Christian Leader James Dobson Endorses Huckabee for GOP Nod

foxnews.com ^ | February 7, 2008 | Associated Press

[Berlin_Freeper]

James Dobson, one of the nation’s most prominent evangelical Christian leaders, backed Mike Huckabee’s presidential bid Thursday night, giving the former Arkansas governor a long-sought endorsement as the Republican field narrowed to a two-man race. In a statement first obtained by The Associated Press, Dobson reiterated his declaration on Super Tuesday that he could not in good conscience vote for John McCain, the front-runner, because of concerns over the Arizona senator’s conservative credentials.

Dobson said given the situation at that point, he was reluctant to choose between “two pro-family candidates whom I could support” — Huckabee and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

But Dobson wrote that Romney’s announcement Thursday that he was suspending his campaign “changed the political landscape.”

“The remaining candidate for whom I could vote is Governor Huckabee,” Dobson said. “His unwavering positions on the social issues, notably the institution of marriage, the importance of faith and the sanctity of human life, resonate deeply with me and with many others … Obviously, the governor faces an uphill struggle, given the delegates already committed to Senator McCain. Nevertheless, I believe he is our best remaining choice for president of the United States.”

[Berlin_Freeper]

Sweet!

[Berlin_Freeper]

"giving the former Arkansas governor a long-sought endorsement as the Republican field narrowed to a two-man race." - Associated Press

(((HuckaPING!)))

FReepmail me if you want on/off the HuckaJamesDobson Ping List.

[LowOiL]

I didn’t know what he would do after Huck attacked him for saying he would not vote McPain.

[chasio649]

If it wasn’t for FR...i wouldn’t even know who Dobson is...i guess i’m out of touch....should i know who he is? does he have a church? is he on tv?

[NurdlyPeon]

Ya, whatever Dobson, whatever.

[tgusa]

It dawns on me that a deadly flaw of the GOP is the same thing we see here on FR and in our churches - we’re seriously fractured, with each faction claiming superiority and knowledge of ‘the true path.’ Of course anything could dawn on me at this hour of the morning.

[SLB]

Of course anything could dawn on me at this hour of the morning.

Has the Son dawned on you?

[tgusa]

The Son dawned on me in 1987, thank you.

[CitizenUSA]

Dobson endorses Huckabee? What a shame.

[tgusa]

The Son dawned on me in 1987, thank you.

[loboinok]

Dr. Dobson is a Christian child psychologist..."he produces the daily radio program Focus on the Family, which is broadcast in more than a dozen languages and on over 7,000 stations worldwide, and heard daily by more than 220 million people in 164 countries. Focus on the Family is also carried by about 60 U.S. television stations daily. He founded the Family Research Council in 1981.

James Dobson

[Darkwolf377]

John McCain thanks you, Dobson.

[kempster]

As Karl Rove pointed out last night. Huck needs 999 more delegates for the nomination. There are only a little over 1100 delegates up for grabs in the future primaries. He would have to get 83% of these. I don’t think the voters will suddenly have an epiphany and give him much more than the 15-25% he has been getting. Stick a fork in it Dr. D.

[CitizenUSA]

tgusa: “It dawns on me that a deadly flaw of the GOP is the same thing we see here on FR and in our churches - we’re seriously fractured, with each faction claiming superiority and knowledge of ‘the true path.’”

You certainly have that right. What faction do you belong to?

Personally, I’m conservative. I belong to ALL three factions. I’m a repentant, Bible-believing, Christian who also believes in a strong national defense and individual liberty. I’m certain I’m not alone.

Huckabee may very well be an outstanding Christian. I don’t know him. However, evangelicals who vote for him are only marginalizing themselves, because he has no appeal outside of his faction.

I’m an engineer. I trust math. In Huckabee’s case, the math shows he has about as much chance of winning the nomination as I have of winning the lottery (and, please note, I don’t play lotteries). IF he did win by some amazing quirk of fate, he would lose the general election by a huge margin.

Huckabee supporters need to realize this isn’t about religion—it’s politics. In politics, you have to be able to compromise in order to get what you want. Stand firm against sin, but don’t equate politics with your walk with Christ. It’s not the same thing, nor can it be.

[tgusa]

We should start a fraternity. Not only are we seemingly on the same walk, I too am an engineer - SE to be exact. Somebody said yesterday that politics is a smash-mouth business - too many people here seem to think that religion is, too. For instance, last night there was a thread of serious Catholic and Mormon bashing, before it was mercifully pulled by the moderator. To what end was that bashing? Who would profit from sowing such discord on FR?

[UCFRoadWarrior]

If it wasn’t for FR...i wouldn’t even know who Dobson is...i guess i’m out of touch....should i know who he is? does he have a church? is he on tv?

---

Dr. Dobson is probably the most listened-to Christian on radio with his Focus on the Family radio program (afternoons on many Christian radio stations). His program has aired for many many years.

Dobson is well-respected, but, probably doesnt get the MSM compared to those who appear on TV often

This is a good endorsement for Huck, no doubt....even his detractors cant argue this one. Dobson is well-known without the baggage some of the other Christian leaders may have. The liberals in the GOP dismiss him because he has criticized the liberal slant of the party for a number of years.....but Dobson is more consistent on faith and values than any Christian leader out there

Yes, a very good endorsement for Huck. In fact, an endorsement that would now have me support Huck for the nom even after the WV caucus mess.

[unsocialist]

Dr. Dobson, you are about a year too late in this endorsement. Had you not attacked Huck last year he would have had far more support. I blame you and your closed door meeting of evangelicals for the rise of McCain.

[ElPatriota]

To Dobson, only a comment... what took you so long buddy?... You suppose to be a leader not 'led to.'

[ZULU]

“Dobson reiterated his declaration on Super Tuesday that he could not in good conscience vote for John McCain, the front-runner, because of concerns over the Arizona senator’s conservative credentials.”

How’s he going to feel when his “boy” starts angling to be McManiac’s Vice President?

[madison10]

Dr. Dobson must have not been paying attention to what Huckabee has been doing. Although I respect Dr. Dobson, his opinion doesn’t matter on this issue, still don’t like Huckabee.

[EternalVigilance]

he was reluctant to choose between “two pro-family candidates whom I could support” — Huckabee and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

The root of some very serious problems with Jim Dobson is finally exposed.

I'll never trust his political judgment again. My trust has been sliding for quite some time, but this seals it.

[normy]

This is great because now McCain won’t pick him as his VP and he will fade away into oblivion. Its time to rally folks and defeat Obama or Hillary. Huckabee needs to drop out and endorse Mccain. Just as most of Hucks votes would have gone to McCain most of Romneys will too.

[madison10]

If it wasn’t for FR...i wouldn’t even know who Dobson is...i guess i’m out of touch....should i know who he is? does he have a church? is he on tv?

Doesn't have a church, not on TV, but is on radio. He's written many good, successful books: "Bringing Up Boys," "Dare to Discipline," "The Strong-willed Child," and others.

His radio program is "Focus on the Family." Unlike Dr. Phil, Dr. Dobson is a real psychologist.

[TinaJeannes]

Big deal!

[Westbrook]

Personally, I’m conservative. I belong to ALL three factions. I’m a repentant, Bible-believing, Christian who also believes in a strong national defense and individual liberty. I’m certain I’m not alone.

You're not alone. There are millions of us here in the States.

Huckabee may very well be an outstanding Christian. I don’t know him. However, evangelicals who vote for him are only marginalizing themselves, because he has no appeal outside of his faction.

Exactly!

I’m an engineer. I trust math. In Huckabee’s case, the math shows he has about as much chance of winning the nomination as I have of winning the lottery (and, please note, I don’t play lotteries). IF he did win by some amazing quirk of fate, he would lose the general election by a huge margin.

I am 100% congruent with you here. I am also an engineer, and don't play lotteries.

Huckabee supporters need to realize this isn’t about religion—it’s politics. In politics, you have to be able to compromise in order to get what you want. Stand firm against sin, but don’t equate politics with your walk with Christ. It’s not the same thing, nor can it be.

Amen, brother.

Jesus was not a politician.

I voted for Duncan Hunter here in NH. I knew the math was against him, but I wanted to vote my conscience and show that there are people to the right of the main candidates in hopes of pulling them rightward.

I watched Mitt Romney while he was governor of Massachusetts. In spite of all the disinformatsia that has been spewed about him in this forum, I watched his drift rightward. He had NOTHING to gain by drifting rightward, especially not in Massachusetts, but I still wasn't certain that his rightward motion was sincere.

After observing Romney's comportment in this campaign, epsecially compared to that of the other participants, I came to regret casting my vote for Duncan Hunter by the time of the South Carolina primary.

I believe this country missed out on the opportunity to have a truly GREAT president in Mitt Romney, even though he is not of what I consider to be THE faith.

I heard Mitt say in his now famous "Faith Speech" that "Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior."

I know a lot of folks say that has a different meaning for Mormons than it does for Christians, and maybe it does. But to start a speech with that line, and do it with CLASS, well, not only did it take guts, it took CONVICTION.

If Mitt runs again in 2012, and his conservative "epiphany" remains intact, I will vote for him.

In the meantime, we must be prepared to surrender our money, our liberty, and our dignity to whichever of the three totalitarian statists wins the general election.

As you aptly pointed out, Huckabee doesn't have a chance.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Christians are the type of people who try to be cautious as so not to be unfair.

What this shows is that Dobson was being extremely fair minded about who to support but when the appropriate time finally came he did not hesitate to endorse Huckabee.

This actually is to the mans credit. That is why he is so influential, he is cautious and fair.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Expect the unexpected.

[ElPatriota]

Fair enough!

I have always admired Dobson... As an ex-Catholic, I search for leadership, the kind that the CC has failed to offer. That is probably why I expect so much from him.

In these critical political times, decisions...sometimes have to be done fast!

But point well taken :)

[Perdogg]

He wants to be the Grand Ayatollah of US of a theocracy he wants to established.

But instead, he scares people into voting for the other side.

[ishabibble]

Huckabee is the one who has used religion as a wedge to divide our party and split the votes. As a poster noted earlier in this thread, there has been quite a bit of religious bashing on this site because of Huckabee and his followers. It is not only unethical and immoral, it is a surefire way to p#ss off many people who are not Evangelical Protestants. That is simply unforgivable.

These same people from the Jimmy and Tammy Faye/Jimmy Swaggart/Oral Roberts faction of evangelicals have been dead wrong before. They are wrong again. Huckabee’s surge knocked out the true conservatives in the race. That man is a charlatan and a fraud. A cheap disc jockey/preacher who has gotten this far by using prejudice and fear. Nobody else in my memory has ever been more deliberately divisive and harmful to a cause. He is still, and always will be, Lonesome Rhoades. A lying, oily fake who uses people to get what he wants.

All Dr. Dobson has done is shown that he is like a rat backed into a corner.

[Dog]

Pdogg you my friend got guts...:-)

What some on this thread are forgetting is one simple fact.

McCain will be our parties nominee they can rail and whine....but its done.

Whether we support him our not.

My hope is people come to realize he is now the only thing standing between President Hillary or a President Obama....children of Saul Alinsky.

[Your Nightmare]

And I’m endorsing the Patriots for the Super Bowl.

[Oh, wait. The Super Bowl is over - just like this nomination...]

[Dog]

Bingo.

Watch the media now turn on the Huckster.

[HawaiianGecko]

There are a total of 2,380 delegates in the GOP primaries, 1,197 have been won and 1,183 are open/left that can be won.  It takes 1,191 delegates to win and Huckabee has only won 181 leaving him with 1,010 delegates to be obtained out of 1,183 available.  So Huck has to win 85% of the remaining delegates (1010/1183) while to date he has only won 15% (181/1197).  In short McCain only needs to win (1183-1010+1) = 172 more delegates to make it mathematically impossible for Huck to win. I don't know why he hasn't dropped out as he doesn't have a chance to win or to force a brokered convention. 
Huck has zero leverage with McCain from a delegate standpoint.  McCain may want him because of his strength in the South, but can he actually draw anyone other than conservative, evangelical republicans? 

[Vigilanteman]

Good assessment. Dr. Dobson is not a big econmic conservative, but he’s a great social conservative. As much as I disagree with Huckabee on the two other legs of the stool (national defense, economics), I will concede he is a great social conservative.

[A2J]

I've always respected Dr. Dobson but his entanglement in the politic process over the past few years has exposed that he's suffering from dementia.

Just because someone used to be a "pastor" doesn't mean that he holds the values of a Christian.

[A2J]

Gun control: deep breath, sight alignment, squeeze the trigger .....

And think of an eyedropper.

[A2J]

As much as I disagree with Huckabee on the two other legs of the stool (national defense, economics), I will concede he is a great social conservative.

Have you ever tried to sit on a one-legged stool?

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Huckabee supporters need to realize this isn’t about religion—it’s politics. In politics, you have to be able to compromise in order to get what you want. Stand firm against sin, but don’t equate politics with your walk with Christ. It’s not the same thing, nor can it be.

That's your opinion. Christians don't have to "do the math." Our side will win. We have read the last chapter of the book. (The Good Book)

If you do not act (and VOTE) in life with your faith as your guide, you are denying your ultimate responsibility as a Christian.

A Christian should not compartmentalize his life and vote for the devil by day while praying at night.

[Hazcat]

Christian Leader James Dobson needs to stay out of politics or his church needs to start paying taxes.

[Greg F]

It dawns on me that a deadly flaw of the GOP is the same thing we see here on FR and in our churches - we’re seriously fractured, with each faction claiming superiority and knowledge of ‘the true path.’ Of course anything could dawn on me at this hour of the morning.
________________________________________

I’ve been saying that the social conservatives (read Christian right) and the small governmnent/rights oriented/free market conservatives really need to talk to each other before they select candidates to promote for a run next time. Together straightline conservatives and social conservatives have the plurality in the party that would win most primaries. Without each other they’ve got bupkiss.

[CitizenUSA]

NoControllingLegalAuthority: “A Christian should not compartmentalize his life and vote for the devil by day while praying at night.”

See, that’s exactly what I was writing about. All kinds of political issues are only marginally related to faith. Did Christ say anything about whether taxes should be 10, 15, or 25%? No, He wasn’t here to set tax policy or fix this world.

This isn’t about voting for the “devil” or choosing Christ. It’s about setting public policy for mostly secular matters.

BTW, I’m not saying Christians should ignore faith. Just don’t try to make politics fit spiritual distinctions of black and white. The real world is more complex than that.

[Vermont Lt]

I agree with you. Except when the lottery goes over $20 million, I spend a buck. You never know. Better to have a finger in the pool, just in case.

My mom always told me I was one in a million. My wife agrees. Perhaps I can be one in 42 millon. Best to have that base covered.

[HoustonTech]

Since Huckabee seems to be God’s candidate now, Huckabee’s candidacy should once and for all either prove or disprove the occurance of modern day miracles.

Seriously, Huckabee doesn’t have a prayer. ;-) And if Fred Heads remember how Dobson dissed our candidates last year, they will think twice now about voting for the beneficiary of that attack. If I were Huckabee, I’d distance myself a degree or two from Dobson. Mike needs votes from those who don’t kowtow to Dobson, but Dobson’s endorsement only makes that harder to get.

[CitizenUSA]

Vermont Lt: “Better to have a finger in the pool, just in case.”

Mathematics has permanently ruined any fun I might have had with gambling.

[conservit]

Best news I’ve heard all day!

[ari-freedom]

you’re an engineer so you actually have all 4 factions of conservatism :)

[Coldwater Creek]

The delagates in my state are not bound by the voters wishes, and could possibly cast all of their votes for someone else.

[Coldwater Creek]

Dr. Dobson doesn’ have a “church”. ?He is not a Reverend and never has claimed to be.

[HawaiianGecko]

"The delagates in my state are not bound by the voters wishes, and could possibly cast all of their votes for someone else."

Sure they could, but history shows that delegates don't pee on the shoes of their electorate.  What's technically possible and what will happen are two different things.