Faith forum highlights differences between candidates

Though they only briefly shared a stage, both leading presidential candidates on Saturday night had to navigate a series of tricky questions during a forum on faith and values.

Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), during the Saddleback Civil Forum Saturday in Lakeside, California, had to respond to queries about social issues that could be potential pitfalls for them in the general election.

{mosads}Obama told the mostly evangelical crowd that he struggles with the issue of abortion, explaining that the determination of when life begins “is above my pay grade.”

“One thing that I’m absolutely convinced of is that there is a moral and ethical element to this issue. And, so I think anyone who tries to deny the moral difficulties and gravity of the abortion issue is not paying attention.” Obama said. “I am pro-choice, I believe in Roe v. Wade, and I come to that conclusion not because I am pro-abortion, but because ultimately I don’t think women make these decisions casually. They struggle with these decisions profoundly.”

McCain was able to explain his position on abortion more simply, saying that life begins “at the moment of conception” and declaring, “I will be a pro-life president.”

But while the Arizona Republican was able to easily explain his stance on abortion, stem cell research, an issue on which he McCain breaks with conservatives, proved more difficult.

“For those of us in the pro-life community this has been a great struggle and a terrible dilemma,” McCain said. But the GOP standard-bearer dodged the issue, explaining that he is “wildly optimistic that skin cell research, which is coming more and more into focus and practicability, will make this debate an academic one.”

Both candidates defined marriage as between “a man and a woman,” but also said they support civil unions. Neither supports a federal constitutional ban of gay marriage, but McCain said he would if a court decision made it legal throughout the country.

The two candidates’ differing social views were most reflected on the issue of judges.

Asked which current Supreme Court Justices he would not have nominated, Obama named the two most conservative, Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia. McCain pointed to the courts four liberal Justices: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, David Souter and John Paul Stevens.

The two candidates also answered a few personal questions at the forum, in which each was interviewed individually for an hour by pastor Rick Warren without response from the other.

Obama said that his greatest moral failing was his experimentation with drugs and alcohol as a teenager, arguing that he was too selfish at that stage of his life to get past his own struggles growing up in a fatherless home. McCain cited the “failure” of his first marriage soon after his return from captivity as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.

That mention was one of several that McCain made of his time as a POW. McCain also brought up his refusal of an offer to leave the camp early, despite serious medical concerns, as well as the lengths some prisoners went to in order to practice their Christianity in the camp.

Obama too brought up Christianity, starting the answer of one of his questions by quoting scripture.

The two also provided a glimpse into what their potential inner circles may look like as president.

Asked to name three people that would have a voice in his administration, McCain named Gen. David Petraeus, EBay CEO Meg Whitman and Democratic Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis (Ga.).

Obama said that he would not want to limit his circle of advisers as president, but added that “there are people like [former Sen.] Sam Nunn (Ga.), a Democrat, or [Sen.] Dick Lugar (Ind.), a Republican who I’d listen to on foreign policy. On Domestic policy I’ve got friends ranging from Ted Kennedy to Tom Coburn, who don’t necessarily agree on a lot of things but both I think have a sincere desire to see this country improved.”

Though McCain and Obama did not have an exchange during the forum, they did appear briefly together following Obama’s hour of questions.

Walking out to greet Warren and Obama, McCain shook the Illinois Democrat’s hand and shared a quick embrace.

“Nice to see you,” Obama said.

“Thanks,” McCain responded.