Obama on His Biggest Moral Failure
EmailWhen Pastor Rick Warren asked Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., about his biggest moral failure, Obama recalled his teenage years which led him to use drugs and alcohol.
“I had a difficult youth. My father wasn’t in the house,” the presumptive Democratic nominee answered. “There were times where I experimented with drugs. I drank, you know, in my teenage years.”
Senator Obama has written about his past drug use and drinking as a teenager, but rarely mentions it on the campaign trail without being asked.
“What I traced this to is a certain selfish necessary on my part. I was so obsessed with me…It’s not about me," Obama said, coincidentally paraphrasing the first line of Warren’s best-selling "The Purpose-Driven Life."
"I like that," Warren joked, "I like that."
Obama told Pastor Warren at the famed Saddleback Church that growing meant recognizing it was not all about him, and something more.
“When I find myself taking the wrong step, I think a lot of the times it’s because I’m trying to protect myself instead of trying to do God’s work.”
When asked what America’s greatest moral failure is, Obama said not helping the disadvantaged.
“Whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me,” Obama said quoting the principle from the Book of Matthew — that "whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me" — that he believes America has not always abided by.
“That basic principle applies to poverty. It applies to racism and sexism. It applied to, you know, not having – not thinking – about providing ladders of opportunity for people to get into the middle class.”
– Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller
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Guess he still hasn’t learned his “it’s all about me” lesson.
Posted by: Emm | August 16, 2008, 10:38 pm 10:38 pm
Obama this … Obama that …
Is ABC going to report the WHOLE campaign as a one-man race?
Posted by: mlwheeler | August 16, 2008, 11:17 pm 11:17 pm
Have You?Its easy to assimuilate a lot of knowledge and still be totally selfish.
Posted by: tj | August 16, 2008, 11:20 pm 11:20 pm
As a “born-again Christian” myself, I would like to emphasize that not all of us are so-called “cultural conservatives”.
It was good of Pastor Warren to host the Civil Forum on the Presidency at his church.
However, as Pastor Warren’s best-selling book “The Purpose Driven Life” states in its opening: “It’s not about you.”
Thus, this election is NOT about cultural conservatives or evangelical Christians either.
It is about what is good for America and what is good for the world.
We have had two miserable presidential terms which were all about what was good for cultural conservatives and evangelical Christians and these two terms have been a selfish disgrace!
These last two terms were to America what the Pharisaical rule was to the Holy Land.
We must remember that Jesus said: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Let’s do good for America and for the world as well.
Regardless of race, national origin, religion or no religion, please elect Senator Barack Obama President of the United States.
Posted by: Robert Campbell | August 16, 2008, 11:23 pm 11:23 pm
“When I find myself taking the wrong step, I think a lot of the times it’s because I’m trying to protect myself instead of trying to do God’s work.”
………. this is pandering at its most disingenuous level! I can hardly wait for the debates .. McCain took this one and he will take the debates!!
Posted by: paris1969 | August 16, 2008, 11:26 pm 11:26 pm
It is amazing to me that the media immediately called the evening a win for McCain. Obama gave much more thoughtful and detailed responses. Maybe the media does not have the needed attention span for more that McCain’s short answers.
I liked David Gergen’s answer the best, he is always thoughtful and has a better attention span. Gergen talked about McCain’s, I will punch you in the nose if you do
agree.
Posted by: Julie | August 16, 2008, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm
Have You?Its easy to assimuilate a lot of knowledge and still be totally selfish.I am replying to emm’s early statement.
Christ does not walk a party line .I believe he would find good and bad in each doctrines and practices.Remember he is not of this world.Don’t become confused with politics and spirituality.I have met many different people on this earth who have their own walk and personal experience with what it means to be a “christian”,believe me it is more then what the “Evangellical worldview” trys to define it, which is predominately North American culturally biased.”Religion” is neat and tidy,walking with the Lord is sometimes messy and uncertain.Are you willing?
May the Creator bless you in your searches
TJ
Posted by: tj | August 16, 2008, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm
Obama saying it’s not all about me, kinda made me choke. Back stage with Obama, Presidential seals, and now Designer fashion for Obama tee shirts…sure seems a little biased toward Obama, as he gives final approval on thses things.
His comments that I have seen so far were thoughtful but when I watched McCain he was right there with his answers….and wet into much more detail than what it appears Obama did as it relates to america and my life.
M only fear on McCain is his age. Obama is very intelligent but more of a policy wonk than a leader.
Right now at this time in our history we need a Leader…I am leaning towards McCain for right now.
Mor debates will seal the deal. I like Obama but I don;t think he is ready to lead. Yet.
Posted by: i am so I can!!!! | August 16, 2008, 11:38 pm 11:38 pm
Obama is all about Obama all the time.
Obama shyed back on his pro-abortion, Just a while back he said his daughters could have them,
He shy’d back on is gay support.
Of course that is the Obama way.
Posted by: seah | August 17, 2008, 12:02 am 12:02 am
Robert Campbell, I am born again Christian. The best post ever……..
Posted by: chris | August 17, 2008, 12:12 am 12:12 am
Unfortunately, McCain isn’t even as smart as Bush. The next President should have an IQ above 75.
Posted by: James | August 17, 2008, 12:13 am 12:13 am
Obama, is the one to lead.
Posted by: mary | August 17, 2008, 1:40 am 1:40 am
Looks like McCain wins the Presidency in a landslide right on top Obama and somehow the left will still find another useless candidate to get slaughtered in 2012. What is with the Democrats that even in a perfect storm they can’t present a winner? If Obama were the least bit credible he would have won this year easily. It is so ironic that this happened again. Obama is toast after tonight.
Posted by: joe | August 17, 2008, 1:42 am 1:42 am
personally i enjoyed the opportunity to get a more personal insight into what makes these two men tick…as a hillary supporter i have not yet decided who i will vote for. i was impressed with mccain’s wit, intelligent answers, and sincerity. i felt that obama was timid, and clumsy.
on one hand i do not want a commander in chief that shoots from the hip, on the other hand i don’t want a commander in chief that is timid and unsure of himself either.
Posted by: sonia trevino | August 17, 2008, 2:00 am 2:00 am
so if obama gets the 3 am call is he going to call grandma or michelle? anyway i thought that was funny, got to have a little humor. i can see the republican ad machine having allot of fun with that one.
Posted by: sonia trevino | August 17, 2008, 2:34 am 2:34 am
McCain was the clear winner.You know where he stands. He was sure of his answers.
Obama,with out a prepared speech , seemed timid and unsure. His answer life conception was disturbing.He evaded the question. Bottom line, Obama will say and do whatever is politically expediant.
He will not put country first.
these are troubling times, we need
a strong firm leader.
Posted by: Frank | August 17, 2008, 2:34 am 2:34 am
What is Obama’s biggest moral failure – it’s hard to know where to begin. I believe that Obama’s biggest moral failure is promising the American people, particularly the economically poor, THAT THE FED WILL LIFT THEM UP. Good moral values and a strong will to succeed is required. Also, a religious belief system can be of great help in this area – BUT THE FED?? WHAT A BUNCH OF BULL!!!
Posted by: Manitu | August 17, 2008, 8:41 am 8:41 am
McCain said he’d put America first. Nice to hear a candidate say that in so many words.
Posted by: MildApplause | August 17, 2008, 9:31 am 9:31 am
obama gave clear concise answers maybe not the ones you want to hear but take note he listened to the question asked then answered that makes a good leader.obama is methodical and lawyer that is the difference,mccain says the first thing that comes out his head did not see him as a winner due i felt mccain was given a stump speech, he has a problem with details you really do not know where he stands except he wants to fight and go to war that was obvious
Posted by: dmb | August 17, 2008, 10:57 am 10:57 am
The ‘biggest moral failure’ of a 47 years old man is…something he did when he was a teenager!! WOW! He truly is the One!
I guess it’s a step forward from ‘I made no mistakes’ Bush, small step, but something.
Posted by: Rick | August 17, 2008, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
“obama gave clear concise answers ”
Like his response on when life begins, which was “it’s above my pay grade”.
This from the man who would be president.
Abortion is obviously a complex and emotioinal issue, but jeez…..maybe life begins on the 53rd day, heh?
Posted by: notafool | August 17, 2008, 1:25 pm 1:25 pm
McCain came off as the “grown-up”; Obama as an inexperienced kid.
Posted by: dazey | August 17, 2008, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
McCain was the clear, concise winner here as he will be in November. I feel better and better as this election process goes forward.
Posted by: Jaycee | August 18, 2008, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm