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.
Can Mitt still win? Frankly, no – the arithmetic makes it all but impossible The Republicans have already chosen most of their delegates, and Romney has won only 256 of the 1,417 chosen so far—some 18%. To get the delegates he needs to lock up the nomination, Romney would not only have to improve his performance, he’d have to become virtually perfect – winning 934 of the 963 delegates who haven’t yet been chosen. Unless all other candidates dropped out of the race, there’s no way anyone will scoop up more than 97% of the delegates remaining. Even if Mitt gives the greatest speech of his life at tomorrow’s conference of CPAC (the Conservative Political Action Committee) he can’t win enough delegates to become this year’s nominee. Huckabee can only win if hell freezes over. But that’s not going to happen; instead, it’s his campaign that’s frozen over.
“I think churches should give up their exemptions and stand up for what they believe in.”
I thought that was what individuals did when they voted? In your mind is the minister the Church? Who makes the decision to support a candidate?
He’s not my guy and I’ve been talking about this for quiet awhile. It’s really sad. Christians are considered 3rd class citizens lately. The 2nd class Social conservatives are told, support who we tell you... and you,... you Bible thumpers ..don’t even think about coming out of your churches until it’s time to vote for who we tell you to.
That’s the endorsement that Dobson should have given Mitt Romney weeks ago. Thanks for nothing.
Of course not. It was merely an oversight that the only one of his opponents that he complimented and didn't lay a glove on was McCainiac. /s
Ding! Ding!
Yeah, these impressionable followers make me sick...uh..., "Jedi Master."
(LMFAO)
;-/
We agree on that. I don’t like Rush, Anne, Laura, Mark or Sean telling us who to vote for. The issues of life and marriage are far too important to me to just settle for whoever they tell me to vote for. That is why I couldn’t support Mitt, he had too many red flags in his past. Say what you will about Huckabee, he is a true social conservative and will put judges on the bench that will interpret the constitution as it was intended, not in some modern light.
I think this demonstrates that Dobson’s first choice was Romney. Now that he’s out, Dobson endorses the last alternative to McCain.
Fred was far more viable than the Huckster was, until the so-called "values voters" pukes started lining up behind the snake oil salesman who was promising them Constitutional amendments outlawing abortion and gay marriage (that could never, ever be delivered on).
I hope the fundamentalist idiots who boosted this illegal-loving nanny-stater from the back of the pack to winning the Iowa primary choke hard on gay marriage in all fifty states when it comes to pass within the next four years. Then maybe they'll realize they have to get behind someone who can please most all conservatives, not just the ones with a stupid plastic fish on the back of their car.
Romney and Huckabee were competing for the conservative wing of the party - Romney more on the economic side, Huckabee on the social side. If one of them had gotten out before Super Tuesday, the other would have soundly beaten McCain in delegates.
Romney would have been better served to go after Huckabee last week and stressed his social credentials in the south.
This is mildly surprising, but not shocking.
As for Huckabee himself, he’s not as horrible as many say he is. His record is no worse than most Republican governors of the late 1990’s.
Churches are the gathered Christians. The church building is where we gather to worship. You know that though.
Dobson is NOT speaking for Focus on the Family Organization. That is prohibited. He is speaking as a individual. He isn’t a perfect man, but he is a moral man and I admire him greatly. We know him personally and his family and his love and concern for families and their well being exceeds any person I know of in my lifetime.
Karl Rove was just on and said Huck would have to win nearly 85% of the remaining delegates to take the nomination.
No ..but listen. The voters guides are kind of treated like black market stuff. If you mention something you like or don’t like about a candidate do we want people looking around to make sure the IRS didn’t hear? I don’t want campaigning in churches either but people shouldn’t have to worry about the government pulling their tax exempt status. Nothing has to change but you get back your freedom of choice. JAT
Dobson once again proves he’s a fool.
Yeah, thanks for that Dobson. You railed against the best candidate and now you’re going to get the candidate you like least, then you’re going to support a third party candidate who has no chance of winning, and end up making yourself irrelevant. Congratulations.
Dobson is a heavyweight. Don’t doubt me. He’ll endorse Huck as a backdoor move to back McCain after he said He would not. He knows the alternative would be a disaster for our country.
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