McCain not sequestered, was in limo during Obama's Religious Forum Q&A by Tom Flocco http://www.stewwebb.com
Lake Forest, California--August 17, 2008--TomFlocco.com--CNN reported this afternoon at 6:20 pm EST that presidential candidate John McCain arrived late and was in a limo--not in a sequestered green room--with likely access to cell phone, blackberry, radio and/or TV communications during the early questioning of presidential candidate Barack Obama by Rev. Rick Warren at the Saddleback Church Religious Forum on Saturday evening at 8 pm EST. There is no indication that Democrats are aware of McCain's possible unfair advantage at such a critical juncture prior to the presidential conventions despite evangelical skepticism regarding some of Obama's public stances relative to abortion, taxation, illegal immigrant driver's licenses and Supreme Court appointments in particular. The CNN report was the only indication that McCain may have had an unfair advantage which resulted in a what many reporters termed a stellar outing in front of many Religious Right Americans. This, at a time when many evangelicals are still undecided and not convinced that he should be the Republican nominee. Former CIA agent, Georgia congressman and Libertarian candidate Bob Barr is already polling 9-12% in several key states without a TV ad budget to promulgate his strict allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, sealed U.S. borders and stances against runaway deficit spending, jobs sent overseas and unnecessary wars. In a race with five announced candidates on the ballot, 37-42% of the vote could win the election, raising questions as to why Rev. Warren did not choose to add Barr to the religious forum when Ross Perot polled 20%+ in August, 1992 and Barr's more conservative public stances on several issues close to many independents and evangelicals may have influenced either or both of the candidates' ultimate positions. UNFAIR ADVANTAGE? CNN and MSNBC pundits were surprised to observe McCain answering all the early questions succinctly and quickly as if he knew the questions to be asked in advance before it was his turn at 9 pm EST to be subject to Rev. Warren's identical questions. Former presidential adviser and current CNN pundit David Gergen said last night that it was McCain's best outing by far in front of American citizens since announcing. Gergen and millions of evangelical Americans were unaware, however, that McCain was not privately sequestered from possible prior knowledge of Warren's questions--and Obama's responses, as Warren announced and promised at the top of the forum. Warren said he was "unaware until later that McCain arrived late" and was not subject to Warren's "cone of silence" which was supposed to segregate McCain from any communications which would have tipped him off to the questions to be asked, giving him a critical advantage in front of those Christians who may well determine whether he is elected. It is not known whether Warren knew before the broadcast concluded that McCain arrived late and was not privately separated from communications, and why it was not publicized if he was indeed aware before CNN signed off. Warren said to CNN that "I trust the integrity of both John McCain and Barack Obama." It remains to be seen whether CNN, MSNBC and the Obama campaign will confront McCain as to specific and public details of the time of his arrival at Saddleback Church and just what communications were available to the Arizona senator besides his personal cell phone and satellite radio broadcasts emanating from his limo prior to arrival at Warren's church. The stakes are high for both sides, the votes of evangelicals and independents notwithstanding. http://www.tomflocco.com
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