Posted on 09/19/2007 7:14:10 PM PDT by pissant
DENVER (AP) — James Dobson, one of the nation's most politically influential evangelical Christians, made it clear in a message to friends this week he will not support Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson.
In a private e-mail obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, Dobson accuses the former Tennessee senator and actor of being weak on the campaign trail and wrong on issues dear to social conservatives.
"Isn't Thompson the candidate who is opposed to a Constitutional amendment to protect marriage, believes there should be 50 different definitions of marriage in the U.S., favors McCain-Feingold, won't talk at all about what he believes, and can't speak his way out of a paper bag on the campaign trail?" Dobson wrote.
"He has no passion, no zeal, and no apparent 'want to.' And yet he is apparently the Great Hope that burns in the breasts of many conservative Christians? Well, not for me, my brothers. Not for me!"
The founder and chairman of Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family, Dobson draws a radio audience in the millions, many of whom who first came to trust the child psychologist for his conservative Christian advice on child-rearing.
Gary Schneeberger, a Focus on the Family spokesman, confirmed that Dobson wrote the e-mail. Schneeberger declined to comment further, saying it would be inappropriate because Dobson's comments about presidential candidates are made as an individual and not as a representative of Focus on the Family, a nonprofit organization restricted from partisan politics.
Dobson's strong words about Thompson underscore the frustration and lack of unity among Christian conservatives about the GOP field. Some Christian right leaders have pinned their hopes on Thompson, describing him as a Southern-fried Ronald Reagan. But others have voiced doubts in recent weeks about some of the same issues Dobson highlighted: his position on gay marriage and support for the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform legislation.
Dobson and other Christian conservatives support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would bar gay marriage nationally. Thompson has said he would support a constitutional amendment that would prohibit states from imposing their gay marriage laws on other states, which falls well short of that.
Karen Hanretty, a spokeswoman for the Thompson campaign, said Wednesday in response to the Dobson e-mail: "Fred Thompson has a 100 percent pro-life voting record. He believes strongly in returning authority to the levels of government closest to families and communities, protecting states from intrusion by the federal government and activist judges.
"We're confident as voters get to know Fred, they'll appreciate his conservative principles, and he is the one conservative in this race who can win the nomination and can go on to defeat the Democratic nominee."
In his e-mail addressed "Dear friends," Dobson includes the text of a recent news story highlighting Thompson's statement that while he was baptized in the Church of Christ, he does not attend church regularly and won't speak about his faith on the stump.
U.S. News and World Report quoted Dobson earlier this year as questioning Thompson's commitment to the Christian faith — comments Dobson contended were not put in proper context. Dobson in this week's e-mail writes that suppositions "about the former senator's never having professed to be a Christian are turning out to be accurate in substance."
Earlier this year, Dobson said he wouldn't back John McCain because of the Arizona senator's opposition to a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
Later, Dobson wrote on a conservative news Web site that he wouldn't support former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani should he win the Republican nomination. Dobson called Giuliani an "unapologetic supporter of abortion on demand" and criticized him for signing a bill in 1997 creating domestic-partnership benefits in New York City.
Last week, Dobson announced on his radio show that the IRS had cleared him of accusations that he had endangered his organization's nonprofit status by endorsing Republican candidates in 2004. The IRS said Dobson, who endorsed President Bush's re-election bid, was acting as an individual and not on behalf of the nonprofit group.
Fred Thompson needs to address social conservative issues. If he runs or hides from these issues he should not be supported be social conservatives.
Why thank you. You should hear my diction.
Oh, okay, Einstein.
~ BUMP! ~
I am so glad someone finally said that....Amen.
“”The Union Leader can cut him off at the knees with five or six well written January editorials. Mitt is no conservative and never has been. It is not in the background and he was not raised that way. Take a look at the interaction between Governor Romney and Governor Reagan during the sixties.””
Penetrating Mitt’s chameleon act always involves looking behind the curtain, do you have any links to those stories.
Well, there go both of the people who base their votes on Dobson’s rantings.
BTTT
:) Gee, teach, it must be tiring to grade the world on their opinions. Do you gain extra tenure for that?
This thread saddens me, more than angers me. NOT NECESSARILY IN THIS ORDER:
1. I can only imagine how fast a thread would be pulled had the Pope written an email that was then published and HE was put down this way.
2. How many of you on this thread putting him (Dr. D) down, have screamed about the feminization of America, when Dr. D. has written and spoken in favor, STRONG favor of, our little boys?
3. How many of you on this thread putting him down, agree that homosexuality, abortion, etc., are bad for society?
4. How DARE so many people put him down for merely expressing his opinion? It’s not like he went out & placed an ad, urging others to vote one way or another.
5. Which one moral issue that he speaks out against, can you honestly say you disagree with?
Sheesh.
Well, I’m glad he makes you feel safe. But watch him carefully and watch what he says.
He is not the social conservative many think he is.
If you could tell me specifically why you think his campaign is not doing it’s job, perhaps I could pass it on. It is true that he is running on a shoestring. I just sent him another $100 yesterday, and I hope his other supporters will continue to do so as well, for I agree that “he is the most solid (and sane) conservative of the entire bunch of candidates”.
And Mitt is?
Interesting...
“He is not the social conservative many think he is.”
I have no illusions. I am not firmly on the Thompson bandwagon. I like Hunter better. But that doesn’t seem to be working out.
This time around its more of a process of elimination.
I really don’t think he has been treated that badly on this thread.
Dobson is great on social and moral issues.
This email most likely came out with his approval. He knew when he hit send that it could get out.
I think Hunter is the most all round conservative.
He was awesome at the Petraues hearings and I can’t figure out why his candidacy hasn’t taken off.
Maybe next time around...
I would really encourage you to read to “A Mormon In The White House: Ten Things Every American Should Know About Mitt Romney” by Hugh Hewitt.
Have a wonderful day and I hope in the end that we can all unite behind the man who gets the nomination.
I’ll probably send Hunter some money, but probably not that much.
I’ll unite behind any of them, except for Rudy.
Thank you. :) It all adds up. God bless.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.