Posted on 02/07/2008 6:05:53 PM PST by NormsRevenge
James Dobson, one of the nation's most prominent evangelical Christian leaders, is about to endorse former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, The Associated Press has learned.
Dobson, founder of Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Focus on the Family, talked to the GOP presidential hopeful Thursday and later was to release a statement explaining his choice, said Gary Schneeberger, a spokesman for Dobson.
Huckabee had long sought Dobson's endorsement, believing he is the best fit to advance Dobson's conservative, moral worldview.
Until now, Dobson had never endorsed a GOP presidential hopeful during the primary campaign. But he ruled out front-runner John McCain in a blistering commentary on Super Tuesday, and on Thursday the fight for the GOP nomination narrowed to a two-man race between McCain and Huckabee, who is far behind in the delegate count but pledged to fight on. Mitt Romney, a third hopeful trying to claim the conservative label, dropped out of the race Thursday.
Dobson released a statement Tuesday that criticized McCain for his support of embryonic stem cell research, his opposition to a federal anti-gay marriage amendment and for his temper and use of foul language.
He said if McCain were the nominee, he would not cast a ballot for president for the first time in his life.
Dobson had left open the possibility that he would vote for either Romney or Huckabee, but endorsed neither.
Throughout the unsettled GOP race, Dobson picked his spots to signal that some candidates simply didn't meet his standards. 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.
At one point, Dobson said he'd consider voting for a minor-party candidate if faced with Giuliani as the nominee.
Later, Dobson ruled out former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson for his stands on issues. Dobson also said Thompson "has no passion, no zeal, and no apparent 'want to.'"
Dobson emphasizes that when he endorses candidates, he is doing so as a private citizen and not as a representative of Focus on the Family, a tax-exempt organization.
Dobson isn’t a minister.
Nor does a degree in Divinity. I prefer that leaders of the Christian faith take a non worldly approach to the Gospel.
Shades of Pat Robertson..
I fully understand that, my wife and I use his website to screen movies that we watch all the time and listen to his programs on the radio. My issue is this, the organization he runs is a Christian one, which by definition should be about the Great Commission, not politics. Hearts and minds won’t be changed as a result of political changes or legislation, but only through the “Good News” of Christ.
He has every right as a citizen to say what he wants, but I wish that he would stick to what he does best - advise Christians in areas of discipleship for living their lives in a biblical way and equipping them to perform the Great Commission.
Huckabee has been in collusion with McCain to knock Romney out.
Huckabee's behavior in this campaign showed me he doesn't have principles! Because he is Prolife, he gets a pass for his dispicable behavior.
The ONLY chance left is if the remaining primary voters vote for Ron Paul to prevent the other two from getting enough electorates, forcing it to go to a brokered convention.
I realize that is unlikely to happen, but I wish it could if for no other reason than to SHOW conservatives aren't just going to go lockstep with McCain...
who has betrayed us over and over again!
Just MHO
Pollywog is right, Dobson is a class act. I predict he will have to sit out the Nov. 5 general election.
It’s an exercise in futility. But I would vote for Huckabee if I were in LA Saturday and if he has dropped out by March 4, I will vote for Paul in TX instead. Then I will go with McPain on Nov. 5. I will never vote for McPain on March 4 though.
Are you saying that even Christian laymen shouldn’t exercise their rights as citizens?
Its irrelevant - the Huckster is already done
Not at all.
I respect your position. It’s a tough decision to make, but at least you’re clear about your prolife priorities. Prayer helps here.
Can you clarify, then, which Christian laymen should forego their rights as citizens?
I don’t want my Christian leaders (ordained or not) preaching politics to the flock. For me, they should be focused like a laser beam on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Compared to the Gospel, politics are completely insignificant to me. You may feel different and you absolutely have that right.
I very much doubt tht Dobson regards himself as the pastor or "shepherd" of all the people who buy his books or listen to his radio broadcasts; nor do they regard themselves as his "flock."
Dobson, as an author and radio broadcaster, has as much right to advance his opinions as Greta Van Susteren or anybody else. He made it clear that he's not representing his church (which church, by the way? the Nazarenes?) nor even speaking for his own (secular) organization.
Do you see the difficulty that would result if every Christian man and woman were automatically de-legitimized as an opinion leader simply on account of the fact that he or she is a Christian?
Wasted: “My pastor would never, ever do such a thing.”
That’s only because your pastor is a pastor in the last half-century.
Up until 1954, thanks to Lyndon Johnson, pastors and churches and other non-profits were free as they should be under the First Amendment to support any candidate they dang well please, just like every other American individual or group.
Hoodat: “That’s the endorsement that Dobson should have given Mitt Romney weeks ago.”
Dobson is a day late and a dollar short on the timing of his endorsement, but thank God (literally) he did not totally destroy the credibility of his pro-family values leadership by endorsing Romney.
Romney, who opposes the Boy Scout ban on homosexuals, who in December reaffirmed his support for state “gay rights” laws, who signed into law a health plan that tax-finances abortion on demand, who spent his entire political career before posturing to run for prez promoting abortion on demand and the homosexual agenda, who endorsed gays in the military and Kennedy’s federal “gay rights” bill, who was endorsed twice by the homosexual Log Cabin Republicans. Etc., etc., etc...
I think you should vote for Huckabee. He is the closest to our beliefs. He is not perfect, but far, far better than McCain. He is probably the best shot conservatives have at retaining any kind of voice in the party.
Something is wrong when so many Christian conservatives, myself included, have to wonder if the most Pro-Life candidate is the best one to vote for.
God save the Republic.
“I think churches should give up their exemptions and stand up for what they believe in.”
I think that this is your statement that I am quoting. Therefore I assume you were using the term church to stand for the gathered Christians and not for a building. When someone uses the term “The Catholic Church” or “a Baptist Church” I don’t think they’re talking about buildings.
I think Christians should worship and vote as responsible Citizens but I don’t believe that “Churches” or ministers should be involved in politics.
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