Obama, McCain and Real Estate
Editorial by Stefan Swanepoel
I would like to share with you the fantastic afternoon I had this last Saturday. My wife and I had the privilege of being invited to the two hour Saddleback Civil Forum with Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain. This was the first time these two presidential hopefuls, and expected nominees for the Democratic and Republican Parties, shared a public stage.
Rick Warren, author of “A Purpose Driven Life,” and pastor of our Church, Saddleback in Lake Forest, had organized for Obama and McCain to come and present their views on important issues.
The Atypical Conversation. This was not your usual political debate with read-the-teleprompter canned speeches on pre-approved political questions. No sir. This was about the real stuff – the big subjects – topics we usually do not hear about in a presidential face-off.
On Sundays, Rick is usually dressed up in a Hawaiian shirt, but this Saturday was different – he was in a dress shirt, no tie and suit. Rick himself is an excellent and inspiring speaker but the afternoon wasn’t about him.
During the forum Rick first posted questions to Obama before asking McCain the same set of questions. Topics covered aspects such as personal values, religion, abortion, marriage, education, evil, stem cell research, energy and their respective vision for the United States.
Obama was enthusiastic, but gave answers that left one often confused with his commentary falling on “both-sides-of-the-fence.” His weakest answer was probably when he replied that’s “above my pay grade.”
McCain’s appeared more comfortable and his replies were short and concise. His weakest answer was when he jokingly replied that $5 million annual income would qualify as “rich.”
As Rick noted, it was clear that both care deeply about America.
The Forum Got Me Thinking. It was the best and most honest political debate I have heard in decades. Overall it was a very interesting and eye-opening experience – this got me thinking. What if we could have a Real Estate Forum like this one but where someone like Dale Stinton of NAR would ask the candidates’ questions directly related to real estate, housing and the mortgage crisis? Items that are of direct importance to our industry.
Wouldn’t that be great! How about it Dale, think NAR could pull an event like this off?
Watch the Saddleback Civil Forum.
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This is the type of forum that NAR absolutely should put together, and even have each candidates’ respective economics advisers on stage with them to answer the real questions.
It is obvious that you are a McCain supporter. I could go either way, I am waiting to see what VP choices these two men choose. It was apparent that McCain was answering questions based on what the evangelicals wanted to hear. I did not see him as sincere. Obama was vague at times and somewhat cautious. I do agree that it would be an important forum to see how they both would respond to real-life issues that are affecting our homes and our lives. Based on Saturday’s forum we can see both these men are passionate and want to perserve the wonderful life and liberties we have in America, but I want to hear how they are going to do that on the spur of the moment. What’s going through their minds.
I think Stefan did a very balanced and neutral summary of the event. Everyone who saw the program, even if you are an Obama supporter, agrees that McCain was more polished than Obama. But that isn’t the real point behind Stefan’s post. It’s that we should have a similar Forum about Real Estate. That would be brilliant and very, very meaningfulro everyone in the industry. I hope Dale gets the message.
Excellent post. Excellent idea.
I disagree that it is obvious that Stefan is a McCain supporter. I saw his comments as telling what he saw in the responses by both men. It would be a tremendous opportunity for the American public to hear both men talk about our industry and what they have to offer to preserve the American Dream. This would probably have more meaning than any debate that could be offered.
The difference between McCain and Obama is the amount of experience the two of them have. I love to listen to Obama speak, but I don’t think he has enough experience to lead this country in such perilous times. We need a strong leader and although I would have liked it to be someone other than McCain, he is the best man still standing.
So Donald, are you submitting this great idea from Stefan to Dale Stinton? Real estate leaders that could interview the presidential candidates could be Dale of course, Stefan himself or Brad Inman. Anyone of the three would be great and I agree with Katy this interview would have more meaning for real estate than anything else I can think of.
Susan - with respect to your question about whether REALonomics will submit the idea of a Real Estate Industry Political Forum to Dale Stinton, I believe Mr. Stinton may already be a subscriber to REALonomics.net, if not, he should be. However, your idea raises a much more important question and that is why doesn’t the RE Industry engage the political process in such things as discussion forums? REALonomics is dedicated to the transformation of our industry’s business model into a more consumer-centric and profitable model and NAR could and should lead the way. This would not only improve our influence in Washington but our reputations with consumers which, in my opinion, is the core reason for creation of a pro-active, transparent and assertive NAR. It’s too late for us to create a forum at this point in the election process. Susan, you are on track! Thanks for the prompt! I’m catching the next flight out to NAR to see if I can convince them to lead pro-actively.
REALonomics.