My letter to Rick Warren

Dear Pastor Warren,

As someone who has purchased at least 5 copies of your best selling book for myself and others I would like to take this opportunity to offer some commentary on the Civil Forum which is being televised as I write this.

Yes, as noted in the announcement statement: 'This is a critical time for our nation and the American people deserve to hear both candidates speak from the heart – without interruption – in a civil and thoughtful format absent the partisan ‘gotcha’ questions that typically produce heat instead of light. ' This is a critical time and it is high time that someone like you, Sir, embraced the idea that Americans deserve to hear from all presidential candidates, and especially from those who do not get media exposure from the main stream media. You had this incredible opportunity and squandered it.

It is most unfortunate that you chose to include only presumed nominees from the two major political parties, unfortunately fostering the notion that a) they will automatically be nominated as their parties presidential candidate, and b) that there are only two political parties with only these two candidates to choose from.

First of all, Senator McCain and Senator Obama are not officially any parties candidate. In fact, Hillary Clinton's name will be submitted into nomination at the Democratic Convention, and former Gov. Mit Romney and Congressman Dr. Ron Paul, both Republicans, have only suspended their campaigns. As you may (or may not) know, the delegates are not legally committed to any candidate, the numbers reported in the main stream media are only guestimates. Delegates may vote for whichever candidate they choose to vote for, and if no candidate receives 51% of the vote on the first round, the candidates are released from any moral obligation and the voting- and electioneering- continues until a candidate receives the majority and thus that parties nomination.

Secondly, I am sure Americans would have been delighted to hear the presidential candidates Ralph Nadar (Independent), Chuck Baldwin (Constitution party), Bob Barr (Libertarian party), and Cynthia McKinney (Green Party), just to name the other presidential candidates who easily come to mind, answer the same questions posed to the two presumed candidates.

You had a very bully pulpit and commanded two hours of prime time television on a major cable outlet and instead of providing a welcome relief from the constant non-stop reporting of every fly swat and sneeze of these two presumed nominees, we got more of the same, with the bonus, however, of the positing of identical questions, for which I commend you.

Your purpose was noble. Again, I must quote from your press release: 'The primaries proved that Americans care deeply about the faith, values, character and leadership convictions of candidates as much as they do about the issues.' As the Saddleback Civil Forum was established to promote civil discourse and the common good of all wasn't it imperative to offer the same opportunity to the other presidential candidates???

Sir, you have that opportunity still. I urge you to make it right and just and to demonstrate your good will and faith by providing a forum for these other candidates. Viability should not be defined by the main stream media, nor by you. Such an action is highly prejudicial. At this critical time for our nation the American people most certainly deserve to hear all candidates speak from the heart – without interruption – with the goal of producing light.

Why hide their lights under a bushel? What would Jesus do?

Your response Sir is most kindly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Blonduxo (my DP name for y'all!)