The interviews of McCain and Obama at Saddleback Church by Rick Warren were very interesting. I liked that the candidates were not confronting or reacting to each other. It gave a chance to focus on each candidate separately. I’d like to see more such interviews.
The contrast between the candidates was also interesting, less for their positions on issues, which are already pretty clear, than for their style.
McCain’s answers were refreshingly clear and crisp. His supporters would say that he knows what he thinks and isn’t afraid to say it. His detractors would say that he has a simplistic black and white view of a gray world.
Obama’s responses were much more nuanced and complex. His supporters would say that he sees more than one side to issues and understands that there aren’t simple answers to complicated problems. His detractors would say that he skirted around the questions and talked more like a politician than a leader.
Overall I would think that people already solidly in one camp or the other were probably not swayed by the interviews. But my feeling was that McCain might have gained a few supporters from those who didn’t know him well. He came across as friendly, frank and clear on his positions. I think he said “My friends” a little too often, but overall gave a good impression.
On the other hand, Obama is probably better known already because of the fascination with him as an unconventional candidate, so there was less room for people to learn about him.
Of course people with strong feelings one way or the other about abortion, Iraq, socialized medicine, etc. care less about presentation than substance, but I suspect that these people are in the minority. Charisma often beats content.
Personally I think the questions about faith are irrelevant and improper. The Constitution says there can be no religious tests for candidates. On the other hand, I understand that this is an important issue for many citizens. I can imagine if Thomas Jefferson were a candidate today he might have some real problems confessing that he was not a Christian and that he denied the divinity of Christ.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Richard // Aug 19, 2008 at 2:25 pm
It is interesting that some of the men we consider to be the best presidents in our history were Deists and not Christians. That includes Washington, Jefferson, Adams and Abraham Lincoln. It seems you don’t have to be a Christian to be a great president.
2 Richard // Aug 19, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I hit the enter key before I intended. I also meant to add that some of our great presidents have been Christians, so I tend to agree with you Daryl. Whether or not a candidate is of any particular faith, or no faith at all, should have no bearing on his qualifications as president. Now that we have a black candidate, I wonder when we will have our first Muslim candidate?
3 Donna // Aug 19, 2008 at 9:36 pm
They were very interesting interviews. I was annoyed with McCain’s frequent “my friends”, and Obama’s stuttering drove me nuts. But it gave me clearer insight into each man’s character and positions on issues that are important to me. I was impressed with some aspects of both candidates answers. They both seemed well prepared; in fact Obama admitted he had cheated and prepared an answer beforehand. (I was confused by the accusation that McCain had listened in on Obama’s answers, as I thought both candidates must have been given the questions beforehand. Their answers seemed more prepared than spontaneous.)
In the end, my favorite man on stage was Rick Warren. Now there’s a man for president! 😉
4 Daryl // Aug 20, 2008 at 12:31 pm
It was stated that they were NOT given the questions before hand. In fact, McCain was in a sound-proof room during Obama’s interview, so he wouldn’t have an advantage by having extra time to think of the answers.
I think what Obama meant was that he had expected that question and was prepared for it.
I don’t know why anyone thinks that McCain was listening. I don’t think there’s any evidence of it, and his answers were very similar to other comments he has made during the campaign. I doubt that the network would have allowed it, nor would McCain have taken the chance of being caught.
Interestingly, during the debates in 2004, Bush was seen wearing an earpiece and there was lots of conjecture that he was being prompted. Nothing was ever proved.
5 Don // Aug 20, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Bush lied, people died. Time for a new tune since Bush will soon be gone.