Evangelicals praise McCain on performance at Rick Warren forum

Prominent evangelical leaders in the US gave Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain a thumbs up for the responses he gave to questions posed by Pastor Rick Warren at Saturday evening's Saddleback Civil Forum.

McCain was praised for clearly laying out his stance on divisive issues, such as abortion and the California marriage amendment, whilst Democratic rival Senator Barack Obama was criticised for what some saw as unclear or safe answers.

"I also thought Senator McCain did very well ... I was particularly impressed by his answer on people he admired," remarked Tom Minnery, senior vice president of Focus on the Family, during the teleconference with evangelical leaders following the forum.

"He went right to General Petraeus ... And I contrast that to Senator Obama, who when asked who influences him the most, he mentioned his wife ... his grandmother - those are safe nominations."

Minnery also criticised Obama for saying that he supports marriage between a man and a woman, whilst at the same time stating his support for same-sex civil unions.

"You cannot square the circle as he is trying to do," Minnery said. "Either you support marriage or you do not. He says one thing. By his actions, he indicates another thing."

Janet Folger, national radio host and president of Faith2Action, commented on Obama's response to the abortion issue. Obama answered the question, "When does a baby get human rights?", by saying that it was "above my pay grade" to give a specific answer. Folger believes his response does not accurately reflect his voting record.

According to his record, a baby never receives human rights, Folger charges.

"He's the only senator in the entire Senate in Illinois who actually stood on the floor and spoke against protecting babies that were completely severed from the mother, that had survived the assault of an abortion," said Folger. "That answer should have been 'never'. He tried to avoid it, and it tells me that he shouldn't be getting the pay grade of President."

Meanwhile, McCain "without hesitation" stated that life begins at conception, Folger pointed out.

She also praised the Republican candidate for making it "very, very clear" on whom he would appoint to the Supreme Court.

Senators McCain and Obama met at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, on Saturday for their first joint appearance as the two presumptive presidential nominees of their party. Some 6,500 people attended the forum as millions more watched via live broadcast.

Minnery said it was groundbreaking that such an event had taken place at a church.

"[T]he idea that two presidential candidates would sit down with an evangelical pastor and answers questions like this is historic," said the FOTF official.

Several evangelical leaders, noting their concerns prior to the event, applauded Pastor Rick Warren for not shying away from asking questions about the abortion issue.

Bishop Harry Jackson, who stood out from other evangelical leaders during the teleconference for being an African-American and a registered Democrat, said he believed Senator McCain "closed the deal" at Saturday's forum.

"I think he made a clear contrast between himself and Barack Obama. Many evangelicals will vote for him."