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.
How about his tactics and his ways of extracting $$$ from his followers and contributors.
Do you?
He has NOT distanced himself. He said he doesn’t want his religious life being used as fodder in the campaign. He has every right to say that. Fred says he’s a Christian, and has never shown any hostility toward Christianity or traditional morals.
My VERY conservative Christian parents and I are behind Fred. We are convincing our large family one by one.
Fred does not have to tell me how he worships GOD no more than Roosevelt or Eisenhower did. I want them to have the counsel when needed. That’s all.
Dobson is a legitimate target for criticism since he has set himself up as an arbiter of who should be politically acceptable for the American Christian. His close association with FotF drags that organization into the spotlight and the political fight.
_________________________________
"Thumper1960" you said: "Dobson wouldn't give him the time of day due to the fact that Jesus was a Jew" in post 127 _________________________________
Repulsive thing to say. You should apologize.
You need to read more about what Christians think about Christ and not so much what they think about non-Christians.
Jews are welcome to find their religious comfort in their own religion, it’s not up to Christians unless they ask..at least to me.
I personally as a Southern Baptist am not sure about Jews...they are part of God’s family and not a fake part like Allah the moon good of Arabia but they have rejected Christ.
It will be up to God how he views his chosen folks, not me and not James Dobson.
It is not by accident that so many secular Jews are very messianic and liberal and loathe Christianity today...it was not like this when I was a boy. This struggle is providential and how it plays out at the end of time is a pretty strong subject of debate.
The antagonism of Jews in this country in the media and entertainment industries is as high as I’ve seen in my lifetime which is odd given that folks like myself are the biggest supporters of their kin in Israeli.
although strictly for myself I am that way because I worked there and know many and like them and recognize they are my cultural and religious kinsmen much more so than those who wish to destroy them.
If you had bothered to pay attention before launching into your anti-Christian diatribe, you would have seen that I disagree with Dobson on this
Who do you think you are, claiming to speak for Christian conservatives? My 72 year old father is the finest, wisest Christian I know. He was living his faith before YOUR parents were born, more than likely. Why do you think your words have more credence than his?
What arrogance.
I had to show it just to show how fast someone gives up their inheritance because of their religious intolerance. Sheesh! (I'm Irish BTW)
Thank you for your clarity and contributions to the discussion.
Any criticism of Dobson is met with anger and innuendo. Not much different than when one criticizes a hardcore muslim mullah and has a band of that mullah's "brothers" expel vitriol back at the commentator.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
You are an idiot.
So I take it you believe the Bible is complete and final (sola scriptura)?
If so, I have 2 questions for you:
1. “Man should not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God...” Is this a true scripture?
As a born again Christian, I find Dobson's antics, tactics and comments on Thompson to be offensive to the point of religious arrogance. If Thompson isn't Christian enough for Dobson, what are Dobson's standards and since when did Dobson get to choose who's Christian.
The Christian Church wasn’t created until the Writings of Paul. YOU are an idiot! This thread is done.
Uh...I’m a social conservatve and I support him. And, from what I read, Dobson is the only main guy thus far who has come out against Thompson. Albeit backhandedly. Would be nice if he showed the courage of his convictions and said it frontly rather then through leaked correspondence.
Most of the rest are still reserving judgement so, please, refrain from stating social conservatives have risen up en masse against the man. If that were true he wouldn’t be doing so well in the polls.
Why I support him? Because even though he’s NOT as “devout” as say G.W.B., I think he’s mostly sound on judges, embryonic stem cell research, and immigration. No, he won’t state he would never grant amnesty. He won’t state he’ll support a marriage amendment. And he won’t state all abortion even in case of rape and incest is murder. But if he appoints good judges (an area even a devout man like G.W.B. had problem with), closes the border and enforces employer sanctions, and at very least sides against gay “marriage’ being forced to be recognized outside mass it’s better than what anyone else that can be elected is bringing to the table. I’ll accept this as a minimum standard for gaining my vote.
As for Terri? I believe I knocked Thompson for his avoidance on that question. He didn’t want to alienate Libertarians or conservatives so he tried to punt. Not a good move. Still not a disqualifier.
Now where I DO agree with you is that there are a lot of prejudiced people from top on down in the party that hate social conservatives. they want their vote, don’t want to earn it, and take any shot they get to demean them or exile them. even though most social conservatives, in political office anyway, end up being the most all around reliable conservative vote on the issues they DO care about. That’s why i REFUSE to rip Dobson to shreds. he’s just a scapegoat for them to, yet again, exercise their prejudice against Christians and I won’t play their game. While I find Dobson’s judgement in political matters to at times be suspect, his support of Miers as an example, he doesn’t strike me as a bad man and has as much right to petitiion the government and hold opinion on politics as any other conservative.
There is a good reason that anyone who wants to vote should be given a test.
And pass it.
You'd fail.
BTW, Paul wasn't Christ and Christ first spoke the words that Paul then repeated.
Here's a clue: Christians believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ and the eternal Word given by Him. Paul was merely a pinch hitter.
Don't forget to close the door on your way out.
Paul created the Church as we know it today. You are still very ignorant! (Read your Bible, you lose)
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.