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September 11, 2008

Palin Sought Guidance from Rick Warren

@ 10:31 am by Andy Barr

Pastor Rick Warren got a call from Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) this week seeking help in dealing with the "unfair, unjust attacks" the GOP vice presidential candidate believes she has come under.

On a Los Angeles radio show, co-host Kathryn Milofsky asked Warren what one question he would direct at Palin if he was able to have her sit down for a forum like the one he hosted last month with John McCain and Barack Obama at his Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California.

"Well actually she called me yesterday," Warren said. "The question I asked her was 'how can I pray for you?'"

Warren said that Palin then "asked me to send her some bible verses on how do you deal with the unfair, unjust attacks and the mean-spirited criticism that comes in."

UPDATE: Seth Coulter Walls over at The Huffington Post has the audio and points out that later in the conversation Warren seemed offended by the way Barack Obama has since explained his "above my pay grade" answer to Warren's question about when life beings.

"John McCain said at the point of conception. And Barack Obama [chuckle] said he wasn't really sure," Warren said, per Walls.

UPDATE: Palin's camp calls to say that the Alaska Gov. was returning Warren's call. According a Palin spokeswoman, Warren called her on Saturday September 6 and she returned his call on Monday September 8. The Monday phone call is when the above conversation described by Warren took place.

Archived under: Campaigns, News, Presidential Campaigns
Tags: Rick Warren, Sarah Palin

35 Comments »

The Hill welcomes comment from anyone and will almost always post it whether it is favorable or critical, as long as it is substantive and advances debate.

This is all public relations bull.

It is becoming pretty clear that the GOP handlers of the McCain campaign are trying to frame her as a victim of vicious "liberal" sexism.

Palin's been nothing but a media craze in her favor.

The only people who will buy this act are the core fanatics that already support her.

Comment by Fred from Oregon — September 11, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
Sarah was lookin' for some more PR gimmicks…she is full of fluff & NO SUBSTANCE! WHERE are you hiding today Sarah?
Voters want to here the FACTS, Sarah !!! You are incapable of providing them, at least HONEST facts!

Comment by Dick / NH — September 11, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
Ooops…typo…I meant "hear"

Comment by Dick / NH — September 11, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
Warren said that Palin then "asked me to send her some bible verses on how do you deal with the unfair, unjust attacks and the mean-spirited criticism that comes in."

I am stumped here. If Palin were on the receiving end of the McCain/Rove attack machine (as Obama has been), then how would she characterize the "criticism"?

For example, would she consider it "mean-spirited" to suggest that Obama supports giving full sex-education to pre-schoolers, when what he bill provided was for age-appropriate instruction for kids to identify and to best respond to sexual abuse. The McCain attack machine is lower than mean-spirited. It is evil.

Come on!

Comment by Disillusioned Republican — September 11, 2008 @ 12:41 pm
Brilliant attack by Repubs on day when attacks are not allowed. They are very very good. Somehow I knew they were not going to let this perfectly good day for politics go to waste!

Comment by George Smith — September 11, 2008 @ 1:08 pm
come on…she can't handle the campaign how can she handle an unorganized White House under the McCain administration.
And who is Warren to think that he knows when God thinks a life begins, he doesn't speak for god and shouldn't judge others…now I thought god didn't want us to judge other but who knows.

McCain Having Hard Time Without Palin

Comment by fderk — September 11, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
The only problem I see here is that a man was called for counseling and he blabbed it to the world like an old woman.

And the rest of you posters would be upset to if every news org, and a buttload of lawyers came crawling up your crack for info on your personal life.

As for the crack about the sex ed for kindergartners,no the bill did not become law but Obama did vote for it while in comittee. Spin that one.

Comment by hillary widebottom — September 11, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
"crack about the sex ed for kindergartners… Spin that one?"

The post you refer to stated that this was a BILL. And the MCCAIN AD states that Obama supported "comprehensive sex education for kindergartner children." Categorically untrue. Read that: a LIE.

Astounding how universal the pundits and commentators have been in condemning the lie and the perversity of this ad.

If Warren's account is true (making no claim one way or the other), Palin's involvement in the environment that led to this ad (and other like it), prove a degree of cynicism and hypocrisy that defies belief.

Oh, and yes…. this from the woman who criticized Hilary for "whining."

Spin that.

And "hillary widebottom"? 'Nuf said.

Comment by Disillusioned Republican — September 11, 2008 @ 2:08 pm
I would suggest that if Palin truly needs to seek out counselling to handle the completely justified softballs the Obama-Biden campaign & the media have lobbed her way, she is in 'way above her paygrade.'

Her refusal to give interviews to anyone but a couple of friendly journalists or to hold news conferences or to take questions from her adoring public all reinforce the general feeling that she is not ready for prime-time, all of which means she is certainly not ready for the inestimable stresses of the White House.

If Palin really puts 'Country First,' she will do the right thing & drop out so that a competent person can step in to run for the Veep slot.

Comment by Marie Burns — September 11, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
Palin's complaining already about unfair attacks; and to conservative multimillionair preacher, Rick Warren. How fitting.
After what the media has done to Obama, while giving McCain, a total pass, it's amazing. Suck it up toots, you're in the big leagues now, but not for long.

Comment by Joyce — September 11, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
Hey, DICK/nh: It looks like she is in Alaska today. I see photos of her all over the place, so I know she's there. Where's your comadey act - Biden. I know, maybe he's out trying to find a parapalegic to stand up and shake hands with. Or maybe he's meeting with one of Barack's terrorist money lenders.

Comment by ArmyDAD — September 11, 2008 @ 3:06 pm
I am delighted that Palin is driving the left off the cliff. McCain is a genius.

Comment by amos the prophet — September 11, 2008 @ 3:09 pm
It's obvious that Rick Warren has been a Republican activist all the way along. And, like evangelical Christians everywhere at all times, he'll lie, cheat, and steal to accomplish his goals.

What surprises me is that Barack Obama ever consented to that phony "debate" at the Saddleback freeway church, where Warren allowed McCain to listen in on Obama's answers and then lied about afterwards. Talk about leading with your chin.

Comment by Magic Dog — September 11, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
Disillusioned Republican :

You might want to check out the particulars of Illinois SB99. There is a LOT more in that bill than helping the little tots know and fear predators. I have read it in full. Have you? Google is your friend. Don't just believe the Obama spin and feigned outrage on SB99.

In SB99, 5 to 8 year olds are also taught about sexual intercourse, same gender sexuality, masturbation, abortion, and HIV. Somehow, I'd rather wait awhile for my 5 year old to hear all this stuff…And I'd rather tell them MYSELF when I think, as a parent, it is time. Read it all.

Comment by marybel — September 11, 2008 @ 3:36 pm
Billy Graham has been a spiritual counselor to Democrat and Republican presidents, and I think that Rick Warren is trying to do something similarly nonpartisan. I'm sure that he's praying for all of the candidates.

Comment by KS — September 11, 2008 @ 3:47 pm
Actually, I see this as Rick Warren seeking publicity for Rick Warren. He called her. She called him back. He "happens" to be on the radio and then wow, they talk about the election a few weeks after the forum at his church….shock of shocks!

Warren didn't do Palin or McCain any favors here…he has his own agenda. (and, if the agenda is the Cross…I'm all in favor of it!)

Comment by Michelle — September 11, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
marybel:

Reference:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=3&GA=93&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=99&GAID=3&LegID=734&SpecSess=&Session=

Thank you for your recommendation of google as the search engine of choice. I shall presume the complete sincerity of your post.

The answer to your question is YES, I HAVE READ "Illinois SB99″, and have linked above for the reference of anyone else who wishes to read the complete bill.

A few comments:

(1) For those who care, please reference the six-fold repetition of "age and developmentally appropriate" qualifications to the bill's provisions.

(2) There is no reference to "same gender sexuality", and no reference to sexual orientation beyond that which was amended from the original text (removal of the provision "Course material and instruction shall teach honor and respect for monogamous heterosexual marriage.")

(3) There is no reference to the following words or concepts: "masturbation" or "intercourse" (replaced by the phrase "sexual behavior").

(4) The inclusion of materials extolling the virtues of abstinence is mandated in ANY curriculum that discusses human sexuality.

(5) The bill repeatedly appealed to fact-based and science-based materials and conclusions as the basis for all materials.

(6) Parental prerogatives are protected by mandating that (a) parents hold the right to exempt their child from inclusion in the courses/discussions, and (b) parents may AT ANY TIME require the school to provide advance copies of the materials that will be given to their children.

NOWHERE does SB99 mandate the teaching of any materials to pre-school or elementary students. It stipulates that ALL material must be "age and developmentally appropriate" if taught at all.

Please! Cycle back to the original point: this was an EVIL attack on Barack Obama as a proponent of near-pedophilia.

Watch the ad if you disagree.

Perhaps, Sarah Palin should have also asked Rick Warren his advice on how to slow the McCain/Rove slanders in their attack machines.

Comment by Disillusioned Republican — September 11, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
The Vile Bile bloviating that is emanating from the emasculated left is music to the ears of Conservatives.That Governor from Alaska has them making rancid comments that just wont put chinks on her stainless steel veneer. Gov. Palin has more testosterone than Hussein and Plugs combined. and thats the problem..The WIMP FACTOR Plaster is drying fast. MISSION ACOMPLISHED 08

Comment by Barry Hussein Obama — September 11, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
its kinda weird that a pastor will say those things.. what i tell my pastor should be confidential…

Comment by floyd — September 11, 2008 @ 5:59 pm
Andy,
In every composition style and grammatical usage book you can consult, you will find that the "Bible" is ALWAYS a proper noun and thus should be capitalized, just as is the Koran (which I assume you would take greater care to not insult so as not to get your head sawn off by some adherent of the "religion of peace".)
.

Comment by Nomuni Wysumi — September 11, 2008 @ 7:02 pm
Come on dudes, voting for a bill in commitee says the politician is for the bill, whether it becomes law or not, he was still for it.
You Dems also know your boy can't talk with out his prompter, so do your best to keep him out of townhall meetings where he don't have the question amd a slew of help to answer. Is all on his own just like his Miss Piggy mistake. Won't surprise me if his ton of lawyers don't bribe some left wing liberal Alaskan person into saying something like they overheard a table of patrons saying some thing about Sambo and they are positive Palin was there once. Wacko MSM loves stuff like that. And maybe we could have some skits of Kermit McKane and Miss Piggy Palin. Miss Piggy could wear lots of lipstick and have a dark pit bull tear em up, wouldn't that be KOOL.

Comment by Tony — September 11, 2008 @ 7:18 pm
I gave Rick Warren the benefit of some of my doubts about him with his ability to get answers at the Saddleback Forum with McCain & Obama. That was a very insightful 2 hours. However, sometimes even Baptists & other evangelicals get full of themselves. For him to disclose a conversation with Sarah Palin without her permission is a disgrace! The only thing I can say to him is "Pastor Warren, Billy Graham you are not." And you would make a lousy Catholic Priest.

Comment by Grandmago — September 11, 2008 @ 8:06 pm
As a pastor's wife, I would like to say that I did not like that Pastor Warren divulged the contents of what I would consider a confidential question. The question just happened to be from Governor Palin, but I would say the same thing for any candidate or person seeking a pastor's advice. A pastor, as I see it, acts as a confidant for people seeking answers and should never bring it to the public's ears. I must say, unless he has a good defense, my respect level for Pastor Warren has decreased tremendously because of this. Example: would he get on the airwaves or computer if someone within his church or family came to him with a similar problem. NO, a thousand times no. So what would make him do a senseless thing as this. My prayer is that hopefully he was not seeking warm kudos when he had a moment in the media's grasp.

Comment by Jean — September 11, 2008 @ 8:12 pm
Now that the National Enquirer is on the stands, how will she respond to the allegations that her son abused Oxycontin for two years. First of all, where did he get Oxycontin? He was only 17. Which of his parents have a prescription for Oxycontin? And, will she continue to promote her "We're so happy our beautiful Bristol is pregnant" when the story is out that she was banished from the house to live with her aunt. Palin is a liar and very naive. She didn't think anyone would go up to Alaska and check her hamper for dirty laundry.

Comment by linda in nm — September 11, 2008 @ 8:13 pm
I just saw Sarah Palin's TV interview with Charlie Gibson. By her answers, she showed me that her experience and knowledge of the world stage is very limited. She seems like a good and decent person but I believe that she is not even close to being ready to handle the responsibilities of VP let alone President.

To me she comes across as not being well read.
The breadth of her experience is narrow and not very deep. Americans are taking a big risk if they vote for the McCain/Palin ticket.

I am a registered Republican but I will not be voting with my party this coming November on the presidential ticket.

Comment by just kidding — September 11, 2008 @ 8:20 pm
I don't see the unfair attacks? Does she consider questions attacks?
I'd like to know why she left Wasilla with $22M in debt or why she claims she SOLD the jet that was also used to transport prisoners on eBay?
Why does she claim to be against earmarks when the requests from Alaska in earmarks are among the highest per capita requests?
These are questions I'd like to be answered.
This old white woman is waiting.

Comment by IDGem — September 11, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
If Rick Warren called Sarah Palin, as a reporter, he should have been clear with Sarah Palin, so she wouldn't respond to him as a minister. If he called her in his capacity as a minister he had no business sharing their conversation with the public. I appreciated his Saddleback forum, but he may need to stepback if he's confusing public and private discourse.

Palin's concerns about dealing with unfair attacks is human -she mentioned this to a minister; she didn't whine about it in public. I wonder if she understood how dirty things get. Part of the hammering she received is because she is new and the public interest and pubic vetting is huge. Obama went through much of this, but over 19 months of the campaign. She's entering the scene, at a late date, which magnifies the intensity.

All candidates distort and exaggerate their opponents views. McCain shifted in the last few months to straight-out lying about Obama. Palin has been slinging McCain's mud for him, so I wonder what her heart says about that.

Comment by jamis — September 11, 2008 @ 10:03 pm
There appear to be a number of Kool-Aid consumers commenting on this story who will believe all of the hated filled swill directed against Gov Palin during the past two weeks. Before that she was a relatively unknown governor, wife and mother.

She is relatively unknown and she has come under intense scrutiny by the hit- and-run media. There are legitimate questions to ask her about her record in Alaska and ability to perform duties of the vice presidency.

After all, McCain was supposed to select Liebermann or another already known and vetted garden variety politician. McCain shocked everyone, including myself, by choosing Gov Palin.

But this story is not about Palin as much as it is about Warren's decision to breach confidentiality by publically releasing information gained during a pastoral call with Gov Palin.

In addition, Rev Warren gave the public the impression that Palin approached him for spiritual advice. The fact is that Rev Warren called Governor last Saturday and she returned his call on Monday. Gov Palin did not initiate the contact by contacting Rick Warren. Nor,did he disclose, to my knowledge, what prompted him to call Gov Palin in the first place.

Pastoral care conversations are not in the public domain. Billy Graham was often called by presidents seeking his counsel and he has never disclosed to the public the content of these conversations. He could have made a fortune had he written a book giving the details of his counsel to both Democratic and Republican presidents. Clearly, Rick Warren is not Billy Graham.

Comment by sherry — September 12, 2008 @ 1:56 am
Sometimes you reap what you sow. A lot of the "unfair attacks" started right there in Alaska. Research it. Particularly those issues surrounding the family. Then any smart person should know, any story told in the political world is going to be questioned. She's not knew to politics, so she knows this. Then seems like if people want to know more information and are pressing for it, sounds like exactly what she did to her brother in law. And lastly, she voiced "unfair attacks" in being the spokes person for the Republican party. This was a speech prepared for her to spew negativity towards someone she obviously knows nothing about. If someone didn't tell her what to say, she wouldnt have known what to say. She had no personal knowledge. So she should be asking McCain this question. and again, you reap what you sow.

Comment by Vikki56 — September 12, 2008 @ 10:23 am
Disillusioned Republican:

Thank you for assuming I was sincere in wanting to help you be less disillusioned.

Here is the link for the practical application of SB99. It is long, but is divided up into different levels: Level 1 is what is to be taught, thought to be "age appropriate" for 5 to 8 year olds. As a parent, I found it appalling.

http://www.siecus.org/_data/global/images/guidelines.pdf

Comment by marybel — September 12, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
Rick my friend, as a fellow evangelical/pentecostal pastor, what happened to confidentiality between the sheep and the shepherd. As an Assembly of God pastor, I am sure if her pastor preached (not teaching or lectures that is so prevalent in the pulpits today…any other books coming out?….remember souls are most important to Christ, not book sales) did a superior job in citing scriptures that she can use in today's culture when one feels persecuted. How about Psalm 119.69. That last thing she should be doing is running from her penetcostal roots which teaches "speaking in tongues, slain in the Spirit", and empowerment the Holy Spirit brings through His baptism. She is running away to escape potential ridicule of her faith to a non-demoninational church that doesn't practice these BIBLICAL principles. Come on Rick, did you tell her that to run away with fear to confront these questions and to stand for them is the same thing as denying Christ? Quite playing God and providing worldy wisdom. Sarah, get on your knees and pray to God for strength and DIVINE wisdom and guidance. Your purpose in life is not driven by a book, but by the divinely inspired WORD of God. Get on your knees Sarah.

Comment by JayhawkDad — September 14, 2008 @ 1:03 pm
It's blatantly obvious that Rick Warren has allowed the power and money of his successful book go to his head. The phone conversation between Sarah and himself should be confidential, and he obviously did this to "name drop" and try to show everybody how popular and cool he is.

It's too bad to see a guy with a great message turn into a power driven, money hungry fool. Shame on you Rick Warren. Get it together!

Comment by Roger — September 14, 2008 @ 2:48 pm
The right thing for Obama to do is to drop out and admit that he is not qualified to be the president of the unitied states. He could maybe run for VP if he gets some executive experience and actually make some decisions. Maybe he should ask Lewis farrakhan or Rev Wright for some suggestions.

Comment by Jack — September 15, 2008 @ 12:43 pm
What really bothers me is the sprit of which our differences are aired, many very rude and unjust as I read your comments. What happened to true diplomacy. It is hard to even get a grasp of the real people running for the highest political positions in our country when they are being ripped apart (both sides) by media, bloggers and political hatchet men and women. I for once would like to see an election run in a way and the candidates treated in a way that our children and grandchildren could be proud of.

Comment by Elizabeth — September 23, 2008 @ 9:40 pm
Amoxicillin.

Amoxicillin.

Trackback by Amoxicillin. — October 22, 2008 @ 4:37 pm

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September 11, 2008

Palin Sought Guidance from Rick Warren

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