Forum highlights Obama and McCain’s differences

Pastor Rick Warren questioned Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain in the "Civil Forum on the Presidency" at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest on Aug. 16.

Warren interviewed Obama and McCain separately so they had no knowledge of the other's answers. The two "have very different views on how America can be strengthened," Warren said.

Warren covered a number of issues in his questions including abortion and gay marriage.       

On abortion, Obama said, "I am pro-choice. I believe in Roe v. Wade and come to the conclusion not because I'm pro-abortion, but because ultimately I don't think women make these decisions casually." 

Obama said he is in favor of approving legislation that would support the reduction of abortions, prohibit late-term abortions and provide women with adequate health care and education about pregnancy. He also said he hopes to improve programs for orphaned children.

McCain said he considers life to begin at conception.

"As President of the United States, I will be a pro-life president and this presidency will have pro-life policies," McCain said. McCain emphasized adoption. "We have to make adoption easier in this country," he said. 

Warren asked both presumptive nominees to define marriage. Obama defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman. He said that this view was for himself, as a Christian with "God in the mix."

"I am not somebody who promotes same-sex marriage, but I do believe in civil unions," Obama said. "I think my faith is strong enough and my marriage is strong enough that I can afford those civil rights to others even if I have a different perspective or a different view." McCain defined marriage as "a union between man and woman – between one man and one woman." In relation to California's Proposition 8 going on the November ballot attempting to amend the traditional definition of marriage, McCain said the California Supreme Court is wrong and that it should go unchanged.

Obama and McCain said that individual states should make this decision.      

Warren asked the presumptive nominees what they thought about paying teachers based on performance.

McCain and Obama supported a merit pay system. McCain said that proliferation of charter schools and home schooling is the way to improve America's education system. 

"The point is it's all based and it's being proven that choice in competition for every American family, and it is the civil rights issue of the 21st century," McCain said.   "Because every citizen's child now has an opportunity to go to school. But what kind of opportunity is it if you send them to a failing school? That's why we got to give everybody the same opportunity and choice."

Obama said the merit system should not be based on standardized test scores or a decision made by the school principal or any other deciding factors, but rather discussed and negotiated with teachers, by teachers.

"Teachers are underpaid," Obama said. "So, we need to pay them all more and create a higher baseline, but then we should also reward excellence."

Obama and McCain discussed their financial plans and tax policies when Warren asked that each define the word rich.

Obama outlined what his financial plan would be if elected president. If making over $250,000 a year, a household may see a "modest increase" in taxes, whereas a household making less than $150,000 a year would see a cut in taxes. Obama did not mention those in between the $150,000 and $250,000 income brackets.

McCain said taxes need to be cut for everyone. "I don't want to take any money from the rich. I want everybody to get rich. I don't believe in class warfare or redistribution of the wealth," McCain said about tax credits for health care and for having children.

"The point is that we want to keep people's taxes low and increase revenues," McCain said. "And my friend, it was not taxes that mattered in America in the last several years, it was spending. Spending got completely out of control."