It was an interesting two hours, far quieter and more reflective than most of what we'll see before the election (or afterwards, most likely). It's doubtful than anyone's mind was changed but perhaps it served to focus some of the reasons people support Obama or McCain.  Rick Warren, he of the huge best seller "Purpose-Driven Life" which Ashley Smith used so brilliantly three years ago in that hideous face-off with Brian Nichols (read my take on that unusual incident if you're interested), hosted Obama and McCain for a values intererview, if you will.  The idea was to ask questions about moral and philosophical outlook. Questions like "what was your greatest moral failing" and "what do you think is the best and the worst in America at the moment."

I thought McCain seemed kind of punchy and a bit odd in his delivery but maybe that's just him and I haven't seen longish interviews with him before.  He generally spouted campaign statements he's rehearsed and said before even if they didn't quite fit the question.  A few people have observed that McCain seemed to know the questions, but I think (hope) that was mostly because the topics and questions were what a church audience would want to know and therefore would be familiar to McCain, more so than to Obama. McCain was essentially speaking to his base or at least to a base that he hopes will vote for him, given the size of the religious "bloc" and their impact on elections in the U.S. at present.  I thought that Obama seemed to be considering the questions and answering in a thoughtful tone and I found his comments interesting.

The moral integrity issue is being discussed all over the place today, as McCain acknowledged his greatest moral failing as his treatment of his first wife, but I'm puzzled by the adulation he nevertheless garners because of his observance of the "code of conduct" as a prisoner of war. Why is one so much more important than the other?  And (don't yell at me for asking this) how is it relevant that at one time he was a very decent soldeir when at another time he was a deceptive and dishonest husband?

Ironically, Warren is viewed with skepticism by many of the so-called religious right because he supposedly has some liberal viewpoints. One of his greatest strengths, as he displayed in his introduction last night, is his passion for civility and calmness in discourse among people who may differ and disagree.  Given the enormous differences between this year's candidates, if he could convince extremists on the right, perhaps others could convince extremists on the left and all of here in the wide middle will benefit.

Labels: 2008 election, reflections, tv