Civil Forum on the Presidency

==Issues==
The candidates each exposed their positions on a number of issues, including [[faith]], [[abortion]], [[evil]], [[wealth]], [[same-sex marriage]], and [[stem-cell research]].<ref name="latimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-saddleback17-2008aug17,0,1227797.story?track=ntothtml|title=Barack Obama, John McCain discuss faith, issues at Saddleback Church forum|access-date=2008-08-18|date=August 17, 2008|work=The Los Angeles Times}}</ref> The two struck common themes, but differed on their views of abortion; Obama said the answer was "above his pay grade" a comment he later regretted<ref>[http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26593948 NBC News]</ref> and also told Warren the issue "scientifically" and "theologically" is not a black and white one in defining the precise moment when a baby gets human rights.  McCain answered, "At the moment of conception."<ref name="latimes"/> Asked about their greatest moral failures, Obama cited his adolescent drug use while McCain said his was failing his first marriage.<ref name="latimes"/> Obama and McCain gave different answers on which justices they would have refused to nominate to the [[United States Supreme Court]],<ref name="latimes"/> McCain saying [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]], [[John Paul Stevens]], [[Stephen Breyer]] and [[David Souter]], and Obama saying [[Clarence Thomas]] and [[Antonin Scalia]].<ref name="latimes"/> The presumptive nominees presented contrasting views on the definition of rich; Warren asked, "At what point...do you move from middle class to rich?" Obama answered that rich Americans make more than $250,000, while McCain answered, "How about $5 million?"<ref name="cnn_transcript">{{cite web|title='Saddleback Civil Forum' transcript for August 17, 2008|work=Transcript|publisher=[[cnn.com]]|date=August 17, 2008|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/17/se.01.html}}</ref> When asked an issue on which they had changed their view in the last ten years, Obama said [[welfare reform]] and McCain said [[World energy resources and consumption|energy]].<ref name="latimes"/> Both candidates were alleged to have made misleading claims and exaggerations during the forum.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/154039 | title=Saddleback Bloopers | author=Brooks Jacksson | date=2008-08-18 | publisher=[[Newsweek]]}}</ref>