It was a bright and blue day in Orange County, CA, where both Barack Obama and John McCain came to speak with Pastor Rick Warren at the Saddleback Worship Center. According to local officials, over 4,200 people were on hand here to watch the event, both live and on closed-circuit television.
To start the event, Barack and Pastor Warren shook hands and sat down at a table, preparing to discuss faith-based issues, as well as many of the tough questions that address all of us.
In the discussion, Barack addressed the need for our country to come together towards the betterment of our nation - especially at this crucial time. Barack acknowledged that today's event is an example of exactly the kind of "forums we need" and that based on conversations like these, the American people can make a good judgment on who to vote for in November.
In response to Pastor Warren's question of "What would you tell the American public if you knew there wouldn't be any repercussions?" Barack answered:
Well, you know what I would tell them? That solving big problems, for example, energy, is not going to be easy. Everybody is going to have to get involved, and we are going to have to all think about how are we using energy more efficiently. There's going to be a price to pay in transitioning to a more energy-efficient economy and dealing with issues like climate change and if we pretend like everything is free, and there's no sacrifice involved, then we are betraying the tradition of America.I think about my grandparents' generation, coming out of a depression, fighting World War II. They've confronted some challenges we can't even imagine. If they were willing to make sacrifices on our behalf, we should be able to make some sacrifices on behalf of the next generation.
Barack also stressed the importance that the American people "have good information -- that they're not just consuming negative ads or the kind of nasty tit-for-tat that has become so common in politics."
Barack finished by saying that if "people know where we stand on issues, you know, I trust in the American people. They're going to make a good decision and we're going to be able to solve the problems that we face."
Sharon BarnesAug. 16, 2008Long Beach, CA
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