The lessons of Saddleback

Was a presidential forum in a megachurch illuminating, or un-American?

The question isn’t who won pastor Rick Warren’s Saddleback forum, said Kathleen Parker in the Chicago Tribune. It’s why Barack Obama and John McCain submitted to a “religious interrogation by an evangelical minister” at all. Applying a religious test to presidential candidates is “un-American.”

There is “nothing wrong with quizzing candidates” on questions linked to values and faith, said the Riverside, Calif., daily Press-Enterprise in an editorial. McCain and Obama could have opted out, but they “recognized the forum as an opportunity to reach voters—not just Warren's congregation, but everyone who tuned in to watch.” And their answers were illuminating, so the forum served voters well.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us