Posted on 09/23/2007 7:18:21 AM PDT by Doofer
About the only thing worse than painting yourself in a corner is doing it when the floor doesnt need painting in the first place.
So I was doubly disappointed a couple of days ago when Dr. James Dobson, a one-time child psychologist who has become a leading Christian activist, absolutely skewered presidential candidate Fred Thompson in what was to me a dazzling display of dumb.
Ive long admired and adored Dr. Dobsons Focus on the Family and believe hes a genius when it comes to kids. This week, in what was called a private e-mail to friends, the doctor proved to me hes got a long way to go when it comes to working the same magic with adults.
Apparently Thompsons history regarding some marriage amendments and the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform deal got Dr. Dobson all wild-eyed and fiery-hearted and he wrote his buddies this puzzling paragraph:
(Thompson) 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!
Wow, if Dr. Dobson discounts Fred Thompson that fast and this early, it would follow hes got a bigger ace to play, but if this thing works out like I suspect it will in the year to come, Dr. Dobson is going to make quite a mess walking across all that wet paint just before the election.
Understand, Im not a big Thompson fan, but isnt it too early to pick a horse? All I know is what I read, but in watching the various political aspirants I dont think if I were Dr. Dobson Id start slinging a whole lot of mud at anybody just yet.
There are some others still in the race who are a little bit left of Fred, so to speak, and to slap down the former senator was a needless act that got Dr. Dobson a good amount of the kind of coverage he doesnt want and that his ministry sure doesnt need..
I have long held the opinion that the Christian right, as it is called, should stay out of politics. There are many who disagree with me, but I dont think God should be sullied by those who claim He is a Republican or a Democrat. The same drought that hits the red states hits the blue ones.
Further, I know some fine Christians who happen to be rather liberal. There are also some crooks, as weve seen lately, who espouse each party, so I wish the churches would stick to salvation and the politicians would handle the marriage amendments and campaign finance questions.
I think Christianity, as I know it and as I believe it, can be summed up in just one word: Hope. I dont care what happens to me car wrecks, friends committing suicide, brothers dying, divorce, whatever I am assured by Jesus Christ the end of my life will include the words, happily ever after.
Why should a Christian activist, whose goal is to teach about that same hope and enable anyone from a mass murderer to a tainted politician to have the same promise of happily ever after, get all jumpy over Fred Thompson at this stage of the game?
The better question is a harder one for me. Is that what being a Christian is about? Is that the way you convince a non-believer to enter the Kingdom?
Dr. Dobson presents himself on a pretty high plain with slick magazines and TV shows and radio broadcasts, but when he pops Fred Thompson for no passion, no zeal, no want to, what part of that glorifies God? I dont get it, not at all.
Finally, there are the pious wholl discount the whole thing, pointing out a private e-mail should have never been disclosed, but somebody once said, As a man thinketh, so he is.
And each of us has (as the Methodist ministers are so fond of repeating, ad nauseum) different gifts.
As long as God is at the top, who should be terribly concerned at how we organize our couches at His feet?
"Disputations among churches" don't really bother me ~ application of the Heisenberg Principle to the macro-universe should lead us to expect it.
The campaign against the British invasion of New York was organized and led out of the “Old Yellow Church” ~ a mult-faith sort of building where you had Presbyterians, Anglicans, Lutherans, Reformed and a variety of other faiths with only the vaguest of Christian connection worshipping.
“Bashing Dr. Dobson for not supporting Fred is pressure. Why does Dr. Dobson have to support Fred if he does not want to????”
I’m not bashing Dr Dobson. I kinda like the guy. I don’t think he’s perfect but he didn’t deserve a hit piece like this. As Christians we should pressure our leaders to be better.
Yes some were vocal and some were private. George Washington was nearly entirely private in his worship and faith.
Pick and choose your historical anecdotes. It does not change the fact that historically important founders of America chose to be private in their worship.
Fred Thompson’s choice to keep his worship a private affair is not inconsistent with some of the greatest and fervently faithful American Presidents. For anyone, including James Dobson, to insinuate otherwise is a distortion of American history and a smear on highly reputable Americans including Ronald Reagan.
‘It does not change the fact that historically important founders of America chose to be private in their worship.”
They also made numerous public statements in writing and spoken communications.
Our enemies want us to shut up and stay in church. That way they can do whatever they want. Just as they have done elsewhere in the world being Christian will soon be illegal. Pastors in England and Canada have been jailed for quoting the bible.
The problems in today’s American culture are not because Christians are too vocal. Its because we have been too quiet and not pressuring OUR Representatives to represent us in the way we wish.
“For anyone, including James Dobson, to insinuate otherwise is a distortion of American history and a smear on highly reputable Americans including Ronald Reagan.”
Everyone knew RR was a Christian. He referred to God in numerous speeches.
Just like I thought it was hogwash when John Kerry said he was Christian but didn’t let it impact his actions I think it is hogwash to hide your religion.
A persons religion or lack of religion is a very big indicator of that persons character. To hide that is to say you are ashamed of your religion or are willing to subordinate it in order to become elected.
Fred Thompson has not been silent about his faith. He has solid backing from every prolife group in America. He has taken a preference not to preach on the campaign trail. There is nothing wrong with that.
We are not electing a grand priest here but a President who will restore the Constitution.
Nothing can be gained by attacking a political candidate who does not preach from the pulpit in a manner to your liking.
Dobson is in gross error here and shames himself and his followers for his gross mischaracterizations. He exhibits an impaired intellect which he should pray that God will restore because it is to Him that we given the gift of reason and the means to pursue wisdom.
Who said Ronald Reagan did not refer to God in his speeches? And who said Fred Thompson has not or will not in the future refer to God in his speeches?
Why twist your reading error into a lie?
No one is denying Ronald Reagan mentioned God in public.
What Ronald Reagan did not do is attend church regularly while in office. When asked about this he responded that it had to do with security. Ronald Reagan never chose to preach from the pulpit but instead kept his worship a private affair.
Mentioning God in speeches and in writings in not the same as worship.
Did Ronald Reagan wear his faith on his sleeve? No, he did not. He tried where he could to uphold basic morality but he was not always successful.
So where is Fred Thompson’s great ‘sin’ according to Dobson?
I know what Dobson thinks it is, do you? Because that is the real subject and not the false diversion argument that you are engaging in.
And I support Thompson’s strategy because it is the correct strategy. When you bother to learn of it you will come to have a great satisfaction in knowing that we finally have a candidate who has a vision that can and likely will eclipse that of Reagan’s.
Try to focus on facts. Fred Thompson is not hiding anything.
I asked you a question in a previous post. I know the answer but you need to get that answer yourself to show you are capable of zeroing in on the real issue.
What do you know about Dobson? Besides, of course, what the anti-Christian liberal media spew about him? Please be specific.
Which question is that?
What I find amazing on here is that anyone who doesn’t express unwavering support for candidates like Thompson or Hunter are attacked and accused of Hyperbole.
Discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of our candidates is a good thing.
I don’t think the author was referring at all to the threat of revoking tax exempt status of churches that engage in politics. That is a whole different issue than the one the author draws attention to.
But threatening a church with denying their tax exemption is something that I am sure Fred Thompson is against because it is antithetical to the philosophy of Federalism which he espouses.
The problem with ‘churches’ and their tax exemptions arose with the so-called ‘Church of Scientology’. This cult was notorious for their tax evasion antics and for blurring the definition of what was considered a ‘church’. In my view they are con artists. The reaction on the part of federal government to threaten any church’s tax exempt status if they were in any way engaging in politics, was deplorable. It punished all legitimate churches for the egregious behavior of a fraudulent cult, Scientology.
The problem here is not churches or in the definition of churches but with the Income tax. The solution is the FairTax, HR 25 (http://www.fairtax.org). And one of Fred Thompson’s closest friends and advisors is a strong supporter and cosponsor of HR 25.
So where is Fred Thompsons great sin according to Dobson?
Stop babbling. It is not impressive.
“So where is Fred Thompsons great sin according to Dobson?”
Where is his great sin? What is evidently a private email became public and is being used to sow discord. I think Dobsons whole point is that Thompson isn’t the leader we want. His past support for abortion is a clear indicator of that. Just as it with Rudy.
Look up the definition of hyperbole. Then look at yourself calling the comments of someone who points out your own hyperbole as an ‘attack’ on you. I call it ‘instruction’. If you think you are attacked when in fact you’ve been instructed, then you have nothing to learn.
Past support for abortion? I have seen the billing records, the 1994 debate and questionaire, and all the smears that were twisted from these. But not one of these has ever proved Fred Thompson supported abortion.
But thank you for exposing yourself. Now I know you are a waste of time.
“But thank you for exposing yourself. Now I know you are a waste of time.”
I didnt expose myself. That could get ya arrested.
People love to slam Christians. Its fun to watch the fireworks when we don’t take it sitting down.
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