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.’”
I will NEVER vote for McCain. He doesn't want to be POTUS. He just wants to win because he feels it's his turn. Seriously, if he won, he'd be a puppet of his democrat friends. Less work and more naps. Country continues going to hell in a handbasket with Juan McCain, my friend. Mexico first b.s.
I haven’t liked or trusted McCain ever since he has his temper tantrum when losing the last time he ran for president.
Romney is one of those liberal RINOs.
I know he's now claiming that he isn't, but he spent too many years swearing that he was for me to believe him now.
It's a hijack of the party. I will never vote for McCain, NEVER.
I will not vote for him because of his record in the senate. Congress has a low approval rating and he's in it!
He's not the only man who served in Vietnam but he's the only one exploiting it.
McCain is living in the past and that is unacceptable. He's also extremely harsh.
No. No. No.
“Good for Dr. Dobson! A man of principle.”
Sorry, Dr. D. You’re a day late and a dollar short. You dissed Fred early on, saying he’s not a Christian. Thanks a lot.
Speak for yourself, I admire the man.
News flash Johnnie.....conservatives and the Christian coalition aren’t synonymous. Just ask Fred Thompson.
From the OP:
“Richard Land, an official with the South Baptist Convention, agreed, noting that McCain “is strongly pro-life.”’
Not really “STRONGLY pro-life.”
McCain is for human embryonic stem cell research, and this from the late Congressman Henry Hyde:
“Hyde, who has criticized McCain for advocating weakening of the Republican Party’s pro-life platform plank.
Pro-abortion leaders also see a big difference. Following McCain’s win in the New Hampshire primary, the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition said that based on exit polls, “pro-choice Republicans overwhelmingly preferred McCain above all the other candidates.”’
excerpt from: http://www.peopleforlife.org/mccainthreatensprolife.html
The only thing for certain is, that we sure do live in interesting times. First time in forever that either an incumbent or sitting veep is not running, or that a senator stands the best chance of being elected. Under the circumstances, with not only a woman but the wife of a former president as the heir apparent to the democratic ticket, what a perfect opportunity for a new, young black man to challenge her for that position.
If the best the Republican Party can do in this situation is to present a RINO with a voting record any democrat would be proud of, then the party powers to be deserve what they get - and what they should get is the lowest Republican turnout in history. Sure, it would result in a democratic landslide but let ‘em gloat while they can: Four years of Carter got us 12 years of Reagan-Bush.
An Obama administration would be a heck of lot more interesting than another Clinton regime, esp. to see what kind of talent he would bring into his cabinet. We already know what Hillary will do: trot out all the old dinosaur libs surviving from the Carter years and the snakes-in-the-grass who always seem to be in the Clinton inner circle.
If it’s McCain, I would just like to see how little support he would get - he might end up with more democrats voting for him than Republicans. You know they always say there’s room for everyone under the Big Tent: A heckuva lot MORE room if all the regulars don’t show.
Good riddance. Maybe now the Republican Party will finally be rid of him and his followers.
Let me guess....you are a Country Clubber?
Let me guess.....you are a Bible thumper?
But then again, if McCain does become the standard bearer and then wins in November without Christian support, then others will know they are electable without that support.
What evangleical Christians are doing are playing Russian Roulette with their perceived power and influence. A McCain win is the same as if Christians put the gun to their head by staying home and the bullet is in the chamber.
I usally cringe when ministers or flock-keepers try to impose their political opinions of any kind on their flocks. Liberal, uber-conservative, Bush-basher....I find I usually don’t appreciate them using their pulpit or position to try to influence others in those directions, politically speaking. Because everybody else doesn’t get the same platform to respond, I suppose.
The most honest minister I’ve ever heard, when he expressed his opinions, first acknowleged what he was about to say was HIS opinion and then verbally repected everybody else’s opinion and the right they had to not agree with him. He was intellectually honest and it was a powerful yet respectful way to say his piece and didn’t make me feel I was being told what to think.
I can make up my own mind, Dr. Dobson thankyouverymuch.
Yes, I think Dobson may well be feeling some self-imposed chagrin at his actions. I guess I sorta hope he is. He isn’t the only conservative representative I have issues with after this primary. There are actually more than a few that I’ll look extremely carefully and critically at from now on.
As for the GOP being ultimately more responsible for this mess than Dobson, of course they are. But as a public figure, Dobson is fair game for criticism of his actions and behavior as well. And I have some for him.
As I’ve already stated on this thread, Dr. Dobson has not ever been, nor claimed to be, ANY KIND of pastor, minister, or reverend.
He is a man involved in matters Christian, political, and family. That he has a decided Christian following speaks to his godly principles and Christianity, which he exercises fully, his right to speak to those who choose to listen to him. God would not have those He has called into leadership positions to act otherwise.
I’ll definitely give him that.
A McCain win is the same as if Christians put the gun to their head by staying home and the bullet is in the chamber.
____________________________________________________
This is the same with Christians as it is with FReepers, ditto-heads, FRed-heads, Romney-acs, you name it.
It’s not just Christian Conservatives that will stay home.
So, then Richard Land and his support for McCain is the same devine blessing?
I said flock keeper....it was to mean somebody with a following and I used the minister example because the most honest person who communicated his opinions was indeed a minister. I know Dobson isn’t a preacher, at least in the official sense.
You obviously like the guy and that’s OK. Just don’t expect me to have the same level of respect for him I might once have had as it’s been lost. In many ways.
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