Posted on 02/01/2008 2:07:00 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
While John McCain has risen to the top of the heap among contenders for the Republican presidential nomination, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson remains adamant that he will not support McCain’s bid for the White House.
Dobson, one of the nation’s most influential evangelical Christians, declared more than a year ago that he wouldn't support McCain under any circumstances, saying McCain didn't support traditional marriage values.
A Dobson spokesman told the New York Times’ David Kirkpatrick Wednesday that he stood by that position, and as a matter of conscience could never vote for the Arizona Senator.
According to the paper, Dobson is joined by a slew of other prominent conservatives who oppose McCain on a number of issues:
Talk radio host Mark Levin urged visitors to the National Review’s Web site to “rally for Romney” to ward off a McCain win, saying: “Conservatives need to act now, before it is too late.”
Talker Rush Limbaugh told listeners on Thursday: “McCain is in a lot of these places not actually the Republican candidate. He is the candidate of enough Republicans, but [also] independents and moderates and probably even some liberals.”
Pat Toomey, president of the anti-tax organization Club for Growth, said in comments reported by the New York Times: “I have yet to see McCain make any attempts to reach out to free market conservatives.”
Conservatives fault McCain for voting against President Bush’s tax cuts and a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, and for supporting embryonic stem cell research, looser immigration rules and stricter environmental regulations.
Conservatives were particularly irked when McCain made a deal with Democrats to break a deadlock on judicial nominations, according to the Times.
Anger over that compromise was rekindled this week when Wall Street Journal columnist John Fund wrote that McCain had privately criticized Bush’s Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito because “he wore his conservatism on his sleeve.” The McCain campaign denied that report.
Following McCain successes in early primary states, however, other conservatives are beginning to warm up to his campaign:
Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist, who previously opposed a McCain nomination, said: “He has moved in the right direction strongly and forcefully on taxes.”
Former McCain foe Tony Perkins, a prominent Christian conservative, told the Times: “I have no residual issue with John McCain,” adding the candidate needed to “better communicate” his stand on social issues.
Richard Land, an official with the South Baptist Convention, agreed, noting that McCain “is strongly pro-life.” He said: “When I hear Rush Limbaugh say that a McCain nomination would destroy the Republican Party, what I want to say to Rush is, ‘You need to get out of the studio more and talk to real people.’”
Good for Dr. Dobson! A man of principle.
Well, Dobson, you had a chance to vote for a principled conservative. You decided it’d be more fun to slam him for not kissing your ring.
And *now* he wants to complain about the front-runner?
His opinion is no longer influential.
He torpedoed the candidate that could have been a win for everyone.
Interesting. Thanks for posting.
Excellent! Send him my way. I've got some things to say.
Rush, you're right on target. Keep it up.
Well. McCain must have neglected to suck up to Dobson, and this is his reward.
LOL, now its time for all the “true conservatives”, who have just recently said mean things about Dobson because of his words about Fred Thompson, to now say how much they love Dobson! Let the love affair commence! /sarcasm/
Isn’t forgiveness great!
Barf.
Needs to seek the face of YHvH and not a communist traitor.
I’m with Dr. D on this one. McCain would be a disaster for both the US and the conservative movement.
I’ll either vote third party or sit it out.
I completely agree, but at least he won’t support Juan McAztlan. I’m starting to agree with Ann Coulter.
Joe Loserman turned the tide for McCain. That says it all.
Here! Here! or should I say “ditto”
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Oh well, I guess I'm in good company then 'cause I'm not going to vote for him either...
Kudos to Dr. Dobson.
McLame is no conservative...social or otherwise. Still working for shamnesty, despite his rhetoric of the past weeks.
Ross Perot was very close with McCain and his ex-wife. He stopped speaking to McCain after he dumped his ex-wife—the one who endured all those years of him in cativity—to marry ultra-rich Cindy. Perot said McCain is “disgusting” for what he did to her.
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