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.
So you are fine with a “church” that says that Jesus and Satan are brothers? Where do you draw the line with doctrine?
You may insult me all you wish, but the fact remains that if the Republicans do not field conservative candidates the Republicans will lose. It is the people who settle for RINOs that are destroying the party- People who compromise and will not stand on the principles that define the party. There is where the weakness lies.
Rather than railing against the Christian right, one would do better to support a candidate of inclusion. Fred has made it perfectly clear that he feels he can win without them, and you seem to agree. Hope that works out for ya, but don't come cryin' to me if 08 looks exactly like 06.
You’re writing a lot of hateful words about Dobson. What do you have against him? Why so predisposed to hate him and other high-profile Christians? Are there any Christians that you respect?
“You’d both have to go back to #140 to understand the conversation. :)”
I read 140 it is silly to compare Fred Thompson to Bob Dole.
On the Roger Hedcock show a caller asked Bob Dole about the gun issue which was huge then (and always is to conservatives) old beltway Bob was flustered, it was clear that he had never listened to talk radio or discussed gun issues at that level.
Fred Thompson has been running the most creative and unique campaign I have ever seen and it is working.
This guy is clearly thinking outside of the box while rewriting the rules of presidential campaigning.
There is no rule against having a marriage ceremony in temple and another out is there? It seems to me that would settle matters for those so inclined.
Legislating it doesn’t stop it.
Yes. Follow the money trail. You’ll find nothing but integrity. Prove me wrong.
“believes there should be 50 different definitions of marriage in the U.S.,”
I understand that whole 10th Amendment thing is awkward and all but last I heard it was in the Constitution still, and it doesn’t only apply when its application suits us.
Marriage should be what it’s supposed to be, but even if some states choose poorly on this (or another) issue that doesn’t mean massive federal all-controlling government is the right answer to any question.
(comments directed at Dr. Dobson, not you, pissant)
Tell me the truth! They are both products of GOD! One chooses to leave and bring Angels with him. Do you deny this?
Its between Thompson and Guiliani now.
****
It is really up to God in what kind of government we as a people deserve there are no accident.
I was 14 years old when Franklin D. Roosevelt died.
Even the presidents you’ve named did not have the problems we now face in this country - no longer a united nation, we are seriously divided among ourselves.
Communism has infiltrated our government from top to bottom. We are on the brink of losing our sovereignty, of being subject to international law on every level, due to the advances of the globalists.
The enemy is no longer across a broad expanse of water as it was in those days. The enemy has crept over our open borders, and lie in wait right here for the moment to do their evil. They are committed to complete genocide of anyone not muslim.
No, a man suffering in pain from infantile paralysis, or whatever disease John F Kennedy had besides a bad back would not be able to stand up to what will be called on in our next president.
No, they’re not free from it. Your hunch is correct.
Precious few, it seems.
Sorry, the only thing ridiculous is that you think if you legislate morality it will stop all indecency.
BS!
Fred is the only Republican candidate who can unite social and fiscal conservatives into a winning coalition aginst the top tier liberal candidates, Rudy and Hillary.
Get off your high horse and join the fight.
“You cannot legislate moral values.”
We can and we do. What we can’t do is change people’s hearts. Only God can do that.
None of us, as far as I know, started bashing Hunter until Hunter supporters started bashing Fred. Get some of your more nasty supporters to lay off and I guarantee you 95% of the Fredheads who are bashing Hunter will shut up. I'm not one of them by the way. I've never had anything but praise for Hunter.
It counts for exactly as much as what Dobson thinks. :p
That decision is ultimately above all of our pay grades, if you know what I mean.
I said this in April.
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