Posted on 05/17/2007 2:32:49 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
Family advocate James Dobson, widely considered an important GOP rainmaker, says he will not vote for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani under any circumstance in the upcoming presidential elections because of his positions on abortion, domestic partnerships for homosexual couples and other moral issues.
Dobson says today in an exclusive WND column, speaking strictly as a private citizen, "I cannot, and will not, vote for Rudy Giuliani in 2008."
"It is an irrevocable decision," says the founder and chairman of Focus on the Family. "If given a Hobson's – Dobson's? – choice between him and Sens. Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, I will either cast my ballot for an also-ran – or if worse comes to worst – not vote for the first time in my adult life."
Dobson says, "My conscience and my moral convictions will allow me to do nothing else."
"How could Giuliani say with a straight face that he 'hates abortion,' while also seeking public funding for it?" Dobson asks in his commentary. "How can he hate abortion and contribute to Planned Parenthood in 1993, 1994, 1998 and 1999? And how was he able for many years to defend the horrible procedure by which the brains are sucked from the heads of a viable, late-term, un-anesthetized babies? Those beliefs are philosophically and morally incompatible. What kind of man would even try to reconcile them?"
While Dobson does not endorse candidates in his role with Focus on the Family, he told a talk radio host in January he would not back Arizona Sen. John McCain for the Republican nomination.
"Speaking as a private individual, I would not vote for John McCain under any circumstances," he said.
In March, Dobson drew criticism after a U.S. News and World Report story said Dobson "appeared to throw cold water on a possible presidential bid by former Sen. Fred Thompson while praising former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is also weighing a presidential run. …"
Dobson claims the magazine mischaracterized his remarks reported as disparaging of Thompson and the potential presidential candidate's Christian faith.
Reporter Dan Gilgoff quoted Dobson saying of Thompson, "Everyone knows he's conservative and has come out strongly for the things that the pro-family movement stands for, [but] I don't think he's a Christian; at least that's my impression."
A statement by Focus on the Family said Dobson did not mean to disparage Thompson.
"His words weren't intended to represent either an endorsement of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich or a disparagement of former Sen. Fred Thompson," the statement said.
"Dr. Dobson appreciates Sen. Thompson's solid, pro-family voting record and his position that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided."
Dobson, according to Focus on the Family, was "attempting to highlight that to the best of his knowledge, Sen. Thompson hadn't clearly communicated his religious faith, and many evangelical Christians might find this a barrier to supporting him."
Dobson told Gilgoff he had never met Thompson and wasn't certain that his understanding of the former senator's religious convictions was accurate.
"Unfortunately, these qualifiers weren't reported by Mr. Gilgoff," the group's statement said. "We were, however, pleased to learn from his spokesperson that Sen. Thompson professes to be a believer."
Focus on the Family also clarified that Dobson did not excuse Gingrich's "past moral failures," including an affair that ended his second marriage. Gingrich spoke to Dobson of his family life in an interview on the group's daily radio show.
Rudy says he supports justices such as Scalia, Roberts, and Alito.
If you want Janet Reno on the Supreme Court, be my guest, I am not staying home.
Any conservative candidate will fight for the defense of this country. He will appoint liberals to the Supreme Court. I see what he has done in the past and that is what he will do in the future. We do not need this liberal in the office of President. How can any conservative support someone as liberal as Rudy?
I say do what you can in the primary, but in the general do not damage yourself, your country and our allies by staying home and casting at least one-half vote for Hilary.
Furthermore, with a liberal Republican in the White House conservatives will hardly have enough impetus to launch serious opposition to whatever liberal policies he/she advocates (after all "our guy" won). But with a liberal Democrat in office, especially one as despised as Hillary, the base will be highly motivated to oppose her at every turn.
Well Mr. Dobson you were all gung ho for GWB and look what we got. I really don’t care who you vote for. All I know is that Rudy is tough on crime and homeland security. At this point in time, that is all that matters.
We can discuss social issues once we handle the immigration mess and prevent us from getting blown to smithereens by those hard working people who are doing jobs Americans won’t do.
I am voting for Duncan Hunter in the primary and any of the other GOP candidates, except McCain would be better than Hillary.
Seriously. If you loved the Clintons from 1992-2000, and are thrilled with Pelosi as speaker, you are going to pee your pants with Hillary/Bill back for a second 8 years with Dems controlling close to 60 senate seats!
For people to be claiming 18 months out they will be sitting home and not voting is a sign of childish pointless chest thumping.
I’m voting for Hunter regardless.
Good for you Lone Star Annie (I like that)
There is a lot support for Duncan Hunter insider FR.
He’s a long shot - but today’s immigration fiasco has to help his cause.
bttt
An acceptable candidate is still a possibility at this point. NO RUDY
Absolutely NO RUDY. NO MCPAIN EITHER.
If Fred Thompson does grab the tail of the Tiger, I believe we will support his candidacy, but we shall see.
I answer to a Higher Authority than any Republican Candidate no matter who becomes the .... '0(whatever) President..
The only thing more pointless and worthless than staying home and not voting, is spending the energy to declare your intention to be worthless by typing it online.
How do you stop Hilary's US Attorneys from allowing dem corruption to run wild?
How do you stop Hilary from doing all her evil deeds? With a republican Congress?
If conservatives stay home and elect Hilary there isn't going to be aRepublican Congress.
GOP Senate seats are up for grabs 2 to 1. you are going to have a huge dem majority - and Hilary?
No one is staying HOME. Just leaving the box for President blank!
Can we assume you’re collecting names again? Some folks never learn.
RDS - Rudy Derangement Syndrome, the mirror opposite of leftist/CSPAN Bush Derangement Syndrome. RDS is a childlike disease that does not think life should ever present unpleasant choices. Symptoms include an inability to consider voting for Rudy if his general election opponent is the Marxist Hildebeast.
If Rudy is the nominee, the only thing that will save the USA is a bloody revolution.
My stance on the core issues is right, correct, moral, and decent, I have no reason to back down.
Don’t talk “higher taxes” to me, Dammit, can’t you consider anything above your personal profits?
If it comes down to it ,I will vote Republican in the Congressional and state races and not choose the lesser of two eveils.
Over a decade ago ,I saw a church sign advising"Of two evils,choose neither".That is still good advice.
he looks better in a dress but other than that
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