(CNN) - Asked to define his stands on abortion and gay marriage, McCain is sending a message to evangelicals: I am one of you.
Among evangelicals, judges are the biggest issue - the source of a great deal of their anger and disappointment. Another message from McCain: I understand.
But on the issue of stem cells, he parts ways with this voting bloc - and his answer there is a careful one. He knows he's on the wrong side of this issue for many of them.
His answers are perhaps not as intellectually nimble as Obama's, but they come across as clearer, sharper - he's taking more of a tough, unambiguous stand on these issues.
From CNN Politics
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He is not being wishy-washy. Gotta admire that. When, oh when will the Democrats learn?
he is trying to win the part of the base that he has trouble reaching, he is not trying here to to win independents or moderate dems
McCain is just making his stump speech. Very disappointed but not surprised.
In front of this crowd, but what is he going to say next week, in front of a different crowd or when he forgets what he's supposed to be for?
If life begins with conception and abortion is considered murder, then isn't the disposal of in-vitro fertilized embryos also murder? What is being done to save those 'lives'? Note: I believe that the decision on abortion should be between the "conceivers" and their conscious.
McCain may have the crowd but really shouldn't he? His answers really lack an intellectual horsepower. He is very disappointing.
The issues are just coming at us in a rapid fire way, so the candidates are sometimes sticking with talking points. "At conception". Okay. Next issue.
I appreciate that Obama when in to more details about encouraging adoption, and in looking at the reality of trying to reduce the number of abortions through spreading good values rather than simply changing the law.
It is a highly moral and ethical issue, and whipping through it and some of the other issues is keeping us on our feet, but it's also a little dizzying at times, too.
cindy crowley's got it right. schneider's observation is off, as usual....
McCain on the Supreme Court: "With all due respect.. I think the Supreme Court of the United States should be entirely ideologically homogenous and conservative."
What a pandering coward. Suck up a little more.
re: "he comes across clearer" – in your opinion Bill Schneider – reporters really should report and let the audience make up their own minds whether something is clear or not. Some of us prefer the more nuanced approach – and it is perfectly "clear" to us.
I'm not sure identifying with religious fanatics was the brightest thing McCain could have done...
McCain CHEATED!!!!!
HOW DID HE KNOW THERE WAS A SUPREME COURT QUESTION BEING ASKED!!!!!
REPLAY THE TAPE EVERYONE!!!!!
THE FORUM CHEATED FOR MCCAIN!!!!
McCHEAT! McCHEAT!
i wish he would ask about his public comments that disparage women. He is coming across as someone he is not. Obama seems genuine to me.
Here that Clintonites.... think of a Supreme Court appointed by McCain, who loves Alito, McCain and all the Bush ideas. Do you really want this guy having that power?
Yes, his remarks seem "clearer" however, they do not seem well thought out but more along the lines of Pres.Bush's "tough, shoot from the hip" remarks that got our country into the predictament we are in.
What you've got to love about Republicans is they're simple. Simple answers to complex questions. Problem is those simple answers don't work for the majority of people in their everyday lives. I like brevity and clarity, but in some cases, complexity is necessary to address the unintended consequences of simple solutions. Americans know that in their own lives when they make tradeoffs regarding their budget or education or health care. Unfortunately, many voters forget that .
Tough? Unambiguous? Are you serious?! These questions don't deserve tough, unambiguous answers; the issues that these questions address deserve carefully thought-out, intellectual responses with pragmatic solutions. Why do you keep insisting that "tough" and "unambiguous" = right? It doesn't. The world isn't black and white like John McCain would like for you to believe. It simply isn't. Get with it, Schneider and call out McCain's performance for what it really is: pathetic. Yes, he's winning over the crowd ... it's a CHURCH crowd, and he's doing nothing but pandering to it.
It all seemed soooooo rehearst. McCain obviously had talking points., I dont feel like he opened up at all. I writing in Huckabee, unless that is if McCain puts Huck on the ticket.
Let us worship the Republicans,they may steal our money,but they want more people alive to steal from.
NO HE IS STICKING TO HIS STOMP SPEECH, AND THAT IS NOT WHAT I AM LOOK FOR. AS FAR AS SPENDING MONEY, HIS PRESIDENT HAS SPENT MORE MONEY THAN ALL THE PRESIDENTS COMBINED
AS FAR AS DRILL HERE DRILL NOW. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO INFORM AMERICANS THAT ALL THAT LAND THEY ARE DRILLING ON IS OUR LAND THAT WE PAY THEM TO DRILL OIL FOR US NOT THE WORLD MARKET. AND THEY ACT AS IF THEY ARE DOING US A FAVOR WHILE COLLECTING 11.5 BILLION IF PROFITS A QUARTER
I don't trust McCain. He's scripted because at several points he seems to be trying to remember the rote answer to the question. This, by the way, makes me strongly suspect that someone leaked the answers to him ahead of time. In any case, McCain is dangerous as is very apparent. He has an infantile temper and for a man with his finger on THE BUTTON. ... he would be the most dangerous man ever.
<McCain isn't answer the questions...he gives a poltical speech for every answer. WE dont' want to hear about Hanoi and a long story. He is old and can't stay on the subject. He couldn't tell you a figure on Number of what is rich. He didnt' answer the question again and again. I have learned NOTHING new about McCAin. He is on a polictical speech. Same OLD same OLD,
Every Republican does that. That's the Democratic challenge – Be succinct but address the WHOLE issue and the interconnectedness of issues (e.g. War and Economics). Republicans keep it simple with mantras and Bush is an example of where it worked. Reagan was an absolute MASTER, both in CA and nationally. Problem is most Americans are made worse off by their POLICIES. See the increase in unemployment under Reagan and Bush. Check the budget deficits. Simple-minded governance has gotten us where we are.
It's much easier to sell the easy message, but the aftertaste is devastating.
Cute, McCain can give a stump speech.
He got through all the questions and more in 40 minutes.
Way to give "in-depth" answers, Mr. Soundbite.
Obama 08'
There was absolutely no talks about his faith in McCain's responses.
Does he believe in God?