(CNN) – Sometimes you just have to take it on faith.
Pastor Rick Warren said John McCain didn’t hear any of the questions in advance at Saturday night’s Civil Forum, even if the candidate was a little late arriving to the pre-arranged quiet room or “cone of silence.”
At the beginning of the forum at California megachurch, Warren told the crowd and TV audience, “I'm going to ask identical questions to each of these candidates, so you can compare apples to apples. Now, Senator Obama is going to go first. We flipped a coin, and we have safely placed Senator McCain in a cone of silence.”
But at 8 p.m. ET, as Warren said that, McCain was actually not in the building. He was just leaving his hotel, with his motorcade arriving at the church nearly a half hour into the event. A. Larry Ross, a spokesman for Warren, says McCain then went directly into the holding room they dubbed the “cone of silence” (in reality, a room with no TV or audio).
Some questioned whether that late arrival might have allowed McCain to hear some of the questions being first posed to Obama.
Warren told CNN Sunday evening, “we flat out asked him” if he heard any of the questions. The McCain campaign “confirmed that McCain did not hear or see any of the broadcast” in the motorcade or after he arrived, Ross said.
When asked if McCain overheard anything, Charlie Black, a McCain adviser who was with him at the time, told CNN: "We were in motorcade until 5:30 p.m. ET; then a holding room in another building with no TV."
Warren said, “I trust the integrity of both” candidates, and said he “knew they would abide by the rules.” He joked McCain may not have been in the cone of silence, but “he was in the cone of a Secret Service motorcade”.
Ross says the whole event only came about because of the relationship Warren has with both men. He said they all agreed to assure a “level field, “McCain would not hear the questions or Senator Obama’s answers.” The pastor spoke to each candidate this week, giving the general themes. Warren decided to tell them each the first two questions in advance, about the three wisest people you know, and the biggest moral failings.
For their part, an Obama spokesperson told CNN’s Mike Roselli they are not pursuing whether McCain heard any of the other questions. They say they assuming McCain had the same information they did.
From CNN Politics
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Someone else could have been watching and relaying the questions to McWarmonger via phone or a lot of other ways.
McWarmonger jumped ahead on questions, and had prepared "stump" answers and his boring stories for the others.
He wants to lead us into more wars.
No to Crooked Republicans. No to McWarmonger. He lies
It doesn't really matter to me whether Mccain heard some questions or not... this is a long process, the truth will come out in the end anyways. I am increasingly more confident that the citizens of the US will realize that Obama is the leader fit to take our country into a new and positive direction. Mccsame is simply another obstacle along the way.
Mccain has lied constantly about Obama's policies through his fear based lying attack ads... I'm sure he's not going to care about lying if he saw some questions or not...
Paster Slick Rick...had a Purpose Driven show...that started with all the tickets being sold to his selected sheeple to build a new steeple...
CNN with its total bias helped with the whole charade...
NO CREDIBILITY LEFT....CNN, Paster Rick, McShame...
so i guess its natural for mccain to know he was going to ask about justices of the supreme court or straight out answer before the question was asked?
if thats true, then we should not elect a president who is not going to listen. Or in some cases with mccain, just claim he didnt hear the question.
There is a such thing as text...hello we are in a new era??? Plus all hotels carry CNN because it's the best News station in the U.S.
McCain knew the answers before they were asked, he did have some prior knowledge to the questions as shown by his rapid responses.
Who cares?
Why should McCain sit in a back room, silent or otherwise, while Barry holds forth.
He got there in plenty of time, and both he and the Secret Service are honorable to a fault.
Don't you have anything important to speculate about on this Sunday evening? How about whacking away at guesses about the VP slot, or have you beaten that to death finally?
Oh come on, how dumb do they think we are? Of COURSE he knew the questions. He was spitting out his answers before the questions were finished. The Rove group will do anything.
cheaters
Don't they have tv in those vehicles???I knew his answers were too snappy.We viewers picked up on it right away.
The McCain campaign is lying. He without a doubt knew these questions, his answers were so pre-mediated you would think he had a teleprompter.
Just as I thought.
It was very suspicious that McCain – the 71 year old – answered questions rather quickly!!! It seemed as if he actually KNEW the questions and had rehearsed his responses – even before he even heard the questions! And the Pastor even said –
you (McCain) is answering the questions before he even asked them!
CNN had an interview with the Pastor on Sunday August 17th at around 6 PM EST. The Pastor had stated last night that Barack Obama "won" and was going to be asked the questions first – while – McCain – was in a "cone of silence." He was in a nearby room and could not hear the questions or answers.
Well... tonight on CNN- the Pastor "honestly" answered the question – and stated that McCain was actually not in a nearby room – but was on his ride over to the Church. He was with secret service and McCain said that he did not hear the ?s or answers beforehand.
And interestingly, Cindy McCain – the wife who knows technology very very well.. who more than likely had her blackberry with her. Could she have had her Blackberry on – and COULD John McCain have been listening to the conversation Obama was having with the Pastor – while he was supposedly on his way to the Church????
PLEASE CHECK OUT THE CNN QUESTIONING OF THE PASTOR THAT WAS AIRED ON CNN AT AROUND 6PM EST....
ALSO – THE CNN REPORTER (WHOSE NAME I FORGET) SAID THAT CNN REPORTERS ACTUALLY SAW MCCAIN COMING TO THE CHURCH LATE!!!!
PLEASE PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT.
McCain is a liar who will do ANYTHING to win this election.
I think that if this war hero is a liar – it needs to be made public information.
Kay Mazzetta
Asbury NJ
It doesn't matter if they "didn't have TV" the the motorcade. Several satellite radio services broadcasted the forum
Bad when your character witness has to be Charlie Black.
of course you have to take mcsames word for it. A republican would never lie...joke.
Now we hear, some 18 hours later (out of the mouth of Rick Warren himself) that McCain was NOT in the sound proof room before he come on stage but in his limo. Most likely listening to the questions on his laptop preferring for HIS answers.
Once again, the nitty-gritty kept from the general population.
Personally, I didn't buy a word John McCain's "faith" discussion last night. I think he should have the courage to come out and admit that he is in fact an atheist (or agnostic). I'd be much more likely to vote for him if he did. After all, his one good "moment" was when he told the story about sharing a moment with a prison guard in Vietnam who had drawn a cross in the dirt–which is great, except that he clearly stole that story from The Gulag Archipelago, where Alexander Solzhenitsyn tells about the same thing happening to him....in 1973.
So go for it, Johnny. Admit your real beliefs (or lack thereof) about God. You'll win my vote if you do!
Sorry, but I dont buy it!
literalesque bs - no; he didn't hear the broadcast directly his operatives relayed the info.
What do you expect from a system named after the notoriously unreliable device from the Get Smart series?
McCains actions and body language was just weird. It was as if he was cramming for a test and wanted to hurry with questions. His jitterness and lashing out answers was a liitle odd. The yes yes yes really shocked me. It appeared he was not sincere with some of the answers and was rude by not answering them when asked.
It kind got away from pastor Warren but overall I did enjoy his style of questioning. McCain is just a wild cannon! No Control! I hope and pray he does slow down and not be so quick to jump into war or any other issues importantant to our country bbut use some intelligence and think of the entire situation not just zero in on WAR He says country 1st but he was all politics and pandering which he admitted to.
I still feel he did not answer some major questions but skipped by them with other war stories that did not pertain to what was asked???
I'm sorry... but McCain was supposed to be at the even and in this "cone of silence" WHEN Obama was on stage..Half an hour late? Where was he? I am a bit of a "Doubting Thomas" and think that there may have been a TV in the car...McCain has never been so at ease in public speaking...almost like he knew the questions. Another thing. He should be admired and respected for his Vietnam ordeal, but he keeps bringing it up...It's his claim to fame. However this will not necessarily make him a better president.
...there are so many other ways for him to hear the questions...and answers...they were not lying when they said there was no audio or tv but you can certainly hear it from a cell phone...certainly we are not naive to think they are most certainly telling the truth when the campaign is so willingly to put much less than truthful advertising on tv!
Obama portrayed a thoughtful thinking presidential candidate willing to negotiate and meet in the middle ground for win/wins. McCain glared of wanting his own way with little room for negotiation...he's right ...end of discussion....
...my thoughts...
Mr. McCain answered so many questions prior to the Rick Warren completing the question. You can fool some people, sometime, but you can't fool all the people all the time!
Oh CNN, the most trusted name in News, when will we have another minority providing analysis other that all those caucasians. We need different perspectives and I am sorry, your panel is not diverse enough to provide that needed perspective. M
What? Unnnn-believable.
Pastor Warren, YOU are an idiot if you think Sen. McCain's staffers DID not feed him the questions. What a crock of CRAP!
I'm floored in thinking that this Pastor has the nerve to insult our intelligence in thinking that while in "route" to the event, Sen. McCain's staff was NOT listening to Sen. Obama's questions like a "FLY ON THE WALL".
Can you say Honey PLEEEEEEEEEZE........
McCain plays deaf and dumb whenever it's convenient for him, but he gave himself away when he would answer the question BEFORE the question is even asked, AND then he ASKED about the Supreme Court Judges BEFORE Pastor Warren even asked the question.
This just another attempt by the McCain camp to "cheat the system" as usual, it's that "OLD Washington Politics" at work.
For Pastor Warren to state on CNN today that, "he takes John McCain at his word"..... Yeah okay, wink-wink.
We are NOT all faith-based "suckers" here.
Pastor Rick Warren said John McCain didn’t hear any of the questions in advance at Saturday night’s Civil Forum, even if the candidate was a little late arriving to the pre-arranged quiet room or “cone of silence.”Oh yes he heard some of the Questions I noticed that on some of the questions he answered before Rev finish asking the Question and the sly Fox told stories to eat up the time
I feel that McCaine did listen to the questions earlier. He answered some of the questions before they were completely asked.
I am confident that Pastor Rick Warren treated both men fairly in terms of information and access to questions prior to the event.
He deeply respects both men, and if he calls you friend you can bet on it.
After all, he has been my Pastor since he first started pastoring out of my high school auditorium.
OK PUMAs – Bush wants to get rid of birth control by making it a form of abortion – no congressional vote on it, just RULE, McCain wants to remove all choices for you regarding how many babies you or your daughters no matter by whom or what the circumstances.
Your choice PUMA people – This may be the last choice you ever have – you may be too busy in 3 or 4 years tending to a "baby a year". Financially and physically, it will keep you from having a real life of your own, or it may prevent your daughter from education – unless you're married to one of those people making the big bucks.
This just confirms the suspicions of millions of people watching the event.
It is clear now that the candidates didn't receive the same treatment. More specifically, if you review the transcripts, Warren kept Obama on a leash and gave McCain much more flexibility to sprinkle in stomp comments. It would have been more effective to actually ask the same exact questions to each candidate...word for word, to avoid the appearance of unfairness. The framing of the questions was different.
It is highly possible that McCain's handlers told him about the initial questions before McCain arrived at the church. Not being in the cone of silence before the event started raises significant questions of fairness or at least presents the appearance of unfairness.
Also, there is some suggestion that McCain knew the questions in advance or heard Obama's comments because of his reference to going back to the Supreme Court justices before being asked about them and answering the education question before it was asked.
Finally, there were several opportunities to ask follow up questions of both candidates when their answers seemed confusing. It would have been helpful to ask Obama to elaborate on what he meant by the “above my paid grade” comment. It would also be helpful to ask McCain to explain how the failure of his marriage was a moral failure. A failed marriage in and of itself is not a moral failure. Many marriages fail for other reasons that have nothing to do with morals...ie...finances, incompatibility, etc.
A couple of missed questions;
1. To both: Will you commit to ending the negative campaigning?.
2. To McCain: Does a reputation for cheating on your spouse disqualify a candidate for the presidency?
3. To McCain: Does being a POW qualify a candidate for the presidency?
4. To Obama: Does being a good speaker qualify a candidate for the presidency?
5. To Obama: Are you a Muslim?
THE FACT THAT MCCAIN SHOWED UP LATE AFTER ABOUT HALF OF THE QUESTIONS WERE ASKED SOUNDS REAL FISHY TO ME, AND I PRESUME MANY AMERICANS.
THERE ARE MANY WAYS HE COULD HAVE HEARD THE QUESTIONS:
1. TV IN THE LIMO
2. A PERSON WITH A CELL PHONE TELLING HIM
3. LISTENING TO A RADIO
WATCH THE VIDEOS OF THE SHOW. MCCAIN ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS BEFORE THE PASTOR FINISHED ASKING THEM FOR THE FIRST HALF OF HIS PORTION.
THEY SHOULD HAVE NOT HAVE ASKED ANY QUESTIONS UNTIL MCCAIN WAS THERE.
JUST ANOTHER INDICATION THAT MCCAIN WILL DO ANYTHING TO WIN AND THAT THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT WILL DO ANYTHING TO HELP MCCAIN.
Next time, leave no room for monkey business.
If a candidate is late, just delay the start until they're both arrived.
And next time, no leaking the first two questions to the candidates before hand. Or if you do so, then in the interest of full disclosure you should say that in the broadcast.
Having said all that, it's amazing how weak an answer Sen. Obama gave to the "which 3 people" question. Just a very weak answer
Now knowing that McCain knew that question ahead of time, I'm less impressed with his answer. But at least it was a lot better than Obama's.
uh huh, because McCain is so honest. Give me a break.
I believe we'll be seeing more of this format in the future, if not because it's acceptable to the canidates, then because it's so revealing and informational to the voters.
Interesting how they knew that the first two questions were coming, yet the answers were so different from the canidates.
I thought that both of them anwered truthfully (yet painfully) about their greatest moral failings, but thought Barack could have been a little broader on the first one about who the three wisest persons in his life were...anyway, a great forum.
Well done, Rick Warren.
I have serious doubt about the integrity of Senator McCain and his campaign. His campaign is run by lobbyits whose only goal is to win at all costs. Cheating is nothing to these people. I never saw senator McCain so confident despite the toughness of questions that require some thoughts. He answered many questions before they were asked. But his answers were centered to war and national security. I have just to disregard the forum.
Why does this picture make McWarmonger look taller than he is? Did someone hand him a little stool to stand on? He's shorter than both of the other men. HA HA CNN – you all are not fair and balanced.
I get my news from National Enquirer – they have THINKING investigative journalists instead of empty air-heads talking (Blitzer, Brown, etc).
Unbelievable that a man of Pastor Warren's standing would tell the audience that McCain was in the "cone of silence" after a flip of the coin when McCain was not even in the building!
This is not a problem for McCain. It is a problem for Pastor Warren. His credibility is at stake.
So why was McCain planning to answer the Supreme Court Judge question but was told by Warren, that question would come later? Why did McCain say "yes, yes, and get bad teachers new jobs" (3 answers to a 3 part question that Warren had not even asked yet, only introduced the section? McCain knew the questions before he got them.
If both were given the first two questions in advance then Obama gave two horrible answers. McCain look strong and confident, Obama came off wishy-washy. I know for sure now that I am voting for McCain.
McCain 30-minutes late arriving, huh. then how could they have flipped a coin for who goes first. And who in this country, in their right mind would not think that McCain's camp would resist getting an up on Obama by listening to his interview. Give me a break, Warren. This is so juvenile! Tell the truth...this was a farse!
If the candidates didn't know the questions before hand, how did McCain seem to answer a lot of questions before Pastor Warren even completed that question. Or, why did Obama confess that he cheated and looked into the topic of adoption before the forum.
It just seems very suspect that boht McCain and Obama's actions showed evidence that they knew the questions. Obama was just more respectful and let Pastor Warren get the whole question out before answering it.
Either way if they knew the question or not, Obama was 100 times more engaging, real and personable with his responses then McCain. I was really hoping to see another side of both candidates beyond he stump speeches, sound bites and TV ads. I learned nothing new about McCain. With all do respect, McCain just told the same POW stories and stump speech after stump speech, which I've heard 100 times. To McCain is all about War...Surge...Bomb...Defeat...all militant and bullying language. Forget about analyzing, reasoning and diplomacy that to much like being a human being.
I take that back, I didn't learn something new about McCain...he is worse the Bush and I fear for the future of this country if McCain wins.
"McCain did not hear or see any of the broadcast" – No is a good answer but a true 'lie"
Next question – "Did any of his staff watch or listen or in any way then brief him with specific questions in person, via phone or electronic device w/ ANY info from the Obama interview before his hour".
Of course they did. Satellite radio had it, or a WI FI connected laptop or an iPhone would have done it....an email, phone call or blackberry message to a staffer who then whispers in his ear....
This is going to be a huge scandal.....but not below a guy who nearly flunked out of Annapolis..
How did they do a coin toss without McCain being present? What if he was suppose to go first and wasn't there?
well we all know it was another right wing hijack just like the ABC Debate
McCanned couldn't help himself, but in God we Trust.
Well, that settles that. If there's one thing McCain, the proteges of Karl Rove running his campaign, and Republicans in general are known for, it's honesty and good sportsmanship during campaigns. We can trust that he didn't listen in while unsupervised, because he *said so.*
If Rick Warren thinks that anyone believes that, he must think we are Purpose Driven Morons.
What a disappointment. I thought Rick Warren was a good guy.
McCain put on such a rehearsed performance last night. It was evident he either had access to the questions or saw Barack's interview ahead of time. McCain is a cheat.
Wow. Rick Warren lied. The audience, on TV and in his megajumbosuperchurch should have been informed that McCain was not in isolation. He could have told us all that he had McCain's word that he wasn't listening in on Obama's part of the forum.
But the pastor clearly presented it as if McCain had indeed been isolated. He lied.
And the fate of the free world is at stake. If Rick Warren doesn't think that ANY candidate for president would do a little cheating on an interview to get ahead, he's either naive, an idiot, or lying.
And the same would go for Obama, incidentally. If he and his staff had access to the questions in an interview, they'd do what they could to prepare, too.
I listened to it on xm-radio. No person is going to tell me that McCain had no way of listening to it prior to his appearance. McCain claims he wants more debates than proposed but can't even show up for the first one on time.
Yeah, right !!!
I knew very early in the McCain portion that he had prior knowledge, couldn't put my finger on it but I know he did. Pastor Rick should be ashamed of himself. He lied to everyone and this was just an opportunity for John McCain to cozy up to the evangelicals while getting national press coverage. There was nothing genuine about the entire program. Faith based huh? Rick Warren preaches it but in the end he misled everyone. Great lesson on faith, thanks Rick.
And you are a fool if you think McCain didn't listen in on the way. They covered for him
So Warren actually trusts the integrity of a man who had an affair when his wife was disabled. Why was the event even started without both of them being present. This will detract from a very good 'performance' by McCain. I guess the media won't make a big deal out of it though. Besides.....Republicans never lie.
This is the only way he can win -- by cheating! Sounds like George W Bush all over again!
Go Obama!
Rick Warren is the one who broke the rules. The pre event promotions indicated the questions would not include the social wedge issues such as abortion and gay marriages. Both topics were asked. The forum was to discuss issues where unity was possible. Rick Warren also favored John McCain by allowing him to pander the TV audience with his bombastic campaign stump language. Barack Obama respected Rick Warren's instruction to avoid stump speech comments. I feel Rick Warren owes Barack Obama an apology for the dual standard applied to Parts I and II of Saturday evening's forum.
What a liar this Pastor Warren is. And spreading his lies in a church no less. Here's the title of his next book: The Purpose Driven Lie.
Heard or not heard the questions. I think Senator Obama did very well.
he was honest in awseriing questions.If you are going to talk about
morals in realation to abotions, please talk about killing babies durning this war and also about taking MARRIAGE VOWS serious.
I am are not his fellow americans(WARMONGER)
I bet McCain DID hear the questions before hand. I wondered about that myself when I watched it. McCain was even answering without having heard the questions. It was strange and he's never been that sharp.
He repeatedly lies....just yesterday he said he "didn't hear" a question about the swift boat book against Obama, even though he answered it.
I like Rick Warren, but he needs to understand who McCain has now surrounded himself with–nasty Karl Rove cronies. They['ll do ANYTHING TO WIN! GET REAL!
So...did 'Pastor" Rick lie to us or did John McCain lie to him? Somebody lied to somebody. McCain has not exactly proven himself to be trustworthy during this campaign. There were several bloggers during McCain's session with Warren who suspected that McCain knew the questions...I guess they were right.
it was so obvious Rick Warren telling Obama over and over no stump speech but all we heard from McCain was his daily dose of war war and more war foreign policy stump speech
Ya, right!! Sure explains why McCain seemed so comfortable. Pastor Rick Warren should be ashamed of himself saying that he was already there. Apples to Apples, give me a break.
Leave it to CNN to try to spin this. Did McCain listen, who knows, but do you expect us to honestly believe his people didn't? Point is, he was supposed to be in a "Cone of Silence" from the beginning of the entire program. Fact is...HE WAS NOT! McCain was very rehearsed in his answers.
I sure hope the American people can still add, 1 (McCain was not in the "Cone of Silence" from beginning to end) + 1(McCain seemed to rehearsed and to concise in his answers, something he is not EVER BEEN KNOW FOR) = 2 (McCain and his camp had the opportunity to hear 30 minutes or more of this interview!!!!)
I really wonder if McCain had access to at least 40 minutes worth of Obama's portion. I think we all know that they have satellite radios and cell phone a hand and ear away. After hearing him last night I thought he did better than I expected but I also thought it was somewhat rehearsed. Now I truly believe he had some insight on the questions. I'm a Christian and I truly believe Obama has a sincere heart to want to change what's happening in the U.S. I repsect Senator McCain's service but I think its time to go on a different path then what we're currently on.
its so evident that Warren lied about McCain being in a room when he was not; no wonder you could tell the difference between McCain responses to the first few questions and his answers toward the end. I saw it, I loved it and I'm still voting for Obama!
Riiiight. I'm supposed to believe a POLITICIAN who is competing hard to be the next President of the most powerful country in the world that he resisted the urge to get a heads up on what questions to expect.
That's like asking a someone not to look at the answers to the SAT even though they're sitting face up on the table with no teacher in the room.
Wait a minute... I'm no conspiracy theorist, but I sure do remember McCain's expressions of "surprise" while hearing the first two questions. He "acted" very surprised at the question and even said, "boy, I hope the questions get easier" and then after receiving the second question, made the comment, "boy, they don't get any easier, do they?"
Knowing that he did know the first two questions in advance really makes me suspicious about the whole thing. Why would he act surprised if he didn't knew the first two questions? Am I suppose to believe that he was "acting" surprised on those first two questions? smells fishy to me... geez.
I knew that was suspicious when John Mccain answered questions before they were completely asked.
This is a sad day in the faith forum with Rick Warren
I do not understand why being in a motorcade would preclude you from being attentive to or informed of what is happening somewhere else or in a place of interest.
Even I don't believe this is true.
Of course not. Who in their right mind would want to use that idiots answer. In the first place the way he waffles and gives you two seperate answers on the same question you would not know which one to use.Flip flop flip flop.Now Hillary that would have been some good information to know with her intelligience. As you have probably noticed Obama has went to h@ll in a handbasket since she is out and the press cannot force her to give the answer first so that he can mimick her answer and add a one liner sentenceand then the press could always say(THEIR PLANS ARE JUST ALIKE). Got to love a press trying to pick your canidate for you. I guess they suffer from (WHITE GUILT) go figure.
"The pastor spoke to each candidate this week, giving the general themes. Warren decided to tell them each the first two questions in advance, about the three wisest people you know, and the biggest moral failings."
Guess which candidate this "equal treatment" helps. At least one thing is clear: we now know how the name of John Lewis spontaneously came out of McCain's mouth as one of his guiding lights.
The whole event was a pillow fight, but McCain is the representative of the "Christians only" party and he should've been grilled when he failed to answer most of Warren's questions. All we did find out is that even though the United States was founded by liberals, John McCain would rather have it where liberals (open-minded people) didn't exist. What a great humanitarian he is....so morally sound.
I will never vote for McCain. He's a nasty little liar. I don't trust him two feet. He's a very devious despicable person.