Breakdown of Barack Obama and John McCain's Civil Forum at Saddleback Church in California

The two presidential candidates for the Democratic and the Republican parties went at it earlier today to talk about faith, abortion, education, taxes, and a host of other national and world policy issues. Hosted by Dr. Rick Warren, the senior pastor at Lake Forest's Saddleback Church in Irvine, California, the Civil Forum was held in an interview format where the Reverend Dr Warren first interviewed Obama for one hour, then took turn with McCain for another hour. The result was a two hour chance for the American public to get yet a closer look at their candidates for the presidency. The public really had an opportunity to hear from the candidates on their faith and how it would inform their decisions as president.

The venue could not have been more perfect. I though that it was great that the Reverend held the interview in a religious locale. It's been said that people question why this conversation is being held at a church. I think since they are discussing the issue of faith, what better place than a sacred ground?

Next, the set up of the interview was great. It was great because each candidate got to answer the questions without interruptions from the other candidate. Each had his one hour with Dr. Warren which made for a truly in depth look at their answers and allowed the audience to compare them on the same level.

One of the earliest questions was "what is your greatest or America's greatest moral failures"? To this question, Obama answered that in his generation, America's greatest moral failure has been the shortcomings on the realization of a section in the gospel of Mathew, where Jesus said "whatsoever you do, to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me." Obama stated that America, a rich and powerful nation, has to some extent failed to meet the poor at the points of their needs. He said that he is running for president to help make the wrongs right. McCain's answer to the same question was that America should have not gone shopping after the terrorist attacks on her soil, but rather should expand her volunteer and mission efforts with the Peace Corps and other such organizations. In case you missed it, here is how the candidates answered some of the burning questions.

On Abortion:
Obama supports a woman's right to choose, but makes it clear that women face great moral dilemma when making this decision, and thus the question is not whether he is pro life or pro choice, but more on how we can fight to eliminate conditions that render women to seek out abortion in the first place. He mentioned issues like healthcare, birth control, adoptions, and other ways to keep a woman from ever thinking that abortion is the only option. McCain vehemently denounced abortion, stating that he will opposed it all the way to the white house if elected.

On Stem Cell Research:
Obama supports the idea that diseases like Alzheimer's and other debilitating illness could be cured through stem cell technologies, but said that he would welcome a research on adult embryonic research if possible. He said that he would fund it as long as scientists are not merely designing embryo for the sole purpose of conducting a research. McCain opposes it, and instead said he favors skin cell research.

On Merit Pay for Teachers
Obama said that he would reward excellence by increasing a great teacher's pay. He also said he would raise teachers' salary in general because they are highly underpaid for the job they do. Obama believes that rewarding good teachers and getting all stakeholders involved will help strengthen some of the problems created by the No Child Left Behind mandate, which in my opinion has left many children behind. In order words, fix the system. McCain wants "choice in competition," which he said to mean encouraging more charter schools, home schooling, and issuing of vouchers.

On Taxes and What Rich Means
Obama said that rich means someone making $250,000 or more and that person will get a slight tax increase. This is about3% of Americans. A family making $150,000 or less, which is most Americans, will get a tax cut. McCain declined to state a figure on what rich really meant, stating that rich may not bring you happiness. He did jokingly say that $5 million will be considered rich in his count. Obama justifies the tax increase of the top 3% Americans by mentioning the need to pay for the things necessary to fix healthcare for all Americans, infrastructures, and the likes while McCain said that spending is the problem.

Both candidates believe that America's freedom, and that of her ally and her interests, are worth dying for. They believe that America should be the beacon of hope for the rest of the world, and that they would not allow religious prosecution.