Let me try to explain where social conservatives are coming from: we don’t want the politicians to do homage to us and our leaders its just that we are tired of being treated like the crazy uncle in the Republican party. Republican’s can’t win without us and we want to be treated with the same sort of respect that they given to the other parts of the Republican Party. More than anything, however, we are issue based voters. We don’t support Thompson because he is not willing to take a stand on the issues that we care about. He opposes any sort of federal ban on abortion, he dodged his chance to condemn Terri’s murder, he refused to come and answer questions about his views from social conservative leaders, he has downplayed his personal faith, and he opposes the marriage Amendment. So - why should we support him?
Why doesn’t Dobson himself run for POTUS?
He has experience, reputation, and a passionate following.
A recognizable name. A history of integrity. A popular author. Devout family man.
Has anyone tried to draft him?
Uh...I’m a social conservatve and I support him. And, from what I read, Dobson is the only main guy thus far who has come out against Thompson. Albeit backhandedly. Would be nice if he showed the courage of his convictions and said it frontly rather then through leaked correspondence.
Most of the rest are still reserving judgement so, please, refrain from stating social conservatives have risen up en masse against the man. If that were true he wouldn’t be doing so well in the polls.
Why I support him? Because even though he’s NOT as “devout” as say G.W.B., I think he’s mostly sound on judges, embryonic stem cell research, and immigration. No, he won’t state he would never grant amnesty. He won’t state he’ll support a marriage amendment. And he won’t state all abortion even in case of rape and incest is murder. But if he appoints good judges (an area even a devout man like G.W.B. had problem with), closes the border and enforces employer sanctions, and at very least sides against gay “marriage’ being forced to be recognized outside mass it’s better than what anyone else that can be elected is bringing to the table. I’ll accept this as a minimum standard for gaining my vote.
As for Terri? I believe I knocked Thompson for his avoidance on that question. He didn’t want to alienate Libertarians or conservatives so he tried to punt. Not a good move. Still not a disqualifier.
Now where I DO agree with you is that there are a lot of prejudiced people from top on down in the party that hate social conservatives. they want their vote, don’t want to earn it, and take any shot they get to demean them or exile them. even though most social conservatives, in political office anyway, end up being the most all around reliable conservative vote on the issues they DO care about. That’s why i REFUSE to rip Dobson to shreds. he’s just a scapegoat for them to, yet again, exercise their prejudice against Christians and I won’t play their game. While I find Dobson’s judgement in political matters to at times be suspect, his support of Miers as an example, he doesn’t strike me as a bad man and has as much right to petitiion the government and hold opinion on politics as any other conservative.