Posted on 03/28/2007 2:36:11 PM PDT by SubGeniusX
Focus on the Family founder James Dobson has dealt a potentially devastating blow to Fred Thompson’s presidential aspirations, saying the former senator is not a Christian.
"Everyone knows he’s conservative and has come out strongly for the things that the pro-family movement stands for,” Dobson – considered the most politically powerful evangelical figure in the U.S. – said in a phone call to Dan Gilgoff, senior editor at U.S. News & World Report.
"[But] I don’t think he’s a Christian. At least that’s my impression.”
Thompson’s spokesman Mark Corallo took issue with the statement.
"Thompson is indeed a Christian,” he said. "He was baptized into the Church of Christ.”
Focus on Family spokesman Gary Schneeberger sought to clarify Dobson’s statement, telling Gilgoff that while Dobson didn’t believe Thompson belonged to a non-Christian faith, he "has never known Thompson to be a committed Christian – someone who openly talks about his faith.
"We use that word – Christian – to refer to people who are evangelical Christians. Dobson wasn’t expressing a personal opinion about his reaction to a Thompson candidacy.”
Thompson has said he is leaving the door open for a presidential run. A Gallup-USA Today poll released on Tuesday has the Tennessee Republican running third behind Rudolph Giuliani and John McCain among Republicans and Republican-leaning voters.
Although Dobson has not endorsed any Republican presidential candidate, he told Gilgoff that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was the "brightest guy out there” and "the most articulate politicians on the scene today.”
Gilgoff is the author of the new book "The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America Are Winning the Culture War.”
In the 2004 race, Dobson gave the first public presidential endorsement of his career, supporting George Bush. Bush got almost 6 million new white evangelical votes in 2004 that he didn’t get in 2000.
Dobson's mouth must get real dry from all that mouth-breathing.
If he did not know, why would Dobson open his clap trap?
Allow me to translate: Fred has somehow avoided sucking up to James Dobson.
He also wrote "How Chiang Kai Shek Returned to the Mainland and Crushed the Reds."
I guess being a degenerate serial adulterer is a sign of being a Christian.
God the Republican party needs to get rid of the influence of mystical idiots like this one. This sort of stupidity reminds me of the "He's not black ENOUGH" schtick that's getting thrown at Obama now.
LOL
Does Dobson know Thompson? Does he have any idea of Thompson's beliefs or lack thereof? Dobson should get the facts before making such a statement. Makes me respect him less when he pops off like this.
I already blame this man causing the DEMOCRATS to take Control of the Congress. He should really be proud. Most of all, the Democrats he helped pave the way for to the Congress aren't Christians either.
I'm fed up with Dobson.
Dobson, for once, please shut up.
From your staff come the MOST RIDICULOUS ITEM OF THE DAY:
~ snip~ Focus on the Family founder James Dobson has dealt a potentially devastating blow to Fred Thompson’s presidential aspirations, saying the former senator is not a Christian. ~snip ~
"potentially devastating blow" ????
Carl you cannot POSSIBLY be serious.
And the working title of his current manuscript? "MASADA: Triumph of the Hebrews"
As an evangelical Christian and a social conservative, imo, "we" had better be thinking pragmatically, or we'll end up with another Clinton in the White House. My enthusiatic vote goes republican regardless of the person's theology.
This could be remembered as the decisive day of the 2007-2008 campaign: Dobson crushes the Thompson candidacy, and Jesse Jackson fatally wounds Hillary's campaign by coming out in favor of Obama.
Oh, well lets get Carter then... He's a "Christian"...
Snort!
Who is?
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