Posted on 09/19/2007 7:14:10 PM PDT by pissant
DENVER (AP) — James Dobson, one of the nation's most politically influential evangelical Christians, made it clear in a message to friends this week he will not support Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson.
In a private e-mail obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, Dobson accuses the former Tennessee senator and actor of being weak on the campaign trail and wrong on issues dear to social conservatives.
"Isn't Thompson the candidate who is opposed to a Constitutional amendment to protect marriage, believes there should be 50 different definitions of marriage in the U.S., favors McCain-Feingold, won't talk at all about what he believes, and can't speak his way out of a paper bag on the campaign trail?" Dobson wrote.
"He has no passion, no zeal, and no apparent 'want to.' And yet he is apparently the Great Hope that burns in the breasts of many conservative Christians? Well, not for me, my brothers. Not for me!"
The founder and chairman of Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family, Dobson draws a radio audience in the millions, many of whom who first came to trust the child psychologist for his conservative Christian advice on child-rearing.
Gary Schneeberger, a Focus on the Family spokesman, confirmed that Dobson wrote the e-mail. Schneeberger declined to comment further, saying it would be inappropriate because Dobson's comments about presidential candidates are made as an individual and not as a representative of Focus on the Family, a nonprofit organization restricted from partisan politics.
Dobson's strong words about Thompson underscore the frustration and lack of unity among Christian conservatives about the GOP field. Some Christian right leaders have pinned their hopes on Thompson, describing him as a Southern-fried Ronald Reagan. But others have voiced doubts in recent weeks about some of the same issues Dobson highlighted: his position on gay marriage and support for the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform legislation.
Dobson and other Christian conservatives support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would bar gay marriage nationally. Thompson has said he would support a constitutional amendment that would prohibit states from imposing their gay marriage laws on other states, which falls well short of that.
Karen Hanretty, a spokeswoman for the Thompson campaign, said Wednesday in response to the Dobson e-mail: "Fred Thompson has a 100 percent pro-life voting record. He believes strongly in returning authority to the levels of government closest to families and communities, protecting states from intrusion by the federal government and activist judges.
"We're confident as voters get to know Fred, they'll appreciate his conservative principles, and he is the one conservative in this race who can win the nomination and can go on to defeat the Democratic nominee."
In his e-mail addressed "Dear friends," Dobson includes the text of a recent news story highlighting Thompson's statement that while he was baptized in the Church of Christ, he does not attend church regularly and won't speak about his faith on the stump.
U.S. News and World Report quoted Dobson earlier this year as questioning Thompson's commitment to the Christian faith — comments Dobson contended were not put in proper context. Dobson in this week's e-mail writes that suppositions "about the former senator's never having professed to be a Christian are turning out to be accurate in substance."
Earlier this year, Dobson said he wouldn't back John McCain because of the Arizona senator's opposition to a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
Later, Dobson wrote on a conservative news Web site that he wouldn't support former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani should he win the Republican nomination. Dobson called Giuliani an "unapologetic supporter of abortion on demand" and criticized him for signing a bill in 1997 creating domestic-partnership benefits in New York City.
Last week, Dobson announced on his radio show that the IRS had cleared him of accusations that he had endangered his organization's nonprofit status by endorsing Republican candidates in 2004. The IRS said Dobson, who endorsed President Bush's re-election bid, was acting as an individual and not on behalf of the nonprofit group.
The “Stripes” is good.
No wonder they seem that way. Today's evilvangelicals ARE the modern-day pharisees.
Think about it, they both profess to believe in dead prophets, (and their fathers killed them) but reject living prophets. Both profess to adhere to the scriptures of their day, (but are really whited sepulchures) but reject new and living scripture.
Eerie isn't it?
Well, Dobson is losing me, not Fred.
I will cancel my Focus on the Family subscription tomorrow.
It would serve Dobson right to end up with Giuliani or the Hildebeast.
Unfortunately, that would mean the rest of us were stuck with one of them, too.
You are lying again.
Dobson should tend to his flock and make sure none of them cheat on their wives, embezzle church funds or play footsie in public toilets.
Where was Fred when the Clintons were running the Chinese Carry Out presidency?
Well, for starters...
Seriously?
If I'm not Mormon I can not enter their temples?
Well that just prove my point about Fred Thompson....
Has Dr. Dobson said he'd ruled out Romney? I know some upthread have assumed he would, but I haven't seen anything final on that. The last thing I found of Dobson on Romney was him saying Romney "was still on the list." However that's from four months ago so I may of missed something. Links please if you know of anything, pro or con, more recent.
The “new” church is growing and is accepting of all denominations that believe in Jesus. I know. I was raised in a church that said the Baptists and Catholics were wrong. They don’t say that anymore.
So - folks here on FR daily pontificate on who they will or won’t support... But Dobson cannot do the same?
Seems much like a double standard like we accuse the media and liberals of to me.
Dobson would forget the admonition to treat the lesser of God's children as he would treat God.
>the vast majoriity of the American people are looking for an energetic leader, somebody with “juice”. You know, the quarterback type I’m afraid Fred is Bob Dole all over again, and people here just can’t, or refuse, to see it. Dobson does, however.<
Oh, there are plenty of us here who see that. :) No disrespect for FDT. He just isn’t presidential material in today’s world.
You’re a slave.
but you do not have the influence on the public that dobson has.
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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Do you reserve that same anger towards fiscal conservatives/libertarians that sit out elections, vote third party or vote Democrat when the Republicans don’t adhere to their beliefs?
Because as I recall....Bush 41 got tossed for two reasons. “New world order” AND “Read my lips”. In the last election I heard three reasons, aside from Iraq. And they were Foley, amnesty AND spending.
from my POV, I blame the actual elected Republicans that renege on their promises but if you ARE going to blame the people for not gracing Republicans with their vote it ain’ just social conservative who walk.
This is not true Dobson has always seem to be sour on Fred remember earlier this year he said Fred was not Christian enough something like than later Dobson back track.
So why give they him a second thought.
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