Frank They are both pandering to the fundamentalists, why do you think Obama showed up? C’mon Frank, these are seasoned campaigners, they know what they have to do to pick up the votes. It seemed to me that Obama had constituents among the parishioners. He got applause at different points in the interview from the Fundies to responses I thought they would disagree with. It was interesting. McCain got great applause responses from them. Obama, as usual, was thoughtful, a little circular in his answers on subjects he doesn’t agree on with them, like abortion, but I thought it was brave of him to go, because he had to know the subject was going to come up. McCain’s answers were quicker and to the point, and firm in what he believed. As if he was proving to them that he could get the job out. He was intelligent and thoughtful as well. His wife was in the audience. They loved that. Interviews of some members of the audience seemed very fair in their critique of both. They had kind things to say about both of them. I don’t judge the fundies, I try not to judge anyone for that matter. The Evangelicals are people, just like the rest of us, trying to get along in a world they can’t control. I want to add, I don’t judge Obama or McCain. To me judging someone says they should be different, or they are not good enough, or that they are either good or evil. On the other hand, I believe it is necessary to use whatever tools at hand to evaluate character and motive, and in the case of politicians, their political position on issues. Evaluation keeps me from personalizing others, as if what they do or say has power over my life. You won’t find me calling them evil. It just brings it into your own life. Principles before personalities.