Saddleback And Cones Of Silence
ELECTION 2008 IS GETTING FURTHER OUT OF TOUCH
FITSNews - August 18, 2008 - At a time when most Americans just want to sit on their asses and watch the Olympics in peace, leave it to the 2008 presidential candidates (and the mainstream media) to go to the mattresses over something so middle school we can hardly believe we’re perpetuating it …
Trust us, if this isn’t the most irrelevant thing you’ve read all day, we’ll give you your money back. Or at least hook you up with a complimentary Importantville T-Shirt.
The whole thing started Saturday night when “pastor” Rick Warren (who wrote some book about porpoises) invited both John McCain and Barack Obama to attend a forum on evangelical issues at his Saddleback Church, which we’re assuming is different from a “Brokeback” Church. Anyway, starting with Obama, Warren asked both candidates the exact same questions, but Obama supporters (i.e. NBC, The New York Times) accused McCain of getting a leg up at the event by breaking its “cone of silence.”
Alright … before some Trekkie gets too excited, let’s translate that “cone of silence” thing into non-loser speak. Basically, Obama supporters accused McCain of listening in on the Obama interview from his motorcade so that he would know beforehand what questions Warren was going to ask him.
Seriously? Aside from a particular Hall & Oates song we’re thinking of … is this for real?
Yup. Believe it or not, this is the current state of debate between the two men who would lead our country - a ridiculous “you cheated/ no I didn’t” back and forth over some political forum that exclusively discussed social conservative issues which nobody is going to change their minds on.
Social Security is going bankrupt, people. So is Medicare. Our national debt is closing in on $10 trillion. Gas is effin’ expensive. The housing market has collapsed. Our currency is worthless. Our borders have evaporated. We’re fighting wars in two countries halfway around the world. Our students are dumber than ever and nobody can afford to go to college.
Can somebody … anybody please keep their eye on the ball?
Comments
By hesingswithfrogs on August 18th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I think you’re a little off when you act like the “cone of silence” wasn’t a big deal. On Sunday, following the Saddleback forum, pastor Warren urged his followers to look at the “character” of the candidates. John McCain’s “cone of silence” gaffe told us a lot about his “character.”
The “cone of silence” appears to have been a major condition of the forum. A responsible candidate would have arrived on time so that they could observe the rules of the forum. John McCain showed that he continues to be an irresponsible slacker by not arriving on time so he could observe a central rule of the forum. More concerning though was that irresponsible Slacker John didn’t fess up to not being in the “cone of silence” when directly asked by pastor Warren. Instead, McCain PRETENDED that he’d been there. In doing so, irresponsible Slacker John allowed pastor Warren to make a liar of himself and misled the pastor, the audience, and everyone watching. That was dishonest and dishonorable of McCain and plenty revealing of his “character.”
By fitsnews on August 18th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
#1- We rip McCain when it matters … like on his BS energy plan.
http://www.fitsnews.com/2008/05/23/mccains-energy-plan-raises-concerns/
As for “cones of silence,” sheesh, dude.
-FITSNews
By Willie on August 18th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Bush wired all over again. McCain was already in a friendly environment with a 2-1 advantage among Evangelicals. Remember this was also a crowd from a heavy Republican area of California. He as suppose to show up at least a half hour early to be observed as following the rules. This was the first debate just like the Bush wired fiasco with Kerry. I’m sorry, but there is not excuse any of you McCain supporters can use to excuse this. This was NATIONAL TV and not some local townhall forum where it was a casual affair. Then then Warren lied when he said McCain was backstage in the “Cone of Silence”. You mean to tell me he didn’t know McCain was not even in the building. Who was back stage running the show?
Not only that, but McCain lied about the cross in the dirt and that was plagarized.
His quote:
“One night, after being mistreated as a POW, a guard loosened the ropes binding me, easing my pain. On Christmas, that same guard approached me, and without saying a word, he drew a cross in the sand. We stood, wordlessly, looking at the cross, remembering the true light of Christmas. I’ll never forget that no matter where you are, no matter how difficult the circumstances, there will always be someone who will pick you up.”
McCain favorite Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn recounting his experience in a Soviet gulag in The Gulag Archipelago, released in the United States in 1973. Luke Veronis, in The Sign of the Cross, recounts:
As he waited, head down, he felt a presence. Slowly he looked up and saw a skinny old prisoner squat down beside him. The man said nothing. Instead, he used a stick to trace in the dirt the sign of the Cross. The man then got back up and returned to his work.
As Solzhenitsyn stared at the Cross drawn in the dirt his entire perspective changed. He knew he was only one man against the all-powerful Soviet empire.
By Gina on August 18th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
These false accusations of cheating by the Obama camp just shows what a lack of character these sore losers have. Obama has been getting a free pass from the beginning of the primaries. Obama looked like the rank inexperienced amateur that he is in the Saddleback debate … while McCain looked decisive and competent. The election is only about 70 days from now, and if Obama hasn’t already come up with positions on these crucial questions by now, he is certainly not qualified to be President of the United States. Crying and accusations of cheating because Obama lost the debate, only makes Obama look smaller and less deserving of the office.
By FWFIV on August 19th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Gina-
There was not a debate and Obama certainly did not lose. Please watch it for yourself instead of mindlessly repeating the talking points you heard on talk radio yesterday.
By mijell on August 19th, 2008 at 9:23 am
See Warren’s interview last night on Larry King (A)live…this is more than much ado about nothing…
Unfortunately, folks seem to want to focus on the hole and not the donut…regardless your feelings about faith - evangelical or otherwise - Warren conducted the interviews fairly and objectively and asked questions of such substance that he put to shame just about any journalist/talk show host/pundit around.
The constantly shallow and uncritical thinking of those that focus on such trivial matters is truly sad. One of these two men will become the President of our country and the putative leader of the free world. If they cannot effectively answer questions of such weight and magnitude as those posed by Warren and can only bicker “You cheated! Did not!’ then they shouldn’t be running in the first place.
On a related note, since Obama, in his own words, indicated that such a discussion as Warren conducted is just what we need, why won’t he agree to participate in the nine, ninety minute discussions in the nine weeks between Labor Day and the election? I believe after Obama’s performance at the Saddleback Civil Forum the answer is pretty clear.
By CL on August 20th, 2008 at 7:07 am
#5,
Obama’s camp and the MSM all but admitted he lost with the “he cheated” whining. I don’t understand how anyone would be surprised, as Obama was outperformed by Hillary in the 2 or 3 Democratic debates I watched. The guy is lost without a teleprompter.
These were softball questions, too (and Obama knew three of them in advance). If anyone ever asked him tough questions in a debate (such as his pro-infanticide votes in Illinois and his lies to cover up his vote), this campaign would be over.