Posted on 03/29/2007 9:03:55 PM PDT by STARWISE
Former Sen. Fred Thompson is considering running for president; he has the strong conservative credentials the major Republican candidates are lacking. Many conservatives are urging Sen.Thompson to enter the fray, but James Dobson is not a supporter.
From USNews.Com:
"Focus on the Family founder James Dobson appeared to throw cold water on a possible presidential bid by former Sen. Fred Thompson while praising former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is also weighing a presidential run, in a phone interview Tuesday.
'Everyone knows he's conservative and has come out strongly for the things that the pro-family movement stands for,' Dobson said of Thompson. "[But] I don't think he's a Christian; at least that's my impression,' Dobson added, saying that such an impression would make it difficult for Thompson to connect with the Republican Party's conservative Christian base and win the GOP nomination."
Thompson is a bonafide conservative who champions the social agenda that Dobson spends all his waking hours promoting, so why isn't he a fan of Thompson? Because Dobson doesn't consider Thompson a Christian. Dobson feels that Thompson won't appeal to evangelicals because he is not one of them. That's as ridiculous as stating that Rudy can't win because he's follically-challenged.
Thompson is a Christian, by the way, he belongs to the "Church of Christ" denomination. But Dobson and his fellow evangelicals don't consider mainline Protestants and Catholics true Christians, because they don't emphasize a "born again experience."
Dobson is a big fan of Newt Gingrich; I guess a confessed adulterer who's been married three times is prime presidential material -- as long as he calls himself a born-again Christian.
I don't think multiple marriages should disqualify someone from being president; I merely want to point out Dobson's hypocrisy.
I am not a conservative, but in my opinion Sen. Thompson is a stand-up guy and he doesn't need the endorsement of a hypocrite like Dobson.
PING !
I don't believe for a moment Dobson said that.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1808861/posts
Friends,
Last night the DrudgeReport.com posted a link to an article in U.S. News & World Report titled: Dobson Offers Insight on 2008 Republican Hopefuls, Focus on Family Founder Snubs Thompson, Praises Gingrich. The calls and emails were fast and furious and I do mean furious!
This morning I had an opportunity to speak with Brad Miller, Director of Family Policy Council at Focus. We had a great conversation and Brad confirmed what many of us had been suspecting - the article was not an accurate representation of the conversation.
Dr. Dobson had never actually spoken with Fred and did not know Fred's personal viewpoints and beliefs firsthand. Dr. Dobson noted that Fred's voting record while in the Senate was to be praised and indicated a strong conservative, pro-family position. Dobson did not know Fred to be an outspoken evangelical, which can be considered a negative in some circles. The notion that Dr. Dobson was supporting a potential Gingrich candidacy over others is false. Brad also mentioned that there was a great deal of excitement among the "religious right" about a potential Fred Thompson candidacy and that Dr. Dobson is not endorsing or supporting any candidate or potential candidate at this time.
I appreciate Brad for the conversation and helping to clear the air on this and I appreciate your ongoing efforts in supporting a potential Fred Thompson candidacy. If you haven't been to the site lately, please take a minute stop by: http://www.grassrootsvoter.com We are well on our way to our goal of organizing 10,000 Fred Thompson supporters!
Thanks again,
Reuben Watkins www.grassrootsvoter.com
Having noted that, If I let loose on Dobson, I would probably assume a final exit from here, so I will restrain myself, and say nothing.
Enough: Dobson may write good books and be a stand-up guy (he was spoke kind words at my second wedding ceremony) but he had better stay outta the way of getting Fred elected because Thompson (Fred) & Thompson (Tommy) are the only winning game/team in this town: we gotta beat the Dems in 2008 or it is all over. Enough said.
James Dobson: Hateful, Bigoted A-hole, and the Right's Howard Zinn
Dobson was quoted, and said he did not consider Thompson a Christian, even though he was aware he did not belong to another faith. Dobson doesn't think anybody but his own brand of Christian are Christian. He is entitled to his opinion of course. And I am entitled to my opinion of Dobson. And so it goes.
I saw this headline earlier today...but, with the hearing today...I didn't get around to posting about this.
I have to say...I am shocked as well.
I just didn't think that one's "Christianity" was questioned like this...
I didn't think there was a "religious litmus test"...
Well, he's an embarrassment. Luckily, the adversaries have their own embarrasmentsm who are even worse. Think al sharpton.
FYI.
Focus on the Family issued the following statement today regarding a story that appeared Wednesday on the U.S. News & World Report Web site quoting the ministry's founder and chairman, James C. Dobson, Ph.D:
"We welcome the opportunity to clarify Dr. Dobson's remarks that were first reported in Dan Gilgoff's online article titled 'Dobson Offers Insight on 2008 Republican Hopefuls: Focus on the Family Founder Snubs Thompson, Praises Gingrich.' At the outset, it's important to note that this headline is an outright mischaracterization of the views Dr. Dobson expressed. His words weren't intended to represent either an endorsement of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich or a disparagement of former Sen. Fred Thompson. Dr. Dobson appreciates Sen. Thompson's solid, pro-family voting record and his position that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided.
"In his conversation with Mr. Gilgoff, Dr. Dobson was attempting to highlight that to the best of his knowledge, Sen. Thompson hadn't clearly communicated his religious faith, and many evangelical Christians might find this a barrier to supporting him. Dr. Dobson told Mr. Gilgoff he had never met Sen. Thompson and wasn't certain that his understanding of the former senator's religious convictions was accurate. Unfortunately, these qualifiers weren't reported by Mr. Gilgoff. We were, however, pleased to learn from his spokesperson that Sen. Thompson professes to be a believer.
"With regard to Mr. Gingrich, while Dr. Dobson spoke positively about his intelligence and his ability to articulate conservative values, he expressed concern about the former speaker's past moral failures. You may be aware that Mr. Gingrich recently appeared on a Focus on the Family broadcast to discuss America's Christian heritage and the threat posed by radical Islam. Prior to the interview, Dr. Dobson asked Mr. Gingrich if he'd be willing to talk about his family life on the air because he felt our friends deserved an explanation. Those who listened to the exchange heard nothing indicating that Dr. Dobson excused Mr. Gingrich's past indiscretions. The former speaker was offered a chance to address the subject openly and honestly, and he did so, stating, 'I have turned to God and have gotten on my knees ... and sought God's forgiveness.' Dr. Dobson firmly believes that Scripture teaches there is redemption available through Christ for those who confess their sins -- were it not so, we'd all be in a world of trouble. Of course, only the Lord knows the condition of individual hearts.
"In conclusion, we would caution friends of our ministry not to believe what they read about Dr. Dobson in the secular media today. Never in the 30-year history of this ministry has there been more misreporting and outright distortion of his beliefs and teachings. It is apparent that those who represent a liberal worldview seek to marginalize him and confuse our friends. Anyone who ever has a question concerning what they read about Dr. Dobson or Focus on the Family is encouraged to contact us for clarification. The chances are they have been misinformed."
Starwise, thank you for posting this thread. Please respond specifically to comment 4. Thank you. F Johnson
Enter the Romney treatment , how does it feel you Thompsonites ?
Mr. Romeny would never say anything like this. Strange, isn't it?
Starwise, not to beat a dead horse, but could you include post 12 in your response. Thanks again. Flip Johnson.
I love Dr. Dobson, but he did put his foot in his mouth.
If Dobson said that (and I remain unconvinced) he's a nutcase.
Yeah I'm sick of these two bit conning religious hustlers and could care less what he thinks. If there is a God then surely Dobson will burn in hell. I hope.
He does so many good things .. I find this really depressing.
And if he really said this:
""[But] I don’t think he’s a Christian. At least that’s my impression.”
boy .. that takes some gall.
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