just how much freedom was given to us to govern ourselves on both personal and governmental levels by God. Now don’t get bent out of shape I am going to paraphrase here. Christ said, render unto Ceasar what is Cesar’s, do unto others as you would have done to you, and forgive us our trespasses as we for give those who trespass against us. All things that should teach us that we should be as good to each other as we would be to ourselves and that no one can come between you and God. And what about, let he who is without sin cast the first stone? Holding someone to a higher standard, what does that mean in reality? Whom is perfect and beyond reproach? Very few things in this world are black or white, most all of our decisions in life are some where on the gray scale. And hopefully our choices become wiser with each bit of knowledge gained. Does that mean that we should not look for the most qualified person, certainly not, only that we must weigh carefully what criteria we use to choose that person. And by the way to the best of my knowledge our current president has been an alcoholic and a drug user, yet the religious right had no problem backing him. Why because they let the Republican Party use their fears to lead them around by their noses. The Republican Party saw a huge voting block that was looking for political influence and they knew they would be easy to manipulate. Fear has always been a great mobilizer. And the religious right was a plum ripe for the picking. What a coupe. The Republican Party has held the sway with the religious right since the Reagan years.

But now lets remind ourselves of the biggie. God gave us the CHOICE to believe in him or not. He left that in our flawed hands. In our flawed hands he left the care of our very souls. If he left that, the most important personal choice we have to make for ourselves, to us, don’t you think he will let us make our lives as painful or blissful as we choose? Don’t you think he will just like we control weather or not our home is neat or messy, we control weather or not we protect the planet or harm it? I have heard too many times to count that God gave us dominion over the earth with out acknowledgement that, that means any harm we do to it is our responsibility also.

Now I am not forgetting that we do not control every aspect of our lives. In very real ways we control nothing, except ourselves, and how we choose to react to what has happened in our lives. Yes I have read Job. Having said that that does not mean we get to be irresponsible. It is a circle. What we do does matter.

I know this is getting off track and I am teetering on the edge of a rant, but really our government was set up to give us as many personal freedoms as possible and still have us be able to act as a unit. How we accomplish that is a very messy process but to date it seems to be one of the better systems in the world. Flawed, certainly. Room for improvement, certainly. But wouldn’t you rather have the problem of too many freedoms than too few? It is always a balancing act between the freedoms of the individual and what is the greater good for the country. Personally I would think that the country would be more concerned about the freedoms we have lost in the last 8 years than pushing some religious agenda. That the country should be more concerned about the environment, health care, growing unemployment, the housing problem, the education of our children, etc. Why did I put the environment first? The earth is the home God gave us. He set it up the system to run in a certain way and yes we can throw that system so much out of wack so that it no longer sustains life or so that life becomes incredibly difficult. We have technologies up the butt, yet even when we have ones that can save us we don’t use them. Everyone knew Katrina was coming, technology gave us that knowledge but we did not use it. How can I say that? Where was the majority of the NATIONAL guard? They were being used as regular army in Iraq and other places because our military is spread too thin. Had the National Guard been mobilized as efficiently as it could have been Katrina’s effects would have been far less harmful to our citizens. Certainly the property damage would still have been devastating. But had the manpower that could have been brought to bear been available doctors would not have been left in hospitals trying to comfort the dying in squalor. And when a television show can build extravagant homes in a week, what could have been done?

Global warming is Katrina for the planet, we have the technology and we are refusing to use it. We could be the world leader in green technologies, why aren’t we?

I am certain, because I have had this conversation with many people, that there are a large number of you out there that will say God won’t let the earth end until he is ready. Well…no man knows the hour, we have been given free will, and we have been given dominion, how difficult do you want life on earth to become before Christ returns? As of yet I don’t know where you can buy property on another planet or that we have perfected terra forming as a science. So whacha gonna do? Sit on the hill and wait for Christ to come or get busy and take care of the house he gave us?

A solid leader is a solid leader no matter what their religious beliefs.

Please note I always say religious right not Christian. The religious right as I have always viewed it is a political movement. Not a Christian movement. Some people think I mean all of Christendom when I say the religious right. I do not. Not all Christians believe in the things the religious right put forth.

Well I was wrong I was in full rant mode.

Well, Obama really blew Saddleback!
The bottom line is you do not spend 20 plus years sitting under a radical like Rev. Wright, a Black Liberation Theologian aka "Potty Mouth" and say "religion is irrelevant".
Let me give you an excerpt from Dr. James Cone distinguished Professor, and creator of Black Liberation Theology:

Cone writes: "Theologically, Malcolm X was not far wrong when he called the white man 'the devil.'

"Perhaps the most widely quoted of James Cone's expressions of black liberation theology is this one:
"Black theology cannot accept a view of God which does not represent God as being for oppressed blacks and thus against white oppressors. Living in a world of white oppressors, blacks have no time for a neutral God. The brutalities are too great and the pain too severe, and this means we must know where God is and what God is doing in the revolution. There is no use for a God who loves white oppressors the same as oppressed blacks. We have had too much of white love, the love that tells blacks to turn the other cheek and go the second mile. What we need is the divine love as expressed in black power, which is the power of blacks to destroy their oppressors, here and now, by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject God's love." [A Black Theology of Liberation, p. 70]

If after you have read the above and think religion has no relevance, take a step back. Because in the end, the two greatest influences in our thinking after parents is education, and religion, or the lack thereof!
Do not be fooled for a minute! Obama is by far the foremost closet racist in this country with a definitive black agenda, including monetary reparations to black America in the billions.Don't you find it a little coincidental that 2008 was the first year congress apologized for "Jim Crow Laws"?

Obama: "I want a V.P. who will challenge my thinking"
Dear Voters,
We sent out letters to the "National Undergraduate Teachers Society for Kids in Kindergarten" (N.U.T.S.K.I.K.) for short. All of the teachers said they were not interested.
In fact, when word got out that kindergarten teachers were being solicited for the V.P. slot, kindergartner's across the country planned mass protest. Their spokes-child, Career kindergartner Nancy Pelousey replied "We object to us being compared to someone like Obama, his qualifications make him an irrelevant candidate for class president, let alone President of the United States.
Sincerely,
N.U.T.S.K.I.K.

P.S. We chose Nancy Pelousey, career kindergartner to represent us because, she was the only cry baby who could best represent the intellectual diversity of our six year old constituency.

Thank you for pointing out yet another example of the error in mixing politics and religion. Every thing I have learned about Reverend Wright and his ilk simply proves the point that religion and politics should not be mixed. Reverend Wright and those like him have placed politics ABOVE religion and are using the pulpit to put forth a political agenda. The bible ultimately speaks to an INDIVIDUAL’S choices. For any theologian to profess that God embraces all blacks and condemns all whites is patently incorrect. That is not unlike a Muslim condemning all Christians, a Catholic condemning all Protestants or a Jew condemning everyone else because they are not Jewish. Never mind that all three of those examples leave out a plethora of religions. However, these are the ones that all claim Abraham, to the best of my knowledge, and look at the differences just there. Those differences alone are yet another reason why the “Church and State” should be separate.

Now let me head this off at the pass before you go down that rabbit hole. “Our nation was founded on “Christian” beliefs”, well, which form of Christianity are you claiming? Do you want the state to pick one? Should a Catholic be forced into a Southern Baptist church? Or Baptists be forced to go to an Episcopalian church? The list could go on and on, but you say at least those are “Christian” religions”. Yeah, well wars have been fought over the “differences” between “Christian” religions too. Anyone remember Martin Luther and the Catholic Church and all that ensued because of that. Or England and the Catholic Church, which lead to the Church of England. And lets not forget Ireland and Northern Ireland. If differences in “Christian” religions were so insignificant why have all these things and more happened?

Now if the question is, why did Obama attended a church that from what the “outside” world had been shown, preaches reverse racism and a hatred of America, that is a different question, than the one that was posed to Rick Warren and the one that we have been talking about here, theoretically at any rate.

Any leader of a flock should be careful about using the pulpit as a bully pulpit to put forth a political agenda because they hold too much power over their flock, no matter what the color of their flock.

Separation of Church and State, allows the Churches to be Churches and the Government to be Government. Both would do well to remember that.

It is when people forget the lessons of the past and seek to combine the two so that they can push their own PERSONAL agendas via swaying the masses this way or that, that we as mankind get into trouble.

Rick Warren either did not explain himself well or he is prop porting a backdoor attack on the separation of church and state.

Now if what he meant was church members can petition the government just like any other citizen he is correct.

If however he means that churches and their leaders, as a religious organization should be able to in effect “write law” without political process, he is incorrect.

He also was cute in his use of the phrase separation of church and state and the phrase worldview. Now if he meant a Christian looks at the world through a different set of glasses than an atheist will, well, yes I would think that is so, but if he meant that an atheist is incapable of making decisions that are the best for our country because he is not a follower of the religious right or any given religion, that is a different thing. It seemed to me that his use of the phrases “separation of church and state” “the church and politics” and “world view” were a wink wink nudge nudge way of saying that if you were not a religious right follower you were incapable of making decisions that were “correct” for our country.

Also, there is a fundamental difference between trying to infiltrate a government by placing those who “will vote your way” into power than petitioning the government.
That holds true for any idiotology, no that wasn’t a spelling mistake, that is trying to push their agenda over what is best for the country at large and for the long term.

We have ended up with the two party system because of the “us versus them” mentality already; do we really want to throw more fuel on that fire?

When did we completely loose our ability to look for the best IDEAS over this or that ideology?

The GOVERNMENT should GOVERN ALL layers of society justly.

The CHURCH should serve mankind’s soul.

And by the by if the Churches were doing such a bang up job of teaching morality they would not be looking to control the masses through political means. Far from it, their parishioners would be changing the world one person at a time. Individuals choose to do “what is right” or not based on their own internal sense of things and needs. Base needs going unmet can drive anyone to wrongdoing.

Both Reverend White and Rick Warren should remember what freedoms the separation of church and state allow them. As should all Americans.

Well at least it was a shorter rant.

Presidential contenders have their right to whatever belief or non-belief they choose. And as full citizens of this country we, the religious right, have every right to seek this out and vote our conscience. After all the liberal atheists have more bully pulpits than we do, we outnumber them but we are more unorganized than the Democrat Party.

Why do you allow your reporters to announce if Obama has enough experience to be a president? George Bush Jr., and his father, former President , had experience? WHAT experience did George Senior and Jr have TO MAKE A FACTOR? And look at the out come??
President Bush Jr. only wanted to finish the job, that his father could'nt do. And that was the Gulf War against Sadaam. Ask every American Citizen today why we are at War TODAY and, EVERY OPINION WOULD BE DIFFERENT? That's because we all know that we cannot change how Irrac Live...
Thier children will live thier beliefs and traditions then so on...... Let's mind our own business and take care of.. One nation under God?? Let's take care of our AMERICAN's YOUTH?? (Loggo} STAY SMART! FINISH WHAT YOU START!!