I watched the Olympics tonight to see an amazing performance by Michael Phelps and two silver medal performances by Dara Torres.  So I missed the Saddleback forum.  The reports that I’ve been seeing indicate that McCain did a better job of staying on message.  But, I can’t make that call.  Here are some of the early stories.

For Obama at Saddleback, a Tough Crowd on Some Issues
ABCNews Political Punch, Jake Tapper
But where Obama had more trouble with the crowd – which sat politely throughout the forum – was when Warren delved into the social issues that put Obama and his liberal views at odds with the majority of white evangelicals.

McCain’s Back in the Saddleback
NBC’s First Read
Quick first impressions: Obama spent more time trying to impress Warren (or to put another away) not offend Warren while McCain seemingly ignored Warren and decided he was talking to folks watching on TV. The McCain way of handling this forum is usually the winning way. Obama may have had more authentic moments but McCain was impressively on message.

Nuance: Obama almost says Clarence Thomas didn’t have enough experience to serve
HotAir (video at the link)
Watch him catch himself mid-sentence, the first fateful syllable of the word “experience” already out of his mouth, before he stops short and switches gears by basically calling Thomas a moron instead (at least, “at the time”) — an aspersion reinforced a moment later by the implicit contrast he draws in praising Scalia’s brilliance. A golden gaffe, narrowly avoided. Stay classy, Barry.

At Saddleback Church, Obama Fails to Get Back in the Saddle
411mania.com
Democrats should be concerned, and Republicans encouraged, as Senator Obama has looked smaller and distracted ever since his highly successful trip to the Middle East and Europe. Obama had little gravitas tonight when the moment required it. McCain looked not only like a president, but a man whom you can admire even if you don’t agree with him on everything.

McCain Delivers Stunningly Strong Performance at Rick Warren Forum
Blogs for John McCain
If John McCain could afford to show by 2-hour commercial the contrast between himself and Barack Obama that emerged tonight at Rick Warren’s “Civil Forum on the Presidency,” he would win this election in a landslide! McCain was that strong and Obama was that weak.

Obama slams Thomas, hugs McCain
Politico
Asked which justice he wouldn’t have nominated to the Supreme Court, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on Saturday night named Justice Clarence Thomas, the court’s only African American.

McCain Hits a Home Run
Deo Vindice
But, the sheer politics of it was awesome. If John McCain can do this for another 80-some days AND PICK A CONSERVATIVE VEEP, he can Nixonize and Reaganize Obama by a couple of points in key states to sweep this very 50-50 Nation.

Does He realize He sounds like a babbling idiot?
PWConservative

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