"Can't we all just get along and beat the Demoncrats?"
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.
Billy Graham can't discern that Bill Clinton is a fake and a liar, in real time.
Yes. Quite.
A lie and you know it.
Pissant, I know you know better than that.
It just seems rather odd.
There's definitely something amiss when a mother isn't allowed to participate in a daughters wedding.
No, but it is going to take a great deal of inner strength as well as extraordinary physical endurance to be our next president.
That is what makes Romney such a sure loser against Hillary.
There will be such a smear run by her camp about his religion, we can’t even imagine.
So are you assuming Dobson has no integrity? Or are you assuming all Christians have no integrity?
I used to like Dobson. I read his books. But he’s become such a sourpuss. Nobody’s good enough for him.
If only Christians are going to heaven, then yes, followers of the false prophet Joseph Smith are going to hell. Even if they make nice neighbors.
Good for you. It’s a divisive argument which doesn’t exist. The Church is coming together, of course attendace is required to know this. :^)
“He couldn’t do it today, my friend.”
That wasn’t the point, the point is that he still maintains that quarterback quality that attracts the people that is why he is getting smashing results in the polls.
Without money or organization his simple attraction as a man of depth and leadership is rolling over the other candidates.
His quiet quarterback charisma is out performing the class clown, the grumpy guy and the rich kid cheerleader.
The word that keeps popping into my mind is “creepy.”
Of course you can. Murder is against the law, isn’t it?
I don't know about that, but he specifically says in the article that he can't support McCain. I'm guessing Huckabee or maybe Romney.
“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.”
-— there is a sign in my yard, a sticker on my car, and I gave my hard earned money to his campaign - what else can I do?
He has certainly not gained the traction I hoped he would and I don’t think it is his fault. The coronation process I referred to in my post has gatekeepers called the media elite and the party apparatus (either DNC or GOP). Like it or not that is the “reality” of our two party democracy.
Fred had grass-roots traction before he announced and it does not bother me one bit that he waited to announce. I wish they all had waited!
Wish I was wrong but honesty is the best policy.
I really don’t get the Dole comparison. Dole never spoke of any of the things Fred has in the same no-nonsense manner. If you mean both are “old” fine. Although Fred’s no older than Rudy or Mitt really. A couple years, big deal.
I really don’t see the comparison.
For someone who thinks Hunter does not have a chance and that includes VP, you are constantly bringing up your wishful thinking and obsession with quotes you want to believe.
If he has no chance, why the constant bashing.
Sounds like you are trying to convince yourself.
Dobson does not see himself as “kingmaker.” He sent a private email to some friends. Try to keep “context” in mind.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.