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.
Sad that so many FReepers have bought into this MSM propaganda and are willing to accept the remarks of Dan Gilgoff who has a leftist agenda to smear Right wingers and cause dissention among us.
Chalk one up for the liberal press.
Perfect!
Is the Church of Christ the same denomination that Obama belongs to?
I wonder if he's waiting for Jesus to run for president.
I hope he's not holding his breath: Soul that Christian that won't run for any office.
You and I are of a kindred spirit!
Thats reason enough for me! Fred in 08!
LOL -- denouncing one candidate as "not a Christian" while dishing out mash notes to a serial adulterer.
Dr. Dobson is not telling you who to vote for, just expressing his opinion.
Not even close.
I am a Catholic AND a Christian. I used to have more respect for "Born Again" Christians than I have now. What is losing me is seeing Freepers here posting that by voting they were voting to "improve society." Well, voting to improve society and taking aways citizens' rights, just doesn't jive in my book. Freedom (like God gave us) to make our own choices is what matters to me. Views like this is what is causing me to become a little concerned at the moment.
Dr Dobson is entitled to his opinion I believe. Just like you can make a personal attack on him with the mouth breathing comment. You and the others on this thread sound like closet DUmmies.
No. It's very conservative.
That was rather amusing.
You know, some of the most Christ-like people I have ever met weren't Christian.
You are right! There would have been no President Reagan, if certain Evangelical leaders had not gone to him and promised that if would run, they would help see to it that he won.
No. Similar name, but no comparison. C of C is as fundamentalist as they come. Not big on discussing their faith uninvited, but big on moral integrity.
If Thompson is Church of Christ, or at least comes from C of C background, that is not a bad thing.
No.
On so many levels, no.
The Church of Christ is not a denomination.
Barrack attends a United Church of Christ. (Which is a denomination)
What Dobson means is that Fred hasn't come over and kissed his ring yet.
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