How was it rigged? The candidates were not supposed to have the questions beforehand and were supposed to be asked the same questions. But Obama went first, and Warren assured everyone that McCain was in a "cone of silence" and not hearing the questions or Obama's answers. Except, as it turns out, McCain actually WASN'T in a "cone of silence" - he wasn't even in the building for at least half an hour before the interview with Obama began. He was in a limo, being driven to the place.

And we're supposed to believe that, because Rick Warren and John McCain say so, that neither McCain nor any of his handlers heard any of the live broadcast, carried on radio stations and three major networks across the countries, and that McCain's advisors are all incompetent and didn't prep him on any of the questions that were being asked of Obama.

Well, it's clear from McCain's performance that he did, in fact, have some idea of what the questions were going to be. I watched the repeats of both interviews tonight on CNN, and it's so obvious that McCain heard the questions and Obama's answers beforehand.

Here's my evidence:

Obama's answer to the question of who he would not have appointed to the Supreme Court:
Video - see 10:15 until the end
Video - see beginning to 0:20

Then during McCain's interview, in which he hadn't been asked the same question yet, we see John McCain say: "Are we going to get back to the importance of Supreme Court Justices, or should I mention that..?"
Rick Warren: "We will get to that. You're jumping ahead!"
Video
Getting "back" to that? They hadn't gotten onto it YET...unless, of course, he heard Obama's interview, in which THEY got into it...right?

And then, at 9:35 here, McCain was asked by Warren who he would not have nominated to the Supreme Court.
Video
He rattled them off without even thinking about it. Obama had to think about it for a moment - I guess, because the question actually came as a surprise to him. Didn't sound like it was a surprise to McCain. It sounded kind of...rehearsed.

Earlier on, Obama was asked what his definition of marriage was. He said a union between a man and a woman. Then Warren asked Obama a follow-up question, asking whether there should be a constitutional amendment to that effect. Obama said no, it's up to each state to make that decision, it's the state's jurisdiction.

Warren asked McCain whether he thinks the Supreme Court of California was wrong about overturning the traditional definition of marriage at 4:52:
Video
McCain not only answered that he thought it was wrong, and that he supports the definition of marriage being between one man and one women (he left out "and one mistress"), but then he went on and answered the next question that Rick Warren asked Obama, and said that he is against a constitutional amendment because it should be left up to the states.

Except that Warren hadn't asked the question yet. I guess it's just a really big coincidence that John McCain happened to wander onto that point which just so happened to be Warren's next question. Or maybe McCain heard the Obama segment and anticipated the question. Gosh, which is more plausible?

Is it more plausible to believe that John McCain and his handlers didn't listen to any of Obama's interview with Warren from the back seat of his limo, on the radio or television, and that none of his advisors watched it either? Is it really plausible to think that a candidate and his handlers would not try to prep for the questions beforehand, given the opportunity? I'm sorry, but I don't buy it - no political aides would be so incredibly inept as to not take a political advantage where they could get it. And I wouldn't put it past Obama or anyone else with half a brain either.

This "forum" was a farce - a biased farce. I'm sure everyone knew it going in. So they shouldn't insult our intelligence and pretend that McCain got anything except "gimmes" (except for the question about "moral failings" which he sidestepped nicely without mentioning his adultery, and Warren didn't press him on), and now, it seems, likely heard all the questions asked of Obama beforehand, if his handlers had half a brain and any gumption at all.

[ 17 August 2008: Message edited by: Michelle ]