Posted on 01/13/2007 1:56:54 PM PST by Reagan Man
Dobson says he couldn't support senator 'under any circumstances'
A prominent Christian leader whose radio and magazine outreaches are solidly in support of biblically-based marriages – and keep in touch with millions of constituents daily – says he cannot consider Arizona Sen. John McCain a viable candidate for president.
"Speaking as a private individual, I would not vote for John McCain under any circumstances," said James Dobson, founder of the Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family as well as the Focus Action cultural action organization set up specifically to provide a platform for informing and rallying constituents.
Dobson, who always is careful to note that he's not speaking for the non-profit ministry, which cannot advocate for or against candidates legally, also doesn't hesitate to state his personal opinions on social or political issues and agendas.
Several times he's talked to Republicans, the traditionally conservative political party, about the need to maintain the values of that large part of the U.S. population, or lose the support of those people.
His most recent comments came during an interview on the Jerry Johnson Live program on KCBI 90.0 FM.
The show host noted that pro-family conservatives already are thinking about the next cycle of leadership in the United States, which will be determined in the 2008 presidential and congressional elections. He also noted that McCain and New York mayor Rudy Guiliani appear to be the leaders.
Then he asked Dobson to listen to a statement from McCain and respond.
"I think, uh … I think that gay marriage should be allowed if there's a ceremony kind of thing, if you wanna call it that … I don't have any problem with that," McCain says.
"Dr. Dobson, would you be comfortable with someone like John McCain as the … conservative or Republican candidate for president?" Johnson asked.
"Well, let me say that I am not in the office. I'm in the little condo so I can speak for myself and not for Focus on the Family," Dobson said in rejecting McCain's leadership.
He noted that legislation he'd just been discussing on the program, regarding an attempt by Democrat leaders in Congress to create obstacles for ministries such as Focus to reach constituents with action messages about pending legislation, is being supported by McCain, too.
"That came from McCain, and the McCain Feingold Bill kept us from telling the truth right before elections … and there are a lot of other things. He's not in favor of traditional marriage, and I pray that we won't get stuck with him," Dobson said.
The provisions of the new congressional proposal, hidden deep inside a plan to reform lobbying rules to eliminate the many recent scandals involving members of Congress, would require pro-family groups to provide documentation of their actions to the government any time they try to spark any "grass-roots" action.
Phone calls, personal visits, e-mails, magazines, broadcasts, phone banks, appearances, travel, fundraising and other items all would be subject to government tabulation, verification and audits, Dobson said during a recent program. "On and on it goes."
"Clearly, the objective here is to hide what goes on from the public and punish and silence those of us who would talk about what our representatives are doing," Dobson said of the plan by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. American Family Association Chairman Donald Wildmon, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and American Values President Gary Bauer joined Dobson in urging listeners to flood Capitol Hill with phone calls demanding those speech limits be removed.
Bauer said the telephone number to call is: 202-224-3121.
Focus also has begun an online petition, at Focuspetitions.com.
Wildmon characterized the Washington proposal as a message to the American public: "We don't want to hear from you, and this is the way we're going to handle it."
Dobson also earlier scolded Republicans for blaming the 2006 election victories by Democrats in many races across the country on conservatives.
"Dick Armey emerged from four years in the wilderness to blame conservative Christians for Tuesday's defeat. They were, he said, 'too involved' with the party. He can't be serious! Someone should tell him that without the support of that specific constituency, John Kerry would be president and the Republicans would have fallen into a black hole in '04," Dobson said in a story WND reported earlier.
"Values Voters are not going to carry the water for the Republican Party if it ignores their deeply held convictions and beliefs," he said.
"Republican leaders in Congress during this term apparently never understood, or they forgot, why Ronald Reagan was so loved and why he is considered one of our greatest presidents. If they hope to return to power in '08, they must rediscover the conservative principles that resonated with the majority of Americans in the 1980s – and still resonate with them today. Failure to do so will be catastrophic," Dobson said.
Dobson noted he'd been interviewed by U.S. News and World Report after the 2004 elections and warned if Republicans squandered their opportunity, they would pay a price at the polls in either 2008 or 2006.
Dobson's predictions about values and the Republican Party go back even further than that, too.
In 1998 he told a reporter that the GOP was in danger of losing its ability to "claim to speak for those of us with deep moral convictions."
He said at that time the party has "ignored the moral issues year after year, term after term" and said at that time it was "time to fish or cut bait."
At that time he also warned the GOP Christians and conservatives "will abandon them if they continue to ignore the most important issues."
John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Ken Mehlman hve all shown their disdain for the Religious Right. If they want to win in 2008, they better start by extending an olive branch. So far all they have done is alienate the conservative Christians.
A hero is a hero. I have nothing but respect for anyone who would endure what he did for his country.
McCain is certainly not a "loon." He's consistently been one of the key supporters of President Bush on the WoT.
Whether you want to vote for him or not, trashing the man smacks of irresponsibility.
Mia T, I respect your opionion, and certainly share the same feelings about Hillary Clinton. Having said that, if the GOP leadership and Religious Right continue on their current paths, look for a repeat of the 2006 elections in 2008. There is room on both sides to change their positions.
Having said that, the Religious Right will never accept a candidate or platform that finds abortion acceptable, nor will it find partial-birth abortion, gun control, federally-funded infant stem cell research, or assisted suicide. Those issues are not negotiable because of their religious beliefs. Whoever the eventual nominee might be, they had better know how to communicate and build a bridge to these voters who maintain their religious beliefs, or they can expect to not win their support.
Absolutely brilliant. The future of far more than Israel is at stake here. Israel is but the canaryinthemine for all of western civilization.
No one is trashing him, but merely pointing out that McCain's record of bucking the GOP at critical times have earned him a reputation as a hothead and a kook. He co-authored the most disastrous campaign "reform" in history, the McCain-Feingold Bill, which strips away First Amendment Rights. He also joined 13 other senators to manipulate the Senate confirmations of judicial nominees, thus allowing Democrats to effectively block them, even though the GOP controlled the Senate. He alienated the majority of GOP voters.
One more item about McCain. He went to meet with a religious fundamentalist leader, seeking an endorsement. After the meeting, McCain bad-mouthed the entire Religious Right. He will not win many of those people.
I call them as I see them. But I apologize for offending your sensibilities.
Who is going to need the tissues? I contend that the mountain toppers who won't vote for McCain will be much more persecuted under hitlery.
McCain is not my choice. His PTSD is a matter of magnitude worse than mine. If we elect McCain we elect someone whose marbles ain't all in one sack. He'd still be my choice over any filthy demonrat. Enjoy your mountaintop, zealots, while it lasts.
Not all Christians are 'bible thumpers'. 'Bible thumper' is a pejorative for the loud mouthed, intolerant and embarrassingly ignorant of the group. While I agree that most Christians are fiscally conservative their message is lost in the vitriol of the thumpers. Just as the illusion of the fringe of the right costs us votes from the middleground, the illusion that thumpers represent all Christians is just as counterproductive to their sects.
All you care about is money?
There is much more to life than money...
I agree with Dobson and I am an atheist.
What has hurt the Republican party is the squishy moderate RINOs who cave in to the liberals, and people like you who hate the Christians just for the sake of hating them.
Blame yourself...
It is the more conservative party. Granted, that isn't saying much. We are already a socialist nation and our chains are already started to tighten. Given the weakness of our general population, the socialist GOP is all that stands in the way of totalitarian communist 'demonrat' control.
Issues, Francie, issues.
Mornin' Mia, you're wonderfully right.
Income levels can be tricky as you well know. Liberals are concentrated in areas that are expensive, hence high incomes. It would be interesting to look at the average net worth of these groups. It is revealing, for instance, to see that the liberals don't trade securities as freqently.
IOW, liberal-speak for a Christian who raises his voice in disagreement with social liberalism.
Usually on abortion, drugs, euthanasia, gambling, pornography and other social libertarian obsessions.
Asinine commentary from you doesn't help Republicans...
You want to bash the core party base and be one of those Rosie O'Donnell Republicans who equate the Christians with the Taliban...
I have no use for you, never did really...
And most definitely not inline with the 11 commandment.
By not voting against her you will essentially allow her to reign unopposed. You have deserted your post during wartime.
I am an atheist and I won't accept that, or the illogical pervert weddings either.
This new Rosie O'Donnell wing of the party who equate the Christians with the Taliban are morons and I won't vote for them, they are liberals with fancy Madison Avenue designer labels...
The war is against liberalism and choosing between two enemies is a false choice...
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