The CNN Faith Forum

6:34

TL: Hi Everyone., We're switiching to our other live blog format.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:34

6:36

Hillary seemed to speak really slowly at first. I guess it's a tough subject.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:36

6:37

TL: There's a large live audience. How do you think she's doing so far? Use the regular thread comments rather than here if you want others to see it.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:37

6:38

BTD - It has been rather interesting actually. I liked Hillary's last answer to Meacham's impossible question - Why does God allow such suffering?

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:38

6:38

TL: Her favorite story is Esther. I'm not sure I get the whole point of this forum. I'd rather keep politics and religion separate.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:38

6:39

BTD - She was asked about people being uncomfortable with the forum. She said we have to be careful when discussing religion and its influence.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:39

6:39

TL: She didn't seem very comfortable at first. She seems more at ease now.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:39

6:40

BTD - the discussion of the right to choose was well done. I did not care for her answer to te end of life issues. Her discussion of Terri Schiavo, which she brought up, was muddled at best.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:40

6:40	Are you having a positive or negative impression of Hillary at this forum so far? Positive ( 89% ) Negative ( 7% ) It's not very interesting ( 4% ) Sunday April 13, 2008 6:40

6:41

TL: I just put up the first poll.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:41

6:42

BTD - Let the US serve under foreign command? This question perplexes me. Maybe that was not the question?

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:42

6:42

TL: She is a very good speaker.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:42

6:44

TL: She says we have to concentrate on rebuilding our moral authority.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:44

6:44

TL: Last question: Do you believe G-d wants you to be president? "I could be glib and say we'll find out."

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:44

6:44

BTD - Does God want you to be President? Lincoln's classic quote is a great tocuhstone.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:44

6:46

TL: I'm not crazy about this forum. The subjects, the questions or the format.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:46

6:47

TL: Did she mention Jesus Christ at all? (I missed the beginning.)

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:47

6:47

BTS - I am not surprised J. You hate peopel of faith - Kidding. Actually this of course makes many of us uncomfortable, at least those of us who think of faith issues as private matters.

No Jesus.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:47

6:47

TL: I think Obama will a lot.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:47

6:47

TL: Here comes Obama. Big welcome. Was Hillary's as big?

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:47

6:48

BTD -Not as big J. An Obama crowd tonight.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:48

6:48

TL: Commercial Break.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:48

6:49

TL: I think this format favors Obama. He strikes me someone preaching comes easy to.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:49

6:50

BTD - I disagree. Preaching is not what this is about imo. Meacham strikes a pose as an intellectual. this will not be preaching time imo.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:50

6:52

BTD - Obama is asked about his gaffe.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:52

6:52

TL: I hope you are right. They are starting with his bitter comments.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:52

6:53

BTD - Obama says "my words may have ben clumsy" but also invokes the scriptures for the "clinging" comment. It seems he is being stubborn about this. A mistake I think.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:53

6:53

TL: The scripture talks about "clinging to what's good." His words were clumsy. Religion is afoundation when other things aren't going well. Huh?

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:53

6:54

BTD - I am surprised at this answer. He seems to be dweling on it more than he should. Instead of just saying he mispoke and driving into his "what he meant" speech he was defensive about his prior statement.

I think this answer is a miss. I am surprsied.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:54

6:54

TL: He says those aren't bad things, that's what they have left? He is a debout Christian. No one has done more to reach out to the church -- oh no, it's just like him saying no one has done more for gays or against anti-semitism. This is terrible.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:54

6:55

TL: His entire trajectory to talk about how Dems need to get into church and reach out to evangelicals. Ugh!

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:55

6:55

BTD - He seems off so far. Maybe it is me. I thought the answer was not good.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:55

6:56

BTd - He looks tired to me.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:56

6:56

TL: He believes G-d intervenes and moves in mysterious ways. He tries to be an instrument of G-d's will.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:56

6:58

TL: Turned off reader comments, too many too fast, please use the comments in the regular thread. Obama on abortion: There's a moral dimension to abortion.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:58

6:59

TL: No one wants to be confronted with abortion. We should acknowledge other's points of view. Talks about reducing teen pregnancy. Focus on abstinence and teach the sacredness of sexuality to our children. Too preachy for me.

Sunday April 13, 2008 6:59

7:00

BTD - This answer is fine if not spectacular. He seems off his game.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:00

7:01

TL:When does life begin. Same questions as to Hillary. Was he able to see her answers in the green room?

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:01

7:01

BTD -His answer was different as far as I could tell.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:01

7:01

TL: He's not answering the question about when life begins. Avoids it big time.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:01

7:02

TL: I'm wondering if he could see hers to have advance knowledge of the questions and more time to prepare his answers.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:02

7:02

BTD - Hillary's answer did not come through to me because of sound problems. I do not know if anyone else heard it well.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:02

7:03

BTD =- Below I am told she stated that "potential life" begins at conception. that is a better answer.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:03

7:04

TL: End of life decisions. He believes in palliative medecine. He doesn't think doctors should be empowered to make the decision. But the terminally ill should be able to get pain relief even if it hastens their death. He didn't answer again, can someone end their life? He only talked about whether someone should be allowed to use medecine if it might hasten their end.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:04

7:05

TL: On abstinence in Africa. He's visited Kenya multiple times. He and Michelle took an AIDS test in front of lots of people to encourage them to get one. He says he will compliment George Bush here.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:05

7:06	How is the audience responding to Obama? Positively ( 35% ) Neutral ( 23% ) Negative ( 42% ) Sunday April 13, 2008 7:06

7:07

TL: New poll up. How is the audience responding to Obama?

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:07

7:07

BTD - Honest reaction. I do not know who was mroe effective, but I found Hillary's appearance was more interesting. Unlike a lot of commenters, I did not think she was particularly smooth but I do not think this toopic SHOULD lead to smoothness. She seemed to show more compassion and caring? He is a little too cool. I think he is too tired. I think he was not given the rest he shouldhave gotten for this appearance.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:07

7:08

TL: Obama is asked about his "punishing comments" regarding his daughters.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:08

7:09

TL: Kids will screw up. Is that a good phrase for a faith forum?

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:09

7:10

BTD - am ready to say what I think the biggest development of this forum is - the Gaffe will live on for another day at least. Will it go on until Wednesday's Debate? I think so. Face to face could make it an important night. Wednesday night I mean.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:10

7:12

TL: If one of his daughters asked if G-d created world in six days, what would he say? He believes in evolution. Evolution and science are not incompatible with the christian faith. This is so irrelevant to me.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:12

7:13

BTD - J? I have to go, sorry.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:13

7:13

TL: I'm pretty bored. But I'll keep going for a while.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:13

7:14

TL: Please comment in the regular thread. There were too many messages for me to read and blog at the same time.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:14

7:16

TL: Energy answer. Religion can bolster our choices to be good stewards of the environment. Lots of clapping for him. This seems to be an Obama crowd.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:16

7:16	Who Seems More Sincere in Their Faith? Hillary ( 89% ) Obama ( 7% ) Tie ( 4% ) Sunday April 13, 2008 7:16

7:17

TL: New poll. Who seems more sincere in their faith?

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:17

7:18

TL: Where's Hillary? Do you think she left or is she watching Obama's answers? Did he watch her's?

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:18

7:20

TL: Ok, we're back. Rev. Wright question. How did Wright bring him closer to G-d? He wrote about this in his book.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:20

7:22

TL: He joined the church after law school. He hasn't been his mentor or spiritual advisor, he's his pastor. There are areas they've disagreed on.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:22

7:23

TL: Jokes about Rev. Wright's greatest hits. There's been distortion about Wright. The audience claps. Mentions his race speech. They clap again. Who chose this audience?

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:23

7:23

TL: Question about his exposure to Islam as a child. How did it shape him?

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:23

7:25

TL: He went to school for 4 years in Indonesia. His first school there was a Catholic school. He then went to public school. The brand of islam that was practiced in Indonesia at the time was a tolerant one. The state wasn't trying to force it. Christians were comfortable and women were out and about. Islam can be a partner with Jews and Christians and Buddhists to create a better world. It can be a modern partner.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:25

7:26

TL: The question was how did it shape him. He didn't answer it.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:26

7:26

TL: Question about poverty. Where's John Edwards?

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:26

7:27

TL: This seems like a very white Audience. He will commit to a program to cut poverty in 10 years.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:27

7:28

TL: Mentions Hillary said he was elitist. People feel forgotten, that no one in Washington is listening.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:28

7:29

TL: Tax breaks? What does this have to do with faith?

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:29

7:29

TL: He's turning this into a campaign speech.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:29

7:32

TL:: He supports faith-based initiiatives. They should be targeted specifically to ending poverty. They have to be open to everyone. Shouldn't just be a chance to evangelicize.

TL: Now on torture: Did they ask Hillary about torture?

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:32

7:33

TL: Softball question, asks him if we should torture. Of course he doesn't. No Democrat does.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:33

7:33	Who got easier questions? Hillary ( 4% ) Obama ( 85% ) Same ( 10% ) Sunday April 13, 2008 7:33

7:34

TL: New poll. Who got easier questions?

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:34

7:36

TL: They are almost out of time. Does religion have too much influence in politics? He says it's a false debate. Criticizes Dems in his own party that there should be no discussion of religion. Criticizes Repubs who believe the other extreme.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:36

7:37

TL: People of faith have the same right to come to the public square and discuss things, even in terms of their faith. We have to translate our religious language into a universal language that people of all religions and atheists can understand.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:37

7:38

TL: It's over. Live blog is ending. My final thoughts: I got very little from this.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:38

7:39

TL: Thanks to all for reading and commenting. New thread coming.

Sunday April 13, 2008 7:39

7:39

Thank you for reading today.

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