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.
“Still waiting....tic....tic....tic....
Oh I guess you have no response just as you have no _____ to begin with.”
What on earth are you talking about?
You have it exact. First things first, overturn RVW, then push at the state levels.
It is telling that before RVW the pro-abortionists could gain no traction in states. Their only power comes via RVW. Without it they collapse.
From 1996:
Question: Please summarize your personal philosophy on the issue of reproductive choice
Thompson: The Supreme Court has attempted to delineate the constitutionally appropriate roles for individual and governmental decision-making on the issue of abortion. Beyond that, I believe that the federal government should not interfere with individual convictions and actions in this area
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/176554.aspx
From 1994:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5a_Fpu_8KE
“The ultimate decision must be made by the woman. Government should treat its citizens as adults capable of making moral decisions on their own.”
From 1997:
“I believe that government should not interfere with individual convictions and actions in this area.”
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=N2E0NGRiZTRmNTkzMTc4MzA2ZWIwMTNhNDRlZTg2NWE=
Why don’t you try doing some of your own research, ace. There are only a handful of people here still caliming that Fred has always been pro-life. Apparently you are one.
It’s easy to see by following the thread to post #568.
It’s so easy to see that your asking the question confirms the impairment.
Go ahead and continue to ignore the question.
Incorrect.
University: BA Philosophy and Political Science, Memphis State University (1964)
Law School: JD, Vanderbilt University (1967)
US Senator, Tennessee (1994-2003)
Congressional Staff Special Counsel, Senate Intelligence Cmte. (1982)
Congressional Staff Special Counsel, Senate Foreign Relations Cmte. (1980-81)
Tennessee State Official Special Counsel to Gov. Lamar Alexander (1980)
US Official Minority Counsel, Watergate Committee (1973-74)
US Attorney Assistant US Attorney (1969-72)
American Enterprise Institute
Council on Foreign Relations
Libby Legal Defense Trust Advisory Committee
National Film Preservation Foundation Board of Directors
Partnership for Public Service Board of Governors
Washington Legal Foundation National Board of Advisors
Young Republicans
Tennessee Bar Association (1967)
Watergate Scandal Senate Watergate Committee, Republican counsel
When has Billy Graham ever been involved in partisan politics? I thought Graham made it a policy to avoid partisanship so he could work with political leaders of both parties.
Not a bad day, just sick and tired of Dobson. I have not cared for this guy for years and I am frankly tired of his efforts at making himself relevant. And by the way, I see Dobson’s judgmentalism has had an effect on you...
By “us” do you mean Catholics?
Maybe because he voted 100% pro-life on every bill that affected right to life issues while he was in the US Senate, and got an A rating from National Right to Life and a Zero rating from Planned Parenthood and NARAL for all his 7 years in the Senate?
Predictable response! Obviously you have no backup!
So try and turn it back on your challengers!
Back it up Pissant! If you had any credibility you would do so but you have ZERO credibility!
And that’s why you are not a good advocate for Hunter. He is an admirable candidate whereas you are a smearing con artist.
What are you talking about?
All laws are legislated morality!
I had a $100 check written to the Thompson campaign until I found out he supported CFR.
The check is in the shredder now.
Will Mormon's let Christians into their temples?
Nope.
Two sides to this coin.......
How? Observing that “Good Job, you irrelevant and pitiful excuse for a Christian!” is a particularly stupid thing to say to James Dobson?
A. Get back to me when you’ve done one millionth of the good Dobson has done families across America.
B. Get back to me when you can show to me, Biblically, how not supporting Fred Thompson invalidates one’s claim to be a Christian.
Read my PREVIOUS response to you, before you get the vapors again.
The theory behind trying to pass such an amendment takes into account the contemporary erosion of state's rights and voter's rights by the ACLU and the activist courts, which have been seeking to rule from the bench for 40 years and largely succeeding. Even though states have held referenda on the definition of marriage and overwhelmingly voted to retain the one-man-one-woman standard, a single Federal judge can and has struck down state referenda, the DOMA (federal Defense of Marriage Act) notwithstanding.
The theory is that the proposed amendment would have to circulate in all state legislatures over a three-year period in order to be ratified, which would force each state to confront and debate the question legislatively.
There has been hopeful movement in the direction of quashing judicial overreaching in the decision this week by the Maryland Supreme Court, which overturned an activist judge's attempt to hand down same-sex marriage from the bench. The opinion did not boil down to favoritism towards a definition of marriage, but noted that this question should not be determined by the judicial branch, but rather by the legislature.
It was not a clear-cut victory for the one-man-one-woman camp; but it was a hopeful step in placing the question before the representatives of the People.
Nope. You are a flippin liar, and lying about something you don’t even need to lie about. Man up a bit.
Your question would best be put to pollywog.
She’s comparing Dobson’s influence to Billy Graham.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1899326/posts?page=72#72
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.