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 who???
Actually, I believe I do!
Out of 300 million people in this country, how many are followers of Dobson?
I interpret "most" to mean more than half. Please produce any relevant data that shows over 150 million people in this country follow his pompous pronouncements.
What, in 25 words or less, defines "evangelical" in the mind of Dobson and others that claim that distinction?
Like movie and music stars, sometimes famous religious figures choose to use their celebrity-type status in order to sway public opinion to their particular agenda. I don't always like it, but it is what it is. I also think that Mr. Dobson was wrong to say what he did about Mr. Thompson in questioning his faith. He owes him an apology, IMHO.
Do any of you actually know what a real Christian is? I do.
"Fred just needs to have Dobson over to smoke a few cigars, have a few shots of whiskey, and discuss whether he is a Christian or not."
now that sounds like my kind of religious discussion!
For once?
And I for one sure wish that they would stop doing that. They are giving all of us non-Evangical believers of Christ a bad name.
Dobson has just destroyed Fred Thompson's chances of winning the GOP nod.
That's all she wrote . .
That's all she wrote . . .
Oh please, Newbie. You're grossly overestimating Dobson's influence.
I must have missed the Heavenly edict proclaiming Dr Dobson the arbiter of who passes for a Christian and who doesn't. Perhaps Dr Dobson should spend more time reading his Bible (He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her) and less time pontificating on the fate of Fred Thompson's soul.
You're mistaken.
Hey, don't criticize Jimmy Boy Dobson, you might damage his self-esteem!
<\sarcasm>
Don't blame me, blame Dobson. I'm asking why Thompson is "not a Christian," while Gingrich is so great? Is that a fair question?
Newt Gingrich.
Did you know that President Thompson ran in 2008 as a declared atheist? - Committee for Nehmiah Scudder in 2012
Like Catholics aren't Christians??? We are the FIRST Christians, but Baptists and other denominations have told their children that we are a CULT!! It's laughable almost....if it wasn;t so dangerous.
It seems that James Dobson has fallen into the same trap that gets so many famous folk. He really is credentialed and impressive in a certain field, but pontificates in other areas with the same level of confidence. I have read some of his work on childrearing, and generally found it helpful. He is not a theologian or a minister. I am not aware of any training on his part in any such field that might make him qualified to assess the condition of another's soul. I haven't read anything that suggests he has more than a passing knowledge of Fred Thompson, either. He should stick to his field of expertise, and matters touching that field. Does he have a right to state his opinion? Sure. Should he have known better than to do so on this matter? Yes. Bottom line, James Dobson should know better.
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