Rick Warren has decided to cancel the presidential forum at Saddleback this year. Warren announced the change of plans yesterday:
We created the civil forums to promote civility and personal respect between people with major differences…The forums are meant to be a place where people of goodwill can seriously disagree on significant issues without being disagreeable or resorting to personal attack and name-calling. But that is not the climate of today’s campaign. I’ve never seen more irresponsible personal attacks, mean-spirited slander, and flat-out dishonest attack ads, and I don’t expect that tone to change before the election… It would be hypocritical to pretend civility for one evening only to have the name-calling return the next day.”
Personally, I’m a little disappointed. The last presidential forum four years ago was, in my opinion, the most candid that we got to see the candidates during most of the campaign.
I do agree with Rick that this campaign is nastier than most. Especially here in Ohio, a swing state. I am do tired of the commercials… for both sides.
Thoughts?
Todd
I have to agree w/ Pastor Warren and trust this was what he felt led by God to do. The ugliness of pride and arrogance can’t be ignored when it’s at such a grand scale. To proceed with the forum at this time would seem to be unwise and pretentious.
IMHO, the personal attacks stem from a reality TV culture where the sensational and unpredictable is heralded as entertainment.
Can’t wait for the second week of November.
Sprout has The Wiggles on 3 times a day…love it! My little one loves it!
(in moderation of course)
No ad campaigns or anything.
Maybe everyone should change the channel, detox & vote their conviction.
It might not look like either side of the mud-slinging.
This election is too important to ignore. We need the voices of the poor and marginalized heard in this election. Does cancelling a forum at Saddle Bag impact the hearing of the voices of the poor and marginalized? That is probably the most important question for Rick Warren and Saddebag Church toask in the name of Jesus.
From this link, neither presidential group had committed and had aired their religious thoughts in a print medium a few hours before Warren cancelled the event. It must be hard not being as powerful as 2008, huh?
http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/106450/rick-warren-cancels-candidate-forum-will-not-admit-why