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.
Yeah, I thought he’d be leaning to Duncan Hunter then.
Hey, Sergei - long time no see! Nice to read your common sense again.
“”He announced 2 weeks ago. What did you expect? Fireworks flying out of his @ss or ninga fighting Hillary and Obama in a cage death match?””
This made me laugh! : )
I think Thompson wants the election to be about his ideas and not his stage presence. I am tired of seeing a bunch of guys in makeup on a stage trying to answer complex questions in a sound bite.
He wants to do his own thing and said “if you can’t get your message out there in a few months for the people to decide you probably should’nt be President.” He is also correct in his unspoken analysis that the traditional media will try to tear whoever runs against Billary Obama apart. He is not playing their game.
Read the huge amount of stuff he has written that is available on the internet and you will know more about him than you do any other candidate in this race!
We are electing a President here... not Mr. America!
Fred said he will put his ideas out there and let the people decide and that is the way it should be. I don’t need Hannity and Colmes to show shots of the man in make-up while telling me what he said. Why are some Freepers upset that Thompson does not want to play the normal news talk circuit or does not look like a Ken doll?
Before anyone asks... I have donated to Duncan and Fred and would be very happy with either. I really like Duncan but I am not optimistic about his chances. I am excited about Fred entering the race. I don’t care if he is not acting like a cheerleader... that stuff is phony! They both have a record that is consistent and that is what I am looking for. We need leadership instead of poll watchers now more than ever.
I would bet there are more words written by Fred on the internet discussing more topics than any other two candidates in this race. Decide for yourself but ultimately if Billary is the nominee I am voting for anyone running against her.
Dobson put himself out there and he's fair game for criticism.
Just like all of us on this board.
Dobson’s group was attacking Romney via his connection to the string of hotels that offered pay for view porn. He hasn’t to my knowledge ruled him out by name, but allowing those attacks to be unveiled does hint there isn’t strong support for Romney either.
40% of the Mormons aren’t allowed in their temples!
Only the special ones wearing white robes or some such thing. Strange.
I don't know why conservatives would want to discover it just in time to restrain ~social~ legislation.
cute pic there, if I do say so myself, Calpernia! ;)
Thank you, doll.
I read an article the other day that said only about 60% of Mormons are allowed in the temples. And the article was written by a Mormon working for Romney’s campaign.
Whats up with that?
***
Not all care to live the eternal Law!
No you cannot. You are not worthy!
Tagline BUMP!!!
Fred makes me feel safe. Crazy I know, but he does.
“You know, the quarterback type “
Actually: “he managed to lead Lawrenceburg High to the state championships in basketball and football.”
Pardon me, but it’s a bit Phariseeical to call others Pharisees. Or doesn’t that seem as plain to you as it does to me?
And I would’ve never thought to call you Phariseeical if you hadn’t judged a bunch of others to be Pharisees. Now if Dr. Dobson or other professing Evangelicals call you or your kind (whatever that is) Pharisees, then I could understand why you might say that about them. One thing about the Pharisees (among others) is that they condemned everyone but their own kind. If you weren’t on the Pharisees team, forget it. You were nothing. And who appointed them? They appointed themselves and made up their own rules and standards. Jesus knew this and that’s why he exposed them.
You seem to believe you have identified their modern day version and feel called to let them have it. I say be very careful. It was Jesus himself who exposed them. Jesus, the name above every name, whether in heaven or on earth.
By the way, from your screen name, are you advertising yourself as a Democrat?
From where I've come from, anyone who fails to support anyone who is not a Leftist or fellow traveler is someone willingly sticking a knife into the heart and soul of this nation.
The utter degeneracy and nearly Satanic essence of the Left was revealed to me in the short few years I spent in far Left politics.
When dozens of demoncrat politicians in DC owe allegiance to the Second International, and very few average folks give a damn, I'd even support a Thompson who may have a snowball's chance at getting elected over someone I'd be more in tune with who hasn't a prayer.
You know, if everyone who said they really like Hunter and what he stands for but he just can’t make it decided that our country would truly benefit by his presidency, and got behind him, Hunter would be number one today, and run away with the vote in the primaries.
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