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.
Did anyone appointed James Dobson as a King Maker lately, and I missed the anointment?!
That is exactly how I’d expect you to respond — attack my character rather than address my argument. The truth frustrates you, doesn’t it? Wrestle with it. The Lord will show Himself to you.
You can enter their churches — anytime, anywhere, just not their temples.
It’s no big deal — and no, I am not Mormon, but sick of people being so prejudice about a group of really nice people who have the same values as evangelical Christians.
that post was ridiculous and blasephemous
and unfunny
and ignorant
Dobson has never ever been accused of being anti-Jew...like nearly all Protestant conservatives....quite the contrary
nice try though...geez
I hate to break your heart but I am still active in that church. I stepped down as a youth pastor to take a job in the private sector. But your high horse moral tone does show that you have a lot to learn about removing beams from your own eyes.
Yes, Mormons tend to be nice people with good values. But their doctrine is not compatible with Scripture. Joseph Smith introduced too many polluting doctrines for it to be considered “Christian.”
Fred makes me feel safe. Crazy I know, but he does.
I’ve read about this guy Dobson here at FR many times over the years. Is he big in the South or something? Are there a lot of people who listen to what he says, and vote the way he recommends?
(Sorry about asking for a basic education, but this guy Dobson seemed to pop up out of the blue a few years ago and I don’t get the appeal. I guess he filled the void when those other two religion guys faded away - - Ralph something and Gary something...? Thanks in advance.)
Visitors can enter nearly every Mormon church or building. But the Temples are reserved only for worthy members of the Church who are given a "recommend" by their local leaders. In fact, most Mormons can't even enter a Temple as there are few who meet the strict worthiness standards required for entry.
First of all I don't think Dobson is gullible enough to think that his audience blindly votes for the person he endorses. Ofcourse there are sections of our society (apparently quite a few on this forum too) that would like to portray his audience as robots following each and every whim of their leader. Dobson is sharing his thoughts with his audience, and he is free to do so just as y'all come on this forum and share thoughts on candidates you don't support. His audience is free and capable of making up their own minds, and I pretty sure they have their own opinions. His arguments are food for thought for his audience as well as the candidate in question.
There are those on this thread who lashed out at Dobson because he does not support Fred. Then there are those who used this opportunity to just bash, and display hatred and ignorance.
That being said, I don't think a candidates many visits to church or religiosity can be the deciding factor (it is not a perfect world till the Prince of Peace sits on the throne, and that is not a time that we decide). However, a candidates opinions, beliefs and values are huge. They will play a major role in the direction the country will go, and will also have a huge impact on world affairs.
So, WHO is he supporting?
“Will I become God of my own planet?”
You know that Heavenly Father is preparing a mansion for you, right? If yours came complete with its own planet, would you be horribly offended?
I’m going to bed now - but I just wanted to say one thing before I retire,
I bet that everyone that posts on these threads is hoping that they will make the one post that will change people’s minds.
At least I know that’s true of me!
Go Mitt! And good night to all you good Fred lovers.
Then REFUTE what I pose, rather than merely dismiss me. Are Satan and Jesus brothers? Yes or no? I am not ashamed of sound doctrine. You are clearly ashamed of such ridiculous and indefensible doctrines as this.
****
Jesus is the only begotten Son of God the Father.
You too are a child of God so Jesus is your brother one of the many titles he has.
Lucifer is a fallen child of God now the Son of Perdition.
But at one time the unbegotten son, Lucifer was your brother too !
Job 38:
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Isa. 14:
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
He's big everywhere, especially among Christian radio listeners. His half-hour daily show has listenership well into the millions; he talks mostly about family issues, child-rearing, etc. He occasionally talks about political issues; mostly about "social" issues, and yes, people listen to him.
That said, this email was a private email sent to his friends; it was *not* an official endorsement of Focus on the Family, and will not likely have wide influence, since he probably won't discuss it on his show.
damn...are there so few of us now?
what are most people here for ?
social conservatism is Conservatism
anything else is leftism or leftover Randian toejam
i fear for us....too many young folks are so brainwashed...guilt guilt guilt...anything gooes...all culture is relative....sameness sameness....be open minded ...don’t be a bigot......don’t be masculine...it is 24-7 drilled in their heads
it is a constant battle to cleanse my own kids from the steady barrage of soul destroying crap foisted on us by the collective neurosis of media and academia
I am not optimistic for the future....folks will look back and call the 1950s our last shining age
Dream on. Fred is not going to be largely acceptable to the Christian Right. To make matters worse, the first thing out the gate he declared that faith would not be a big part of his campaign and then promptly dissed the Value Voters debate, and begged off on the T.Schaivo question.
Not that I am picking on Fred- None of the top tier will energize the base, sorry to say. None will do, as none are conservative- None can straddle all the planks of the party platform. A vote for any of them in the primary is a vote to lose in the general election.
Oh you are just a wind bag you listen to nothing that show scripture and facts you merrily post falsehoods and ignore what you want!
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