Brokeback Forum Part Deux

I promised to peruse the transcript of the Saddleback Civil Forum and report back with some criticism of Obama and Pastor Warren. Just when you think every word has been fully parsed, every opinion expressed, and every gaffe exposed, I think you can still find some interesting angles not previously noted. At least that's what Captain Push hopes for but I can't be sure that among the billions of written and spoken words, someone hasn't beaten me to the punch.

After reading and rereading and attempting to digest a not altogether unpalatable and wide-ranging discussion, I came to a couple of conclusions. First of all, this was not intended to be a contest. I think the participants understood this but maybe that was lost on the audience, and especially Obama's campaign team. His team consists of myriad advisers, supporters, and the sycophantic media outlets who are complaining that John McCain, by virtue of his stellar performance, must have somehow CHEATED. To suggest that McCain cheated is to imply that this was a contest, a debate or maybe a game like chess wherein John palmed a pawn and turned it into a queen. If McCain cheated, then Pastor Rick must have been in on it. No matter how deep liberals dive, they'll never hit bottom. They can always sink even lower than their previous depths. By impugning the character and integrity of both Pastor Warren and John McCain, is Obama's team making more enemies than new Obama supporters?

The second conclusion I came to after my marathon dissection of the forum was that endless blathering can only get a candidate in trouble. I wonder what kind of attorney Barack Obama must be if he never learned that the less said in crisis, the better. Trial lawyers are routinely horrified when their clients answer simple questions with epic-length explanations. Obama just couldn't shut himself up. This is probably due to his Messiah-like standing with his followers who hang on his every word, even the words that most of us mere mortals recognize as nothing more than gas. He really believes that every word he utters has earth-shattering implications and importance. Much of what the faux Jesus said was long-winded and nonsensical. OK. I mean he was BORING. Note to Obama: Get to the POINT if indeed you do have a point.

Now about Pastor Warren. Let's agree that there are no stupid questions. However, there are inappropriate questions or questions that shouldn't have been asked when there are much better ones waiting in the wings. Consider this question posed by Warren. "Would you be willing to consider and even commit to doing some kind of emergency plan for orphans like President Bush did with AIDS, almost a President's emergency plan for orphans to deal with this issue?" (Reference 148 million orphans world-wide)
There were several similar questions but this one seemed like the best example of an utter waste of air time. Why? Well someone needs to let Pastor Rick in on this little gem which I thought wasn't a big secret. The REAL Jesus said, "The poor will always be with you." (Yes, it has been translated in other ways)

Orphans will always be with us as will the poor, the sick, the weak, the hungry and in particular, in an election year, the unhinged. Presidents are not God-like but apparently people like Rick Warren expect them to wave their scepters and lead Americans across the land and sea to fix all that is wrong with the world. Give it a rest smilin' Rick! Even Obama believes some things are best left to the real God.