Saddleback Burns: McCain Wasn’t in “Code of Silence”; McCain Camp Complains to Media for Passing On Allegation He Heard Questions Ahead of Time

Furthermore, McCain’s claims that the media is biased against him is the most ridiculous charge ever…(read baloney, lie, gross misrepresentation). They have been whining about this entire time, but the fact of the matter is that the media holds Obama to a much higher standard and reports directly and admittedly from McCain talking points 90% of the time. But I bet we’ll see all the crybabies out on this blog today saying that the media is in the bag for Obama. Get real, 72% of the media articles are disparaging to Obama while less than half are as critical of McCain. Add to this that McCain has made more frequent and more important gaffes than Obama, but that these receive little to no press coverage and it is clear to see who is favored in the media. Truth hurts, I guess that’s why the repubs disconnect themselves from it.

McCain people are starting to sound Orwellian.
An ex-POW that lies can, for instance, cheat on their wife, get involved in multi-billion dollar Saving and Loan scandal, for starters.

Obama’s poor performance was all on him. His low points:
1. Two times he resorted to using his “default answer” – that he was opposed to the Iraq war from the beginning. Neither time did it answer the question that was asked (bipartisanship and gut-wrenching decision questions).
2. He was unnecessarily harsh in his criticism of Clarence Thomas and by criticizing Thomas’ inexperience, even managed to shine a light on the fact that he (Obama) is probably not ready for the job he’s applying for either.

So is this scam artist of a preacher to answer questions on whether lying in a sin? Who would have thought that the loser in this debate would be the preacher.

All scientific textbooks on embryology agree with the bible in that human life begins at conception. see http://www.abort73.com/HTML/I-A-1-medical.html
So there is no question from a theological or scientific perspective. Obama even opposed legislation requiring care for a born infant that survived a botched abortion. So regardless of when life starts Obama does not care about protecting innocent life.
Baptists believe people are saved by grace through faith. Baptism is a symbol or outward expression of an existing faith. Followers of Jesus Christ have recognized and admitted separation from God by disobediance. They turn from living by their own rules and commit to following God’s plan. Believe Jesus died to pay the price for your wrongdoing/breaking the 10 commandments and receive forgiveness. Commit by act of will and heart to trust him and follow him. Put him in the pilot seat of your life. Then be baptized because he commanded it and do it the way he did it – by submersion. Baptism is from Greek baptizo which means submersion or immerse.
Separation of church and state – this is not in the Constitution. The first amendment says, “Congress shall MAKE NO LAW respecting an ESTABLISHMENT of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;…” (emphasis my own) This simply means the gov cannot force Americans to follow a certain religion and cannot establish a state religion. There is no indication of intent to separate faith from politics. That is impossible. Everyone has faith in something. Everyone has a worldview.
McCain did not know the questions ahead of time. If he had he could of come up with something original. He’s already said most of what we heard last night. Most answers were short and anecdotal. He had brief answers then went on and told a POW story. He didn’t even answer how being a Christian affects his day to day life.

This has got to be up there on the list of ridiculous ‘controversies’ of the campaign season and if you include the primaries it’s a long list. At any rate, the standard procedure is for candidates to be given a general outline of what kinds of questions/topics they’ll be asked about. Candidates will then do prep work, days, even weeks, ahead of time.
I’m not a McCain supporter but think about the suggestion here that McCain heard the questions and gained an advantage. The two went back to back. You’re being asked to believe that McCain intercepted the questions and formulated new answers on the fly that were better than the ones he prepped for. So he would’ve literally been formulating his answers while Barack was answering. Sorry but it ain’t happening; McCain’s not that quick and if he is we need to vote for him now.
Whoever in the Obama campaign that’s complaining or promoting this idea really needs to walk it back and rethink it. McCain did well (good for him but whoop-dee-do). However, suggesting McCain cheated makes it sound like (1) McCain kicked O’s behind and (2) that Obama is a whiner. If you’re a democrat or an Obama fan that’s not exactly a great message to send.

Davis’ letter is very interesing. It does actually offer any proof that what Andrea Mitchell said was wrong. Actually all he is complaining about is the objectivity of NBC’s coverage.
The interesting point is further emphasised by Davis’ first point, he says ‘There is not one shred of evidence that it’s true.’ Thats not the same as saying its not true. I am sure if there wasn’t any truth in the allegation Davis would be out denying it straight out and offering evidence.
In the forum and format that Warren had operating, knowing the questions and how your rival has answered the questions is a huge advantage. I think someone shoud directly ask McCain where he was for the hour that Obama was answering questions.

“the insinuation from the Obama campaign that John McCain, a former POW, cheated is outrageous”??
What does being a former POW have to do with the question of whether or not he “cheated”? It’s not as if the man is a total stranger to “cheating.” Ask his first wife.

The Obama crybabies are out in full force again.
When are you going to pull out the RACE CARD.

Race card?
Obama is bi-racial and he transcends race, unless you believe in the one-drop rule, like bigots do! Obama is half black, half white, and ALL American, since we’re all immigrants too.

erik: “All scientific textbooks on embryology agree with the bible in that human life begins at conception.”
First: you won’t find anywhere in the Bible that ‘Life begins at conception’.
What can be found in the Bible is a recipe for Induced Abortion, administered by the priest (see Numbers 5, 16).
How science views life does not equal human being. An amoebe is life as well.
“Obama even opposed legislation requiring care for a born infant that survived a botched abortion. So regardless of when life starts Obama does not care about protecting innocent life.”
That’s a blatant lie. Obama voted against other segments of that bill that would have eroded settled Law: Roe v Wade; State law allready required that doctors administered care to infants.
Using ‘your’ logic then McCain voted against funding the troops and against funding the war, seriously jeopardizing the safety of the troops in harms way. McCain might protest against such a conclusion because he voted against any timeline in those bills but that would be a moot point, according to you.

why was mccain late? why did they start the program when they put so much emphasis on each candidate would not be able to hear the questions? its a legit question to ask.

More Pandering from the Left Media for Obama. This is a blatant lie concieved by the Obama campaign to cover up his poor performance MCCAIN.
Typical. Guess the media has not figured out the public does not trust them.

That’s the answer. Every McCain answer seemed so well prepared. Calculated for political reasoning. There were even times Pastor Warren didn’t even finish asking the question and McCain answered.
I was right. Obama’s answers were more genuwine and less calculated. McCain was all about pandering to his base and the audience.

McCain gave 3 answers on education before Warren had a chance to ask a single question.
McCain is blatently dishonest and now we should trust him that he did not listen to Obama’s QA session? If you believe that I have some swampland to sell you.

Hey “RealDemocrat” Like your man John Bush McCain, you blame the media for exposing the truth. The Republicans, and you are really a “Real Republican,” have been doing this for year. It’s the “liberal” media’s fault, forgetting that the media is owned mostly by rich Republicans. The Democrats are the “tax and spend” party, ignoring the fact that George Bush has created the largest deficit in history and one of the most bloated governments. It seems that the Republican War Party will even cheat to win. So much for ethics.

I thought at one time john mccain said his biggest faliure and wrong doing was being caught up in the keating 5 scandal and almost losing his senate seat John mccain knew those questions he was answering them too quickly before they were even asked all the way.

You ever notice that when Obama does poorly, he blames 1) race, 2) the Clintons 3) the questioner 4) his preacher 5) his grandma 6)everyone else.
Obama is a coddled baby, and he was shown to be an amateur, and now he blames the cone of silence. As both candidates knew what the questions were going to be in advance, isn’t Obama just once again pretending to be perfect?

Denny sweatheart, he was in the trenches in Chicago. He worked in the projects with the poor and disadvantaged of this country. Not everyone is meant for the military, but EVERYONE should serve their country in some capacity and I think Mr Obama did his service by getting help for them. Just because you were a POW doesnt; mean you’ll make a good president.

Of course he knew the questions…you all could see that…and to not follow up and be sure he was already secured before this began is totally uneceptable. But then again,Warren really is leaning toward Mccain because of his abortion stance. Just remember preventing abortion doesn’t put food on our tables….

I noticed McCain spent most of his time telling stories and not actually answering the harder questions such as what does his religion mean to you….he didn’t want to talk about it. As a Christian I find this disturbing. I cannot warm up to this man and cannot invision him as president. He laughed an awful lot and it seemed a very strained, nervous laugh.

As I read the different blogs, you wonder how many of these bloggers watched the forum?? Also, if you have ever watched Andrea Mitchell’s show, she is Pro Obama, if a pro McCain rep. comes on her show, she will not let them answer, she cuts them off. And watch her, She gets this look on her face when she talks about Obama, the coming of the next Messiah. Warren sent each candidate a sample of some of the topics that would be discussed, McCain took the forum serious, Obama tried to BS his way through it. I was for Clinton, and I can not vote for Obama, he does not have the experience or knowledge to protect and run our country. And I am sick and tired of being called a “racist”, it have nothing to do with him being half black. It has everything to do with his policy,his past, and what he wants to do with this country in the future! If he was so great, why are the polls so close. Americans have gotten over the honeymoon with Obama, they have come back to earth!! Don’t you wonder how many Obama supporters have actually read his website, and how many are just looking at his skin color. Get educated, American’s!!

You know what i think is funny alot of people will vote mccain because of abortion,And that is pretty much all they agree with and really agree more with obama, it should not be anyones concern what a woman chooses,It is the womans choice NOT THE GOVERMENTS and the republicans cry they want small goverment,But then again let the goverment tell her her choices, abortion birth control etc please its the WOMANS CHOICE NOT MCCAINS NOT THE GOVERMENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw bits and pieces but I’m a little confused .. didn’t Obama and McCain meet on stage BEFORE Obama was interviewed first? If so, how would McCain be in a motorcade? OR – did they meet on stage after Obama was interviewed .. sorry – I’m confused here because I didn’t see it all.

Obama answers = smart and thoughful.
Mccain = simple aggressive short pitches.
One of these two types of answers is what we have had for 8 years. You decide which is the way we should go now after the answers from the last 8 years are what got us here.
Cowboy diplomacy is what got us here.

HP Boston, you are confused. Bobby Jindal told McCain he didn’t want to be his VP pick. I can understand Jindal, as a young man why hitch your wagon to a looser like McCain.

Carrie if you KNEW the Obama campaign would start “this” rumor, why didn’t you warn the McCain campaign before hand?? Surely they would have taken steps to get to the “church on time”.

Both Obama and McCain obviously had access to the questions ahead of time. Obama won’t do a forum without knowing what he is going to be asked. His campaign has made this very clear. Think about when he answered “I cheated, I actually looked at this plan ahead of time,” or when asked about judges, said, “this was a harder question.” The difference is that Obama prepared vague answers from his campaign stump and McCain obviously had an easier time being truthful and direct in his answers. Remember when Obama was asked to town hall meetings, and he said that he would would prefer a Lincoln-Douglas style debate with previous access to questions being asked? They both knew what they were getting themselves into. This whining and accusing is making him look REALLY bad.

I am an Obama supporter but I guess we should let this go. Obama was good too but Mccain was better on that day. It may have been stump speeches but he succeeded because we know nothing about his faith. But,Obama just has to work on forthcoming debates. He should be talking and facing Americans and not the interviewer and he should also learn how to use high school english and not saying that was above his pay grade. No high school student will understand that.Mccain though definitely was not in a cone of silence, he is deceiving himself if he believes that Americans will agree with him that after coming in 35 minutes into a forum,he did not know the questions. Face it, in an examination, he would not even be allowed to take the exams, Nevertheless, the questions that they both had prior knowledge, on Obama’s part, his answers were good but it could have been better. Mccain may jump ahead in the polls after this but the election is not lost. That was a forum and not a debate, he still has all it takes to win. He really impressed me yesterday at the town hall and he should continue to fight and be aggressive and Yes, he can.

Obama is a fraud. Fortunately, most of the people who will inwillingly suffer through an Obama presidency can afford it financially speaking. It’s the poor dems who are going to be dumfounded when they realize Obama’s idea of helping the poor means the Global Poverty Act. Don’t say we didn’t warn ya!

I don’t know why my comment was deleted. There was nothing offensive in it. Repeat: It was obvious that McCain and Obama both had access to the questions ahead of time. When asked about town hall meetings, Obama’s campaign was very clear that they preferred Lincoln/Douglass style with previous access to questions being asked. Remember when Obama said, “I cheated, I actually looked at this plan ahead of time,” or when asked about judges, said, “this was a harder question.” The difference is that Obama prepared vague answers from his campaign stump and McCain had the opportunity to provide honest, direct answers to support his record. The question is, do you want a candidate without a solid position or agenda, or a candidate who is honest and truthful about where he stands? If Obama botches the debates, what are you going to say then? He can’t copy McCain’s answers like he did Hillary’s because he is campaigning on having stark differences with McCain. The comparison between someone who dances around the issues and someone who answers with passion and a clear vision is going to look bad for Obama. Sorry.

OBAMA AT THE VERY LEAST TELLS THE TRUTH.
AND MCCAIN IS NOTHING MORE THAN A BAREFACED LIER AND TELLS US WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR–NOT WHAT HE REALLY IS ABOUT.HIS PAST IS ENOUGH PROOF.HE WOULD SET WOMENS RIGHTS BACK 100 YEARS.ASK HIS FIRST WIFE AND FAMILY HOW MORAL HE IS.

Mccain trying to fight Andrea Mitchell will only hurt him. Trying to fight Andrea Mitchell and saying he could not have cheated because he is a POW is laughable. People remember the stories on how he cheated on his wife and he will only be drawing a closer scrutiny on that issue.

I want to understand the purpose of the Rick Warren forum. If Evangelicals wanted to be more clear on McCain’s views then they could have had a forum of their own. Evangelicals are not interested in what Obama thinks. These are people who would never vote for anyone who does not look like them. The Falwells, the Pat Robertsons and the Pat Buchanans, just to name a few, are not going to vote for an Obama. They will trash him, but not vote for him. I believe the majority of people know whom they will vote for. The Rick Warren forum did nothing to change my mind.
It’s interesting, nothing like this has been done before. Do you think the forum would have taken place if Hillary was the presumptive nominee for president? I’ll answer that for you, NO!
I have a problem with a lot that has gone on in this presidential campaign. For instance, the book Obama Nation is a disgrace. The person who wrote it is a “racist dog”. Yes, thats right, a racist dog! Will he write a book about McCain?
I think its interesting the news media jumped on the John Edwards story, but left John McCain’s infidelity go by without much talk. Is there a pattern here? There is obviously more republicans in the media (cable news) than Democrats.
America, the land of equal opportunity! But only if you look like the majority!

The sad thing about McCain is: the North
Vietnames were unable to break him; the Republicans have been proven to be far more succesfull.
8 years ago he called the Pat Robertsons and Jerry Falwells on the Right “Agents of Intolerance”, that was some serious Straight Talk and 100% correct. Now he can’t stop kissing these people’s butts.

If Obama had the guts to sit on the stage at the same time as McCain and answer the questions….without a teleprompter…..there would be no need for a “cone of silence.” The same lack of guts causes him to keep running from the town hall meeting style debates. McCain isn’t afraid of answering questions face to face, man to man. I’d like to see both candidates answer twenty questions that can only be answered yes or no. No explanations or clarifications. No excuses. Obama wouldn’t have the guts for that either.

The way Obama portaits McCain as old and senile. McCain couldn’t remember the questions even if he heard them.

I believed McCain cheated!
There having said that it does not matter if he cheated, He still has the monumental problem of explaining his policies and solutions. In the light of day McCain’s solutions are bogus.
Obama 08

The problem here is credibility.
We were led to believe that the candidate not on stage was sequestered in a Fortress of Solitude, presumably so that the appearance of impropriety was maintained. That one candidate couldn’t gain advantage over the other by virtue of knowing the others responses.
That is now called into question. Whether McCain heard Obama’s responses or not is immaterial. He wasn’t where he was supposed to be during the forum, and as a result, these questions arise.

Karen said, . . . . when Obama does poorly, he blames 1) race, 2) the Clintons 3) the questioner 4) his preacher 5) his grandma 6)everyone else. Karen, that pretty much sums up the man completely. I couldn’t have said it better myself!

Angelina
Very good point. When Warren cracked that joke, why didn’t McCain say he wasn’t in a cone of silence? This entire episode just smells to high heavens.

When are you going to pull out the RACE CARD.
Posted by: cryer | Aug 18, 2008 6:36:06 AM
——————————
We don’t do the Obuma race thingieee, BO is his own worst enemy………he is the master of race baiting!

McCain admitted many years ago his failings duing his first marriage. He isn’t denying it. Bill Clinton and Edwards both lied (and are still lying) about their involvement with other women.
Either way — it doesn’t make it right.
As for Obama he lies about facts regarding his father and his past. I wonder what he is hiding.

McCain was supposed to be in a cone of silence, in the church. Not riding around in a convoy with the ability to easily get the questions. I know a lot of you support mccain however turn on your thinking caps. We can disagree on politics, however honesty and fairplay is not the mccain campaign strong suit. lie to yourself, but not to me . i have my doubts about mccain.

McCain just gave scripted answers from his stump speech. I doubt he’d have changed even if he didn’t know Obama’s answers ahead of time.

Obama campaign should shut up about this…they’re looking weak. McCAIN WANTED TO DO THIS ON THE SAME STAGE TOGETHER PEOPLE. Why can’t everyone just accept, McCain knows who he is, what he believes in, and what he wants to do for this country. THANK GOD, WARREN DIDN’T HAVE TO FINISH HIS ANSWWERS LIKE HE DID THE BUMBLING OBAMA!!!!

“The insinuation from the Obama campaign that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, cheated is outrageous,” she said.
It’s official. Maverick McCain can do whatever he wants because he’s a P.O.W. How will that work out if he becomes President?

The Obama supporters just must be really disappointed about his performance. Otherwise they would have dropped the whole thing.

I’m laughing! I always thought the Democratic Party was riddled with leftists frothing and foaming with conspiracy theorists! It’s the only way to get around reality…come up with an alternative reality! So sad. Let’s be real here: Obama, for all his smooth, Harvard Law School, silver tongued blessings, had circles run around him by a senior citizen! It was like watching the professor and one of his mediocre grad students! LOVE IT!

This isn’t yet a “revelation”, is it? The NYT states it as a fact, but gives no evidence at all. Do we have anything more at this point than NBC and NYT (and now ABC?) repeating an accusation leveled by the Obama campaign without any proof? Good thing it didn’t come from the National Enquirer or we would never hear so much about this rumor from the MSM!

So let’s get this straight. Obama supporters are upset that McCain may have “lied and cheated”.
But they aren’t upset that Obama lied about how much money Rezko threw his way. And they aren’t upset that Obama lied about hearing Rev. Wright’s anti-American, racist sermons. And they aren’t upset that Obama’s halcyon memories of his father being airlifted to the U.S. by the Kennedys and his mother and father meeting at Selma and his father being a poor disadvantaged goat-herder and his own economically underprivileged upbringing have been proven lies.
Have I got that right?

Wow…I just know if McCain heard Obama’s answers, he changed all his.
Geeze….what a non story this is, in a slow week leading up to the conventions.
This was just a forum with one guy who really knows who he is and what he stands for and another who doesn’t.
McCAIN ALL THE WAY!

Love it. Typical MSM, claiming McCain cheated, when in fact, Obama admits to it! Obama blurted out a response to a specific question about an emergency plan to help orphans: “I cheated a little bit. I looked into this.” What’s that? Was Obama revealing that he somehow received Warren’s questions in advance and had time to prepare answers while McCain did not?
(Wow, can’t wait for the debates that Obama actually is required to participate in!)

“OBAMA AT THE VERY LEAST TELLS THE TRUTH.”
No Rodney.
“OBAMA TELLS THE TRUTH THE VERY LEAST!”

I thought the Saddleback debate was a wonderful way to gauge the two candidates and compare them to one another. I also think that Rick Warren did a great job, with balanced and probing questions … questions which any legitimate candidate for President of the United States should have already wrestled with on his own, way before arriving at this debate. Therefore, why did Obama respond to the questions as if it was the first time he has ever considered these points. John McCain’s immediate and decisive answers show that he had already given a great deal of thought to real concerns, as posed in these questions … where as Obama had to take the time to stutter and deliberate over the same questions asked of McCain. This was very revealing, and so were the Obama camp’s accusations of cheating, after Obama lost the debate … just another indication that Obama is a sore loser who is not qualified to lead this country … and, McCain is.