Posted on 10/10/2007 3:07:32 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Conservative evangelical leader Dr. James Dobson admits that a third-party plan supported by pro-family leaders might unintentionally help elect democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton.
The influential pro-family advocate still contends, however, that he would rather vote following his values than compromise and be forced to choose between two pro-choice candidates.
“We’re very, very concerned about the implications of a Hillary Clinton presidency, but you know, we have been working … for 35 years, I’ve been trying to defend the unborn child,” Dobson said on Fox’s Hannity & Colmes show Monday.
“That’s been my life. That’s been my belief, along with marriage and the family and the other things. I can’t now abandon that because we’ve got two bad choices here.”
Currently leading the Democratic race and Republican race are New York senator Hillary Clinton and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, respectively. Both have been criticized by conservatives for their pro-choice and pro-gay rights stances among other issues.
During a meeting in Salt Lake City, about 50 pro-family leaders decided they would consider backing a third-party candidate if the Republican Party chose a pro-choice nominee, such as Giuliani
In an Op-Ed in the New York Times last week, Dobson explained the coalition’s decision and the reasoning, stating that as “vitally important” as it is for the GOP to win the presidential election, it should not be won “at the expense of what we hold most dear.”
His announcement that a core Republican constituency could consider withdrawing their support from the party next year stirred controversy and created greater division in the already divided GOP.
“Why would we not support someone who does line up with our values system, when we would have to literally hold our noses to support somebody that contradicts those values?” Dobson posed to Hannity – who supports Giuliani despite agreeing with Dobson “99 percent” of the time.
When further pressed on the possibility that his third party plan could help Clinton, Dobson replied that the elections are still far away and elections are “very dynamic” and “volatile.”
“There’s still a possibility that one of those other candidates, a dark horse, could come from nowhere,” Dobson said.
As the frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination, Giuliani has repeatedly stated he can beat Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton – an appealing statement for those who see Clinton as a larger threat.
A recent Gallup Poll also found that the former New York City mayor had an overall favorable rating from churchgoing Protestants. Among the top tier Republican candidates, Giuliani was rated third by religious Protestants after former senator Fred Thompson and Arizona senator John McCain.
Bump read later.
Perfect is indeed the enemy of the Good. Great point.
My take, early on as it is, is: The only candidate that can defeat HRC is RG.
Maybe D. Hunter for VP would placate the good Dr.’s concerns, but I do not see how that would help too much from a demographic pov.
Besides, the president does not make law on abortion; but, he or she can seek to appoint judges who can change Roe, for the better (RG) or for the worse (HRC).
Dobson is rather full of himself. He opposes FT because FT is opposed to an anti gay marriage amendment to the constitution. Yeah, that’s a cogent position for a good conservative; give more power to the feds. Laws concerning marriage are and have always been the exclusive domain of the states. Also, despite comity, all states have laws giving them the option to ignore laws of other states that violate that state’s public policy, as gay marriage would for most states.
Because there is no constitutional right to gay marriage, a state’s refusal to recognize one should not run afoul of the Constitution.
I like FT, but man, he looked old, gaunt and tired at the debate. I think HRC would cream him. Coulter has a great column re: Fred and Huck. Huck is an abomination on immigration. I’m worried about that issue w/RG also.
Very interesting and fun to watch until one considers President Hillary Rodham - she’ll divorce Bill after she’s elected, change her name and start acting like a reincarnated Bella Abzug. Nightmare Central.
I am unhappy with President Bush on a number of issues - Medicare prescription and illegal immigration are a couple, but he has been fairly strong on a lot of moral issues - partial birth abortion being one that immediately comes to mind. He also has intervened to prevent hate crime legistlation from going through.
I am very much a pro-life conservative, but if it comes down to choosing between Hillary Clinton and Republican lite, I’ll vote for the Republican because of the Supreme Court nominations.
However, I’m very glad that Dobson is making noise now, as it increases the possibility that pro-life candidates will get some traction and with the length of memory of most voters, is less likely to have a dampening effect on Republican turnout.
“Technically he should have lost it long ago, as should any church or religious organization that takes sides politically.”
Huh?????? Would you try explaining your reasoning for that. I thought we lived in America where we had the freedom of speech. Oh wait a second....I know what you mean that we should follow the lead of China and abolish free speech. Got it ok, just remove the Constitution and that way we can get away with telling people what to say.
Seriously more conservative pastors should speak out. Liberal pastors like Jesse ‘I hate all conservative white male’Jacson Church gets away with it all the time. Good for him, but others should be able to speak their mind.
What you should have said if you were truly a conservative is that they should eliminate the not for profit statute requireing pastors to remain silent. Or are you really a supporter of enforcing mind and speech control?
Are the Clinton’s planning to dust off Ross Perot again. You all know Bill called Ross urging him to get back into the race when he was going to drop out.
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American Values president Gary Bauer says Dobson’s email is unhelpful because Thompson is a candidate conservative Christians should seriously consider if they hope to avoid what he calls the “nightmare scenario” of having to choose in the general election from two pro-abortion, pro-gay rights politicians from New York — Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani.
“He’s obviously against same-sex marriage. He doesn’t support quite the same constitutional amendment that some of the other’s of us do, but he’s been talking with us about it, and has been moving closer and closer on the amendment,” says Bauer. “So I hope that we can, as a movement, be very wise about this, and not savage candidates that we may very well have to support in 2008 if they’re running against Hillary Clinton.”
He says that Thompson’s political views align closely with those of conservative Christians. Bauer states that Christian citizens are “very bright” and make “their own judgments”. He also states that “… at the end of the day, we’re all going to do the same thing; we’re going to watch debates, and watch campaigning, see who can raise the money that you have to raise, and I think the one thing that almost every conservative Christian agrees about is that we cannot allow Hillary Clinton to be the next President of the United States.”
Yes, I am a huge celebrity...to my kids, but my point is that I don't think he will be the nominee. If he is, fantastic, I will vote for him. I think Hunter is great, but I just don't see it happening.
Did you read all of the question the “National Right to Life” lumped in McCain-Fiengold for 2 out of 13!
unless there was more in the McCain Fiengold bill about Pro-life!
“Nihilistic, “it’s all gonna burn anyway” thinking negates any hope of people changing or waking up to the reality of the situation.”
You still dont get it, its like cooking a frog in water that you slowly heat up. The frog doesnt know hes roasted until its too late.
So you would rather limp along and slowly, incrementaly watch all your rights and freedoms dissolved. By the time they are gone your not going to have a say. First they’ll eliminate your right to speak out, then your right to think, your right to buy bullets, your right to buy a gun, etc... Its always about incrementalism with RINOs and Leftests. I would rather have an out and out communist, marxist hitler type like Hitlery that we can rally and unite against than a leftest Bush/Guilani who refuses to enforce the law or selectively enforces it.
Not me, Id rather know my enemy than be disguised by one calling themselves a conservative. No slow frog roasting for me.
That's simply BS. Hunter can't even get support in his own state. BTW....people see Dobson for what he really is...a manipulative egomaniac. He uses his child psychology methods to keep his cult in line. Dick Armey was sooo right about the little con-man and his carnival side show.
but my point is that I don’t think he will be the nominee.
***Gosh, do you suppose that’s the first time I have heard that?
If Dobson gave hunter the endorsement and Fred continued to stumble his way through the primaries, how certain would you be that what you said was true?
Until the fat lady sings, I’m supporting the better candidate. I know he has little chance, but he’s got more character and that is important.
Conservatives, like Dr Dobson, should take a close look at all the things that piss off them off about our society.
Notice that few, if any, of them were passed via legislation. The vast majority of things they all claim to loath were IMPOSED on them by Leftist judges ruling in court cases.
Notice how many things Conservative approved of, that after being signed into law, were simply set aside by a Leftist Judge abusing their power to overrule the Legislative process by fiat? Almost inevitable the Judge who imposes their own moral dictates on the rest of us in the guise of Law is a Clinton appointed Judge.
The ONLY thing Conservatives should be thinking going into 2008 is “Do I want 3 Hillary clones on the Supreme Court screwing things up for the next 30-40 years or do you want 3 more Alito-Roberts type Judges on the Court. Do you want the Court to continue being dominated by Leftist for the next 70 years or do you want Conservatives to hold the balance on the Court for the 1st time in 70 years?
You and Spiff and some of the others need to start concentrating on promoting your own candidate rather than attempting to tear down FRed. FRed is a fine conservative. Probably one of the best federalists we’ve ever had running for president. And I do like Duncan Hunter too. Would be great to see his campaign get off the starting blocks.
I can understand that and admire that. I just cant go along with anymore RINOs, consequences be damned. Ive had enough of Jorge not protecting our country, our citizens and our constitutional rights. The few things he has done are token gestures - it is obvious he has only done them to appease the base and could really care less about them as moral principles. His stance on abortion has been lackluster at best but yes better than his predecessor.
If it’s about abortion, then one needs to consider judge nominations, not the candidate’s personal views, because until RvW gets overturned, personal view means JACK.
It's a violation of their constitutional rights. It's also government interference with the church, which is violating the churches constitutional guarantees of non- interference by the state.
Dobson has done good work. Unfortunately, his legacy may be that he helped Satan’s Daughter get into the White House, appoint at least two Supreme Court justices, and kill millions more babies. Way to go, Dr. Dobson. How pathetic.
dobson... rootie supporters... mitt supporters... I can’t tell the difference. They ALL have agendas that lead to PRESIDENT HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON... think about that for a bit!
LLS
dobson... rootie supporters... mitt supporters... I can’t tell the difference. They ALL have agendas that lead to PRESIDENT HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON... think about that for a bit!
LLS
I am not tearing down Fred. I proceeded from what Spiff posted and it appears not to be true. If Spiff generates a corrected percentage figure, I’ll proceed with that.
Since Pro-life is the most important platform to me, I prefer a candidate who is the most pro-life. Other issues are lesser in importance, but they still strike me as important.
You don’t see me on a bunch of fredhead threads because I’m not all that interested in tearing down a good conservative. I would vote for him in the general election. But I would not vote for rudy.
I like Dobson. I like what Dobson has to say and it sounds like he’s up to something. I think it would be grand if he endorsed Hunter. I also think there are a lot of freepers who are tearing down Dobson in their quest to make their candidate look better, which is supposed to be a no-no in freeperland.
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